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
1,547 reports, newest first.
Steering, Mar 22, 2018
STEERING WHEEL LOCK WON'T ALLOW ME TO TURN CAR ON.
Air bags, Mar 13, 2018
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS BLINKING ON AND OFF. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SENSOR
Other or unspecified, Mar 10, 2018
DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE TO MY WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO VISIBLY SEE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING BUT IT DEFINITELY CAUSING A PROBLEM FOR ME TO SEE CLEARLY.
Steering, Mar 8, 2018
CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK, IT WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME.
Steering, Feb 17, 2018
NISSAN WAS A CAR I REALLY TRUST, BUT FROM NOW MY OPINION CHANGED. I BOUGHT MY NEW NISSAN IN 2009 FROM A NISSAN DEALER. AFTER FOUR YEARS OF USE (2013) THE NISSAN RELEASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A EN ELECTRONIC PIECE THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL (THE FAMOUS ESCL). MY CAR STOP WORKING DUE TO THIS ISSUE, IT COULDN'T TURN ON BECAUSE WAS LOCKED BY THE FAULTY ELECTRONIC PIECE. I USE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, OK EVERYBODY HAPPY, FOUR YEARS LATER 2017, SAME PROBLEM, SAME PIECE, SAME ISSUE (FAULTY ESCL) COST: $1,100.00 CALLED NISSAN, I SUBMITTED ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION (INSURANCE CARD, BILL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE, ) I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THIS THEY DON'T TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE PIECE HAS ALREADY BEEN CHANGED BY ANOTHER DEFECTIVE (THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL) ESCL PIECE THAT LAST 4 YEARS. I REALLY THINK VERY DISSAPOINTED HOW NISSAN TREAT ITS CUSTOMERS. THIS IS MY THIRD CAR I BUY THROUGH NISSAN, I AM REALLY RECONSIDERING MY NEXT CAR TO GET A DIFFERENT CAR BRAND. NISSAN FAULTY PIECES SHOULD NOT BE RE-USED TO FIX ISSUES MOMENTARILY.
Air bags, Feb 17, 2018
MY AIR BAGS DO NOT WORK ON THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE LIGHT IS STEADY BLEAKING ON THE DASH SHOWING ITS NOT WORKING.
Steering, Feb 12, 2018
STEERING LOCK MECHAINISM. CAR WONT START
Vehicle speed control, Feb 6, 2018
TAKATA RECALL : VEHICLE JERKS UNEXPECTEDLY AND ABRUPTLY SLOWS DOWN. 35/MH...CITY STREET.
Steering, Feb 3, 2018
THE CAR STEERING LOCKS UP AND YOU CAN'T START THE CAR
Power train, Feb 3, 2018
TRANMISSION STOP WORKING AND LEAK JUST BOUGHT AND NOW 2 YEARS LATER WENT OUT
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 31, 2018
MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE ESCL BOX LOCKED UP FOR 3 DAYS! NOW I HAVE TO PAY $150 TO HAVE IT FIXED PER MY WARRANTY COMPANY. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR 60 WHOLE DAYS, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND TIME LOST! PLEASE CALL ME. WILL YOU PAY FOR THE $150 WARRANTY FEE? I HAD IT TOWED TO CARMAX NORCROSS MONDAY MORNING. IT'S WEDNESDAY. I'VE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 5 DAYS NOW!!! [XXX] SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Steering, Jan 30, 2018
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED.
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 18, 2018
WON'T START ESLC STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE. PURCHASED CAR THEN STOPPED AT GAS STATION TURNED OFF CAR WON'T START AGAIN. SHOWED YELLOW KEY FLASHINGS LIGHT ON DASH.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Jan 18, 2018
TAKATA RECALL - ALTHOUGH MY CAR HAS NOT YET BEEN AFFECTED BY HE RECALL I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY WHICH AFFECTS THE AMBER DASHBOARD PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT FROM WORKING PROPERLY WHICH THEREFORE WILL NOT ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. OR MORE SO ALLOWING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN TIME WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS SENSOR DISARMS THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM FROM WORKING PROPERLY WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
Air bags, Jan 8, 2018
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON/OFF WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW) ON THE CENTER OF THE DASH LIGHTS UP INTERMITTENTLY. THIS OCCURS EVEN IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF.
Electrical system, Jan 8, 2018
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WOULD NOT START. STRANDING WIFE IN 0 DEGREE TEMPERATURES.
Steering, Jan 7, 2018
I HAVE A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE. I WENT TO LEAVE TO RUN ERRANDS AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. MY HUSBAND FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE ESCL - ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I FOUND QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ESCL. FOR ONE, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPAIRED.
Power train, Jan 2, 2018
TRAVELING ON A CA FREEWAY THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY LOSES POWER DUE TO TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN. THE CAR HAD 85,000 MILES AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SO A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. 2 YEARS AND 60,000 MILES LATER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILS PUTTING THE DRIVER IN DANGER OF TRYING TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2018
TAKATA RECALL MY STEERING LOCK JUST WENT OUT ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR LAST YEAR HOWEVER I DID NOT KNOW IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP UNTIL 2015 FOR THE STEERING LOCK IF THIS CAR IS STILL BEING SOLD THROUGH DEALERSHIPS IT SHOULD BE TOLD TO THE BUYER OF ANY RECALL ISSUES THAT HAVE WENT ON PRIOR HOWEVER I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND I HAVE A $1,200 PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR ONE YEAR AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UP IFILE TO HAVE TO PAY ALL THESE EXPENSES OUT OF MY POCKET WHICH IS NOWHERE RIGHT
Steering, Jan 1, 2018
THE KEY FOB FOR THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WORKS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR DOORS, BUT IT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP WITH THE KEY SYMBOL INDICATING AN ERROR. I WENT TO GO START MY VEHICLE MAYBE AN HOUR AFTER I HAD JUST USED IT TO GET HOME AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT ALL. WHEN THE PUSH TO START BUTTON IS PUSHED, NOTHING HAPPENS. IT IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE THE CAR DOES NOT SENSE THE KEY. THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE STEERING LOCK ON THE VEHICLES AND IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT APPEARS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON.
Steering, Dec 27, 2017
ESCL HAS GONE OUT TWICE NOW. FIRST TIME NISSAN REPAIR AT THEIR COST. THIS TIME THEY WON'T REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NISSAN KNOWS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. I HAD TO PAY TOWING CHARGE AND REPLACE ESCL FOR THE SECOND TIME!! $1000 FIX.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 26, 2017, fire
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE COMPLETELY TOTALED. IT WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 2 MILES PARKED AND SHUT OFF. WITHIN 15 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
Air bags, Seats, Other or unspecified, Dec 10, 2017
I LOVE MY ALTIMA. BUT RECENTLY IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PAIN IN THE NECK. RECENTLY MY AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY AIRBAG SENSORS ARE NOT WORKING. SINCE THE SENSORS IS IN THE SEAT, I HAVE TO PAY $3,100 TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM CUAHION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. MY HAS WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO MOISTURE IN MY CAR TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ALTIMAS HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. THIS IS NOT A CHEAP FIX AND THERE'S TOO MANY NISSAN OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR 2009 NISAAN ALTIMAS PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE. NISSAN NEED TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
Steering, Dec 8, 2017
I CAN'T GET MY CAR TO START BECAUSE IT WON'T RECOGNIZE MY KEY. NISSAN HAS A CAMPAIGN AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO HELP SOME OF THE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLE WON'T START DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCKS. HOWEVER, THESE RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC AND EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, THEY DENIED MY CLAIM. I APPEALED AND THEY DENIED AGAIN. NOW I GET TO PAY $1,000 TO PAY FOR A PART THAT NISSAN HAS PUBLICLY ADMITTED WAS DUE TO SHODDY MANUFACTURING IN THOUSANDS OF 09 ALTIMAS, BUT SOMEHOW NOT IN MINE. NISSAN, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HONDA OR TOYOTA, BUT, C'MON: MAKE AN EFFORT. (HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2017/NISSAN-ALTIMA-MAXIMA-STEERING-LOCK-PROBLEMS.SHTML)
Power train, Nov 29, 2017
CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MANUFACTURER EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS, 120K MILES BECAUSE THEY USED A BAD PRODUCT. MY VEHICLE HAS 140,000 MILES SO NISSAN DECLINED TO COVER REPAIR COST. MY VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGN OF ISSUES UNTIL IT SUDDENLY WOULDN'T ENGAGE AT A STOP LIGHT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT A MANUFACTURE THIS SIZE PUSHES A KNOWN ISSUE UNDER THE RUG INSTEAD OF RECALLING THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.