2009 Nissan Altima Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Altima. Part of Generation 4 — 2007–2012.

20082010
Complaints
2,150
per 10K Sold
105.6
US Sales
203,568
Crashes
55
Fires
15
Injuries
29
Fatalities
2
Recalls
1

Worst 2009 Nissan Altima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1855 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:84,655 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:1
#2461 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:81,299 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
#3107 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:83,743 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Nissan Altima.

Steering Defects
855
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
84,655
Electrical Faults
461
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
81,299
Engine Problems
107
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Avg Miles
83,743
Transmission / Drivetrain
91
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
119,474
Airbags
82
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,113
Unintended Acceleration
48
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
—
Avg Miles
334,993
Body Structure
45
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
75,674
Structural Problems
43
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,736
Wipers & Visibility
41
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,912
Brakes
32
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,861
Suspension Failures
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,016
Electronic Stability Control
26
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,367
Wheel Issues
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
79,094
Seat-Related Issues
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,435
Hydraulic Brakes
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,342
Fuel System
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,628
Headlight/Taillight Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,972
Air Bags:Frontal
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
12,626
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
46,580
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
27,512
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,167
Other Equipment
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Nissan Altima

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~7,948 vehicles.

10V401000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~7,948 affected

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.

Other Nissan Altima Years

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2009 Nissan Altima — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Nissan Altima reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2009 Nissan Altima has 2,150 NHTSA complaints, 55 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 855 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Nissan Altima?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (855 complaints, avg 84,655 mi); Electrical Faults (461 complaints, avg 81,299 mi); Engine Problems (107 complaints, avg 83,743 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Nissan Altima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 88,149 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Nissan Altima include 55 crash-related reports, 15 fire reports, 29 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 7,948 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Nissan Altima?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2009 Nissan Altima shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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