FaultScore

FaultScore report

2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid problems

Owners have filed 81 complaints about the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid with NHTSA between 2009 and 2021. The largest single group is the steering. Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 4 worst.

D

FaultScore 62/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

How this is worked out

The numbers

81

Complaints

3

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

65,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

17%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 100 vs 50 Severity 19 vs 50 Early failure 29 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 100
Against the median year of the Nissan Altima Hybrid. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 19
3.7% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 29
17% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2009 compares with every other Nissan Altima Hybrid

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Steering 26 32.1%

Median failure at 66,500 miles

Median failure at 67,500 miles

Engine & Cooling 7 8.6%

Median failure at 62,000 miles

Other & Unspecified 5 6.2%

Median failure at 92,000 miles

Airbags 4 4.9%

Median failure at 95,500 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 3.7%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 26,000 mi

Brakes 3 3.7%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

Tires 2 2.5%

Median failure at 55,250 miles

Body & Structure 2 2.5%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 91,000 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 2 2.5%

Median failure at 32,250 miles

Equipment & Accessories 1 1.2%

Median failure at 15,500 miles

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 1.2%

Median failure at 120,000 miles

Seats 1 1.2%

Median failure at 154,000 miles

Wheels 1 1.2%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 1.2%

Median failure at 60,984 miles

Suspension 1 1.2%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 1 1.3%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 3 3.9%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 4 5.2%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 11 14.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 26 33.8%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 14 18.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 14 18.2%
150,000+ miles 4 5.2%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Nov 2009 peak 6 Mar 2021

NHTSA investigations into the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

DP22005 Opened 27 Jan 2023 Closed 7 Aug 2023 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM

Pedestrian alert sounds

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 Marc...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 62,000 miles South Pasadena, CA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE PARK, AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS IF I HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR RAN OVER THE PARKING STOPPER AND THE SIDEWALK ONTO THE SOCCER FIELD FENCE. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT.

NHTSA complaint #10559578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles South Pasadena, CA Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE PARK, AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS IF I HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR RAN OVER THE PARKING STOPPER AND THE SIDEWALK ONTO THE SOCCER FIELD FENCE. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT.

NHTSA complaint #10559578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,000 miles Portland, OR Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10340166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 171,000 miles Palmetto, FL

ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #11399772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,000 miles East Middlebury, VT

SEATS

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.

NHTSA complaint #11259068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 154,000 miles East Middlebury, VT

AIR 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.

NHTSA complaint #11259068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 143,000 miles Seattle, WA

UNKNOWN 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.

NHTSA complaint #11203424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 143,000 miles Seattle, WA

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #11203424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 246,000 miles Afton, OK

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

NHTSA complaint #11156809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,278 miles Edison, NJ

STEERING

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 CAR IS SERVICED AND TAKEN CARE OF, I CAN BE STRANDED ANYWHERE.

NHTSA complaint #10968968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 124,000 miles Pacifica, CA

AIR 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 VEHICLES DUE TO THEIR ADVERTISED SAFETY RATINGS.

NHTSA complaint #10959173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacoima, CA

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10953781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacoima, CA

SUSPENSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10953781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacoima, CA

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10953781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Lodi, CA

STEERING

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

NHTSA complaint #10949671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,665 miles SAN Jose, CA

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10939646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 83,909 miles Holyoke, MA

STEERING

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 SOME INTERNET RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2007-2011 ALTIMAS WITH AVERAGE MILEAGE AROUND 80,000, ( THIS ONE HAD 83,909) THAT NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGES DOES EXIST,AND YET THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. FROM OUR SEARCHES OF MANY WEB SITES (INCLUDING SAFERCAR.GOV) WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY REPORTED, YET STILL THERE HAVE BEEN NO STEPS TAKEN TOWARD RECTIFYING THE PROBLEM. AS AN ALTIMA OWNER I AM LEFT WONDERING WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR NISSAN TO FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A LEGITIMATE SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND ANY PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10938552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10934937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,150 miles Hillsboro, OR

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10928051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Norwalk, CT

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10924088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merced, CA

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10862644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,000 miles Sherwood, OR

ELECTRICAL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10854893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Massapequa Park, NY

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10853817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Massapequa Park, NY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10853817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Woodbridge, VA

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10837703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 127,000 miles Brooklyn, CT

STEERING

TAKATA RECAL THE CAR WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN I RETURNED TO IT, IT WOULD NOT START. IT SARTS WITH A FOB. INSERTED THE FOB AT KEY LOCATION AND WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC TRY STARTING THROUGH THE BATTERY. WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THE ISSUE. THE WARRENTY FOR THIS PART WAS FOR 6 YEARS. I NEVER RECIEVED NOTIFICATION FOR THE WARRENTY. NISSAN AMERICA SAID IT WAS MY RESPONSIBLITY TO LOOK IT UP ON LINE. THE REPAIR COST ME $1263.58. I WAS ONLY ASKING FOR THE PART PRICE WHICH WAS $898.63. WHY WOULD A PART BE ON WARRENTY FOR 6 YEARS AND THEN BREAK DOWN 9 MONTHS LATER AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PART FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10824205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,000 miles Alhambra, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND "KEYLESS INTELLIGENCE" DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA complaint #10823138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Myrtle Beach, SC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10821660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.