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2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid, most often about the steering (48% of complaints, typically around 66,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Altima Hybrid model year since 2000.
Most common 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid problems
Steering
26 complaints · 48%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles.
Car operated normally in the morning, able to start and drove perfectly fine to the office. When I went to start my car to go get lunch, the car would not start and the intelligent key light flashed. I called the local dealership and was told the fob must have somehow un-synced. Aaa towed to dealership, was then told…
Returned to my vehicle after work at 5pm, and car wouldn't start. Ignition button was lit, with 'lock' light illuminated, and 'key' light was illuminated in the hud. Researched in owners manual, which referred to the steering lock unit, and told me to contact dealer. Interior lights worked, but little else. Had aaa…
Electrical
21 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 67,500 miles.
Car operated normally in the morning, able to start and drove perfectly fine to the office. When I went to start my car to go get lunch, the car would not start and the intelligent key light flashed. I called the local dealership and was told the fob must have somehow un-synced. Aaa towed to dealership, was then told…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated while driving approximately 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensor in the passenger side seat needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired however the…
Engine
7 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles.
Engine light had been going on and off, car shuddered occasionally. Took car in for that along with 60k service. Mechanic said diagnostic codes revealed need to replace cylinder head due to excess carbon buildup. Said it was a common problem they see. Car has used synthetic oil from beginning only 62,000 miles.
The steering lock unit (part number 48700-9n00b) needed replacement. The steering lock unit did not properly engage when the vehicle was turned off. Because the unit did not engage, the vehicle would not start. I was left stranded in a parking garage at night and had to have the vehicle towed. The nearest dealership…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles.
Car wouldn't start due to a faulty steering wheel lock switch. This has been a continuing problem on altimas and other models. Nissan failed to report problem to its customers.
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…
Air bags
4 complaints · 7%The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated while driving approximately 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensor in the passenger side seat needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired however the…
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…
Brakes
3 complaints · 6%On a sunny cold afternoon in avon ct, doing 35 MPH, the ABS and brake lights suddenly came on my dash of 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid with 10897 miles. An audible continuous alarm was on in the car. The brakes were totally inoperable. It was a total catastrophic failure. The car was towed to the nearest dealer and Nissan…
Pushed on brakes and pedal went down with no brakes. Once pedal got to a low point the brakes came full on with car abruptly coming to a stop. At the same time alarms came on. I shut the car off and restarted. The alarms were still on. I tried driving forward again and slowly pushed down on the brake pedal. The brake…
Speed control
3 complaints · 6%I bought my 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid on july 30, 2009. On october 3rd, evening, it lost power while I was driving on freeway 99 california. Dash board light are on, engine has no power output. The vehicle dropped speed quickly. I pulled over to the shoulder and turn off the engine. One minute later, I turned engine…
Nissan Altima Hybrid suddenly acceleration. I was going slow pulling into a parking stall when my car "jumped" and suddenly went forward crashing into the railing. There was a witness that saw me pulling into the parking stall slowly when my car "jumped" crashing through the railing.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Questions about the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (26 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles); electrical (21 complaints, typically around 67,500 miles); engine (7 complaints, typically around 62,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Nissan Altima Hybrid?
- It is the most complained-about Altima Hybrid model year since 2000, with 54 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Nissan Altima Hybrid years
- 2007
- 2009