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, Suspension, Wheels, Mar 1, 2021
THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS CAUSED MY TYRODE TO COME OFF CAUSE THE BRACKET THAT IS ON THE STRUT BAR THAT THE STABALIZER BOLTS ONTO HAS BROKE OFF FROM WHERE ITS ATTACHED TO. I CAN NOT KEEP THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TIGHT IT HAS CAME OFF WITH ME DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET WHICH WAS SEAGOVIILLE RD. IN SEAGOBILLE TX. ALL PROBLEMS FRONT SUSPENSION.
Steering, Feb 19, 2021
WENT TO START MY CAR THE OTHER DAY AND IT FAILED TO START WITH A LITTLE KEY ICON ON THE DASHBOARD AND MY PUSH TO START BUTTON READING LOCK. I ASSUMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT -20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME, HOWEVER WHEN I WENT TO JUMP IT IT STILL WOULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER WHEN I PRESSED THE START BUTTON. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON ONLY SELECT CARS FOR THE MAKE MODEL AND YEAR DESPITE IT BEING WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE THAT LINE OF VEHICLE FOR THAT YEAR. WHILE I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE IN THIS COLD OF WEATHER WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO START YOUR CAR COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.
Steering, Feb 9, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2014 THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JEFFREY NISSAN (30800 GRATIOT AVE, ROSEVILLE, MI 48066) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE SECURITY CODE ERROR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *JS
Steering, Feb 4, 2021
MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 DOESN'T START AT ALL AND THE SYMPTOMS CLEARLY SHOWS THAT IS THE ISSUE WITH ESCL THAT NISSAN ALTIMA HAS ACKNOWLEGED, HOWEVER THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE IT WAS FOR A LIMITED TIME PERIOD AND I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT IT. TODAY I WAS STRANDED AS THE CAR WAS JUST NOT STARTING.THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.
Steering, Jan 28, 2021
THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE CAR HAS LOCKED ON ME TWICE IN TWO WEEKS, REQUIRING TWO SEPARATE TOWS, $800 IN REPAIRS, $427 IN TOWING AND $69 IN RENTAL AND UBER. CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP. I PARKED THE CAR BOTH TIMES AND WHEN I CAME BACK THE STEERING COLUMN WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED, BRAKE PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED TO START THE CAR.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 23, 2021
THE 2009 ALTIMA ESCL FAILED IN MY CAR. THE KEY FOB REMAINS PROGRAMMED WITH THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT UNLOCK THUS RENDERING THE VEHICLE IMMOBILE. I WAS STRANDED IN A REMOTE AREA APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR'S DRIVE FROM MY APPARTMENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE OF WHICH A 'SERVICE CAMPAIGN' WAS ISSUED BY NISSAN. HOWEVER, MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THAT CAMPAIGN.
Steering, Jan 22, 2021
SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN OFF MY CAR, A 'KEY' SYMBOL WILL DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD AND I AM UNABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES ALSO BECOME STIFF. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT RANDOM, BUT MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY THE COLDER IT IS OUTSIDE. THE ISSUE IS WITH STEERING COLUMN LOCK ACTUATOR, WHICH IS UNDER THE PANEL BELOW THE STEERING WHEEL. TO TEMPORARILY FIX THIS ISSUE I'VE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE TAP IT WITH AN OBJECT SUCH AS A WRENCH, WHILE PRESSING THE START BUTTON AND HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE SIMULTANEOUSLY. HOWEVER, DOING THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN I WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO CELL RECEPTION AND IT WAS AN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL SITUATION. NISSAN HAS RECALLED A SELECT FEW OF THESE PARTS, BUT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THIS FAULTY PART AS IT IS VERY UNSAFE, AND MAKES THE WHOLE CAR UNRELIABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 19, 2021
STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILURE, NO START CONDITION. SECOND OCCURRENCE, STRANDED AGAIN. VEHICLE PARKED.
Steering, Dec 27, 2020
THE ELECTRIC COLUMN STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED CAR CANNOT BE STARTED. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR COSTS
Steering, Dec 14, 2020
OUT OF NOWHERE A KEY LIGHT TURNED ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC & WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY THE REMOTE. REPROGRAMMED THE REMOTE & CHANGED BATTERIES BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. I'VE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKS. THEY TOLD ME IT'LL COST TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE CAR RUNS PERFECTLY FINE THE ONLY ISSUE IS THAT THE LIGHT IS ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK. I WAS TOLD IF I DON'T GET IT FIXED IT CAN TURN INTO A BIGGER PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSE BY ME NOR MY DRIVING. THE PART IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. AGAIN. SINCE THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL EXPIRED IN MAY.
Steering, Dec 8, 2020
WILL NOT START STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE LEFT ME STRANDED
Steering, Dec 7, 2020
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THIS AS A USED CAR.WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS WITH IT WORKING JUST FINE UP UNTIL LAST THURSDAY WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND STOPPED FOR GAS.HE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN HE WENT TO TURN IT BACK ON, THE CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE.WE TRIED TO JUMP IT AND GOT NOTHING. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND GOT NOTHING.LOOKED ON YOUTUBE TO SEE WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE.CAME ACROSS A VIDEO TALKING ABOUT THE STEERING LOCK ON 2009 NISSANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR GOING OUT AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING. HE TRIED TO FIX IT AND CHECK THE FUSES UNDER THE STEERING AND GOT IT TO START. WE WERE SO HAPPY AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE UNTIL HE TRIED DRIVING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. HE LEFT THE HOUSE, STARTED JUST FINE AND WENT TO HIS DESTINATION. ONCE HE WAS DONE AND TRIED TO LEAVE. THERE IT WAS AGAIN. CAR DID NOT START. THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. STUCK.TURNS OUT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT ENDED IN MAY OF 2020 OF THIS EXACT ISSUE.I CALL NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THEM TO REPLACE IT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MANUFACTURED ISSUE AND THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED AND THE ISSUES THAT I'M READING A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL HAVING WITH THIS IS NO LONGER VALID.AND WE WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.THIS IS NOT RIGHT.BEING THAT'S IT'S NOT OUR ISSUE.I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS SOMETHING WE CAUSED BUT WE DIDN'T, THE PREVIOUS OWNER NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL. AND NOW WE HAVE IT AND IT FALLS ON US BECAUSE NISSAN DECIDES TO EXPIRE A KNOWN RECALL THAT IS STILL HAPPENING. THIS IS SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN. WE HAVE CHILDREN AND LIKE TO GO ON ROAD TRIPS. WHAT IF WE GET STRANDED WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE, NO FOOD NO DRINKS NO NOTHING AND SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED BECAUSE NISSAN REFUSED TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT WAS THEIR FAULT. LET ME TELL YOU. HUGE LAW SUIT. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL SOMEONE GETS THIS ISSUES RESOLVED.
Steering, Dec 2, 2020
A FAULTY STEERING LOCK ON THE ALTIMA PREVENTED ME FROM STARTING MY CAR. I WAS STRANDED IN A REMOTE AREA FOR 7.5 HOURS AT NEAR FREEZING WEATHER.
Steering, Nov 15, 2020
SOME TIMES DONT START THE KEY SIBOL APPESRS ALTIMA 2009 COUPE I LIVED IN PURTO RICO
Steering, Sep 27, 2020
I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM GOING OUT WITH FRIENDS AND I GOT IN MY CAR TO LEAVE WHICH I DROVE TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE A FEW HOURS BEFORE RETURNING. SHE LIVES IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX SO I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID KEY(IT'S YELLOW) . I COULD BARELY PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND I WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED MY FRIEND WHO HAS THE EXACT SAME MAKE , MODEL AND YEAR NISSAN AS ME AND HE SAID HE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH HIS CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO. THANK GOD I WASN'T AT AN UNKNOWN PLACE OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET HOME. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.
Steering, Sep 25, 2020
STEERING COLUMN ACTUATOR LOCKED
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 6, 2020
WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO WORK AND TRY TO TURN THE CAR, THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO TURN ON, THE CAR LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL, I HAVE THE KEY PRESENT AND IT'S TELLING ME IT'S LOCKED, THE STEERING WHEEL IS REALLY HARD (LOCKED) AND THE BREAK GOT REALLY HARD TO PRESS DOWN. I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH AND IT'S TELLING ME IT'S THE ESCL (DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK)
Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Sep 2, 2020
WHILE IN MOTION AND MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO AN INTERSECTION MY STEERING WHEEL WAS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTINUE TURNING LEFT AND THEN IT LOCKED. WAS GOING TO HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER BETWEEN ROAD AND SIDEWALK WHERE PEDESTRIANS WALK, HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES TO PREVENT A CRASH. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS THE CAR ILUMINATED ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH AND TOLD ME THE CAR WAS OFF. I WAS ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR, THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED AND WAS ABLE TO GO IN REVERSE A BIT TO COMPLETE MY LEFT TURN. HAD A SIMILAR SCENARIO MANY YEARS AGO WHEN FIRST PURCHASING THE CAR, WHEN ACCELERATING IN THE HIGHWAY ND DRIVING STRAIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL LOCKED, COULDNT TURN TGE STEERIBG WHEEL AT ALL. FELT AS IF THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OF EVEN THOUGH CAR ELECTRONICS WERE ON SUCH AS THE RADIO. SECONDS LATER THE LIGHTS ILUMINATED IN THE DASH AND WAS ABLE TO TURN ON THE CAR AND STEERIBG WHEEL UNLOCKED. BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES, SO THEY DECIDED TO RESTART THE COMPUTER AND DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL LAST THURSDAY WHERE IT TURNED OFF ON ME WHILE TURNING. EXRREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Steering, Aug 9, 2020
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BASED ON REPLACING THE BRAKE SWITCH, KEY FOB, AND BATTERY THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT FALLS WITH THE ESCL FAILING TO ENGAGE AND REPORT IT'S STATUS. SINCE THIS IS A PUSH BUTTON START AND THERE IS NO MANUAL BACKUP, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START WITHOUT THIS PROPERLY REPORTING. CURRENTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MY CAR WILL START ON ANY GIVEN DAY AND I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE IT IN PARKING LOTS AND GET RIDES WHEN IT FAILS TO START IN THE PAST.
Steering, Jul 27, 2020
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) I WAS IN A REMOTE PARKING LOT AT NIGHT ALONE WHERN THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. IT WAS A POORLY LIT PARKING LOT AND I WAS A WOMAN BY MYSELF AT NIGHT AND SCARED. I WAS IN A PARKED STATE.
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 22, 2020
MY 2009 ALTIMA, WHILE PARKED, WILL NOT START, AND APPARENTLY, AFTER INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEVICE IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS DEVICE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF ITS OCCURENCE.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2020
LOCK STEERING MODULE FAILED. *TR
Steering, Feb 20, 2020
MY CAR WAS PARKED NEAR MY OFFICE AND IT REFUSED TO START ON 2/7/2020 EVENING. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO NEAREST LOCAL SERVICE CENTER IT WAS DETECTED IT HAS PROBLEM WITH ESCL AND IT WAS FIXED ON 2/11/2020.DUE TO URGENT NEED I COULDN'T TAKE TO NISSAN DEALER. LATER I DISCOVERED NISSAN IS RUNNING ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ESCL IN 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND ALSO THERE IS OPTION FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT IT WAS REJECTED STATING MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT QUALIFIED IN SERVICE CAMPAIGN. MY CAR EXACTLY SAME PROBLEM WHAT WAS DISCLOSED IN HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2017/MC-10119195-9999.PDF. BUT NISSAN REFUSED ACCEPT THE PROBLEM AND THE REIMBURSEMENT CHARGES OF $775. I REQUEST YOU TO CHECK THIS AND INSTRUCT NISSAN TO HONOR THE REIMBURSEMENT MY CAR IS EXCLUDED FROM CAMPAIGN EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS WILL HELP SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND GETTING REFUSED BY NISSAN WITH UN-SATISFACTORY REASONS . THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS STOPPED IN STREET AND REFUSE TO START. NISSAN CASE #39570583
Steering, Feb 12, 2020
THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE STREETS AND WOULDN'T START. I TRIED JUMP STARTING, CHANGING THE KEYS BATTERY, DIDN'T WORK. HAD TO TOW IT TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND HE FIGURED OUT WAS THIS STEERING LOCK PART, AND TOLD ME IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH ALTIMA 2009. I SEARCHED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND FOUND OUT THAT ALTHOUGH IT HAS HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS, NO RECALL WAS MADE FOR THIS ISSUE.
Steering, Feb 4, 2020
MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WON'T STOP LOCKING EVERY SO OFTEN. LOTS OF NISSAN 09 ALTIMAS HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR THAT PART BUT MINE DOES NOT.