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The 2009 Nissan Altima has 1,547 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 4 active recall campaigns.
The 2009 Nissan Altima has 1,547 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 858 complaints, typically surfacing around 85,370 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Altima | 824 | 4 |
| 2007 Altima | 498 | 3 |
| 2008 Altima | 1,028 | 4 |
| 2009 Altima (this page) | 1,547 | 4 |
| 2010 Altima | 380 | 3 |
| 2011 Altima | 241 | 1 |
| 2012 Altima | 424 | 4 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the cruise-control was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged critical on this model , showing up around 74,370 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start and the steering wheel would not unlock. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
Was out shopping at costco, came out of store and car would not start. Intelligent key indicator light was displaying on the dash. The brake pedal would not depress and push button would not start the car. Tried to manually override by inserting the key fob in the slot -…
My car was running fine and received a warning light that the battery needed to be replaced in my intelligent key fob. Went to start car and it would not start and the warning light still appeared. We replaced battery in fob and still the car would not start. After talking…
On 12/28/2012 my 2009 Nissan altima displayed a yellow key warning indicator on my dash board. Thinking that it was my key battery, I had it changed and the light went away for 2 days. On sunday, 12/30/2012 it reappeared as I was driving to a christmas gathering. Afterwards I…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
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.
If the lug nuts become loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a crash without warning.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 1,547 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Nissan Altima has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2009 Nissan Altima is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the cruise-control was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 9 crash-related complaints on the cruise-control; Powertrain: 81 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 75,000–149,000 mi; Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 858 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 85,370 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 5.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 1,547 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 85,370 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 858 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 85,370 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 74,370 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,547 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.