Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Nissan Altima problems

Owners filed 1,547 complaints about the 2009 Nissan Altima with NHTSA between Nov 2008 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is steering (859).

Complaints
1,547
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
36
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering859
  2. Electrical system466
  3. Engine107
  4. Power train95
  5. Air bags91
  6. Structure90
  7. Vehicle speed control49
  8. Visibility/wiper41
  9. Suspension33
  10. Service brakes32
  11. Electronic stability control (esc)26
  12. Wheels15
  13. Seats14
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic14

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20081
200914
201029
201126
201268
2013212
2014128
2015261
2016406
2017157
201866
201960
202043
202130
202221
202313
20249
20252
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

859 reports4 crashes1 fire
“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 approximate failure mileage was 145,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2026SteeringODI 11711432

Electrical system

466 reports2 crashes2 fires
“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 vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering lock mechanism needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2024Steering, Electrical systemODI 11630111

Engine

107 reports3 crashes4 fires
“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 independent service center? Yes. 4) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, by a private auto service center. 5) Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. 6) Problem description: The service technician from the repair shop tried replacing the plug, coil, injector but it still misfires. Later the technician reported that this is a problem listed as recall (Recall Reference number : NTB13-056a, Campaign ID: PC131) for 2007-2008 Nissan Altima, but the same problem exists in 2009 Nissan Altima and is not listed as recall. Links for references are given below. The technician is sure that it is the same problem and NISSAN should fix it by recalling instead of asking the Owners to pay for this known recall issue. Repairing this issue by…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2025EngineODI 11666131

Power train

95 reports5 crashes
“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 however the car can’t move backwards in reverse but can move forward.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2024Suspension, Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11607763

Air bags

91 reports10 crashes
“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 of collision or contact with a vehicular.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2024Air bagsODI 11631936

Structure

90 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard had started to melt due to sunlight exposure. She also stated that a glare from the melted dashboard would reflect onto the windshield, obstructing her vision while driving. The contact stated that the failure had worsened over the years and that the melting had spread across the entire dashboard. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2022StructureODI 11453417
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.