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#BS-2009-NISALT-73F4

2009 Nissan Altima

Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
1,000
Crashes
27
Fires
10
Recalls
4
TSBs
115
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,000 complaints, 27 crashes, 10 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 6.2x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

steering wheel lock failure

467 complaints • Severity 8.6/10

$X,XXX
2

shuddering and hesitation while accelerating

20 complaints • Severity 7.8/10

$X,XXX
3

whining noise that increases with speed

15 complaints • Severity 7.1/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

415 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 69K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

104
0–30K
221
30–60K
246
60–90K
136
90–120K
78
120–150K
34
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (246 reports) • Median: 69K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (415 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering415 (42%)
Electrical209 (21%)
Other54 (5%)
Airbags44 (4%)
Engine43 (4%)
Drivetrain34 (3%)
Speed Control27 (3%)
Brakes27 (3%)

2009 Nissan Altima: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 42% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Altima, with 415 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 69,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 69K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 21% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Altima, with 209 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Altima, with 44 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Altima, with 43 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

1
08
16
09
34
10
33
11
100
12
254
13
61
14
110
15
181
16
79
17
29
18
39
19
28
20
13
21
7
22
8
23
6
24
1
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2009 Nissan Altima. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

08V464000Sep 2008

WHEELS

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.

09V006000Jan 2009

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

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.

09V358000Oct 2009

SUSPENSION

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.

10V401000Sep 2010

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Nissan Altima is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2009 Nissan Altima vs. Class Average (Subcompact Cars)

This vehicle

1,000

Class avg

162

6.2x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical subcompact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Nissan Altima Model Years

202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993
View all Nissan Altima years →

2009 Nissan Altima: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Nissan Altima?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2009 Nissan Altima is related to the steering, with 415 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2009 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2009 Nissan Altima has 1,000 complaints, 27 crash reports, and 10 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 6.2x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2009 Nissan Altima problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes, the 2009 Nissan Altima has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Nissan Altima problems start?
Based on 819 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 69,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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