2009 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

A TRAFFIC OFFICER AND INVESTIGATED AN INCIDENT WHERE A VEHICLE OWNER WAS RUM OVER BY HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A PHYSICAL KEY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS AN ELECTRONIC "KEY" AND A PUSH BUTTON START/SHUT OFF SWITCH. THE DRIVER PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A DRIVEWAY WITH A STEEP GRADE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN "DRIVE" WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE DRIVER EXITED AND STARTED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS, DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DRIVER RAN TO THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO STOP IT AND WAS RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10248971 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN WHICH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF (INDICATED BY A PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT), WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER OVER 100 LBS IS CORRECTLY SEATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, SITTING SQUARE WITH SEATBELTS FASTENED. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF, THE PASSENGER IS NOT PROTECTED IN NISSAN ALTIMAS. AT THE LEAST, AN OVERRIDE ON OR OFF IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE WEIGHT SENSOR DOESN'T WORK CORRECTLY ON THE NISSAN ALTIMA, BASED ON THE FIRST MONTH OF DRIVING ON MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA, WITH A 1…

Owner-reported narrative. 338 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253536 at NHTSA ↗

I RECENTLY (12/30/08) BOUGHT A 09 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5SL WITH CONNECTION PACKAGE AND WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING THE CAR I CAME ACROSS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEREO. I TURNED ON THE CAR AS I HAVE FOR THE PAST WEEK BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON, BUT THIS TIME THE STEREO SOUND WASN'T COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. I CYCLED THROUGH THE STEREO MODES (AM/FM/XM/CD) AND ADJUSTED THE VOLUME UP AND ALL I HEARD WAS A CONSISTENT BUZZ COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. I THEN TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WHERE THE STEREO WORKED PERFECTLY. I CAN'T H…

Owner-reported narrative. 720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255329 at NHTSA ↗

THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE DESIGN FLAW. THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY AFTER 5 MINUTES, APPARENTLY THE BATTERY RAPIDLY DRAINS EVEN AFTER THE AUTO-HEADLIGHT SHUTOFF WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2500S DECEMBER 7TH, 2008, THE CAR DIED JANUARY 23RD, 2009. I DROVE THE CAR FROM HOME TO WORK IN THE RAIN. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR AROUND 10 HOURS, AFTER RETURNING TO DRIVE HOME, THE CAR WAS DEAD - THE KEYLESS ENTRY DIDN'T WORK, USING THE MECHANICAL KEY TO ENTER THE CAR, THE START BUTTON DIDN'T…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,478 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256444 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES WHENEVER A LIGHT WEIGHT PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT ANYONE OVER 110 LBS. WAS MEANT TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256858 at NHTSA ↗

TRAVELING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY DAUGHTER NOTICED HER MOM'S "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT WAS ON. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE, NISSAN-USA CHECKED THE SYSTEM AT MOSSY NISSAN AND STATED THE SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY. NISSAN-USA DID NOT USE WEIGHTS TO CHECK THE WEIGHT SENSOR, THEY DROVE AROUND WITH A 125 LB PASSENGER AND CONCLUDED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS OK. NISSAN COUNTERED MY SAFETY SUGGESTIONS BELOW STATING IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DUE TO NHTSA, AND THEY WOULD ALSO NEED TO CRASH TEST THE CAR. MOSSY NISSAN IS KNEW…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,717 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257070 at NHTSA ↗

RENTED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM AVIS LOS ANGELES AIRPORT. LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD A WINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REV WHEN EXCESS ACCELERATION AND ON A HILL WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND POPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ENGAGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 730 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259491 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE BEING DISABLED WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE CAR. A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO DIFFERENT PASSENGERS, OF A VARIETY OF WEIGHT AND SIZE. NONE OF THE PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN SMALL CHILDREN. THE LIGHTEST PASSENGER WAS 110 POUNDS AND THE HEAVIEST WAS 188 POUNDS. THIS HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN 6 TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO A NISSAN DEALER TWICE AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT OTHER NISSAN OWNERS ARE HAVING T…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272366 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-09-15 (September 15, 2008)

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.

Consequence: IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS EQUIPPED WITH ONE OF THE AFFECTED WHEELS. IF IT IS, THE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Reported: 2009-01-09 (January 9, 2009)

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 ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.

Reported: 2009-09-16 (September 16, 2009)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).

Reported: 2010-09-10 (September 10, 2010)

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.

Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.