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, Nov 28, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOCK STEERING AND SCREW STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,640.
Electrical system, Nov 28, 2016, crash
CAR WON'T START DO TO A DEFECTIVE ESCL ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. THE CAR LEFT ME STRANDED AFTER WORK AT MIDNIGHT. THE CAR IS USELESS IT DOES NOT START. I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ESCL.
Steering, Nov 25, 2016
MY CAR WILL NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE. I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE CAR AND REPLACED THE BATTERY ON THE KEY FOB. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE STEERING CONTROL UNIT IN WHICH IS PRETTY PRICEY....I JUST REPLACED THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN WHICH COST ME $2200.00 THIS WAS ALSO RECALL BUT I WAS OVER MY MILES TO HAVE THIS HONORED BY NISSAN.
Steering, Nov 24, 2016
MY NISSAN ALTIMA. 2009. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COIL THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO START SO A PERSON WALKING BY TOLD ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK COIL. SO I LOOKED IT UP AND IT WAS RECALLED WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY TOLD ME YESTERDAY WAS THE LAST DAY. AND THE PART IS $800 I THINK THAT IS TO MUCH FOR A LITTLE PART THAT LOCKS AND STARTS THE CAR.
Steering, Nov 23, 2016
TWO DAYS BEFORE MY CAR TURNED OFF AND WON'T TURN ON AGAIN THIS KEY SYMBOL AND THE WORD "KEY" SHOWED UP ON MY DASHBOARD. TWO DAYS LATER, WE WENT TO SUNDAY DINNER PARKED, I FORGOT TO ROLL THE WINDOWS UP. I GO TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN AND IT WONT START. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED ALMOST 30 MILES AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY THEM 1040 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY CAR 4 MONTHS AGO, WITH NO MENTION FROM ANYONE THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THIS BECOMING AN ISSUE. WHICH I THINK IS FUNNY THAT THEY ARE EVEN SELLING PEOPLE THESE CARS WITH THE EXTENT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND WITH NO WORD TO THE FAX THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UP. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT 4 MONTHS INTO OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE TO PUT ALMOST 1500 WITH TOW, PARTS, AND LABOR INTO IT ALREADY. I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS YEAR OR MODEL IF I KNEW THIS WAS A STANDARD ISSUE.
Steering, Nov 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. THE KEY ICON ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Steering, Nov 22, 2016
WENT TO WORK. ONCE ENTERING BACK INTO THE VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T START SHOWED KEY ICON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. I CALLED NISSAN AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE RECALL ENDED IN 2015. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. ONCE I SPOKE TO GENE AT NISSAN COMPANY SAID THE DEALER NEVER NOTIFIED THEM I WAS A NISSAN OWNER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANICE
Electrical system, Nov 22, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN "INTELLIGENT KEY" WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON DASHBOARD. I CONTINUED TO MY WORK PLACE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, IGNITION SELF START WOULD NOT WORK AND I HAD TO CONTACT AAA TO BRING CAR TO DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN THIS WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE CAR MAY LOCK UP AT ANYTIME. I WAS TOLD THAT I OUGHT BE DRIVING SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, IN FACT THAT DAY THERE WERE THREE 2009 ALTIMAS IN THE SAME AREA GOING TO THE SAME DEALER WITH THE "SMART KEY" LOCKING THE CAR. NISSAN IS GOING TO REIMBURSE $800.00+ DOLLARS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM, YET THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED AN OFFICIAL RECALL. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THE RISK OF HAVING THE CAR LOCK WHILE IN MOTION.
Steering, Nov 22, 2016
DROVE MY 2009 ALTIMA TO LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR AN EVAP CANISTER SES LIGHT ISSUE. GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO GET EARLY BIRD PAPERWORK AND CAR WOULD NOT RESTART WHEN I RETURNED TO IT. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY RECEIPT FOR THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM ALONE SHOWS A CHARGE OF $1110.78. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN USA THAT SAME DAY AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER (24724130). I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE TO BE HANDLED BY THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND TO EXPECT A CALL NLT 11/22/16 BY COB. RECEIVED A CALL FROM SHONECIA AT 12:32PM ON 11/22. THE CALL WAS BASICALLY TO INFORM ME THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD ORIGINALLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE ISSUE AND IT HAD ENDED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. WHEN I PROTESTED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SHE JUST REPEATED THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT THEY ONLY ACKNOWLEDGE MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS FROM "CERTIFIED NISSAN-TRAINED SERVICE DEPARTMENTS" WHEN CONSIDERING HOW TO HANDLE REPAIR REIMBURSEMENTS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR, THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF DOING MORE THAT THE PREVIOUSLY MENTION WARRANTY EXTENSION. I STRESSED THAT THIS REALLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING--NOT A LIGHT, NOT A WHISPER, NOT A SHOUT-OUT--ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I TOLD HER MY ONLY SILVER-LINING TO YESTERDAY WAS THAT IT HAPPENED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. PRETTY SURE SHE DIDN'T CARE AND NEITHER DOES NISSAN. I DID ADVISE HER THAT I WOULD BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH YOU AND MY STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Steering, Nov 22, 2016
MY HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN AND RIGH NOW NO MOVE AND WHAT CAN YOU TO HELP ME? MY IS IN MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW BUT MO START.
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Nov 21, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONSISTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BOTTOM ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Steering, Nov 21, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK RECALL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED ALL THE WAY AROUND AND WOULD NOT LOCK CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UN-DRIVEABLE. ONCE THE CAR WAS POWERED OFF AND TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP AGAIN.
Electrical system, Nov 19, 2016
MY DAUGHTER WAS STRANDED IN A NOT SO GREAT AREA WHEN HER CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). NISSAN DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE, BUT INSTEAD OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IF THE PART FAILED, WITHOUT NOTIFYING CONSUMERS. THIS IS SHAMEFUL ON NISSAN'S PART TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO BE STRANDED IN POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THE REPAIR WILL NOW COST HER BETWEEN $1000 AND $1200
Steering, Nov 17, 2016
MY CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE . THIS IS ALSO KNOWN BY NISSAN AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT RECALLED THIS ISSUE. WHICH IS VERY UNFORTUNATE TO THE NISSAN OWNERS AND IT IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX.
Air bags, Nov 17, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MASS SENSOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Steering, Nov 16, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULD NOT RELEASE TO START. THIS OCCURRED VERY FAR FROM HOME AND WITHOUT WARNING. NASSAN IS AWARE OF THIS AND DOES NOT ACT IN FAVOR OF OWNERS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM THUS ALLOWING FOR COSTLY EXPENSE AND REPAIRS.
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 16, 2016
VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK AFTER STEERING MECHANISM MALFUNCTION.
Engine, Nov 15, 2016
MY CAR WOULD NOT START. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM - ONLY IF THE CAR WAS AFFECTED - AND IT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AFTER THE WARRANTY ON THE RECALL EXPIRED. I AM THE 2ND OWNER AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER. THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO EVEN PAY FOR THE PART - WHICH I COULD NOT PURCHASE OR GET REPAIRED ELSEWHERE. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND HAVE HAD CAR MANUFACTURERS STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS AND RIGHT WAS WAS WRONG. NOT IN THIS CASE. NISSAN SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PAID FOR THE PART AS THERE WAS NO OTHER PLACE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE AND WENT AS FAR UP THE LADDER AS POSSIBLE AND WAS FINALLY TOLD THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE COST IN ANY WAY. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS AND STAND BY A PRODUCT. I HAD A 12 YEAR OLD CAR FROM LEXUS REPLACE A CRACKED DASHBOARD FOR FREE! THE CAR IS USED BY MY SON, A COLLEGE STUDENT, WHO NEEDS IT FOR TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY WHILE AWAY AT SCHOOL. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE WAY I WAS TREATED AND HOW MY COMPLAINTS WERE NOT ADDRESSED IN ANY WAY.
Steering, Nov 15, 2016
THE KEY LIGHT STAYS ON. THE CAR KEEPS GIVE ME LOW BATTERY WARNING EVEN I JUST CHANGES THE BATTERY IN KEY FOB. NOW THE "🔑 /KEY" LIGHTS ON. THE CAR COULD NOT START.
Steering, Nov 15, 2016
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS YOUR PUSH TO START TO OPERATE AND THIS WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR LIFETIME BUT NISSAN SINCE HAS ACTUALLY MADE IT ONLY AVAILABLE TILL JANUARY 2016 WHICH IS DEF STILL COMING UP AS AN ONGOING ISSUE TODAY
Electrical system, Nov 15, 2016
STEERING LOCK CONTROLER IS BROKEN AND ITS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL ALTIMA AND NISSAN DOESN'T TAKE RISPONSIBILITY
Steering, Nov 15, 2016
I WENT TO THE MALL TO DROP OFF A PAINTING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN I LEFT AND WAS GIVING ME THE KEY INDICATOR SO AFTER A 20 SECOND SEARCH ON GOOGLE I FOUND THAT A LOT OF NISSAN OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME, WHICH WAS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NOT RECEDING TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE IN ORDER TO LOCK THE WHEEL. I THINK ITS ABSURD THE PIECE IS 600 AT THE DEALERSHIP AND 400 ONLINE. THEN THE KEY NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED, IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT SUCH A TEDIOUS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN WAS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR, I WOULD HAVE JUST GOTTEN ANOTHER KIND OF CAR.
Steering, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 14, 2016
CAR STALLED TWICE BOTH PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. BATTERY WORKS AND KEY FOB WORKS WITH DOORS. BUT ENGINE WONT START WITH PUSH BUTTON START. ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN MY ALTIMA AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE ROAD! THE BATTERY WASN'T DEAD, THE CONTROL KEY WASN'T BAD EITHER. THE DEALER SAYS IS A $1,300 REPAIR JOB! IT'S THE STEERINGG WHEEL LOCK THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 09' ALTIMAS!! WHY DID YOU TAKE THE MANUFACTURE REPLACEMENT IN 2015!? THIS IS SO HORRIBLE! I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE WHEELS, ENGINE OIL AND OTHER WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS, BUT HOW IN THE WORLD CAN A PART THAT IS INSIDE MY STEERING WHEEL HAVE PROBLEMS!? I DON'T EVENT HAVE A KEY! I USE "KEYLESS CONTROL". THIS IS SO UPSETTING! PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND HAVE IT FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURES EXPENSE!!!
Steering, Nov 11, 2016
STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED CAR WILL NOT START. NISSAN HAS KNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T REPAIR HONOR REPAIRING A DEFECTIVE PART.