2009 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
2,150 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Nissan Altima, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 69/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 80,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2009 Nissan Altima sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1993–2001, 2004, 2011, 2018–2022.
Avoid
Where 2009 sits among all Altima years
What owners report
“Turned car off in parking lot. Would not start due to steering lock, towed to dealer . Awaiting results as per nissan”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Altima
“The steering lock failed, and i could not start my car. I had to have my car towed to the topeka nissan dealer to have it fixed. It cost $973.00”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Altima
“There was a malfunction with the electronic steering column lock. I went to start my car and it would not start. The electronic steering column lock needed to be replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Altima
“Steering lock fail. Manufacture defective part. Car won't start and nissa won't pay for it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Altima
“Ii was just driving along the highway and my transmission just went out, no warning or anything”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Altima
“So while I am driving with a passenger my sign on my dashboard shows that there is no airbag for my passenger”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Altima
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,681 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 78,634 miles. Half of those reports fall between 56,000 and 108,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.
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.
Fix: 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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2009 Nissan Altima drew 2,150 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 69/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2009 Nissan Altima problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Nissan Altima are steering (862 complaints), electrical (476), and other (180).
At what mileage do 2009 Nissan Altima problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Nissan Altima problems around 78,634 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 56,000 and 108,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Nissan Altima. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.