Is the 2009 Nissan Altima a bad year?
1,547 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Nissan Altima are in line with other Altima years. Steering, electrical system and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Altima owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 859 (56%) | 60k–106k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 466 (30%) | 60k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 90 (6%) | 41k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 114 (7%) | 60k–110k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 95 (6%) | 72k–150k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 91 (6%) | 29k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 49 (3%) | 23k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 33 (2%) | 57k–115k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Stability control | 26 (2%) | 61k–117k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 14 (1%) | 10k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (1%) | 44k–118k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 48 (3%) | 20k–74k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 47 (3%) | 26k–77k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 10 (1%) | 2k–33k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,547 complaints: 36 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 34 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jan 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While on a 4 hour trip in the middle of the summer , the engine would wine and then suddenly start losing speed and be unable to accelerate.
Carbon build-up on valves causing misfire and the break down of the catalyst. Codes P0300 and P0303 stored in ecm.
The steering lock broke while I was driving straight in a parking lot, forcing the engine to shut off.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 80,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Nissan Altima: 4
The batteries contained in the affected GPS units can overheat. Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
The upper front strut insulators may have been manufactured out of specification resulting in a potential for the strut insulator to crack. 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.
These vehicles may have been manufactured with an out-of-specification weld on the door assembly. This does not meet the standard requirements.
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. If the lug nuts become loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a crash without warning.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 77
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Nissan Altima. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
DTC P0456 caused by EVAP leak at vent control valve o-ring
CVT fail-safe condition
The vehicle speed is, or was, reduced by the CVT fail-safe (reduced vehicle speed) after continuous operation under the following conditions: * High RPM and/or…
The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks
Neighbouring years
2008 Altima: 1,031 complaints, keep it · 2010 Altima: 381 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Nissan Altima year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Altima years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Nissan Altima a bad year?
1,547 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Altima years. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Altima?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (859), electrical system (466), body structure (90), engine (114), transmission and drivetrain (95).
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Altima have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10V-401), Suspension (NHTSA 09V-358), Body structure (NHTSA 09V-006), Wheels (NHTSA 08V-464). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.