10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
68,090 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #87

Oct 302017

Altima

  • 152,000 miles
Starting in April 2016 we had a problem with the vehicle when my wife while driving the car suddenly lost the ability to drive, the engine had shut down entirely. At the time the vehicle had just over 100,000 miles and she was driving on a busy express way between cleveland and akron I-77. She costed into a rest area and we had to leave the car there over night until we could get it towed to the dealership. They told us it was the O2 sensor and it cost us almost 1,200 $ to repair. A few months later in June of 2016 on fathers day with our almost 2 year old daughter in the car, my family and I were driving down to Virginia to spend some time with friends. We had another incident. While driving in the DC area on another busy express way I-70 in Maryland our car again lost power in the engine. We couldn't drive it any where. We had it woed by aaa to frederick Maryland, rented a car, and drove the 5 hours home. A few days later I drove back down to pick the car up. This time it was the mass air flow sensor. It cost us almost 500$ to have it repaired. To my understanding both sensors belong to the exhaust system of a car. On Monday of this week October 30th 2017 the check engine light came on while my wife was driving to work on back roads. When we brought it to the dealer and it was diagnosed with a damaged front exhaust pipe and manifold. The price to fix it is 2,132.74$. I felt that to have 3 major costs associated with the exhaust system in our car in a year and a half was excessive so I investigated it and discovered that the 2009 Nissan Altima was recalled for the exact problem we have now. For some reason our vehicle wasn't included in that recall. I have spoken with Nissan and they have told me there is nothing they will do to help us out with these repairs. In all 3 situations we were driving.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #86

Jul 172016

Altima

  • miles
Catalytic converter not working causing the car to drive ineffectively, car speed declines and sometimes the car rpms stay at 3000 and won't accelerate.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #85

Nov 032016

Altima

  • miles
I change my radiator 2 times - and they change the steering column lock and they charge me 1,200. I have change the pressure sensors couple times. This always happen when I was driving

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #84

Jun 302017

Altima

  • miles
While driving down the interstate once the engine gets hot the car loses all power. No warning lights come on and once you stop the car and let the engine cool down it runs fine

- Mckenzie, TN, USA

problem #83

Apr 292017

Altima

  • 115,000 miles
Transmission overheats whenever the vehicle is driven for an extended period (1 hour+) in warm weather (80 degrees+). vehicle immediately loses power, with rpms never reaching above 2000, drastically reducing acceleration and speed. Driving on a highway, this creates a serious danger. This has been happening for over two years now.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #82

Mar 012015

Altima

  • 75,000 miles
Cracked exhaust manifold.

- New Madrid, MO, USA

problem #81

Feb 142017

Altima

  • miles
The start push button ignition and the intelligent key will not engage.. the steering wheel is locked and will not allow the brake pad to depress for the operation of the vehicle. I am left dead in the water with no way to start or use the accessories function to turn on the radio or allow my phone to charge in the battery port. I went to pick up my family went to start the car and there was no recognition.

- La Puente, CA, USA

problem #80

Feb 062017

Altima

  • 86,000 miles
I started my car as usual to run some errands. It started fine. I stopped at the gas station and shut off the car. It would not start again. It was freezing cold. My car was blocking the gas pump and it could not be moved. I ruled out the key fob because it still unlocked the doors. I inserted the key fob in the emergency socket that is supposed to start the car in case the battery in the key fob dies. Still nothing. I had my brother bring me a new battery for the key fob. Still nothing. He took me home. I had to leave the car there. After some internet research, many many others with Nissan were having the same issues. The culprit is the electronic steering lock module. It locks the steering wheel and you cannot start the car when it is locked. I went back to the car tore the panel apart and located the steering lock. The research I did said that sometimes you could get it to release the lock pin if you tap on it with hammer. So I stepped on the brake while holding in the start button and tapping on the steering lock module. After 20 minutes of banging on the module it disengaged enough to start the car. I drove it home and shut it off. It won't start again. Nissan says the warranty ran out Jan. 1st, 2016. This should be a recall. The dealership quoted me a price of $679.51 just for the part not including labor. That is ridiculous! what if I were somewhere remote and the car would not start? I could have froze to death. Please look into this issue as it seems to have happened to 1000S of people.

- South New Berlin, NY, USA

problem #79

Feb 022017

Altima

  • 135,000 miles
On Thursday February 2, 2017 approximately 5:45 pm, I was driving in the middle of on kirkwood highway in newark, de which is 3 lanes. The car began to shake and hesitate to take off. While in the middle of heavy traffic the car finally stopped accelerating and would not move. I had my 3 year old son in the back seat at the time. An passerby finally pulled up behind me and helped me push my car out of the middle of the highway to the left turn lane so that I wasn't blocking the flow of traffic. After about 2 hours, a tow truck finally came and towed the car to benchmark transmission in newark, de. The mechanic named dante advised that the transmission had died. He also notified me that this was a known recall issued by Nissan several years back which my transmission was now out of recall due to the mileage. My car was in the Nissan service department in November 2012 to fix the electronic steering column lock that also turned into a recall. At that time Nissan had my updated address as well as it has been continuously updated with the Delaware dmv and I was never notified of any recall. There was also no indication that any issue was occurring with the transmission (no check engine light) prior to the incident. I want Nissan to be held accountable for this incident. The cost of repair will be in upwards of $4,000

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #78

Jan 042017

Altima

  • 92,000 miles
Steering lock fail. Manufacture defective part. Car won't start and nissa won't pay for it.

- Indian Land, SC, USA

problem #77

Jan 302017

Altima

  • miles
This is by far the worst vehicle I have ever purchased. I have replaced the transmission once....it still does not work properly and shifts so hard my passengers think I'm slamming on the brakes. And now the steering lock module has failed. After reading 100S of complaints from people with the same issue, I am appalled to find that this is not a recall. I will never purchase another Nissan nor will anyone that knows me as they've witnessed all issues occur with zero accountability on Nissan's account.

- Steger, IL, USA

problem #76

Jan 292017

Altima

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle stalled and did not start again. The contact thought the battery died and went to get jumper cables. When he returned, the vehicle was on fire. The fire and police departments were present and a report was filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

- Potts Town, PA, USA

problem #75

Jan 262017

Altima

  • 77,000 miles
Came out to get in the car which was parked, used the fob to unlock the door got into the car and nothing. The brake was hard to press, the steering was locked, could not go into any gear, the car could not be jumped with cables. I had 2 indicator lights on. I needed to have the car towed to a Nissan dealer. The diagnosis is the steering actuator. I am being charged roughly $1100. I don't yet have my documentation as the car is with the dealership. This sounds like it has been an issue recently with several 2009 Nissan Altima. Nissan may want to rethink making this a recall. I was lucky to be in a public place in the daytime.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #74

Jan 112016

Altima

  • 50,000 miles
My vehicle was stopped roadside and would not start due to a faulty electronic steering column lock which is apparently an anti theft device. I was stuck in dangerously cold weather with nobody around and the vehicle would not start. The company issued a limited warranty in which I could not get the part fixed unless it was already broken. My car then proceeded to have the escl part break less than six months after the "extended warranty". this is a dangerous issue and I feel I should be compensated for the $1000 part replacement.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #73

Dec 262016

Altima

  • 0 miles
Takata recall, defect steering lock unit, unable to start engine! after parked Nissan 2009 Altima at a shopping mall, "nokey" light is on, car can be lock and unlock through remote control key, but no display information visible at the dash board, wheel is locked and unable to switch gear. Nothing can be done to the car!

- Agoura Hills, CA, USA

problem #72

Dec 032016

Altima 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
The steering lock broke while I was driving straight in a parking lot, forcing the engine to shut off. I have 10 month old twin daughters and this could have resulted in a very serious car accident if the vehicle was on a main road or highway and going at a faster speed. Supposedly this is a well-known issue with 2009 Nissan Altima's (and other year models as well). Instead of a recall, Nissan extended the warranty on this part by one year. I called Nissan and they told me that the extended warranty expired in August 2015, so I will have to pay for this out of pocket. The estimated cost is between $1,100 and $1,300. The car doesn't start at all, and apparently only Nissan dealers can fix it. This is very worrisome that Nissan acknowledged this as a problem, but did not consider the safety of its customers and issue a recall.

- Easton, MA, USA

problem #71

Dec 012016

Altima

  • miles
I got in my car the other day to run to the store and the cars push button ignition would not start the car, the llght on the dash suggests that the steering wheel is not locked, but it is locked. Vehicle is parked in my driveway

- Franklin, LA, USA

problem #70

Nov 092016

Altima

  • 76,000 miles
My car would not start. Apparently there was a recall on this problem - only if the car was affected - and it happened to my car after the warranty on the recall expired. I am the 2nd owner and was never notified of the recall despite the fact I purchased the car from a dealer. The Nissan customer service refused to even pay for the part - which I could not purchase or get repaired elsewhere. It was very expensive. I have owned many other cars and have had car manufacturers stand by their products and right was was wrong. Not in this case. Nissan should have at least paid for the part as there was no other place to make the repair. I spoke to several people and went as far up the ladder as possible and was finally told they would not assist with the cost in any way. This is not an acceptable way to run a business and stand by a product. I had a 12 year old car from Lexus replace a cracked dashboard for free! the car is used by my son, a college student, who needs it for transportation and safety while away at school. I was very upset at the way I was treated and how my complaints were not addressed in any way.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #69

Nov 012016

Altima

  • 135,000 miles
Electronic steering column lock failure. Leaves car disabled where ever you are. Car will not start. Must be towed. Nissan had an earlier recall but never published it to 2009 Altima owners.

- Auburn, MA, USA

problem #68

Oct 262016

Altima

  • 85,000 miles
My electronic steering column lock has malfunctioned for the second time. This malfunction does not allow the car to recognize the key fob, preventing ignition. I was stranded in a remote part of a forest preserve and because my car would not start I had to hike out 6 miles until I got cell phone coverage and could call for help. This problem happened to me previously in 2011. At that point Nissan had covered this repair as part of a lifetime extended warranty on the electronic steering column lock, but they decided in January 2016 to cancel this warranty.

- Lake Bluff, IL, USA

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