Problems · by component

2009 Nissan Altima structure problems

90 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Nissan Altima cite structure, 6% of all 1,547 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
90
6% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact noticed that the dashboard was melting, and sticky, and had an abnormal odor. In addition, there was a glare in the front windshield that caused visibility issues while driving. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2021StructureODI 11439668
“DOOR HANDLES ON CAR BREAK INTERNALLY PREVENTING DOOR FROM BEING UNLOCKED OR OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO AT MY EXPENSE AND NOW THE OTHER TWO ARE BROKEN WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. NO ABUSE OR ACCIDENT INVOLVED THEY JUST ALLL OF THE SUDDEN STOP WORKING. CONCERN IS IN AN EMERGENCY (FIRE, ACCIDENT, ETC..) PASSENGERS OR DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT CAR EASILY OR AT ALL IN A TIMELY BASIS, POSSIBLY CAUSING SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY LODGED A COMPLAINT BUT NOTHING MORE. I HAVE READ OF MULTIPLE INSTANCES ON THE INTERNET WITH NISSAN OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. FIX IS VERY EXPENSIVE WHEN DONE AT THE DEALER AND I BELIVE A RECALL/REIMBURSEMENT IS DUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2020StructureODI 11341280
“THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS STARTED TO PRODUCE A VERY SHINNY AND STICKY SUBSTANCE. THIS SUBSTANCE IS CREATING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD OF MY CAR WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL METHODS TO REMOVE THIS SUBSTANCE WITHOUT SUCCESS. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS DUE TO HEAT AND HUMIDITY BUT MY CAR IS ALWAYS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN I'M NOT OUT IN IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN 2017 WHERE NISSAN AGREED TO PAY ALL BUT $250 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE DASHBOARDS. SEE GIBBS LAW GROUP ONLINE FOR DETAILS. HTTPS://WWW.CLASSLAWGROUP.COM/NISSAN-MELTING-DASHBOARD-LAWSUIT/ I WOULD THINK IF THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THESE DASHBOARDS THEY KNOW THIS IS A FLAW IN THEIR DASHBOARDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2020StructureODI 11316618
“NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. HAD TO REPLACE ALL TIRE SENSORS, SPEED SENSORS, COILS, FRONT PASSENGER TIRE ROD, THE CTV TRANSMISSION, AND THE TRUNK LEAKS INTO THE TRUNK AND THE TAIL LIGHT'S. I HAVE REPAIRED ALL THESE THINGS OUT OF MY OWN POCKET.I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED. THE DASH HAS BECOME STICKY AND EVERYTHING STICKS TO IT. IT PRODUCES A GLARE ON THE WONDOW WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO SEE.THE ENGINE EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER AND NO MECHANIC CAN PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT DRIVE IT MUCH SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT. THIS CAR SHOULD BE A LEMON OR RECALLED. THE PROBLEMS KEEP COMING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2019Power train, Structure, EngineODI 11266618
“"TAKATA RECALL" ON MAY 14, 2019, I SPOKE WITH A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE REGARDING MY DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD THAT IS MELTING AND HAS BECOME SHINY AND STICKY WITH A GLARE. IT IS DANGEROUS AS THE SILK SURFACE OF MY DASH GLARES ONTO MY WINDSHIELD AND TOTALLY OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW. THE REPRESENTATIVE INSTRUCTED ME TO GO TO MY NISSAN DEALER AND HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC DONE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO GAVE ME A PIECE OF PAPER DESCRIBING THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD AND THE COST OF REPLACING IT. ON MAY 20, 2019, I SPOKE WITH ANOTHER NISSAN REPRESENTATION, WHERE I EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER FROM NISSAN STATING THE PROBLEM WITH MY DASHBOARD AND WHAT IT WILL COST TO FIX IT. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY WARRANTY COVERAGE HAD EXPIRED, THERE IS NOTHING NISSAN CAN DO ABOUT MY DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD. AS INDICATED ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL (NISSAN ALTIMA) CAR I HAVE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM IT. I ALSO NOTICED THAT FLORIDA SUED NISSAN ON THIS SAME ISSUE AND WON. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT NISSAN ISN'T OWNING UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS ISSUE AND IS MAKING ME RESORT TO SENDING THIS LETTER FOR A RESOLUTION. I'M ASKING…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2019StructureODI 11235078

Showing 6 of 90 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Structure: door

Free remedy

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.

StructureReported Jan 9, 2009NHTSA 09V006000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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