NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. UPDATED ON 08-11-2011.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Nissan Altima tires problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 tires complaints filed for the 2009 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Nissan Altima in our records for tires problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report five distinct tire and tire-sensor failure modes on 2009 Nissan Altimas. The most severe: a rear tire completely separated from its rim without warning, damaging the bumper and stranding the driver on the interstate. Another owner experienced uncontrollable hydroplaning in light rain at highway speeds with Continental ContiProContact tires, eventually losing control and totaling the vehicle; the owner witnessed an identical failure in another 2009 Altima the same day.
Tire pressure monitoring sensors are a chronic problem. Multiple owners report TPMS valve stems failing prematurely due to corrosion and material degradation. One owner documented four sensor failures within 33,000 miles; another saw failure at just 4 weeks of ownership. Corrosion causes the valve material to fracture during snow tire removal, triggering air leaks. A dealer explicitly stated this is a recurring known problem, yet replacements cost $110+ after warranty expiration. One owner also reported all four tires developing inner and outer wall cracks at 86,500 miles. Warranty coverage disputes and out-of-pocket repair costs are common, with dealerships sometimes refusing to honor road hazard and tire coverage despite valid warranty documentation.
Failure modes owners describe
Tire Bead Separation
Rear tire completely separated from the rim without warning, causing the tire to flop around and damage the vehicle bumper. Owner had the vehicle for 9 months at time of failure.
When: 75,000 miles; March 31st incident reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle wobbling; Rear tire completely separated from rim; Tire flopping and striking bumper
Repairs/costs cited: Rear tires and rim replaced with used parts, wheelhouse liner replaced, mounting and balancing performed; owner paid $725.47 out-of-pocket despite road hazard warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claim disputed by dealership; road hazard tire coverage (5 yr) listed on warranty papers but dealership refused to honor it
Hydroplaning in Light Rain
Continental ContiProContact tires (215/60/R16) caused uncontrollable hydroplaning in light drizzle and misting rain at low speeds (40 mph). Second incident resulted in vehicle spinning out of control into a ditch and becoming a total loss. Owner reported witnessing identical failure in another 2009 Altima with same tire model.
When: Unspecified mileage; incidents on Interstate 40 in Tennessee
Symptoms owners cite: Hydroplaning in light drizzle; Hydroplaning in misting rain; Water lifting rear end of vehicle off ground; Loss of vehicle control and spinout
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled in second incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan inspection found nothing wrong with vehicle
Tire Pressure Sensor Valve Failure
TPMS valve stems fail prematurely due to corrosion and material degradation. Multiple owners experienced repeated failures. Corrosion causes valve material to fracture easily during snow tire removal, leading to air leaks and flat tires.
When: 33,000 miles and 75,000 miles reported; failures occurring after 4 weeks and within first year
Symptoms owners cite: Tire pressure light illumination; Tire deflation; Air pressure loss within one week; Leaking around valve stems; Flat tires
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost $110+ per valve after warranty expiration; multiple replacements under warranty reported (4 replacements in 33,000 miles on one vehicle)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Repairs covered under warranty; dealer noted this is a recurring problem
Tire Sidewall Cracking
All four tires developed inner and outer wall cracks while vehicle was stationary. Michelin Primacy MXV4 TL tires (215/55R17) affected.
When: 86,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Inner wall cracks on all four tires; Outer wall cracks on all four tires
Repairs/costs cited: Tires not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure
Tire Pressure Sensor Installation Defects
Factory installation and torque procedures for tire pressure monitoring sensors are improper, causing leaks. Bad O-rings or incorrect installation torque specified.
When: 4 weeks after vehicle purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Air pressure loss in all tires; Tire pressure warning light illumination; Leaking around valve stems
Repairs/costs cited: All four tire pressure sensors replaced by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer replaced all sensors; dealer stated this is not the first noted problem with sensors
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan altima equipped with michelin primacy mxv4 tl tires, size: 215/55r17 (na). While the vehicle was stationary, the inner and outer walls of all four tires cracked. The tires were not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was 86,500.
Had tires trouble with your 2009 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2009 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $150.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, tires issues most often appear around 45,883 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.