2009 Nissan Altima recalls and problems

The 2009 Nissan Altima has 4 recalls and 1,547 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is steering.

How the 2009 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 27 Altima model years — 2nd most.

4recalls

1,547complaints

36crashes

8fires

21injuries

79,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Equipment

Sep 10, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V401000 · 7,948 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

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 September 16, 2010. Owners May contact garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Suspension

Sep 16, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V358000 · 26,398 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

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 increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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 INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

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 (1-800-647-7261).

Structure

Jan 9, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V006000 · 225 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy & notes

All the affected vehicles have been brought back from the dealerships and remedied at the factory. No vehicles had been retailed.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Wheels

Sep 15, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V464000 · 3,403 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: If the lug nuts become loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy & notes

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 specification. The recall is expected to begin during September 2008. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Steering859

Electrical System466

Unknown or other146

Engine117

Power Train95

Air Bags91

Structure90

Vehicle Speed Control49

Visibility48

Service Brakes47

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2009 vs. other Nissan Altima years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2009. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2009 Nissan Altima, the latest from Sep 10, 2010 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Altima?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention steering (859), electrical system (466), unknown or other (146). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.