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: other or unspecified
146 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Other or unspecified, Aug 3, 2017
I PURCHASED A NISSAN ALTIMA 09 AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES UNTIL 8/03/17. AS I WENT TO TURN THE CAR ON A LIGHT CAME UP ON THE DASH BOARD INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK. I FIGURED IT WAS A QUICK FIX SO I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S A FAULTY STEERING LOCK AND ASKED FOR ME TO BRING MY CAR IN. I HAD TO CALL OUT OF WORK TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS ONGOING ISSUE. I LOOKED ON ONLINE FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AND COULDN'T FIND ANY BUT I DID FIND THAT MANY NISSAN ALTIMA 09 OWNERS WERE DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NO WARRANTY ON MY CAR BUT THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO FIX MY CAR SO I WON'T BE STRANDED AND WON'T HAVE TO PAY 600$ FOR A SMALL PART...
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 30, 2017
CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT WORKING CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIVE INEFFECTIVELY, CAR SPEED DECLINES AND SOMETIMES THE CAR RPMS STAY AT 3000 AND WON'T ACCELERATE.
Other or unspecified, May 10, 2017
CPSC:MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN LITTLE OVER 2 MINUTES. WHOLE CAR BURNED. *BF UPDATED 05/10/2017*JS
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 26, 2017
I BOUGHT THE CAR AT ROUGHLY 54K MILES. APPROXIMATELY AROUND 62K, THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I WORK ON RESIDENTIAL AC UNITS. MY PRESSURES ARE EQUALIZED. I BYPASSED THE PRESSURE SWITCH TEMPORARILY DURING DIAGNOSTICS TO SEE IF THE PRESSURE SWITCH WAS THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED WHEN BYPASSED.THE ISSUE IS EITHER THE CLUTCH SPECIFICALLY OR THE COMPRESSOR IS BAD. HERE RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED A "JERKING" MOTION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WILL BE THE SHIFT SOLENOID OR THE CVT. CVT FLUID IS GOOD. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH 2009 ALTIMAS FOR OVER 8 YEARS NOW. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? WHAT IS REQUIRED TO GET A RECALL IN EFFECT? THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING CVTS, START/STOP PROCEDURES, AND AC PROBLEMS, BUT NOT ONE RECALL CONCERNING THIS HAS HAPPENED. NISSAN REFUSES TO HELP.
Other or unspecified, Apr 14, 2017
THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REMEDY. TOYOTA WILL REPLACE ON THEY'RE VEHICLES, BUT NOT NISSAN.THE DASH FROM THE INTENSE HEAT IN SOUTH FLORIDA, HAS BECOME STICKY AND IS CRACKING. IN SOME AREAS, IT CAN BECOME SHINY CAUSING A GLARE IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDOWS WERE TINTED AND A HEATSHIELD IS ALWAYS IN THE INSIDE WINDSHIELD. ARMORALL OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS, WERE NEVER USED WHEN MAINTAINED. ONLY SOAP AND WATER ON A CLOTH. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN BUT THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT IS COSTLY TO REPLACE WITH THE SAME ISSUE REOCURRING.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Mar 12, 2017
TAKADA RECALL- THE CAR WAS STATIONAY AND WOULD NOT START.
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2017
ISSUES WITH STEERING WHEEL WHICH LEADS TO THE CAR NOT TURNING ON AT ALL .
Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2017
ISSUE WITH STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO TURN ON
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 4, 2017
ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2017 APPROXIMATELY 5:45 PM, I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF ON KIRKWOOD HIGHWAY IN NEWARK, DE WHICH IS 3 LANES. THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND HESITATE TO TAKE OFF. WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD MY 3 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT AT THE TIME. AN PASSERBY FINALLY PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND HELPED ME PUSH MY CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY TO THE LEFT TURN LANE SO THAT I WASN'T BLOCKING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS, A TOW TRUCK FINALLY CAME AND TOWED THE CAR TO BENCHMARK TRANSMISSION IN NEWARK, DE. THE MECHANIC NAMED DANTE ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD DIED. HE ALSO NOTIFIED ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN RECALL ISSUED BY NISSAN SEVERAL YEARS BACK WHICH MY TRANSMISSION WAS NOW OUT OF RECALL DUE TO THE MILEAGE. MY CAR WAS IN THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER 2012 TO FIX THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK THAT ALSO TURNED INTO A RECALL. AT THAT TIME NISSAN HAD MY UPDATED ADDRESS AS WELL AS IT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED WITH THE DELAWARE DMV AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. THERE WAS ALSO NO INDICATION THAT ANY ISSUE WAS OCCURRING WITH THE TRANSMISSION (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I WANT NISSAN TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE IN UPWARDS OF $4,000.00
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 31, 2017, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DID NOT START AGAIN. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE BATTERY DIED AND WENT TO GET JUMPER CABLES. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Other or unspecified, Jan 27, 2017
WHILE VISITING A LOCAL PARK I CAME BACK TO MY CAR TO FIND IT UNABLE TO BE STARTED. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC START AND THE KEY FOB BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED BUT IT WAS A FAULTY PART WITHIN THE CAR, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK, THAT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING ABLE TO START MY CAR. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THIS PARK WHILE IT WAS GETTING DARK AND I WAS BY MYSELF FOR 4 HOURS BEFORE A TRUCK COULD GET TO ME.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 20, 2017
CAME OUT OF THE STORE COULDN'T START VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN, BRAKES WERE HARD TO STEP ON, "KEY" LIGHT ON! DOORS ABLE TO UNLOCK AND LOCK AND TRUNK. TOWED 3X NOBODY COULD FIX IT SAID NEEDS TO GO BACK TO NISSAN NOBODY COULD EVEN GET A DIAGNOSTIC OUTPUT ON IT..SITTING AT NISSAN NOW WAITING FOR THEM TO TELL ME COST WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD A DIME, MISSED WORK SINGLE M W DISABLED VERY SICK SON..LUCKILY HE WASN'T WITH ME! I EVEN CHANGED BATTERY IN KEY FOB MADE NO DIFFERENCE.I GOOGLED MY CAR AND SEEN ALL THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS AS MINE!,VERY SAD AND UPSET
Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2017
AFTER MY 4.5 HR. SHIFT AT THE HOSPITAL, I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR & IT WOULDN'T START. IT SHOWED "NO KEY". I HAD BATTERY POWER BUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL SHOWED THAT THE FOB WAS NOT CONNECTING TO THE CAR. I WAS STRANDED AND IT WAS BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES. THE NEXT DAY AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERIES IN THE FOB, MY SON BROUGHT ME TO THE CAR. STILL NO STARTING IT. WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO A DEALER WHO PROCEEDED TO CHARGE ME $1301 DOLLARS TO FIX. IT WAS THE "DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK MODULE" (EXACT WORDS ON THE BILL) AND I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. THE DEALER DIDN'T KNOW WHY MY BATTERY WAS AFFECTED BUT IT WOULD NO LONGER HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN I LOOKED ON EBAY FOR THE STEERING PART, IT WAS $350. NISSAN CHARGED ME DOUBLE. I ASKED THE DEALER WHY THE DOUBLE CHARGE, THEY SAID "WHO KNOWS, CALL NISSAN." WHEN I ASKED WHY THIS "DEFECTIVE PART" WAS NOT RECALLED, THE REPLY WAS "NISSAN OFFERED AN EXTENSION ON THE WARRANTY. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED." THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THERE WAS NO WARNING OF IT'S GOING OUT AND NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT IT.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2017
OWNER OF A 09 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. MY WHOLE FAMILY GOT STUCK WITH THE CAR THAT DIDNT START AT ALL, THERE'S A KEY LOGO IN THE DASH PANEL SHOWING SO I WENT TO FIND SOME SOLUTIONS ONLINE AND FOUND THAT IM LOST BECAUSE IT WONT START AGAIN UNTIL FIX BY A DEALER. NO FUN AT ALL BECAUSE I FOUND THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET AND THIS BEEN A OLD PROBLEM THAT I NEVER WAS MENTIONED BY MY SERVICE DEALER. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 3, 2017
WE HAVE A DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WHICH HAS DISABLE THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION ON NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 SL. IT CAN HAPPENED ANYTIME WHICH PUT A PERSONS LIFE IN DANGER IF YOU GET STUCK ON OR TO F THE ROAD. BASED ON MY RESEARCH I HAVE READ NUMEROUS CASES WHERE VERY SAME SITUATION HAD CAUSED BY FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). THE ONLY OPTION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO GET YOUR CAR TOWED TO DEAL SHIP AND PAY WELL OVER $1100. EVEN THOUGH THIS NISSAN FAULT FOR CHOOSING TO USE THE FAULTY PART. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNFAIR ON THEIR PART. PLEASE ADVICE US AS WHAT CAN WE DO TO HAVE NISSAN TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE THIS FAULTY PART REPLACED.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2017
ARRIVED AT A GAS STATION TO FUEL UP, AFTER I WAS DONE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE STEERING LOCK PUMP (WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE PUSH TO START MECHANISM) IS WORN OUT WHICH STOPS THE CAR TO TURN ON
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2017
MY CAR WAS PARKED ON THE STREET WHEN I TRIED TO START IT AND NOTHING, THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. THE FOB IS RECOGNIZED AND THE LIGHTS WORK. TRIED JUMPING BUT NOTHING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED INTIALLY BUT SINCE BEING TOWED, THE WHEEL IS NOW LOCKED. BRAKE IS HARD TO PUSH WHEN ATTEMPTING PUSH START---IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOTHING.
Other or unspecified, Dec 31, 2016
THE " STEERING COLUMN LOCK ACTUATOR" IS FAILING KEEPING CAR FROM STARTING AND STRANDING ME WITH NO ALTERNATIVES MEANS TO START CAR. THIS AN APPARENT KNOWN PROBLEM TO NISSAN YET THEY REFUSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Dec 27, 2016
CAR WOOULD NOT START WITH PUSH BUTTON. DID START REMOTELY BUT AS SOON AS TRIED TO RESTART CAR AFTER GETTING IN, CAR WOULD NOT START. DEFECTIVE LOCKING MECHANISM IN STEERING WHEEL SO WOULD NOT START. IF LATE AT NIGHT IN NO CELL SERVICE AREA WHAT DO YOU DO? NO WAY TO CALL FOR HELP? CAR NO START? CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. REMOTELY STARTED THEN TRIED TO RESTART AFTER GETTING IN CAR. PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE. MANY MANY OF THEM DO THIS. AFTER REPLACED OK. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY RECALL. NOTE COST IS $1045 TO FIX. VERY BAD SAFETY SITUATION. NEEDS RECONSIDERATION FOR RECALL.. IS PROBLEM WITH 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA'S.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2016
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL); THIS WAS A COVERED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT UNTIL JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL OR THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN AN ISSUE. I WAS PARKED OUT NEAR A LAKE AND HAD TO CALL MY FRIENDS TO PICK ME UP AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED. THIS IS NOT A SMALL ISSUE, IF SOMEONE WAS UNABLE TO START THEIR CAR IN A FREEZING SITUATION THEY COULD DIE. OR IF I WAS NEEDING TO GET A FAMILY MEMBER TO THE HOSPITAL I WOULD BE UNABLE TO.
Other or unspecified, Dec 22, 2016
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S WON'T START AND LEFT MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER STRANDED IN COLD WEATHER. APPEARS TO BE A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE (PART # 48700-9N00B). IF THIS OCCURRED JUST THREE DAYS EARLIER, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN SUB-ZERO WEATHER. SHE RETURNED TO HER CAR AFTER RUNNING SOME ERRANDS IN A SMALL TOWN WE LIVE NEAR AND WHEN SHE GOT IN HER CAR AN AMBER LIGHT WITH A KEY SYMBOL WAS PRESENT ON LEFT SIDE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD A RED FLASHING (APPROX. EVERY 4-5 SECONDS) LIGHT OF A CAR AND KEY SYMBOL. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT AS IF IT WAS LOCKED, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL CAME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED AND THE DASHBOARD DIDN'T ILLUMINATE AS NORMAL JUST BEFORE STARTING. THE START PUSH BUTTON DID NOTHING (WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK THE ENGINE). THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT AND IS IN IMMACULATE SHAPE. I'VE READ COUNTLESS ARTICLES AND POSTINGS TO FORUMS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND NISSAN IS FULLY AWARE OF IT. HOW CAN A CAR MANUFACTURER KNOWINGLY ALLOW THIS PROBLEM TO EXIST WHICH GREATLY PUTS LIVES AT RISK. ON TOP OF IT ALL THE COST TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE RANGES ANYWHERE FROM $800.00 TO $1200 AT A DEALER.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 18, 2016
THE POWER LOCK STEERING KEEPS ON LOCKING THE START SYSTEM AND CAR CAN`T START .
Other or unspecified, Dec 11, 2016
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. ONLINE RESEARCH REFERS TO "ACTUARY" NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. FORTUNATELY, OTHER DOORS STILL FUNCTION.
Other or unspecified, Dec 6, 2016
DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. DOES NOT ALLOW CAR TO START AT ALL. CAR WAS PARKED AND AFTER SCHOOL, WAS NOT ABLE TO START.
Other or unspecified, Nov 30, 2016
STEERING COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM I WAS STRANDED IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES WITH MY 3YEAR OLD WHEN THE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM FAILED AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD STOPPED TO DROP OFF MY 6 YEAR OLD AT SCHOOL AND WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NOT WAS I AWARE OF THE FREQUENCY OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES.