2009 Nissan Altima Reliability
The 2009 Nissan Altima has 1,601 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with other Altima model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Altima's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,601
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
38
Complaints citing a crash
8
Complaints citing a fire
2009 Nissan Altima complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 885 | 55% |
| Electrical system | 487 | 30% |
| Unknown or other | 151 | 9% |
| Engine | 114 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 97 | 6% |
| Air bags | 95 | 6% |
| Body structure | 92 | 6% |
| Speed control / throttle | 52 | 3% |
2009 Nissan Altima recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2009 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08V464000 | Sep 15, 2008 | Wheels | 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. |
| 09V006000 | Jan 9, 2009 | Body structure — body / door | 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… |
| 09V358000 | Sep 16, 2009 | Suspension | 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. |
| 10V401000 | Sep 10, 2010 | Equipment — electrical / navigational system(global positioning system) | 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. |
How the 2009 compares with nearby Altima years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Altima analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 498 | 3 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2008 | 1,047 | 4 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2009 (this page) | 1,601 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 | 393 | 3 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2011 | 246 | 1 | Powertrain / transmission | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2009 Nissan Altima
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2009 Nissan Altima can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2009 Nissan Altima reliability FAQ
Is the 2009 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2009 Nissan Altima has 1,601 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with other Altima model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Altima's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2009 Nissan Altima problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Altima are steering (885), electrical system (487), unknown or other (151), engine (114). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Altima, including 08V464000 (wheels) and 09V006000 (body structure — body / door). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2009 Nissan Altima compare with the 2008 and 2010 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2008 has 1,047 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid); the 2010 has 393 complaints and 3 recalls (caution). The 2009 has 1,601 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2009 Nissan Altima?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Altima research
Other Nissan Altima model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2009 Altima, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.