2009 Nissan ALTIMA HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 54 complaints (48.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 32 | 59.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 26 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 2 |
Steering: 26; Electrical System: 21; Engine: 7; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 15; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 11; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10290862 · 2009-11-03 (November 3, 2009)
I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN SEPT. 2009. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG REMAINS OFF 50% OF THE TIME WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND (APPROX. 100 POUNDS) SITS IN IT. I TRIED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND A SEPARATE DEALER AS WELL. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAG ON OR TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY. HE ALSO STATED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I TRIED BRINGING IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296702 · 2009-12-22 (December 22, 2009)
CAR WHEN I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR TWO HRS, HAD TOO START CAR AND AFTER STARTING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE IT WOULD ONLY GO INTO REVERSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299718 · 2010-01-14 (January 14, 2010)
ON A SUNNY COLD AFTERNOON IN AVON CT, DOING 35 MPH, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON MY DASH OF 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID WITH 10897 MILES. AN AUDIBLE CONTINUOUS ALARM WAS ON IN THE CAR. THE BRAKES WERE TOTALLY INOPERABLE. IT WAS A TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND NISSAN CLAIMS IT WAS A FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,897 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310058 · 2010-02-12 (February 12, 2010)
I BOUGHT MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID ON JULY 30, 2009. ON OCTOBER 3RD, EVENING, IT LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY 99 CALIFORNIA. DASH BOARD LIGHT ARE ON, ENGINE HAS NO POWER OUTPUT. THE VEHICLE DROPPED SPEED QUICKLY. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. ONE MINUTE LATER, I TURNED ENGINE ON AGAIN. IT BACKED TO WORK. HOWEVER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES AGAIN LATER IN ONE WEEK. IT MADE ME REALLY THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING IT. ON OCT 7,2009, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CANNOT BE STARTED ANYMORE AND IT WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340166 · 2010-06-25 (June 25, 2010)
NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID SUDDENLY ACCELERATION. I WAS GOING SLOW PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL WHEN MY CAR "JUMPED" AND SUDDENLY WENT FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE RAILING. THERE WAS A WITNESS THAT SAW ME PULLING INTO THE PARKING STALL SLOWLY WHEN MY CAR "JUMPED" CRASHING THROUGH THE RAILING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386186 · 2011-03-02 (March 2, 2011)
NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 2009 TPMS MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN AUG 2009 AND THE TPMS FAILED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES TILL TODAY (MAR 2 2011). THE TPMS LIGHT WAS ON EVEN WHEN ALL THE TIRES WERE IN STANDARD PRESSURE. THE DEALER/SERVICE CENTER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT ALL THE TIME BUT THE EQUIPMENT CAN LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464098 · 2012-07-03 (July 3, 2012)
PUSHED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT DOWN WITH NO BRAKES. ONCE PEDAL GOT TO A LOW POINT THE BRAKES CAME FULL ON WITH CAR ABRUPTLY COMING TO A STOP. AT THE SAME TIME ALARMS CAME ON. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. THE ALARMS WERE STILL ON. I TRIED DRIVING FORWARD AGAIN AND SLOWLY PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUED DOWN WITH NO RESISTANCE UNTIL IT REACHED A LOW POINT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY COMES TO A STOP. BEAVERTON NISSAN CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. BEAVERTON NISSAN MECHANIC WITH THE HELP OF NISSAN TECHNICAL SUP…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10483610 · 2012-11-07 (November 7, 2012)
THE STEERING LOCK UNIT (PART NUMBER 48700-9N00B) NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT DID NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. BECAUSE THE UNIT DID NOT ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING GARAGE AT NIGHT AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WAS IN ALEXANDRIA, VA. THEY CHARGED $900 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 36,000 MILES, IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN VEHICLES AND IS PRESENT ON SEV…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483610 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.