What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2009 Nissan Altima

Typical pattern

1.5% of complaints about the 2009 Nissan Altima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2009 vehicle — around the middle of the 212 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (862 complaints), typically at 7.3 yr or about 80,000 miles.

Complaints
2,149
Median age at failure
7.3 yr
Median mileage
78,000 n=1705
Crash / fire / tow
5.2% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
862 reports · 80,000 mi
7.3 yr
2.6%
Electrical system
466 reports · 78,000 mi
6.9 yr
3.2%
Other
146 reports · 95,000 mi
8.2 yr
2.7%
Engine
107 reports · 80,000 mi
7.5 yr
9.3%
Power train
95 reports · 120,000 mi
8.6 yr
7.4%
Air bags
91 reports · 66,000 mi
6.1 yr
12.1%
Structure
90 reports · 60,000 mi
6.1 yr
4.4%
Speed control
49 reports · 68,000 mi
7.0 yr
28.6%
Visibility / wipers
41 reports · 50,000 mi
5.9 yr
7.3%
Suspension
34 reports · 86,500 mi
8.2 yr
11.8%
Service brakes
32 reports · 67,000 mi
5.9 yr
12.5%
Electronic stability control (esc)
26 reports · 80,000 mi
8.1 yr
3.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

10V401000 2010-09-10
Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)

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.

09V358000 2009-09-16
Suspension

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.

09V006000 2009-01-09
Structure:body:door

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.

08V464000 2008-09-15
Wheels

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.

In owners’ own words

Power train 730 mi 5 mo in service
RENTED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM AVIS LOS ANGELES AIRPORT. LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD A WINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV WHEN EXCESS ACCELERATION AND ON A HILL WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND POPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ENGAGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train mileage not reported 1.9 yr in service
HAVE A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR A YEAR NOW. CAR KEEPS ON JERKING AND STALLING AND WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN. LAST INCIDENT WAS AUG 15,2010. I WAS WAITING AT A STOP SIGNAL ON A HILL AND THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK. I HAD TO HURRY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. EVERYTIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT'S WRONG OR THEY WILL TELL ME NOTHINGS WRONG. THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NISSAN NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Power train 36,000 mi 1.5 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FOR 150 MILES, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE TACOMETER DID NOT DISPLAY A READING AND THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT DUPLICATING THE FAILURE AFTER FIVE ATTEMPTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,325.
Air bags 2,500 mi 2 mo in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES WHENEVER A LIGHT WEIGHT PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT ANYONE OVER 110 LBS. WAS MEANT TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

Other Altima model years

2021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000

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