2009 Nissan Altima — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving at about 15 mph and braking to avoid a car ahead of you, your driver-side airbag deployed from the steering wheel without any collision or contact with another vehicle. No other airbags deployed, and there was no crash or fire. The airbag system may need to be inspected to determine why it activated inappropriately.

Your steering wheel airbag deployed during a crash at approximately 20 mph and struck your face, causing injuries to your face, wrist, chest, and hand. You required hospital treatment for these injuries. The vehicle was declared a total loss and was not repaired or inspected by a dealer to determine if the airbag functioned as designed.

Your passenger airbag isn't activating when someone sits in the passenger seat. This is a safety concern since the airbag may not deploy in a crash when needed to protect the passenger.

Your airbag warning light came on while driving. You didn't have the vehicle checked by a dealer or mechanic, so the problem was never diagnosed or repaired. Based on your investigation, you believe it may be related to a known Nissan safety recall (Campaign 08V521000) affecting airbags and the electrical system.

Your steering lock control failed without warning, leaving you unable to operate the vehicle. The dealer confirmed the problem and the manufacturer inspected it. The steering lock mechanism will need to be replaced or repaired to restore normal steering function.

Your 2009 Altima may have a steering lock system that fails, preventing you from using the car. Nissan offered an extended warranty to cover this repair until 2020, but didn't notify owners or dealerships about it. Some owners who had the steering lock box replaced are experiencing the same problem again. The fix typically involves replacing the steering lock assembly or electronic control module.

Your car won't start when you use the key fob or press the ignition button, even when you depress the brake pedal. You may also find the brake pedal difficult or impossible to depress. A dealer diagnosed that the steering lock mechanism needs to be replaced to restore normal starting function.

Your car won't start and the steering wheel is locked. When you try to start it, a message tells you to wiggle the steering wheel while pressing the push-to-start button, but this doesn't fix the problem. This issue may be related to a known Nissan technical service bulletin. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the steering lock mechanism and electrical starter system.

Your steering wheel became locked while you were trying to start your vehicle, which prevented the remote start feature from working. The vehicle had to be towed and hasn't been repaired yet. This issue happened at around 145,000 miles.

Your car's steering lock anti-theft system activated and is now preventing the ignition from turning on, even though you're using the correct key. This is a problem with the electronic steering column lock (ESCL) module that's keeping your car from starting. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing or replacing the steering lock control module.

Your car won't start after you parked it and turned off the engine. Jumping the battery and replacing key fob batteries didn't help, and a locksmith found error codes pointing to the steering column module lock. Nissan diagnosed a faulty steering column module lock that needs replacement, but they won't cover it under a known service campaign for your vehicle. The repair is estimated at $1,425 plus tax and involves replacing the steering column module lock.

Your car's anti-theft system failed to recognize your key when you tried to start the vehicle, preventing it from starting and displaying a "No Key Detected" warning light. This issue is related to a known technical service bulletin (TSB Number: PC516) that Nissan is aware of. The fix will likely involve inspecting or replacing the key fob battery, the key fob receiver module, or the immobilizer system components.

Your steering column sensor has failed, preventing your car from starting. Nissan has acknowledged this as a known defect and covered the repair for some owners in previous years, but the company is refusing to cover your repair and wants you to pay for it instead. The repair will likely involve replacing the steering column sensor and any related electrical components.

Your dashboard is melting and becoming sticky, which is creating a serious glare on your windshield that blocks your view of the road. This visibility problem caused you to get into a minor accident when you couldn't see another vehicle clearly. You're concerned this is a widespread issue affecting many Nissan Altimas and believe it requires a manufacturer recall to fix the problem at no cost to owners.

Your dashboard is melting in hot weather, which creates a severe glare on your windshield that's affecting your ability to see the road clearly. You've nearly hit pedestrians and a cyclist because of this visibility problem. A dashboard replacement typically costs around $2,000 and may involve removing and replacing the entire dashboard assembly.

Your engine cylinders are constantly misfiring, causing a drivability and safety concern. A repair technician has replaced spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel injectors, but the problem persists. The technician believes this is the same issue covered under a recall for 2007-2008 Nissan Altimas (NTB13-056a, Campaign ID: PC131), but your 2009 model was not included in that recall despite having the same problem. Fixing this issue could cost several thousand dollars and likely requires diagnosis of the underlying engine condition that caused the recall in earlier model years.

Your car's forward collision avoidance system is not functioning as expected. The exact nature of the problem is unclear from the complaint, but the safety feature designed to help prevent frontal crashes may not be working properly. Having this system inspected and repaired is important for maintaining your vehicle's safety features.

Your 2009 Nissan Altima is making abnormal clanking sounds and driving roughly, with your ABS, brake, check engine, and tire pressure warning lights all on at the same time. An independent mechanic identified failed strut housings as the cause. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the strut assemblies and having the warning lights diagnosed by a mechanic to address any related brake or engine issues.

Your 2009 Nissan Altima is experiencing transmission and engine issues. When idling at a stoplight, the engine vibrates noticeably and hesitates to respond when you press the gas pedal—you may need to push it harder before the car moves forward. Additionally, your car won't shift into reverse or move backward, though forward gears work normally.

Your transmission failed within 48 hours of purchasing this used vehicle from the dealership, leaving you stranded in traffic. The dealership sold the car "as-is" and refused to help with repairs or exchange, despite the serious nature of the failure. Fixing this will likely require a transmission rebuild or replacement, which is a major and expensive repair.