CarComplaints.com Notes: You don't want to get 2009 and 2010 Altima owners started about their cars. That is, unless, you know how to start their cars.

These vehicles can suddenly become impossible to start thanks to a faulty electronic steering column lock (ESCL). Nissan dealers will gladly replace it, but that will run you $1000.

More info & videos about the Nissan ESCL defect are available over at NissanProblems.com.

It's one of the many reasons this car was named CarTalk's Turd of the Week and given our Beware of this Clunker badge. Two dubious honors.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
13 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 1
Average Mileage:
265,203 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Nissan Altima engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #8

Mar 192010

Altima

  • 4,260 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When the brake pedal of my 09 Altima 2.5S sedan is pressed, the car slows down as it should and then all of a sudden accelerates until the brake pedal is pressed harder when it comes to a complete stop. This does not happen always and the amount of sudden acceleration varies from time to time. Today around 12:30pm, I tried to stop the car by pressing the brakes and it suddenly accelerated and hit another car. The police arrived, listened to what happened, and reported the accident as my fault. When I told her (officer dick) about the brake malfunction, she made fun of me saying -- "are you trying to pull off a Toyota here?" I find the brakes of my car very unpredictable and that was the reason for today's crash. Hope NHTSA will take this report seriously and do the needful.

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

problem #7

Feb 222009

Altima

  • 1,900 miles
Bought car new in 2009. It has surged forward out of control three times at slow or parking speed since I had it.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #6

Feb 222009

Altima

  • 1,900 miles
Bought car new in 2009. It has surged forward out of control three times at slow or parking since I had it.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #5

Feb 102009

Altima

  • 900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2009 Nissan Altima 2.5S cvt.....sudden excelleration.

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #4

Feb 142009

Altima

  • 1,000 miles
In a rented 2009 Nissan Altima I backed out of the garage, lightly tapped a tree on the side of the driveway and then came to a full stop. I put the car in drive to realign it and the car accelerated uncontrollably crashing through the closing garage door and came within inches of the wall of the house. The car only stopped when it hit the edge of the stair leading into the house. Airbags deployed and the passenger suffered a broken rib. All of the recent problems with Toyota made me believe even more that this was an uncontrollable acceleration problem. Hertz examined the car but claimed nothing was defective. My car insurance premium has risen as a result of this accident (my first ever) and I worry about others driving this model. This took place in Plymouth, MA. This was a harrowing accident that could have ended with far more destruction and serious injury. I don't know if Nissan has had other reports like this one, but I felt it important to file a safety complaint.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #3

Dec 292009

Altima

  • 1,700 miles
Leased a new 2009 Nissan Altima on September 5, 2009 and on December 29, 2009 while my wife was pulling into a parking space at her company's parking lot our car suddenly accelerated jumped a side walk, skimmed a tree and crashed into a second tree. This was view by a witness who saw her brakes lights on when the car accelerated. This is also the second accident within a four month time frame. She was very luck and not injured even though the air bag deployed. To date Nissan usa has taken the position there is nothing wrong with the car.

- North Brunswick, NJ, USA

problem #2

Sep 132009

Altima

  • 500 miles
Leased a new 2009 Nissan Altima on September 5, 2009 and on September 13, 2009 while my wife was pulling into a parking space at a local supermarket our car suddenly accelerated and crashed into the wall of the market. She was burnt on an arm because of the air bag deploying and suffered from a blood clot, both of which have healed.

- North Brunswick, NJ, USA

problem #1

Sep 292009

Altima

  • 200 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While entering a parking space, she experienced unintended vehicle acceleration. As a consequence, she crashed into a building and sustained moderate injuries. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, and was in the process of being repaired. She notified the manufacturer, and is waiting for a response. The failure and current mileages were 200.

- Norwalk, CT, USA

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