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, Jul 29, 2017
THE WON'T START DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK SO THE CAR WON'T START
Power train, Jul 27, 2017
TAKATA RECALL CAN'T DRIVE TOO FAR CUZ LOSING POWER AFTER HOUR....WE CANT GO TO FAMILY VACATION ON LONG TRIPIF ITS LOWER THAN $200 THAT'S OK BUT IF IT'S CVT TRANSMISSION IT'S WAY OVER MY BUDGET IT'S COST OVER $5,000......I LOOK OVER ON GOOGLE N SEEN A LOTS OF PPL HAD THIS PROBLEM.....
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 26, 2017
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED DRASTICALLY DECREASES AND LOSES ALL POWER! THERE IS NO WARNINGS.
Electrical system, Jul 25, 2017
THE PUSH-BUTTON STARTER SYSTEM FAILED, LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS IS A STEERING LOCK ISSUE VERY COMMON TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 13, 2017
THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE DASH LIGHTS AND RADIO COME ON AND THE "ON" INDICATOR IS LIT WHERE THE PUSH BUTTON IS. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE DOES NOT START.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 11, 2017
TRAVELING UP HILL MY CAR LOSES POWER AND GOES TO SOME KIND OF SAFTY MODE AND ITS VERT SCARY IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN' IN THE CAR
Steering, Wheels, Engine, Jul 10, 2017, fire
I CHANGE MY RADIATOR 2 TIMES - AND THEY CHANGE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND THEY CHARGE ME 1,200 . I HAVE CHANGE THE PRESSURE SENSORS COUPLE TIMES . THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING
Suspension, Jul 6, 2017
THE NISSAN ALTIMA'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN A YEAR. ALSO, THE STRUTS HAVE CRACKS IN THEM AS WELL.
Suspension, Jul 6, 2017
FRONT STRUTS HAVE CRACKS IN THEM. ALSO, THE CAR IS ON ITS CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Power train, Jun 30, 2017
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GO UP. HILL I LOSE POWER CANT DRIVE UNTIL THE TRANMISSION COOLS DOWN
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 30, 2017
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ONCE THE ENGINE GETS HOT THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND ONCE YOU STOP THE CAR AND LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN IT RUNS FINE
Steering, Jun 28, 2017
STEERING WHEEL LOCK UNIT FAILURE. MY CAR WAS ALL OF THE SUDDEN DEAD AT HOME DEPOT THE OTHER DAY AND THIS WAS THE SECOND TIMES IT HAPPENED. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED BUT I WAS ABLED TO START MY CAR THE NEXT DAY SO I THOUGHT IT WAS OK. UNTIL COUPLE DAYS AGO IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THIS TIME I HAD TO TOW MY CAR TO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECK. THE SHOP CHECKED IT AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BOX PROBLEM. I HAVE SEARCHING ONLINE AND HERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM HAPPENING TO THEIR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE SND HAVE NISSAN TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM.
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 16, 2017
FUEL PUMP WENT OUT MILEAGE #135828 ON MY ALTIMA 2009 2.5S. INITIALLY THE CAR WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TOTALLY USUALLY AFTER EXCITING THE FREEWAY. IT TOTALLY WENT OUT WHILE PARKED. IT WOULD TRY TO TURN OVER WITH NO LOCK.MODELS 2.5L 4 CYLINDER AND 3.5L V6 YEARS 1993 / 2002-2013 MILEAGE 136212 HAVE BEEN RECALLED. IS IT POSSIBLE TO INVESTIGATE THE 2009 2.5S?
Power train, Jun 13, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DECELERATED. THE RPMS WERE BETWEEN 4 AND 5. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. WHEN THE CONTACT BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL AND HESITATE, FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS, AND THE TRANSMISSION MADE A WHINING NOISE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (NISSAN ALTIMA IN SCHERTZ, TX) AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAD TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, May 20, 2017
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON REGULAR ROADS ABOUT TO GET ON A HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY ISSUE WITH ALL FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY WORKING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE BY THE TOGGLE SWITCH, HOWEVER THE HAZARD BUTTON WOULD ACTIVATE THEM. THEN MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF ON THEIR OWN(THIS WAS AT 2 AM IN PITCH DARK AREA AND RAINING). I TRIED TURNING THE SWITCH ALL THE WAY OFF THEN BACK ON AFTER PULLING OVER, NOTHING WORKED EVEN WITH TURNING MY CAR OFF ENTIRELY THEN BACK ON. MY HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK, BLINKERS NOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY OTHER FAILURES. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DONE AS AN OPERATOR. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WENT WRONG AT THE FACTORY WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. I AM ONLY WRITING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN AS I HAD TO FIND MY WAY HOME WITH ONLY MY HAZARD LIGHTS BLINKING EVERY OTHER SECOND. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART THAT FAILED WAS A "BODY CONTROL MODULE IS $919.35, PART, LABOR" WHICH IS AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR 1 PART. HOWEVER IT IS SO EXPENSIVE BECAUSE ONCE REPLACED THE ENTIRE CAR AND KEY FOBS NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BY NISSAN AND ONLY A AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER CAN ACQUIRE SAID PROGRAMMING TOOLS/SOFTWARE. SURE MY CAR IS A 2009 HOWEVER THE DEALER SAID THIS IS VERY UNCOMMON TO RANDOMLY SHORT OUT IN GENERAL BUT ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE OF HOW DANGEROUS THE EFFECTS CAN BE EVEN WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I LOVE MY CAR BUT ADDING THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY THAT CONTROLS ALL THESE FUNCTIONS WITHOUT A FAIL SAFE IS AN AWFUL METHOD OF PRODUCTION. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I FELT THE NEED TO SHARE IT WITH THE NISSAN OWNER COMMUNITY.
Structure, May 15, 2017
DASH BOARD IS MELTING
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.
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
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
Power train, Engine, May 8, 2017
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD (1 HOUR+) IN WARM WEATHER (80 DEGREES+). VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOSES POWER, WITH RPMS NEVER REACHING ABOVE 2000, DRASTICALLY REDUCING ACCELERATION AND SPEED. DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THIS CREATES A SERIOUS DANGER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW.
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