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, Jun 19, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS FURTHER TESTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Steering, May 13, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" ON THURSDAY, MAY 11TH, 2017, I LEFT FOR AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER THE APPOINTMENT, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A BIT STIFF. I TRIED THE BATTERY, BUT NO RELIEF. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED. AFTER MUCH READING, I REALIZED THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH NISSAN.
Steering, May 13, 2017
STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED
Steering, Electrical system, May 11, 2017
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THE STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT. VEHICLE WILL NOT START, SEEMS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT HAPPENED.
Steering, May 10, 2017
THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON THE CAR AND I COULDNT GET IT UNLOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TO GET REPLACED SO I DID HOWEVER I FOUND OUT LATER THIS WAS A RECALL
Steering, May 5, 2017
AFTER LEAVING THE HOUSE FOR WORK MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I PAID TO HAVE SOME COME OUT THINKING IT COULD POSSIBLY BE BATTERY OR STARTER RELATED. COM TO FIND OUT NISSAN HAS ISSUED A ESCL SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON LIKE VEHICLES. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND THAT IT NEED TO BE FIXED. THANK GOD I WAS AT HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED OTHERWISE THEIR NEGLIGENCE COULD'VE LEFT ME IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET FIXED BUT I'M NOW LEFT WONDERING WHAT ELSE COULD THEY BE HIDING. MY MOTHER HAS THE SAME CAR AND SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS WELL.
Steering, May 4, 2017
STEERING IS LOCK AND IT DOES TURN ON AND IT NEVER DID THIS IT WORK GOOD
Steering, May 2, 2017
LOCK STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Steering, Apr 29, 2017
MY NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN IN PLACE BUT MY VIN DOESNT QUALIFY EVEN THOU ITS ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALERSHIP IS ASKING 1003 TO FIX THIS. KINDLY HELP
Steering, Apr 9, 2017
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM, WHICH IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITHIN THESE CARS. THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MOST OWNERS WON'T MALFUNCTION UNTIL FURTHER MILES LIKE MINES. I WAS AT MY PARENTS HOUSE VISITING "THANK LORD" WHICH WAS NOT THAT FAR FROM MY APARTMENT, WHEN I CAME OUTSIDE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WAS DUE TO THAT PROBLEM
Steering, Apr 1, 2017
I TRIED TO START NISSAN ALTIMA AFTER SHOPPING AND WOULD NOT START. STEERING WAS LOCKED UP AND TRANSMISSION.I WAS NOT IN THE SAFEST PART OF TOWN SO I WAS WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY.THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME SO I KNEW IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK UNIT GONE BAD AGAIN. FIRST TIME WAS 3 YEARS AGO AND IT WAS REPLACED FREE AT NISSAN DEALER THIS TIME IT COST ME $ 1009.56 AT SAME NISSAN DEALER. NEED TO RECALL SO THIS MATTER CAN BE FIXED. I CANT AFFORD A CAR THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE SAME $1000 PART EVERY 3 YEARS.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Mar 12, 2017
TAKADA RECALL- THE CAR WAS STATIONAY AND WOULD NOT START.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 8, 2017
REPLACED STEERING LOCK DECEMBER 6, 2013, AND AGAIN MARCH 7, 2017. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. REPLACED WITH NISSAN PART THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO REPLACE WITH SAME DEFECTIVE PART AGAIN 3 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS LATER AT MY OWN EXPENSE THE SECOND TIME.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Feb 23, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN PARTS RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ *CN
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 23, 2017
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START, CAN NOT MOVE GEARS, LOCK OR UNLOCK DOORS AND WINDOWS DON'T WORK. THE PART HAD A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE REINSTATED.IF THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE I COULD HAVE BEEN RAPED OR KILLED. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY ISSUE!
Steering, Feb 22, 2017
STEERING LOCK HAS BROKEN AND THERE IS NO WAY TO START MY CAR - IT LEFT ME STRANDED AT NIGHT AND I UNDERSTAND NISSAN WILL NOT HONOR A RECALL THAT THEY HAD FOR THIS BEFORE. I WAS PARKED IN A LOT WHEN IT HAPPENED. I HAD MY CAR TOWED, THEN IT WORKED BRIEFLY BUT HAS STOPPED AGAIN. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC KEY WITH NO MANUAL OPTION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND YEAR AND THAT NISSAN CHANGED THE DESIGN BECAUSE OF THIS.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 17, 2017
THE START PUSH BUTTON IGNITION AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WILL NOT ENGAGE.. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE BRAKE PAD TO DEPRESS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I AM LEFT DEAD IN THE WATER WITH NO WAY TO START OR USE THE ACCESSORIES FUNCTION TO TURN ON THE RADIO OR ALLOW MY PHONE TO CHARGE IN THE BATTERY PORT. I WENT TO PICK UP MY FAMILY WENT TO START THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO RECOGNITION.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 16, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 14, 2017
MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 LEFT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AT NIGHT. THE STEERING WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE CAR WOULD DO NOTHING! LUCKILY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR DID START. NOW A MONTH LATER, THANKFULLY, THIS HAPPENED AGAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME! I COULD HAVE BEEN MURDERED OR RAPED IN THAT PARKING LOT! I AM HEARING THERE WAS A RECALL THAT WAS AMENDED IN JANUARY 2016. I DON'T HAVE OVER $10000. FOR THIS REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED AGAIN!
Steering, Feb 13, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 12, 2017
CAR WOULD NOT START, LOCKED UP ON ME. VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN, TOLD IT WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $1000 TO REPAIR, NOTICED OTHER COSTUMERS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 6 YEARS WHICH EXPIRED 4-25-2015. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN PLAZA PARKING LOT
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2017
ISSUES WITH STEERING WHEEL WHICH LEADS TO THE CAR NOT TURNING ON AT ALL .
Steering, Feb 10, 2017
DROVE TO WORK FINE. CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR AN HOUR LATER THE CAR COULDN'T START OR ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. THE BATTERY IS BRAND NEW SO THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE. TURNS OUT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING CYLINDER LOCK IS BAD. TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET THE CAR TO START. CAR WAS STATIONARY BUT NOW I'M STRANDED.
Steering, Feb 9, 2017
I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR AND WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AT WORK FOR OVER 3 HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. ONCE I GOT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH MY STEERING LOCK AND IT WOULD COST $1,300. I CAME IN 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT DUE TO AN INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON WHICH I FOUND OUT WAS A WARNING ABOUT THE PROGRAMING OF MY KEY AND WAS TURNED AWAY BY THE DEALER AND TOLD THAT THE LIGHT REALLY ISN'T A BIG ISSUE BECAUSE I AM ABLE TO START THE CAR. HOWEVER, 4 DAYS LATER MY CAR WON'T START AT ALL AND NOW I AM UNABLE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK AND I AM ALSO A STUDENT. I CALLED CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AFTER 2015 AND THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.
Steering, Power train, Feb 9, 2017
THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL WAS REPAIRED, BUT WARRANTY WAS OFF. HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STOPPED AND RECALL ON IT WAS OFF. AUTOMOBILE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT SLOWED TO A CRAWL ON THE HIGHWAY