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, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2015
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM BEING STUCK. WENT TO NISSAN USA'S WEBSITE AND SAW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE NISSAN EXTENDED A WARRANTY COVERING THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IF THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR VEHICLE. THE CAVEAT, THEY ONLY EXTENDED THIS BY 6 YEARS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK. I CALLED NISSAN, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I MISSED THE COVERAGE BY TWO MONTHS. IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS VERY ISSUE, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. IT'S A CLEAR PRODUCT DEFECT.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2015
THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2015
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE IS PREVALENT IN NISSAN ALTIMA MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 AND NISSAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE. I EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE CONVENIENTLY OUTSIDE OF NISSAN'S "EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIM PERIOD" AND AS A RESULT I AM STUCK WITH A $1000 REPAIR THAT I HAVE TAKEN FULL FINANCIAL BURDEN FROM. THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY NISSAN UNDER A RECALL AS THIS IS IN FACT A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE NOBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CAR NOT STARTING ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION AND NEED TO GET TO SAFETY QUICKLY. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THAT BY NO MEANS EXCUSES IT FROM BEING A SAFETY CONCERN, BECAUSE IT IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY CONCERN. HTTP://WWW.NISSANPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/STEERING-WHEEL-LOCKS/
Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2015
NISSAN WILL NOT HONOR A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE STEERING LOCK DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE EXTENSION FOR THE RECALL HAS ENDED EVEN THOUGH IT END ON 02/04/2015 OF THIS YEAR AND IT IS NOW OCTOBER 2015 AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL RECALLS ON THERE BRAND EVEN AFTER THE END DATES.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 22, 2015
CAR DEESN'T START, IT IS BECAUSE OF FAULTY STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART BUT DIDN'T DO RECALL. IT HAS HAPPEND TO MANY PEOPLE AND YESTERDAY I WAS STRANDED AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE REPAIR IS COSTLY AND NISSAN IS NOT PAYING FOR IT.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Sep 17, 2015
I GOT IN MY CAR FINE THIS MORNING WITH MY KEY FOB, BUT THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I GOT INSIDE. WHEN I PUSHED THE BREAK TO PUSH THE BUTTON TRYING TO START MY CAR IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE LIGHT STAYED ON LOCK. THE STEERING WONT BUDGE AND THE BREAK IS LOCKED. MY CAR IS IN PARK AND THE WHEELS ARE STRAIGHT.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2015
I HAD STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE AND WENT TO GET BACK IN MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, IT WOULD NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE THE KEY. MY KEY FOB WOULD UNLOCK, LOCK & POP MY TRUNK BUT MY CAR ACTED LIKE IT WOULDN'T ACCEPT MY KEY FOB. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED & IT HAS BEEN TOWED AND SAT OVERNIGHT & ITS STILL NOT LOCKED, MY ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS GONE OUT ON MY CAR & WITH ALL THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE I FOUND OUT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 6 YEARS BUT IT SEEMS ALL THESE FAILURES ARE HAPPENING AFTER THAT 6 YEAR MARK HAS BEEN HIT. NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RELEASED A BULLETIN ON IT BUT NOT A RECALL, I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED I WAS QUOTED 800-1000.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS EVIDENTLY A FAULTY PART INSTALLED BY NISSAN AND THEY SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT
Other or unspecified, Jul 19, 2015
ON OCCASIONS MY CAR WOULD NOT START. WE WOULD SHAKE IT, PRESS THE START BUTTON CONTINUOUSLY, SIT AND WAIT UP TO 60 MINUTES BEFORE THE CARD RESTARTED. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND ASSUMED IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH. I HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER CHECKED. TOLD THEIR WERE NO PROBLEMS. SO, AFTER RESEARCHING, I CONTACTED THE DEALER. WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST ABOUT $400 TO REPAIR, AS THEY HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING OTHER CUSTOMERS COMING IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MY PERSONAL MECHANIC AND INFORMED HIM AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, AND SPEAKING TO THE DEALER, I BELIEVED IT WAS THE BRAKE SWITCH. THE BRAKE SWITCH/BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COST $45 FROM DEALER, AND HE CHARGED ME $35 TO PUT ON. A BIG SAVINGS FROM WHAT THE DEALER WOULD HAVE CHARGED ME..$400, PLUS A DIAGNOSTIC COST OF $125. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE HAVING THIS LITTLE SWITCH REPLACED.
Other or unspecified, Jul 8, 2015
ON A 3 HOUR TRIP, THE ALTIMA LOST SPEED. CURRENT SPEED WAS 75-80 MPH, DROPPED TO 60 MPH ON THE HWY. TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECK TO BE GOOD AND NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING HAPPEN. CAR LOST POWER/SPEED ON A SMALL INCLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DOING A ROAD TRIP. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2015
THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR IS MELTING. THE AREAS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT ARE AFFECTED ARE VERY STICKY AND CAN'T BE CLEANED. WITH THE DASHBOARD MELTING, THERE IS A GLARE THAT COMES UP FROM THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES DRIVING DURING THE DAY BOTH DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED VISIBILITY. I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF THIS MELTING ISSUE IS CAUSING ANY TYPE OF TOXINS OR FUMES TO COLLECT IN THE CAR INTERIOR.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 1, 2015
CAR COULD NOT BE STARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A NISSAN DEAL WHERE THEY CHARGED ME $900.00 TO FIX. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK, THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PART AND HAVE IT LISTED ON THE NISSANASSIST.COM WEBSITE. IT IS SPECIFIC TO THE 2009 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA. THEY REFUSED TO HELP WITH COST IN ANYWAY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS PRIOR...EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE TO HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE...WHY PUT ANY TIME FRAME ON IT. DO A RECALL, OR FIX THEM AS IT HAPPENS.
Other or unspecified, May 13, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND SHINY IN CERTAIN PARTS AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN THE SUN BECAUSE OF THE GLARE FROM THE STICKINESS. THERE'S NOTHING TO WIPE. IT'S JUST STICKY, ANYTHING I PUT ON IT, WHETHER IT'S PAPER, CLOTH, ETC WILL JUST STICK AND NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2015
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY DASH BEING VERY STICKY. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CLEAN MY DASH DUE TO THE STICKINESS. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THE ISSUE SINCE THERE IS DEFINITELY REASON FOR THE DASH TO BE FIXED AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY NISSAN OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2015
VEHICLE WILL NOT START MINUTES AFTER A SUCCESSFUL START. ALL OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS BATTERY, ELECTRICAL, AND FOB KEY ISSUES ELIMINATED AS POSSIBLE CAUSE. SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED, MOST LIKELY A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, OR IN SOME CASES, A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHEREIN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED BUT THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS REGISTERING AN UNPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL. A SAFETY ISSUE AS MOTORIST COULD BE STRANDED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2014
THERE ARE LONG LINES OF CRACKS ALL OVER MY DASHBOARD. IT APPEARS THE MATERIAL FROM WHICH IT IS MADE, IS EXTREMELY INFERIOR. BOTH THE DEALER FROM WHICH IS WAS BOUGHT (CORAL SPRINGS NISSAN) AND THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS SECTION OF NISSAN NA TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE WARRANTY IS UP. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF THE DASHBOARD FALLS APART WHILE I AM DRIVING? I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING, TO A LESSER EXTENT, THE SHINY SPOTS WHICH I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT FROM COMMENTS ONLINE, ON THE DASHBOARD. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM AND FAIL TO SEE HOW A CAR WHICH I PURCHASED DECEMBER 2009 - NOTE EVEN 5 YEARS OLD - SHOULD BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I'M EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED THAT THE COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN RECTIFYING THIS DEFECT. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 14, 2014
AROUND 2012 THE DASHBOARD IN THIS ALTIMA IS MELTING. IT'S TURNING INTO A GLOSSY GOO THAT IS CAUSING A EXTREME GLARE INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS ON THIS, SO THEY WONT FIX IT. I WENT TO WWW.YOUTUBE.COM AND FOUND THAT APPARENTLY THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH NISSAN,TOYOTA,MAZDA & LEXUS. *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 9, 2013
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SHUTDOWN. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. *TR
Other or unspecified, Feb 14, 2013
AFTER SHOPPING MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO FLATBED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK (PART 48700-9N00A). THE CAR'S MILEAGE AND TIME WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF WARRANTY (41000 & 41 MONTHS VS 36000 & 36 MONTHS). THE NEW REDESIGNED STEERING LOCK (PART 48700-9N00B) HAS A WARRANTY FOR ONLY 1 YEAR. PER NISSAN FORUMS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN: GT-R, 370Z & ALTIMA. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE GT-R ONLY. I WOULD EXPECT A RECALL OR EXTENSION TO THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART IN THE ALTIMA.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 5, 2012
UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, IGNITION WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM "LOCK" TO "ACC" OR "ON". INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LAMP WAS LIT STEADY ON DASH. STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED. ALL POWER AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WORKED (LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, ETC). BATTERY IS FINE. INDEPENDENT TESTING FOUND STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE PART 48700-9N00B FAULTY. SIMILAR/SAME PART ON NISSAN GTRS WAS RECALLED, PART NUMBER 48700-JF00A OR 48700-JF00B, BEING REPLACED BY 48700-JF00C SAME PART NUMBER IS FAILING FOR NISSAN 370ZS AS WELL, SAME YEARS AND SAME PART NUMBER 48700-JF00A OR 48700-JF00B, YET THEY ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO OCCURRING IN NISSAN MAXIMAS AND NISSAN MURANOS HOWEVER I COULD NOT FIND THE PART NUMBER. IN ALL MODELS OF NISSAN THIS PART WAS REMOVED IN MID 2010 DUE TO CONSISTENT FAILURE. THE PART COSTS APPROXIMATELY $500 FROM NISSAN, IS USUALLY OUT OF STOCK AND BACK ORDERED, AND ALSO COSTS ANOTHER $400-$500 TO BE INSTALLED AT A DEALER. THERE SHOULD BE A MAKE-WIDE RECALL FOR ALL MODELS FOR THIS PART, NOT JUST THE GTR BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THEM. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2012
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WAS IN PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON DASH. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ADVISED STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) WAS BAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON '09 ALTIMAS AS WELL AS 370Z. DEALER OFFERED 10% DISCOUNT AND ADVISED $600 TOTAL. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND ESCALATED TO REGIONAL OFFICE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN BE STRANDED. NISSAN HAS RECALLED THIS PART ON OTHER MODELS AND DISCONTINUED THIS FEATURE ON SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR
Other or unspecified, Mar 1, 2011
HEAT SHIELD ON EXHAUST CENTER PIPE OVERHEATED AND BROKE. PIPE AND GASKETS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT BY DEALER.