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2009 Nissan Altima reliability record

NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Altima from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.

NHTSA source snapshot · 2026Consumer reports are not verified defects Official source
NHTSA complaints
2,150
Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
Top problem area
STEERING
855 complaints
Recalls on record
1
see below
Reported harm
55 reported crashes · 29 injuries · 2 deaths · 15 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.

Complaint rank

#73

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Nissan median

+1,928

median 222 across 220 Nissan records

Vs 2007-2011

+1,891

median 260 complaints in 736 records

Top component share

40%

Steering: 855 complaints

What owners report fails — 2009 Nissan Altima

  • STEERING 855
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 461
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 146
  • ENGINE 107
  • POWER TRAIN 91

1 recall on record for the 2009 Nissan Altima

  • NHTSA 10V401000 · 2010 · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Nissan Altima

Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.

Open TCO calculator

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Nissan Altima units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Nissan Altima reliable?

NHTSA has 2,150 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Nissan Altima and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is steering (855 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Nissan Altima units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Altima?

Owners most often report problems with: steering (855), electrical system (461), unknown or other (146), engine (107). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2009 Nissan Altima?

This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2009 Nissan Altima. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.

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