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, Jul 20, 2016
STEERING LOCK BECOMES STUCK (WILL NOT ALLOW CAR TO BE STARTED). THIS HAPPENS FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL. ONLY OPTION IS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND HAVE THE STEERING LOCK REPLACED. NISSAN ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION OF 3 YEARS WHICH EXPIRED IN JANUARY 2016. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO REASON THAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN AND NO REASON THAT THE FIX SHOULD NOT BE COVERED INFINITELY. COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY OR A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD OR ANYWHERE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FIX IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE (>1,000 --- SEE ATTACHMENT). THIS IS NO WEAR & TEAR ISSUE. THIS IS A FAULTY PART. NISSAN KNEW ABOUT IT. THEY SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
Steering, Jul 18, 2016
ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK ESCL. WHEN IT FAILS, YOU INSTANTANEOUSLY, WITH NO WARNING CANNOT START YOUR VEHICLE. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO TOW CAR TO A DEALER, WHICH WILL CHARGE YOU A LARGE AMOUNT ($1000 OR MORE) TO REPLACE IT. THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF AN IMMEDIATE RECALL AS THIS HAS LONG BEEN A PROBLEM. MINE FAILED SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRED. WHY ALLOW UNLIMITED MILEAGE, YET NOT UNLIMITED TIME? THE CAR HAS BEEN UNMOVED FOR MONTHS NOW WHILE PAYMENTS ARE STILL BEING MADE ON IT.
Steering, Jul 18, 2016
COMMON PROBLEM FROM ALL NISSAN 2009 OWNERS.... STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS FAILED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THE SAFETY POINT IS THAT IT CAN GO OUT AT ANYTIME AND LEAVE MY WIFE STRANDED IN PLACES SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY
Steering, Jul 11, 2016
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK SENSOR FAIL UNABLE TO START CAR OR LOCK OR START. FORTUNATELY HAD JUST PARK VEHICLE.. ON CITY STREET
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 7, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL COMPLETELY.
Steering, Engine, Jul 6, 2016
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT THAT NEEDS REPLACED. $1,100. NISSAN KNEW OF THE ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ONLY UNTIL 2015. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHY WAS I NEVER TOLD ABOUT IT. I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM REPLACE IT A LONG TIME AGO. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD AND THEY SHOULD COVER THE COST!
Steering, Jul 4, 2016
TAKATA RECALL MY STEERING IS LOCKING AND WON'T LET ME TURN ON THE CAR IT WAS STATIONARY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AGAIN AND FIXED FOR EVERYONE.
Steering, Jun 30, 2016
CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. A PART THAT NISSAN HAS KNOWINGLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON MULTIPLE TIMES.
Steering, Jun 29, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE PUSH BUTTON KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE NEXT DAY, THE PUSH BUTTON START FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Steering, Jun 29, 2016
I WENT TO START MY2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY DOOR AND IT DID NOT START, THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT IT WOULD NOT START IT WAS IN THE LOCK POSITION . I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECTRICAL TECH FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. IT IS VEY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IT WILL COST ME AROUND A $1,000.OO TO HAVE IT FIX. I SPOKE WITH THE CUSTOME SERVICE REP WITH THE NISSAN DEPARTMENT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE MY MY CAR TO THE DEALESHIP AND LET THEM DIGNOSED THE PROBLEMS AND CALL BACK AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP. CALLED BACK WITH THE DDIAGNOSTIC RESULT AND MY CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015 AND THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I FEEL A RECALL SHOULD BE CALL ON THIS PART. IF THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO HAVE THIS FIX THEY SHOULD HAVE INFORMED BUYER OF THIS LIKE IT WAS A RECALL.
Steering, Jun 26, 2016
AFTER WORK TRIED TO START THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AFTER, BUT IT WONT START. WE TOWED IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS AN 'ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN ' -ESCL FAILURE . JUST GOOGLE IT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT COST US ABOUT $1000 TO FIX IT. NISSAN CORPORATE REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I NEED TO BE REFUNDED BECAUSE THIS IS STRICTLY THE FAULT OF NISSAN.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jun 25, 2016
I HAVE A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK WHICH WON'T ALLOW THE CAR TO START. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND FOR MY GENERAL SAFETY AND USE OF MY CAR, THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY NISSAN MOTOR INC.
Steering, Jun 24, 2016
NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 HAD A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK THAT CAUSED ME TO BE STRUCK ALONE LATE AT NIGHT ON AT CVS STORE. MY CAR WAS NOT AT ALL STARTING. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER THE NEXT DAY. I FOUND THIS ISSUE AS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE STRUCK IN ISOLATED PLACE IN COLD. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS EXPENSIVE. I PAID 1200 WHICH SHOULD BE BARE BY NISSAN BUT THEY HAVE IGNORED IT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. BETTER TO SELL OF 2009 MODEL
Steering, Jun 22, 2016
CAR WON'T START. STEERING LOCK IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING IGNITION PROBLEM.
Steering, Jun 18, 2016
STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION!! GOT STRANDED IN THE ARIZONA HEAT BECAUSE ESCL MALFUNCTIONED!!! NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 WOULDN'T START, HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO AUTO SHOP TO BE TOLD IT'S A STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION!! NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!! I'M DISSATISFY WITH NISSAN
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 17, 2016
I WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT A RELATIVES, HAD TO MOVE MY VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVEWAY TO THE STREETS. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT TO START MY VEHICLE TO GO HOME SIX HOURS LATER, IT WOULD NOT START. I CONTACTED TRIPLE A, THEY WASN'T SUCCESSFUL GETTING MY VEHICLE STARTED, SO I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO PEP BOYS WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THEN I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.
Steering, Jun 16, 2016
WENT TO START CAR TO RUN AN ERRAND WHILE AT WORK ON LUNCH BREAK TO GET IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I'LL HAVE TO GET THE CAR TOWED NOT TO INCLUDE THE DAYCARE LATE FEES THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO PICK MY CHILD UP FROM DAYCARE BECAUSE THEY CLOSE, NEEDLESS TO SAY IT'S $1 PER MINUTE THAT I'M LATE AND IT IS DUE AT THE TIME OF PICK UP. THE COST FOR THE PART IS $708.66 NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR, STRESS, AND ANXIETY THAT THIS INCONVENIENCE HAS CAUSED. I AM INFURIATED. MY OTHER 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION REPLACED JUST 2 MONTHS AGO. THE NISSAN QUALITY IS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN!
Steering, Jun 15, 2016
STEERING LOCK ON A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA BROKE JUNE 13,2016. 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX AT DEALER.
Steering, Jun 13, 2016
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
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 10, 2016
DROVE TO WORK ON 6-4-2016. WENT OUT TO MOVE MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. LIGHTS WERE WORKING, ALARM WAS WORKING BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED A TINY KEY EMBLEM ON THE DASH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE, COME TO FIND OUT IT IS THE STEERING LOCK WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL ON. CALLED NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL EXPIRED IN JULY 2015 AND IT WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $900 TO FIX. I CANNOT AFFORD 900 DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE FIXING FOR FREE AS IT IS A NISSAN INDUCED ISSUE AND NOTHING PERSONAL. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR ALMOST A WEEK, HAVING TO BEG RIDES FROM PEOPLE JUST SO I CAN SUPPORT MY FAMILY WITH THE (2) JOBS THAT IM WORKING.
Steering, Jun 10, 2016
TRY TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE PUSH BUTTON START AND INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE DASH DO NOT WORK. TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND NOTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED GOODYEAR REPAIR FACILITY. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A NEW STEERING COLUMN MODULE. COST OF APPROXIMATELY $850.00
Steering, Jun 10, 2016
STEERING LOCK FAILURE...CAR BROKE DOWN AT GAS STATION, WON'T START, BRAKE WON'T WORK, CAR IS LOCKED UP. NOW I HAVE $1,000 BILL TO FIX A PROBLEM I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Steering, Engine, Jun 9, 2016
CAR WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DIAGNOSED AS FAILED STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT NISSAN DID NOT RECALL. THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION AT THE TIME, HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING IT TOWED SINCE EVEN IN NEUTRAL THE STEERING WAS LOCKED DOWN.
Steering, Jun 9, 2016
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK ON 6/8/16. I CAME OUT TO MY CAR AFTER WORK AND MY CAR RECOGNIZED MY KEY TO LOCK/ UNLOCK IT. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND MY BREAK WAS TIGHT. IT WAS 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND MY CAR WAS SCORCHING HOT. I HAD NO ONE TO COME PICK ME UP FOR OVER AN HOUR. I GOOGLED "09 NISSAN ALTIMA" AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO FINISH TYPING IT, AND THE SECOND THING THAT PULLED UP WAS "09 NISSAN ALTIMA WON'T START." APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK IN THIS MODEL CAR AND IS NOT VERY SAFE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CASES REPORTED ONLINE ABOUT THEM HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THIS. I HAD A BEACH TRIP PLANNED TO LEAVE ON SATURDAY AND DRIVE MY CAR. IMAGINE HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN HAD IT HAVE HAPPENED WHILE I WAS 500 MILES FROM HOME. STRANDED NO TELLING WHERE FOR HOW MANY HOURS WAITING ON A RIDE. IM ALREADY HAVING TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH IS 55 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVE, NOT TO MENTION HAVING TO PAY FOR THAT BILL TOO. THIS HAS BEEN SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE CONSIDERING IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO GET ME TO AND FROM WORK. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT SOME POINT IN TIME, BUT CAME TO FIND OUT IT HAS SINCE EXPIRED. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SINCE THIS EXPIRED? I THINK THIS SHOULD NEVER EXPIRED CONSIDERING IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND PRETTY MUCH UNAVOIDABLE AT SOME POINT IN TIME. I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED AT NISSAN THAT THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUED A RECALL. I DIDN'T CAUSE THIS ISSUE, NOR DOES IT FALL UNDER THE NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF TYPICAL WEAR, TEAR, OR REPLACEMENT LIKE BATTERY, TIRES, ETC. HOW IS IT FAIR TO MAKE ME, NISSAN'S CONSUMER, PAY $1000+ DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT CAUSE? HOW CAN NISSAN KNOWING SELL A DEFECTED PART ON A CAR AND NOT TRY TO FIX IT?
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 7, 2016
NOT TOO LONG AGO MY CAR WOULD NOT START IN SEVERAL OCASSIONS I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME AGES 4 & 7 IN THE HEAT STRANDED BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY... I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMERS AFFAIRS AT ONE POINT THEIR WAS A RECALL BUT HAS EXPIRE IN 2015 ..NOW ITS JUNE 2016 AND MY CAR JUST STARTED DOING THIS I MADE 1YR WITH MY PRE OWNED CAR STILL MAKIN PAYMENTS NOT ONCE WAS I NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL..I JUST FELT SCARED AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN.IT COULD LEAVE US STRANDED ANY TIME AND ITS JUNE I CANNOT RISK IT IN THIS HEAT.... THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE... NISSAN DID STATE TO ME THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL AND THEIR SORRY BUT IT HAS EXPIRED AND IM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PART... THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE THEY KNEW THEIR VECHICLES HAD A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THEY MADE THEM I BELIEVE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS COSTLY MATTER... I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 2 STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT WONT UNLOCK AND READ MY KEY I NEED HELP PLEASE SOMEONE..... THIS PART IS $680+ LABOR=$1150!!!! I BELIEVE NISSAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE ...