NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID · model year

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID

81 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009NISSANALTIMA HYBRID carries 81 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 ALTIMA HYBRID is steering with 26 filings, followed by electrical system (21) and engine (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 2009 ALTIMA HYBRID, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

81
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

81 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
ENGINE7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
AIR BAGS4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS2
SERVICE BRAKES2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
WHEELS1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1

Recent Complaints

20210308ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE WARNING LIGHT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, WHICH INFORMED THE CONTACT TO SHUT-OFF THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NISSAN OF BRADENTON (1611 CORTEZ RD W, BRADENTON, FLORIDA 34207) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.*DT*JB

Mileage: 171,000

20190930AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM NISSAN OF SOUTH BURLINGTON (1095 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403, (802) 864-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

Mileage: 154,000

20190930SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM NISSAN OF SOUTH BURLINGTON (1095 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403, (802) 864-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

Mileage: 154,000

20190424ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, PUTTING ME AT EXTREME DANGER. IN THE FIRST CASED, THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER UNIT WAS THE DEFECTIVE PART, ON THE SECOND OCCASION, IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, PLACING ME AT GREAT RISK AS THE VEHICLE SEIZES UP WITHOUT WARNING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.

Mileage: 143,000

20190424UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, PUTTING ME AT EXTREME DANGER. IN THE FIRST CASED, THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER UNIT WAS THE DEFECTIVE PART, ON THE SECOND OCCASION, IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, PLACING ME AT GREAT RISK AS THE VEHICLE SEIZES UP WITHOUT WARNING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.

Mileage: 143,000

20181207UNKNOWN OR OTHER

'TAKATA RECALL' UNKNOWN HS WARNING LIGHT ON CAUTION LIGHT ON TIIRE PRESSURE SYMBOL ON SEVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR ON

Mileage: 246,000

20170328STEERING

IN 2013, I WAS STRANDED AT WORK LATE AT NIGHT DUE TO A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I GOT INTO MY CAR AND WENT TO START IT AND THE KEY LIGHT WAS LIT ON THE DASH AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THANKFULLY, I WAS STRANDED IN A SAFE PLACE ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M A SINGLE FEMALE. IT'S NOW 2017, AND I FIND MYSELF IN THE SAME SITUATION. THANKFULLY, I NOTICED THE ISSUE EARLY WHILE IT'S STILL DAYTIME. I'M NOW WAITING FOR MY CAR TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ONLY HAS A LIFE SPAN OF 4 YEARS SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IS IT NORMAL FOR A PART TO JUST MALFUNCTION AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS? WILL I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING STRANDED AGAIN 4 YEARS FROM NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME? MY CAR IS SERVICED REGULARLY AND TAKEN CARE OF SO I WON'T BE STRANDED. IT'S TROUBLING THAT REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT MY

Mileage: 92,278

20170307AIR BAGS

THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TO DETECT AN OCCUPANT AND ENABLE/DISABLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILED. THIS IS AN ITEM CRITICAL TO OCCUPANT SAFETY THAT IS NOT A WEAR-AND-TEAR ITEM AND ONE WHICH SHOULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK AS INTENDED WHEN OCCUPIED BY AN OCCUPANT OF THE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT PER THE SENSOR'S SETTING. IT IS APPARENT THAT MANY ALTIMA VEHICLES, MODELS BEFORE AND AFTER MY 2009 YEAR MODEL, HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE SAME EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE COMPONENT. NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM VOLUNTARILY; THEREFORE, NISSAN SHOULD BE ORDERED BY THE NHTSA TO REPLACE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT THROUGH A RECALL. FAILURE OF THE NHTSA TO ACT WILL LIKELY LEAD TO MANY INJURIES OR FATALITIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A PART WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE A LIMITED WARRANTY AND WHICH NISSAN, AS A RESPONSIBLE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, SHOULD REPAIR/REPLACE AT NO COST TO ITS CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED ITS VE

Mileage: 124,000

20170210ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKUP MY WIFE AND THE FOR SONE REASON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED . I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE OR SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THE CAR. I PRESS ON THE BUTTON TO START ,NOTHING AND TRY TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ,STILL NOTHING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND BACK IN ,NOTHING ,SO I DID THIS FOR 30 MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY GAVE UP. I HAD TO RUSH TO GET OUR OTHER CAR TO PICK HER UP. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS OKAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ,STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. I CONTACTED THEM AT THIS SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR APARTMENT.

20170210STEERING

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKUP MY WIFE AND THE FOR SONE REASON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED . I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE OR SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THE CAR. I PRESS ON THE BUTTON TO START ,NOTHING AND TRY TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ,STILL NOTHING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND BACK IN ,NOTHING ,SO I DID THIS FOR 30 MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY GAVE UP. I HAD TO RUSH TO GET OUR OTHER CAR TO PICK HER UP. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS OKAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ,STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. I CONTACTED THEM AT THIS SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR APARTMENT.

20170210SUSPENSION

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKUP MY WIFE AND THE FOR SONE REASON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED . I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE OR SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THE CAR. I PRESS ON THE BUTTON TO START ,NOTHING AND TRY TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ,STILL NOTHING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND BACK IN ,NOTHING ,SO I DID THIS FOR 30 MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY GAVE UP. I HAD TO RUSH TO GET OUR OTHER CAR TO PICK HER UP. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS OKAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ,STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. I CONTACTED THEM AT THIS SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR APARTMENT.

20170205STEERING

CAR WAS PARKED ON BUSY CITY ROAD AND WOULD NOT START. STEERING WHEEL LOCK DID NOT WORK.

Mileage: 99,000

20170104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID'S ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK ('ESCL') FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THIS FAILURE ACTIVATES VEHICLE'S ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AND COMPLETELY DISABLES THE IGNITION, RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME WITHOUT A WARNING.

Mileage: 89,665

20161229STEERING

MY DAUGHTER STOPPED AT A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP BEFORE GOING TO WORK ONE MORNING. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO HER 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID SHE OPENED THE DOOR REMOTELY WITH THE KEY FOB AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD LOCKED AND A YELLOW KEY LOCK LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DISPLAY. READING THE OWNERS MANUAL, SHE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE WITH THE KEY FOB BATTERY. LUCKILY, I WAS STILL AT HOME AND WAS ABLE TO BRING A SPARE FOB TO HER. USING THE SPARE,THOUGH,HAD THE SAME RESULT: NO IGNITION. WE CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP "CONFIRMED, CHECKED AND FOUND THE STEERING LOCK IS FAULTY, REMOVED AND REPLACED. CLEARED ALL CODES AND REPROGRAMMED BOTH KEYS". PARTS REPLACED WERE 1 48700-JF00D LOCK STEERING AND 2 48703-06F0A SCREW-STEERING LOCK, LIGHTENING MY WALLET BY $948.33. THREE DAYS LATER WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP A DRIVABLE VEHICLE WITH A FUNCTIONING STEERING COLUMN. DURING THE TIME WE WERE WITHOUT THIS CAR WE WERE ABLE TO DO

Mileage: 83,909

20161213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY UNLOCKED CAR BUT NO DISPLAY, START BUTTON NOT WORKING (NO RESPONSE AT ALL). CAR UNABLE TO BE STARTED, TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. DIAGNOSTICS RUN, FOUND OUT IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE THAT CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY NISSAN!! SO TOWED OVER THERE. NOW A 1 WEEK WAIT EVEN TO BE LOOKED AT AND PART NOT EVEN IN STOCK.

Mileage: 69,000

20161126STEERING

FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON MY CAR WOULD NOT START ON THANKSGIVING. IT ONLY SHOWED A KEY. I WENT TO NISSAN THE NEXT DAY TO GET A NEW BATTERY FOR MY KEY FOB. AND HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THEY SAID IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND IT WAS OVER $900. NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AND AT SUCH A RIDICULOUS EXPENSE. APPARENTLY THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL AND I'M HOPING FOR REIMBURSEMENT AS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT BEFORE 1/1/16. I'M GLAD WE WEREN'T ON AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP THAT DAY.

Mileage: 90,150

20161103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF, AND HAD BEEN WORKING FINE WHEN I PARKED IT ABOUT 8 HOURS EARLIER. IT WAS PARKED INDOORS IN A GARAGE ON A WARM FALL DAY, SO EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND WEATHER WERE NOT PRESENT. THE PARKING SPOT AND LOCATION WERE UNREMARKABLE (I WAS PARKED AT WORK, WHICH IS SAFE AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE TAMPERED WITH THE CAR). AFTER 7 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEM WITH THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH, IT SUDDENLY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THEY KEY CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE DOORS AND TRUNK, AND THE CAR BATTERY WAS FINE. IT WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE KEY WHEN PLACED INTO THE EMERGENCY IGNITION SLOT, EITHER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE LOCK STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR A PARTS COST OF $678 AND LABOR OF $303. I LOOKED ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER NISSAN OWNERS WITH CARS MADE AROUND THIS TIME FRAME WITH IDENTICAL ISSUE AND FIX. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SERIAL DEFECT TO ME, AND I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD BEAR THE COST.

Mileage: 130,000

20160502STEERING

I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. NOW I AM GETTING TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1300.

20160411ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE NISSAN ALTIMAS AND MAXIMAS HAVE A FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (FACTORY PART #48700-9N00B & 48700-9N00A). WHICH WILL FAIL AND YOUR CAR WILL NOT START. THIS SHOULD BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WHICH RENDERS THE CAR NON-DRIVABLE. ALSO THIS PART WAS ONLY ON THE 07-11 ALTIMAS AND 09-10 MAXIMAS. ALL THIS PART IS A LITTLE LOCK ACTUATOR THAT MOVES UP AND DOWN AND UNLOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN INFORMS TO VEHICLE TO START THE CAR. SO IF THIS FAILS WHEN YOU PUSH THE START BUTTON ON THE VEHICLE THE CAR WILL NOT START. NISSAN KNOWS THAT IT IS AN COMMON ISSUE, EVEN THEIR SERVICE TECHS INFORMED ME IT IS A ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY THEY WOULD RATHER CHARGE THE CUSTOMER $680 FOR THE PART ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN LABOR. THIS ROUGHLY A $1000 REPAIR AND INSTEAD OF NISSAN TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A FAULTY PART, THEY ARE PASSING THE COST OVER TO THEIR CONSUMERS. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

20160406STEERING

2009 ALTIMAS APPEARED TO HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE REGARDING THE STEERING LOCK COLUMN. NISSAN DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL, BUT INSTEAD OFFERED TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK ONLY ONCE THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, WITH THIS OFFER EXPIRING JAN 1ST 2016 APPARENTLY. MY CAR HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT, AND IN MARCH 2016 STARTED EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. CAR WOULD JUST BE UNABLE TO START AT ALL. I HAVE SPENT MONEY HAVING TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND NOW IT WILL COST ME $1325.00 TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT NISSAN KNEW ABOUT, THE REPLACEMENT COVERAGE PERIOD SHOULD BE EXTENDED INDEFINITELY, OR A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED.

Mileage: 55,000

Compare 2009NISSANALTIMA HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID have?
The 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID has 81 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID is STEERING with 26 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE.
Is the 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.