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 27, 2016
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK CAR WON'T START
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 26, 2016
NO STAR. STEERING LOCK BLOQUED
Steering, Mar 26, 2016
I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AT NIGHT, TRYING TO RETURN HOME, WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T PRESS EVEN THOUGH ALL LIGHTS IN CAR WORKED. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR SYMPTOMS SHOWED ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN IN THE 09 ALTIMA THAT LOTS & LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE FACING. NISSAN IS NOT OFFERING FREE REPLACEMENTS FOR THE PART. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THEY GET HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS EVERY WEEK AND THE REPLACEMENT COST OF $1000 HAS TO BE PAID BY THE OWNER. THE CAR COMPANY KNOWS THERE IS A PART IN THEIR CAR THAT CAN MALFUNCTION ANYDAY LEAVING THE VEHICLE NOT STARTED BUT THEY ARE NOT REPLACING IT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU MIGHT BE WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START - LATE IN NIGHT AND STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT ON A RAINY DAY IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT, THE SAFETY OF OWNERS AND TRUST FACTOR WITH THEIR CAR IS AT STAKE.
Steering, Mar 24, 2016
THE KEY SYMBOL CAME ON AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START . I WAS STRANDED FOR AN HOUR IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY TODDLER BEFORE I GOT HELP . I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY SAID MY WARRANTY ENDED IN JANUARY AND THAT IT WOULD COST $1000 . TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART . THIS IS DANGEROUS . THIS COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE .
Steering, Mar 23, 2016
DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK IS CAUSING DISABLED PUSH START BUTTON. CAR IS NOT STARTING AT ALL.
Steering, Mar 23, 2016
STEERING LOCK WAS RECALLED WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFERED FOR ALL NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 VEHICLES. HOWEVER, OUR CAR LOCKED UP MARCH 15, 2016, WHICH IS AFTER NISSAN ENDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A $1,300 REPAIR. CONTACTED NISSAN TO HAVE THEM PAY, BUT THEY DENIED AT ALL COSTS.
Steering, Mar 23, 2016
STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILURE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA
Steering, Mar 23, 2016
AROUND 90,000 MILES, MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA SE WOULDN'T START. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM THAT HAD AN ISSUE. THIS WOULDN'T ALLOW THE PUSH BUTTON START TO WORK. THIS PROBLEM COULD ONLY BE FIXED BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND IT COST JUST OVER $1,000. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS A DECENT PRICE AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NISSAN OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE PLUS PROBABLY TEN TIMES MORE THAT DIDN'T BOTHER WRITING ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS PIECE THAT NISSAN HAS PUT INTO THEIR CAR.
Steering, Mar 22, 2016
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START LEAVING ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT IN NEW YORK. I NEEDED TO GET TOWED TO NJ. I WAS LUCKY I WAS LUCKY I WAS ALONE IT IS A DANGEROUS. THING TO HAPPEN AND NOW 1000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS
Steering, Mar 20, 2016
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WILL NOT START. JUST SO HAPPEN MY CAR WAS PARKED AT MY HOUSE, THANKING GOD I WAS NOT STRANDED OUT ANYWHERE OR WORST GETTING OFF WORK LATE AT NIGHT. I KEEP HEARING THIS HUMMING NOISE WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON BUT THE CAR WON'T START. WITH 3 BIOPSY PATIENTS WAITING ON MY ARRIVAL TO THE CLINIC, AND I'M WAITING ON A RIDE TO WORK. I DECIDED TO GOOGLE THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING WITH MY CAR. I SEE OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AS WELL. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN ITS A MALFUNCTION OF THERE'S. ITS A DISGRACE THAT WE AS A CONSUMER INVESTING AND ENTRUSTING THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES TO THE SAFETY OF THERE CARS AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL SINCE IT HAPPENED ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS AS WELL. MY LIVELIHOOD AS A SINGLE PARENT IS BASED ON ME GOING INTO WORK DAILY AND I CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT A CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER TO ME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR TWO OR MORE WEEKS. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AT 1-800-NISSAN ASAP
Other or unspecified, Mar 19, 2016
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING, CREATING A SHINY, STICKY SURFACE. THE SHINE FROM THE MELTED DASH REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A GLARE THAT MAKES IT HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE.
Steering, Mar 18, 2016
INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO THE STORE AND THE CAR WILL NOT START.
Steering, Mar 18, 2016
AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR PLACE, OUR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD LOCK UP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD AS A ROCK, OR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TOTALLY LOCK UP. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN IN JULY ON A NICE WARM DAY, OR IN JANUARY WHEN YOUR DRIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT 20 BELOW. THIS IS A HUGE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM, PLEASE HELP US BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE GETS KILLED. THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPENED TO OUR CAR WHEN IT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF.
Steering, Mar 18, 2016
MY ALTIMA RECENTLY HAD A STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THIS IS VERY COMMON AND A KNOWN ISSUE.
Steering, Mar 17, 2016
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IN THE MORNING, WENT TO CRANK IT WHEN I LEFT WORK & THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK & THE ORANGE/YELLOWISH KEY WAS ON..THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I REPLACED BATTERY IN MY FBO & DIDN'T WORK SO COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL STEERING BOX. NOW I'M FIXING TO HAVE TO SPEND 1000$ FOR NISSANS MESS UP IN THIS PART. IT LEFT ME STRANDED & COULDN'T GET HOME TO MY FAMILY.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 17, 2016
OUR 2009 ALTIMA, LEFT US STRANDED IN A REMOTE LOCATION. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. WE HAVE AAA SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR TOWING. BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE BATTERY, OR BATTERIES IN THE REMOTE KEY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN US THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. AND NISSAN IS CLEARLY NOT HELPING THEY'RE CUSTOMERS WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE . WE WHERE LUCKIER THAN SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN WORSE PLACES, WITH CHILDREN AND NO WARNING. THIS FIX IS COSTING US $894.00 AT THE NISSAN SERVICE , I FILED A CASE WITH NISSAN THEY REFUSED TO HELP, SO WE WHERE STUCK ONCE AGAIN WITH OUR CAR AT THE SERVICE CENTER WITH A $105.00 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. SO WE COULDN'T TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR LESS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THEY CAUGHT US HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER .
Steering, Structure, Engine, Mar 15, 2016
THIS CAR LEAKS WATER INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR, AND KEEPS TRAPPED RAIN WATER INSIDE OF BOTH PANEL DOORS FOR WEEKS AFTER IT RAINS. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO GET THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK FIXED (WHICH LUCKILY WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL). NOT TO MENTION THAT I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO TO THE ER LAST YEAR FOR A BREATHING TREATMENT BECAUSE FUMES WERE LEAKING INTO MY CABIN VIA THE AIR CONDITIONING(PROBLEM UNKNOWN/UNDIAGNOSED). BUT NOW LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA, UNFORTUNATELY THE STEERING WHEEL IGNITION LOCK/SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING MY ENGINE NOT TO BE ABLE TO TURN ON SUDDENLY. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR, THE KEY FOB WAS NOT RECOGNIZED AND THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN ON. AFTER TOWING IT TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL IGNITION LOCK, AND WILL COST ME AN AVERAGE OF $1100 TO FIX. AFTER CONTACTING NISSANS HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE COVERED EVEN THOUGH THEIR "CAMPAIGN" ENDED IN JAN 2016 FOR MY VEHICLE, THEY DENIED THE REQUEST TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANY AUTO MANUFACTURER CAN BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH INSTALLING A FAULTY PART INTO THE CAR, AND THEN PASS ALONG THE ULTIMATE COST OF FIXING IT TO ANY OWNER. IT'S NOT OKAY TO SIMPLY COVER THE COST OF THOSE OWNERS WHO'S SWITCH FAILS DURING A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD, AND THEN INFORM THE REST OF US THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP. NISSAN INSTALLED THE DEFECTIVE PART, AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO WOULD BE TO OWN UP TO THAT MISTAKE AND ISSUE A RECALL. CLEARLY NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AT HEART. AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT PART WAS FAULTY ENOUGH NOT TO ISSUE A TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF THE
Steering, Mar 15, 2016
STEERING LOCK WOULD NOT DISENGAGE PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. KEY FOB WAS NOT RECOGNIZED. CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. I WAS STRANDED IN A CITY PARKING LOT FOR 6 HOURS AWAITING ASSISTANCE AND FEARED FOR MY SAFETY. TOWED VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIR.
Other or unspecified, Mar 15, 2016
AS I STOPPED AT TOLLBOOTH AND STOP SIGN.CAR CUT OFF.IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP.AS LONG AS I WAS MOVING IT WOULD STAY ON.THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED.IVE HEARD OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.I JUST BOUGHT CAR LAST YEAR.
Electrical system, Mar 12, 2016
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START AFTER SHUT OFF WHICH REQUIRED A TOW TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP ( AUTO FAIR NISSAN TEWKSBURY, MA). PAID $119 FOR DIAGNOSTIC WHICH CONFIRMED A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT. PURCHASED AND REPLACED THE UNIT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A RECORD NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, THE UNIT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. RECEIPTS AVAILABE
Steering, Mar 12, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS MALFUNCTIONING AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING
Steering, Engine, Mar 11, 2016
TAKATA RECALL STEERING LOCK FAILER, ENGINE WILL NO LONGER WORK. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. PART DEFECTIVE. NISSAN IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD FIX PART.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 10, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,120.
Steering, Mar 9, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK THE SPECIALIST SAID THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO HELP ME OUT WITH THE REPAIR THAT I AM NEEDING DONE FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE THE RECALL IS EXPIRED. THE POINT I AM TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO NISSAN IN TENNESSEE IS THAT THE PART THEY PUT IN MY CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2011 WAS MORE THAN LIKELY A RECALL OR A DEFECTIVE PART SINCE IT WENT OUT AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME AND I ONLY HAVE 71,000 MILES ON THE CAR. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR IS WAITING TO GET REPAIRED SAID THAT IT IS VERY RARE THAT THIS PART TO GO OUT TWICE. WITH THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THAT MAKES ME COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK THAT WAS PUT IN MY CAR WAS A RECALL/DEFECTIVE PART SINCE IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A EXTENDED RECALL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK OR I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. NOW THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $1344.80 AND I THINK THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!! I AM SEEING ON WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM OF OTHER 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES AS WELL. OTHER OWNERS ARE GETTING HELP TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLES FOR THIS PART AND OTHER OWNERS LIKE MYSELF ARE NOT GETTING HELP. I AM GLAD THAT NISSAN IN TENNESSEE REIMBURSED ME FOR THE REPAIR IN NOVEMBER OF 2011 BUT I NEED SOMETHING RESOLVED FOR THE REPAIR THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW!! I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TRADE IN MY CAR SINCE IT IS PAID OFF AND ONLY HAS 71,000 MILES BUT I ALSO DO NOT NEED THIS CAR LEAVING ME STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD SON EITHER FOR THE THIRD TIME ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT TIME ANYWHERE!! I AM RETIRED FROM THE POST OFFICE AND ONLY RECEIVES A CHECK ONCE A MONTH AND I AM A SINGLE MOTHER. SO YES THIS KIND OF REPAIR IS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO AFFORD! PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE ASAP, I DONT WANT TO BE LEFT STRANDED AGAIN WITH MY SON!!
Steering, Mar 9, 2016
UNABLE TO START MY CAR DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK