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, 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 .
Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2017
ISSUE WITH STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO TURN ON
Electrical system, Feb 10, 2017
WIFE DROVE CAR TO WORK, GOT READY TO LEAVE AND CAR WOULD NOT START. SECURITY LIGHTS ON DASH WAS LIT UP . I CAME HOME FROM WORK TRIED EXTRA KEY FOB AND TRIED NEW CAR BATTERY, STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED 25 MILES TO DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM WAS STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY MODULE, A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THIS COST ME 1124.00 DOLLARS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN A FACTORY RECALL. THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAD 68428 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT
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
Steering, Feb 9, 2017
THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDS REPLACED AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO LOCATION WITHOUT ANY ISSUE AND PARKED. ONCE I RETURNED TO THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START, WAS UNABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED.
Steering, Feb 9, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH NO WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Feb 8, 2017
MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AT A GAS PUMP WHEN IT FAILED TO START. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALER TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT WHICH HAD FAILED AND PREVENTED THE ENGINE TO START. NISSAN HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 72 MONTHS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE DUE TO KNOWN MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITIES OF THE ESCL. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AFTER THE WARRANTY TIME HAD EXPIRED BUT I FEEL THE ISSUE IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH POSSIBLE FAULTY ESCL UNITS.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 7, 2017
MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AFTER FUELING AT A GAS PUMP.
Steering, Feb 7, 2017
MY NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH NO CELL SERVICE. IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SO I WAITED IN MY CAR UNTIL MORNING. I THEN WALKED 5 MILES TO THE NEAREST CONVENIENCE STORE TO CALL AAA. ONCE I GOT MY CAR TOWED HOME, I CALLED NISSAN & DESPITE ALL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS AS MINE, NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER THE PART EVEN THOUGH I COULD HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT. THE PART IS OVER 500 DOLLARS & I CANNOT AFFORD THAT. PLEASE HELP ME!
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 6, 2017
I STARTED MY CAR AS USUAL TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. IT STARTED FINE. I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS FREEZING COLD. MY CAR WAS BLOCKING THE GAS PUMP AND IT COULD NOT BE MOVED. I RULED OUT THE KEY FOB BECAUSE IT STILL UNLOCKED THE DOORS. I INSERTED THE KEY FOB IN THE EMERGENCY SOCKET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO START THE CAR IN CASE THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB DIES. STILL NOTHING. I HAD MY BROTHER BRING ME A NEW BATTERY FOR THE KEY FOB. STILL NOTHING. HE TOOK ME HOME. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE. AFTER SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, MANY MANY OTHERS WITH NISSANS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THE CULPRIT IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE. IT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL AND YOU CANNOT START THE CAR WHEN IT IS LOCKED. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR TORE THE PANEL APART AND LOCATED THE STEERING LOCK. THE RESEARCH I DID SAID THAT SOMETIMES YOU COULD GET IT TO RELEASE THE LOCK PIN IF YOU TAP ON IT WITH HAMMER. SO I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE WHILE HOLDING IN THE START BUTTON AND TAPPING ON THE STEERING LOCK MODULE. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF BANGING ON THE MODULE IT DISENGAGED ENOUGH TO START THE CAR. I DROVE IT HOME AND SHUT IT OFF. IT WON'T START AGAIN. NISSAN SAYS THE WARRANTY RAN OUT JAN. 1ST, 2016. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $679.51 JUST FOR THE PART NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THAT IS RIDICULOUS! WHAT IF I WERE SOMEWHERE REMOTE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START? I COULD HAVE FROZE TO DEATH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED TO 1000S OF PEOPLE.
Steering, Feb 6, 2017
STEERING LOCK REPAIR.
Steering, Feb 6, 2017
VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND VEHICLE WAS IN A VERY RISKY AREA. WE WERE AFRAID FOR OUR SAFETY AND AFRAID THAT OUR VEHICLE MIGHT BE DAMAGED BY VANDALS IN THAT AREA.
Steering, Feb 4, 2017
THE STEERING LOCK FAILED WITHOUT WARNING,LEAVING ME STRANDED.THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO HAVE THE CAR TOED TO A DEALER. THE PRICE OF THE PART WAS VERY HIGH AND THE LABOR WAS VERY HIGH ALSO.NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT SEND A NOTIFICATION TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AND ALSO LEFT ME WITH THE BILL. NISSAN REPLACED THE PART FOR FREE FOR AWHILE BUT STOPPED BEFORE MY CAR BROKE. I WORRY IF THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME ABOUT.
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
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 4, 2017
MY STEERING INTERLOCK IN MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WENT OUT ON ME. I GOT STRANDED FOR 3 HOURS IN 20 DEGREES WEATHER WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD SON UNTIL MY TOW TRUCK FINALLY GOT THERE. CAR WOULD START SO I COULDN'T EVEN TURN HEAT ON TO KEEP MY SON WARM. NISSAN IS STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THESE AND WON'T COVER THE EXSPENSES IT SHOULD BE A RECAL IT'S A SAFETY HAZZARD I
Engine, Feb 3, 2017
STEERING LOCK FAIL. MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE PART. CAR WON'T START AND NISSA WON'T PAY FOR IT.
Steering, Feb 2, 2017
WHEN LEAVING WORK CAR WOULD NOT START USING THE PUSH START. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK AND IT WAS ONLY COVERED FOR AN EXTENDED 6 YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE. I FEEL THAT IF THEY KNEW THAT THIS PART WAS FAULTY THEY SHOULD HAVE OFFERED A RECALL. A $1000 DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY OR REPAIRS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY KNOW THIS PART WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 1, 2017
THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE....IT STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SHIFTS SO HARD MY PASSENGERS THINK I'M SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AND NOW THE STEERING LOCK MODULE HAS FAILED. AFTER READING 100S OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I AM APPALLED TO FIND THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN NOR WILL ANYONE THAT KNOWS ME AS THEY'VE WITNESSED ALL ISSUES OCCUR WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY ON NISSAN'S ACCOUNT.
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.