2009 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,547 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 36 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, electrical, navigational system(global positioning system)Sep 10, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 10V401000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionSep 16, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.
IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).
Campaign 09V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, doorJan 9, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING 225 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION WELD ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.
Campaign 09V006000 on NHTSA.gov
WheelsSep 15, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 3,403 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS. SOME THESE WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD CAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUTS ATTACHING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOOSE.
IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS EQUIPPED WITH ONE OF THE AFFECTED WHEELS. IF IT IS, THE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 08V464000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
859 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Aug 31, 2016
MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR BATTERY IS FINE AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB IS ALSO WORKING FINE AND WAS EVEN TRIED WITH A NEW BATTERY. PUSHING THE START BUTTON DOES NOTHING AND THE TWO KEY LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOTH LIGHT UP WHEN IN THE CAR. AFTER CHECKING THE MANUAL, CALLING THE DEALER, AND CHECKING THE INTERNET, IT IS CLEAR THAT MY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON IT INDEFINITELY AND THEN WENT BACK AND SHORTENED IT TO RUN OUT IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR! THEY EVEN TELL YOU TO CALL THE DEALER IN THE MANUAL IF YOU ENCOUNTER IT AND IT IS THEN A $1000 REPAIR. I'M JUST GLAD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN OVER THE WEEKEND WHILE I WAS CAMPING AND POTENTIALLY STRANDED!
Steering, Aug 23, 2016
THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURING IN 2009-2011 NISSAN ALTIMA AND MAXIMA VEHICLES. WHEN TURNING OFF VEHICLE, THE STEERING LOCKS AND WHEN YOU GO TO TURN IT BACK ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT UNLOCK AFTER TURNING KEY ON. VEHICLE WILL NOT START DUE TO STEERING WHEEL BEING LOCKED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON THE INTERNET AND THE DEALERS WANT 1200.00 TO FIX PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL ITEM.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 22, 2016
CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO STEERING LOCK ON VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED X 4. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC ONLY TO BE TOLD REPAIR IS 900.00. CONTACTED NISSAN WHO IS GOING BACK ON THEIR WORD TO PAY FOR REPAIR. CAR ALSO HAS AIRBAG LIGHTS THAT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. CAR IS ALWAYS IN PARKED POSITIONED WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 20, 2016
CAR WILL NOT START WITH KEY FOB . CALLED TOW ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. LAST TOW WAS TOLD TO KNOCK ON STEERING LOCK BOX TO START CAR. CAR WAS TOWED DUE TO INABILITY TO GET CAR RUNNING. UNABLE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AT DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF COST OF 100. UNABLE TO PAY FOR TOW BECAUSE OF 65 DOLLAR COST. STUCK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND NOW MY CAR IS USELESS . WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER NISSAN OR RECOMMEND TO ANYONE. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO LOSE MY JOB BECAUSE OF NO TRANSPORTATION THANKS TO NISSAN.
Steering, Aug 19, 2016
STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE CAR HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPLACED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST YEAR. MY CAR IS UNUSABLE DUE TO THE HIGH COST TO REPLACE THIS PART. (1000.00) NISSAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS PART AND COVER THE COST SINCE IT IS A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT JUST WOULDN'T START BACK UP.
Steering, Aug 19, 2016
I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM COMMON TO 2009 ALTIMAS. THE STEERING LOCK IS DEFECTIVE AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND DEPENDING ON THE AREA AND TIME OF DAY, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I NEED A CAR THAT WORKS PROPERLY AND I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE PART.
Steering, Aug 17, 2016
STEERING LOCK IS STUCK ON MY CAR AND IT WILL NOT START. THE KEY LIGHT CAME ON RANDOMLY AND THE CAR IS LOCKED DOWN AND WOULDN'T START. I WAS STRANDED IN A VERY SCARY PART OF TOWN THAT I HAD TO WAIT AT FOREVER FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET ME.
Steering, Aug 16, 2016
CAR WOULD NOT START STEERING LOCKED UP, TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK BOX WHICH WAS ON RECALL AND I NEVER RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE, DEALER SAID VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH WITH RECALL BUT MY NISSAN IS CLEARLY A 2009, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT IF THIS PART IS NOT REPLACED I CAN NOT START MY CAR AND THE PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I FEEL IF THIS PART WAS RECALLED IT SHOULD BE REPLACED IN GOOD STANDING BY THE DEALER, I SURELY WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN IF THE DEALER WILL NOT WORK WITH IT'S CAR BUYERS IN GOOD FAITH. CAR WAS STATIONARY AS IT WOULD NOT START BUT DO NOT WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE FROM HOME AND HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN
Steering, Aug 15, 2016
I GOT GAS AT A STATION IN HAVANA, THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING. THE KEY SYMBOL CAME UP ON THE DASH. MY HUSBAND BROUGHT THE EXTRA KEY FOB AND STILL NOTHING. BRAKES WERE LOCKED, NO POWER TO THE ENGINE. KEY FOB WORKED FOR LOCKING BUT NOT FOR POWER. AAA TOWED MY CAR TO KRAFFT NISSAN WHERE I WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEM. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND SAW THAT IT WAS COMMON WITH THE 2009 ALTIMA. I WAS GLAD TO BE CLOSE TO HOME WITH NO GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR. I NEED A CAR I CAN DEPEND AS I APPROACH 70.
Steering, Aug 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER BEING OPERATED AND TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Steering, Aug 10, 2016
ON MY WAY HOME MY INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS THINKING THAT I HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN MY REMOTE.. ONCE I DID THAT, NOTHING CHANGED. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CAR. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE TO WORK. WHEN I GOT OFF MY CAR WOULDN'T START AND THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN!! I LOOKED IT UP AND IT'S THE ESCL GOING BAD!
Steering, Aug 9, 2016
TAKATA RECALL I AM EMAILING WITH HOPES THAT NISSAN WILL ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART WAS EXTENDED, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NOT ISSUE A RECALL. I HAD TO DISCOVER THIS ISSUE AT THE END OF MY WORK DAY IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. IT IS NOT FAIR TO EXPECT CAR OWNERS TO PAY FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET WHEN NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Steering, Aug 7, 2016
MY INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING SYSTEM IS GOING OUT AND ALSO MY STEERING LOCK SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THE PART HAS BEEN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT YET I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT ONE NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART MYSELF FINANCIALLY
Steering, Aug 6, 2016
THEY GOT IT DO SOMETHING WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT HAD HAPPEN TO EVERYBODY THAT OWN A 09 ALTIMA, STEERING LOCK IS REALLY EXPENSIVE TP FIX IT.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Aug 5, 2016, crash
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA VIN NUMBER [XXX] HAS MANY SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING REPORTED WITH MY VIN NUMBER. THE STRUTS, STEERING LOCK BOX{WHICH I PAID 900.00 TO REPAIR], ABS SPEED CONTROL SENSOR,ENGINE OIL COOLANT AND MOST OF ALL THE CVT TRANSMISSION HAVE WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND NISSAN WILL NOT HELP ME REPAIR. SO I AM FORCED TO ATTEMPT THIS LAST TRY BEFORE JOINING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 YEARS AND NOW I AM OUT 9000.00 AND THE REPAIRS ARE MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO GIVE DETAIL ABOUT ALL THE EVENTS SO I PRAY SOMEONE AT NISSAN IS DECENT ENOUGH TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND MAKE THIS RIGHT I AM A SINGLE MOM OF THREE AND RIDE LESS . I HAVE CONTACTED ATT. GENERAL [XXX] AND BBB. MY CAR IS AT [XXX] MY NUMBER IS [XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX] I HAVE OPENED 5 CASES AND BEEN DENIED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 4, 2016
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IS CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). THE CAR JUST CUT OFF ON ME AS I WAS PARKING IN A PARKING SPOT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE GEAR IN PARK. IT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION ON MY CAR AND LOCKED MY STEERING COLUMN. SO, I WAS STRANDED! THIS IS BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY CAR COULD'VE JUST CONTINUED TO ROLL IF I COULDN'T GET IT INTO THE PARKED GEAR! IT'S UNFAIR THAT AS A CONSUMER OF NISSAN, I HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE AFTER THE NISSAN WARRANTY ON THE ESCL EXPIRED IN MARCH 2015 AND BE POSED WITH PAYING OVER $1000 IN REPAIR COSTS. PER NISSAN, THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC MILEAGE NUMBER THAT THIS DEFECT COULD OCCUR; SO THEY SHOULD RECALL THE ESCL SYSTEMS IN ALL AFFECTED CARS INSTEAD OF COVERING THEIR OWN BEHINDS AND GIVING A WARRANTY WITH UNLIMITED MILES AND AN END DATE OF MARCH 2015. CLEARLY NISSAN IS NOT CONCERNED WITH ITS CONSUMERS SAFETY. IT'S NOT FAIR TO CONSUMERS THAT BOUGHT NISSAN VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE THE DANGEROUS DEFECT AFTER MARCH 2015. I AM A VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER AT THIS TIME.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Aug 3, 2016
I WAS OUT HANDLING BUSINESS ALL DAY FRIDAY AND LATER THAT EVENING I HAD TO MAKE MY LAST STOP. I WENT INTO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT MY CARE HAD NO POWER AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE. THE KEY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, BUT I STILL HAD NO IDEA OF HOW I WOULD GET MY CAR STARTED.. I CALLED MY HUSBAND BECAUSE IT WAS LATE AND GETTING DARK OUT (VERY DANGEROUS). I HAD TO GO THE WHOLE WEEKEND AND WEEK WITHOUT A CAR THAT I'VE HAD FOR THE PASS 6 YEARS. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WOULD BE $1000.00, RIDICULOUS! I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY RECALL AND TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER REGULARLY AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL.
Steering, Aug 3, 2016
STEERING LOCK COLUMN FAILURE. JUST OUTSIDE OF THE SUPPOSED EXTENDED WARRANTY. CALLED NISSAN TOOK A WEEK TO HEAR BACK SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS. ABOUT A $1000 TO REPLACE!
Steering, Jul 31, 2016
THE STEERING WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE THEREFORE THE CAR WILL NOT START.
Steering, Jul 27, 2016
DROVE MY CAR LIKE I NORMALLY DO. I PARK. RETURN TO MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE RED KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSH THE START BUTTON. MY STEERING COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED A LOT WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS BUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT LAST YEAR AND I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
Steering, Jul 25, 2016
LEFT ME STRANDED IN 98 DEGREE HEAT. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED ONLY TO FIND OUT ONLY THE DEALERSHIP COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. TOWED IT TO THE DEALER. FOUND OUT IT WAS A STEERING LOCK ISSUE THAT HAPPENS TO MOST 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA'S. NISSAN HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, KNOWING IT WAS AN ISSUE, BUT NOT A RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED BEFORE MY CAR HAD THE PROBLEM. I'VE CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE ONLY TO HAVE THEM TELL ME "SORRY, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED". NO KIDDING. SO, ABOUT TO HAVE TO SPEND $1,000 FOR A REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Steering, Jul 25, 2016
CAR WAS PARKED SO MY SPOUSE COULD RUN AN ERRAND. WHEN HE WENT TO START UP THE CAR, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER AND THE STEERING DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN SOME NISSANS THAT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED IN MORE RECENT YEAR MODELS. IT COST $961.33 TO FIX!!! THE STEERING MODULE ALONE COST $679.44. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THIS "RECURRING PROBLEM" ISN'T THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL.
Steering, Jul 22, 2016
I PARKED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER COMING HOME FROM THE GYM. ABOUT 45 MIN I LEFT OUT TO GO TO WORK. I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT COME ON. MY PUSH TO START BUTTON LOCKED LIGHT APPEARED AND A PICTURE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES WITH ARROWS POINTING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, THEY COULD NOT HELP...I HAD MY CAR TOWED OVER TO PEP BOYS THEY STATED IT WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THAT I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT THEY WENT AND FIXED IT WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND STATED THAT I OWED THEM 850 DOLLARS. I WAS VERY UPSET THAT THEY DID NOT UPDATE ME BEFORE FIXING IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICE THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS STEERING LOCK BUT THEY SUSPENDED IT. I WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE BY PHONE,MAIL OR EMAIL THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR. I REALLY HOPE THEY THEY ISSUE ANOTHER ONE AND SOME HOW I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR AN ISSUES THAT WASN'T MY FAULT.
Steering, Jul 20, 2016
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK FAILS AND LOCKS THE STEERING-WHEEL. THE CAR FAILS TO START AGAIN. I AM WORRY THIS WILL LOCK WHILE DRIVING. IS UNRELIABLE. REPAIR COST GOES UP TO THOUSAND DOLLARS.