2009 NISSAN ALTIMA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Altima. This model year has 1,547 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Steering Defects.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2009 Nissan Altima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Uncategorized Issues
Considering a 2009 Nissan Altima?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Nissan Altima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 859 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 466 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 146 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 117 | 3 | 5 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 95 | 5 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 91 | 10 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 90 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 49 | 13 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 48 | 7 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 41 | 3 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 33 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 26 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 15 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 14 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | — | 1 | — | |
| Tire Issues | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electric | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,547 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While attempting to start the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked, preventing the remote start feature from functioning as designed. The vehicle was towed to the residence and was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of t…
1) What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The cylinders are constantly misfiring. 2 )How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Yes. 3) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independ…
After the steering Lock anti theft activated, steering lock ESCL module does not allow to turn on the ignition even keys are inserted.
Was stopped at a red light - when light turned green car in front of me proceeded to go but stopped . I pressed on the brake at a speed of no more then 15 miles an hour and the driver side airbag from the steering wheel deployed . No other air bags deployed and there was no type …
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle using the key fob, the vehicle failed to start. The contact depressed the brake pedal and ignition button, and the vehicle failed to start. The contact was unable to depress the brake …
Unknown
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the cont…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal clanking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was driving rough. The contact stated that the ABS, brake, check engine, and TPMS warni…
There is Transmission problems with the 2009 Nissan. The car shakes/ Vibrates when idle, when sitting to long at a light the idle engine delays the gas pedal from going forward, having to accelerate the gas pedal till it jumps to proceed to move forward, The liquid is up to date …
I purchased this car and the dashboard is melting and sticky. It’s affecting visibility to the point where I found myself trying to lift up to look overtop of the blinding glare on my windshield due to my melting dashboard and got into an minor accident Like was reflecting off th…
The component that failed was the steering lock control, and yes it's available upon request with a tow. I was stranded with no way of getting home. Problem has been confirmed by dealer. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer. No there was no symptoms prior to the f…
There's an obvious issue with the steering lock system in 2009 Altimas that Nissan fails to address with a recall. They opened an extended warranty period that ended in 2020 apparently, with no notification from the manufacturer or dealership that this was happening. Also, I ha…
The contact owned a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, an unknown Chevrolet Postal truck pulled out and crashed into the vehicle. The steering wheel air bag exploded and hit his face. The contact sustained injuries to his face, wrist, …
Passenger airbag will not come on when you sit in seat
The contact owns a 2009 Nisan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to detect that the key was present, activating the anti-theft immobilizer and preventing the vehicle from starting. The “No Key Detected” warning light was illu…
Parked car at a coffee shop, turned off engine, exited and locked doors. Upon coming back to vehicle, the vehicle would not start. We tried jumping the vehicle battery, that did not work. We tried replacing the battery in the key fobs, that did not work. We inserted the fob into …
UNKNOWN... I JUST GOT THIS CAR I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD IT PUT IN MY NAME YET BUT WHEN I DRIVE IT THERE'S A REALLY BAD GLARE I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING STICKY FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT WAS ON THE DASH BUT IT'S NOT I GOT SOME GOO OFF AND TRIED TO CLEAN IT OFF AND TRIED TO USE A SCRAP…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, the steering wheel was locked. A message to wiggle the steering wheel while depressing the PUSH to START button was displayed. The contact stated that she followed the instru…
Purchased the vehicle from Quality Auto sales llc.had tge vehicle less than 48 hours in traffic stopped. Had it towed to find they just put it together to rode off the lot but transmission is gone. Brought as is could have lost my life. Paid 6990.25.i feel misled and cheated trie…
Column steering sensor is out and car will not start. Nissan was covering this repair due to a known defect yet never recalled the car. I never had the issue until now and people in previous years were granted 1 repair. Nissan said I would have to cover it
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2009 Nissan Altima.
Recalls for 2009 Nissan Altima
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Altima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2009 Nissan Altima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Nissan Altima reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2009 Nissan Altima has 1,547 NHTSA owner complaints, 36 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (859 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Altima?▾
#1: Steering Defects (859 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (466 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (146 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Nissan Altima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2009 Nissan Altima?▾
The 2009 Nissan Altima has 36 crash-related complaints and 8 fire reports out of 1,547 total NHTSA complaints. 21 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2009 Nissan Altima. The largest issue: WHEELS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2009 Nissan Altima?▾
The 2009 Nissan Altima has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2009 Nissan Altima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.