Nissan Altima Complaints (2009)

1,601 consumer complaints on file.

#10482796October 31, 2012
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
MY CAR IT WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ACTIVATION OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER FOLLOWING ALL TROUBLE SHOOTING ADVICE IN THE CAR'S MANUAL, I TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY STATED AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN STEERING CONTROL UNIT IS NOT TELLING THE CONTROL UNIT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS UNLOCKED AND READY TO START. THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART# 487009N00B) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ALL PART OF THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT WAS $1,062.90. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. 1. THIS WAS A FULLY FUNCTIONING CAR (EXCEPT FOR ANTI-THEFT GLITCH) THAT LEFT ME AND MY DAUGHTER STRANDED IN A VERY REMOTE AREA. 2. NISSAN PROMOTES HOW SAFE, RELIABLE AND ECONOMICAL THEIR CARS ARE, BUT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CAN DISABLE THE VEHICLE LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED WITH ONLY ONE OPTION, WHICH IS, TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER BECAUSE OF ANT-THEFT SYSTEM GLITCHES. 3. THE CAR, BEING ECONOMICAL, SHOULD NOT REQUIRE AN OVER $1,000 REPAIR BECAUSE OF AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. 4. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN OCCUR THAT WILL RESULT IN THE NISSAN ALTIMA BECOMING IMMOBILIZED STRANDING DRIVERS. I AM STATING ONLY ONE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY TO FEMALE DRIVERS. 5. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD COME UP WITH AN OVERRIDE CODE OR DEVICE THAT WILL ALLOW A DRIVER TO ESCAPE FROM POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT WERE CREATED BY NISSAN'S VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL EXCEPT FOR AN ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZING CIRCUIT FALSELY TELLING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT READY TO START. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THEIR VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482681October 30, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2009 ALTIMA BEGAN TO MAKE A WHINING NOISE. IT BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND MADE THE WHOLE VEHICLE RESPOND ERRATICALLY. WHEN STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FORWARD. NISSAN APPARENTLY KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND EXTENDED THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY TO 120,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS NISSAN IS REPLACING THE FAULTY CVT TRANSMISSION WITH A "NEW" REPLACEMENT FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE EVEN VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE DOCUMENTING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2009 ALTIMA TRANSMISSIONS. EVEN AFTER AN INITIAL REPLACEMENT, MANY VEHICLES ARE NEEDING MULTIPLE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE BY NISSAN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST REPLACE TRANSMISSIONS. A RECALL NEEDS TO OCCUR, AND NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT. ONCE AGAIN, THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481507October 23, 2012
STEERING
CAR ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. WAS STRANDED. CAR WON'T EVEN START. HAD TO HAVE TOWED. PART IS SUPER EXPENSIVE. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE ON RELATIVELY NEW CAR? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481546October 23, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISMS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481177October 19, 2012
STEERING
I'M A FEMALE WHO WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A DARK PARKING LOT BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO BE TOWED. PROBLEM WAS STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM. $811.00 FOR REPAIR AND 75.00 TOWING. PLEASE RECALL. PARTICULARLY SCARY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS PLAYING AROUND WITH REMOTE TRYING ANYTHING TO GET THE CAR TO START, I ROLLED THE WINDOWS ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH THE REMOTE AND COULD NOT GET THEM BACK UP. SO I WAS ALONE IN A DARK PARKING LOT WITH THE FRONT WINDOWS COMPLETELY ROLLED DOWN WAITING AN HOUR FOR THE TOW TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480023October 13, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND PREVENTING ME FROM STARTING THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479283October 8, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
09 NISSAN ALTIMA JUST OVER 44K MILES THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. NO LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD, BRAKE PEDAL VERY STIFF, THE VEHICLE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT THE KEY IS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AND IS INSERTED AT THE LOCATION ON THE LEFT SIDE ON DRIVER AND IS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. TOWED TO DEALER AND AS I AM OVER MY 36K WARRANTY BUT NOT OVER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY OVER $800 TO FIX FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT EVEN OVER 3 YEARS OLD. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477475September 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF CAR BATTERY 18,730 MILES I NOTED A STRONG SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS A FEW MONTHS AGO AND FOUND THAT THE POSITIVE POST ON THE BATTERY HAD CONSIDERABLE CORROSION. I CLEANED IT OFF AS BEST I COULD AND HOPED THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS HAS CONTINUED AND THE CORROSION RETURNED AND EVEN MORE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE POSITIVE POST IS NO LONGER SEALED INTO THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY IS NO LONGER A SEALED MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY AND THUS IS ALLOWING SULFURIC ACID FUMES TO LEAK OUT AROUND THE POST AND CORRODE THE TERMINAL AND ALL CONNECTING CABLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476959September 25, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHTS NOT LIGHTING & PUSH TO START NOT WORKING AT TIMES. NISSAN SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH & SUB HARNESS. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET I FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE SWITCH FAILS YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474491September 10, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY BRAKE SWITCH AND HARNESS SHORTED OUT. I DID NOT KNOW IT HAPPENED UNTIL AFTER I STOPPED FOR GAS. IF THEY BOTH SHORTED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THAT MEANS THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT RESPONDING TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH MADE IT VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND SO MANY OTHER SIMILAR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM NISSAN IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. NOT TO MENTION, ITS A VERY EXPENSIVE $500 FIX ONLY THEY CAN DO. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468472July 31, 2012
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE TIRES CHANGED AT A LOCAL TIRE DEALER, THE DEALER NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR VALVES STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE VALVE STEMS WHO STATED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467225July 24, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK WAS NOT OPERATING. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465428July 12, 2012
STEERING
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INTELLIGENT KEY STARTING SYSTEM ,AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON THE DASH.I LOOKED UP THE CODE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. IT STATED STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONING. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALER. A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH PARTS ($470.00) AND LABOR ($300.00) PLUS TAXES THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS $730.00. THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON COSTLY ISSUE WITH 2008-2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES PRODUCED IN THOSE YEARS. A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464098July 3, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
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 PEDAL CONTINUED DOWN WITH NO RESISTANCE UNTIL IT REACHED A LOW POINT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY COMES TO A STOP. BEAVERTON NISSAN CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. BEAVERTON NISSAN MECHANIC WITH THE HELP OF NISSAN TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A BRAKE BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR FAILURE. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING SLOW IN AN AREA WITH NO TRAFFIC. HOWEVER I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE BRAKES, EITHER THEY WERE NOT ENGAGED OR ENGAGED TO A POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD ABRUPTLY STOP. I WANT TO EMPHASIS THE WORD ABRUPTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: WHAT IS I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN? I WOULD START TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THERE IS NOTHING, THIS DELAY WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO REAR END SOMEONE. OR LETS SAY THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN, I WOULD HAVE SLOW FEATHERED THE BRAKES AND FINDING NONE I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE FULL BRAKES. I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. AND ANY OF THIS OVER A BRAKE SENSOR FAILURE. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS BRUSHED IT OFF LIKE IT IS JUST A SENSOR FAILED, NOTHING MORE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 5 MINUTES DIFFERENCE I WOULD HAVE WRECKED THE CAR. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459130May 21, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458094May 11, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I DROVE MY 09 ALTIMA TO THE MALL PARKED IT, AN HOUR LATER I TRIED TURNING IT ON AND IT WOULDN'T START. NO CRANK, AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO TO ACC. I TRIED JUMP STARTING IT AND EVEN CHANGE OUT THE BATTERY BUT NO LUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456684April 27, 2012
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I HIT A CURB AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP THE ENTIRE SECURITY SYSTEM CAUSING MY CAR TO SHUT DOWN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449224February 24, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FACTORY INTELLIGENT KEY STARTING SYSTEM ,AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON THE DASH.HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALER. A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2008-2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES PRODUCED IN THOSE YEARS. A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448711February 21, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2009 ALTIMA 2.5 SL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENTERING NISSAN'S CONSUMER ARBITRATION PROCESS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 15, AND 16, 2011 TO INSPECT AND REPAIR A CHRONIC MECHANICAL ISSUE THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST 16 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A POPPING SOUND AFTER THE ENGINE WAS WARM, WHEN THE VEHICLE SAT IDLE OR TURNED OFF. WHILE REMOVING THE INITIAL HEAT SHIELD RIVETS AND REPLACING THEM WITH LARGER RIVETS, IT RESULTED IN A SLIGHTLY MUTED POPPING NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT OVERTIME, THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE METAL SURFACES WILL WEAKEN AND POTENTIALLY FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEPENTINE BELT, TENSIONER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447693February 12, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
AFTER ABOUT 37000 MILES I STARTED TO HEAR A "WHIRRING" OR KIND OF "ROARING" NOISE WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICED THE NOISE SPED UP AND GOT A BIT LOUDER AS I ACCELERATED. I ASKED A MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND THOSE WERE FINE. AT THE NEXT OIL CHANGE, I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO RIDE IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN LOUDER. THEY FOUND ONE OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS TO BE WORN OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER, BECAUSE THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE COVERED UNDER THE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY UNTIL 60000 MILES. THE DEALER FOUND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS "COMPLETELY WORN OUT" (PER THEIR NOTES ON THE WORK ORDER). WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD NOT BE WEARING OUT THIS EARLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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