Most common 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid problems
Share of the 54 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Altima Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Altima Hybrid years: 2010, 2008. Years to avoid: 2009, 2007. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid:
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.
What 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid owners say
Steering all 26 →
The steering lock assembly seized up while the car was parked, so the engine starter was prevented from turning on and the steering and transmission remained locked. This happened in the dead of winter and at near-zero temperatures, requiring a tow to a dealer and a $1200 repair, which Nissan later reduced to $450. I accepted this on condition it would not constitute a settlement. This is a defect that turns up in all altimas built during several months in 2008, which they have acknowledged. They offered a 72-month warranty after manufacture (not a recall, though customers clamored for it) just for this item, but unfortunately the defect tends to surface after this period. My car missed the window by 22 days. Many similar cases have been reported since, and none have been covered. …
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? …
Electrical system all 21 →
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. …
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.
Engine & cooling
The steering lock assembly seized up while the car was parked, so the engine starter was prevented from turning on and the steering and transmission remained locked. This happened in the dead of winter and at near-zero temperatures, requiring a tow to a dealer and a $1200 repair, which Nissan later reduced to $450. I accepted this on condition it would not constitute a settlement. This is a defect that turns up in all altimas built during several months in 2008, which they have acknowledged. They offered a 72-month warranty after manufacture (not a recall, though customers clamored for it) just for this item, but unfortunately the defect tends to surface after this period. My car missed the window by 22 days. Many similar cases have been reported since, and none have been covered. …
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.
2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 35 / 33 / 34 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid a good car?
Based on 54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Altima Hybrid rates avoid: 3.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Altima Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the Altima Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid?
The steering — 26 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (21) and engine & cooling (7).
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Altima Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009 and 2007. See the full Nissan Altima Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 23% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.