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, Jan 29, 2013
STEERING LOCK MECHANISM $1200 BUCKS NISSAN BETTER DO SOMETHING. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 29, 2013
CAR WOULD NOT START / COMPUTER LOCK / CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 28, 2013
MY DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD WERE TRYING TO GET HOME UNDER AN ICE STORM WARNING. THE PUSH BUTTON START DID NOT OPERATE. THEY WERE STRANDED IN THE COLD UNDER A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. NISSAN SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROLLER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND START BUTTON. THERE IS NOT A METHOD TO OVERRIDE THE PUSH BUTTON WITH A MECHANICAL KEY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA. MY ALTIMA HAS ONLY 37,500 MILES BUT IS PAST THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR WAS $803. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE EXPECTS A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THEY SEE THIS FAULTY MODULE. THE PART WAS CHANGED IN 2010 BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BAD ONES IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS. *TR
Steering, Jan 28, 2013
I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND CAME OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SO THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. SENT IT TO THE DEALER AND $1100. THIS IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM SO WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED? I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE IN 13 DEGREE WEATHER WITH MY INFANT SON AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS ABOUT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. *TR
Steering, Jan 28, 2013
STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED LEAVING CAR STRANDED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 28, 2013
CAR WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE KEY IN IT, BUT COULD UNLOCK DOORS AND TRUNK, AND WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY FOUND THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH IKEY READER. TECH INSTALLED NEW IKEY READER AND CLEARED THEFT CODES. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 25, 2013
DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR RECOGNIZED MY KEY WAS PRESENT BUT PUSH BUTTON DID NOTHING. MANUALLY USING THE KEY SLOT WOULD NOT START THE CAR EITHER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM BEING TOLD THAT WILL COST $800-1100 TO FIX STEERING LOCK AND THAT PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME DEFECT OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THIS DID OCCUR ON A VERY COLD DAY, ABOUT 10 DEGREES AT THE TIME. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 25, 2013
AMBER 'INTELLIGENT KEY' LIGHT STARTED APPEARING ON AND OFF. FINALLY VEHICLE REFUSED TO ENGAGE STARTER AND WHIRRING NOISE INDICATING STEERING LOCK IS FUNCTIONAL NO LONGER HAPPENS. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TOWED AND RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 2009 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. REPAIR QUOTES ONLINE APPEAR TO BE IN THE $900 RANGE. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Steering, Jan 25, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A REPEAT OCCURRENCE. THE COMPUTER WAS PREVIOUSLY RESET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
Steering, Jan 25, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,400. *TR
Steering, Jan 25, 2013
DROVE TO LUNCH IN CAR. CAME OUT 30 MINUTES LATER CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN LOCK SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED. REPAIR COST WITH TOW ~ $850. *TR
Steering, Jan 24, 2013
I PARKED MY VEHICLE AT MY SON'S SCHOOL TO RUN IN AND PICK HIM UP FROM THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE START BUTTON AND BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF, LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD OR NO SOUND WAS MADE FROM THE CAR DOORS BEING OPENED. MY MECHANIC CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PART AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL JANUARY 29TH. REPAIR COST IS AROUND $800. *TR
Steering, Jan 23, 2013
I CAME OFFICE ON 18TH JAN IN MY CAR AND WHEN I WAS HEADING BACK IT DIDN'T STARTED. I TOWED MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID AFTER DIAGNOSIS THAT CAR'S STEERING LOCK CONTROLLER IS FAULTY AND IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED: FINAL CHARGES : $830, WELL CLEARLY FROM THE POSTS THAT ITS NOT ONE TIME INCIDENT AND NISSAN IS AWARE OF THAT . THEY SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS . ITS JUST 3 YEARS OLD CAR AND I HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HEFTY AMOUNT WHEN I CARED MY CAR LIKE A BABY. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 23, 2013
TRYING TO START VEHICLE, YELLOW KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS STRANDED AT LUNCH 15 MINUTES FROM WORK WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THE SAME PART (I'VE HEARD) WAS RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS AND CAN LEAVE ANYONE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 23, 2013
THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE ON THE MORNING OF 1/14/13. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON, THE PUSH-START IGNITION REMAINED IN THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED START ATTEMPTS. BREAK LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. CALLED LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. AFTER AN HOUR, THE NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME WITH NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAD FAILED AND THEY ESTIMATED THE TOTAL REPAIR COST TO BE AT $900.00. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO WAS ABLE TO COURIER IT OVER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON 1/23/13 AND THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION RELATIVE TO THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPAIR. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AT LEAST A YEAR AGO BASED ON ITS APPARENTLY RAMPANT HISTORY OF FAILURE FOR OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS. *TR
Steering, Jan 23, 2013
DROVE CAR A FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE FOR APROX 15 MINS. CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START. NO KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON DASH BUT KEY FOB WAS IN CAR. GOT THE SPARE AS WELL AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. PLUGGED IN FOB, DISCONNECTED CAR BATTERY. ALL WOULD NOT WORK. STUCK IN THE COLD WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER! HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP ($100) AND PART WAS STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. PART WAS ON BACK ORDER! NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THIS! IT'S RIDICULOUS. THEY NO LONGER USE THIS PART ON THEIR CARS YET REFUSE TO RECALL COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY! REPAIR BILL AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS $753.09 PLUS $100 TOW SO $853.09!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. LUCKILY DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO GET NISSAN TO COVER MY RENTAL CAR SINCE I WENT A WEEK WITHOUT A CAR. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Steering, Jan 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Steering, Jan 23, 2013
WENT OUT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEYLESS START FOB. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILS. THIS IS A TIME BOMB BECAUSE IT CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE CAR DO NOT MATTER. *TR
Steering, Jan 22, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Structure, Jan 21, 2013
INTELLI KEY INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING TWO DAYS AGO. LAST EVENING AFTER DINNER VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF "LOCK" STRANDED IN 15 DEGREE TEMPS WAITING FOR TOW FOR 2 HOURS. NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR KNEW EXACTLY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. HE CALLED ME LATER TONIGHT TO CONFIRM ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED REPLACING. $800.00+. NISSAN SURELY WILL RECALL "FAULTY" DOOR HANDLE SPRINGS AT .50 CENTS A WHACK, BUT GIVE ME A BREAK. IT'S TIME NISSAN OWN UP TO THE NUMEROUS 2009'S THAT ARE HAVING THIS PART FAIL. *TR
Steering, Jan 21, 2013
I PARKED MY CAR AT WORK, AND WHEN I WENT OUT 8 HOURS LATER TO GO HOME IT WOULDN'T START. THEY KEY LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, IT KEPT SAYING LOCK. MY HUSBAND TRIED TESTING THE BATTERY, ETC. THE CAR ENDED UP HAVING TO BE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP 50 MILES AWAY($200). ONCE THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE TOTAL WITH LABOR WOULD BE APPROX $850. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE FACT THAT THE ITEM IS ON BACK ORDER, AND THAT THERE ARE A TON OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE TELLS ME THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART!!! I AM WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM NISSAN REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Jan 21, 2013
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, PART NOT IN STOCK. *TR
Steering, Jan 20, 2013
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA - KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CAR FAILED TO START. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED BY DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR IS $1,100.00. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED DURING BUSINESS HOURS TOMORROW. TOTAL MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS 64,000. *TR
Steering, Jan 20, 2013
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, CALLED A MECHANIC FRIEND THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY. HE REALIZED IT WASN'T THE BATTERY, IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK AND HE'D SEEN IT BEFORE IN NISSAN'S. WE FINALLY HAD TO CALL NISSAN AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. IT COST US $800. OUR MECHANIC FRIEND SAYS THAT IN HIS EXPERIENCE NISSAN DOESN'T FIND THIS TO BE A "SAFETY ISSUE" SO THEY WON'T DO A FORMAL RECALL. THIS IS A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND OUR WARRANTY IS ALREADY EXPIRED. OBVIOUSLY FROM THE OTHER POSTS, NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS ISN'T A BRAKE OR BATTERY ISSUE, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS HAPPENING ON A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. WE HAVE TRIED CONTACTING NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD RECONSIDER AND PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID NO, CLEARLY THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS IS JUST WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS IT'S A PROBLEM TOO, AND TRIED TO WORK WITH US THE BEST THEY COULD. *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Jan 20, 2013
MY DAUGHTER STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH FUEL AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE CAR THE BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED. *TR