no report yet
Electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk. OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
2009 Nissan AltimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,547 owner complaints about the 2009 Nissan Altima, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 16, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Nissan Altima has problems
1,547 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
859Steering5 crash/fire/injury
466Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
107Engine
95Power train
91Air bags
90Structure
49Vehicle speed control
41Visibility/wiper
33Suspension
16418 other systems16 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 859 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 466 | 4 |
| Engine | 107 | 7 |
| Power train | 95 | 6 |
| Air bags | 91 | 11 |
| Structure | 90 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 49 | 13 |
| Visibility/wiper | 41 | 3 |
| Suspension | 33 | 2 |
| 18 other systems | 164 | 16 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2009 Nissan Altima recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Suspension
Risk. 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…
no report yet
no report yet
Wheels
Risk. IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 703 steering complaints. 70% were reported before 100,000 miles.
27under 30k miles491under 100k miles212100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
181 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $848 – $1,093
Electrical system
64 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $900 – $1,100
Air bags
13 owners mentioned a cost$2,500median
Middle half: $2,000 – $3,000
Unknown or other
9 owners mentioned a cost$800median
Middle half: $400 – $1,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Altima year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Altima median. How we score
12210618092108123871601591,0478832761,0918244711,0311,5473812424262,3151,1149565553952262351627132304471
'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Nissan Altima safety ratings
2009 Nissan Altima 2-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Altima owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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 the failure. The…
After the steering Lock anti theft activated, steering lock ESCL module does not allow to turn on the ignition even keys are inserted.
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 pedal to start the…
Own a 2009 Altima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.