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:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 1
Average Mileage:
52,061 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.
The airbag warning light comes on, meaning that the passenger airbag is disarmed, while my wife is sitting in the seat. This means if the car was in an accident, the airbag won't deploy and could cause more injury or death. There is a recent Nissan recall for Altima 2013-2014 for this same defect. The same issue is plaguing my 2009 Nissan Altima.
Air bag deactivate on the passenger side even when someone is sitting in the seat. This happens on and off many times. I think they should of recalled more years.
The dash on my Altima coupe is "melting". the dash has never been cleaned with any chemicals and is very tacky to the touch around the vents and seams. Due to the location of the melted components, it creates a very blinding glare that impairs my forward visibility through the windshield. I have contacted Nissan and they refuse to help me although this is a common issue with this model vehicle. Nissan has already had a replacement dash made with different materials which uses a different part # than the original dash. This is a very dangerous issue as I have almost gotten into accidents due to being blinded by the glare.
I went to shop-rite at 6 am to purchase lunch meat for my daughters school lunch. When I went to start the car it would not start. I thought it was the battery so I read the car manual on how to jump a car battery. In the car manual on page 0-12, the warning /indicator lights, page.I saw a picture of the warning indicator that was on my dash board and it had a page number 2-26. On the page it read" it is a security indicator light, to call the dealership" the car would not start with the push button.the car does not have a back up key entry either. So I was stranded at the supermarket.I had to call a tow truck in order for me to get home. I had the company who towed the car and who has been servicing our family cars for years call Nissan to see how Nissan can fix the car. Nissan advised that this part is not under warranty or under any recall and that there is nothing that they can do. They said it will cause me an estimated $3000 dollars to get the car fixed. Mind you the car is only 3 1/2 years old and I am still making car payments. [xxx] who towed and fixed the car doubled checked for me to see if this part was under a Nissan recall or if this part is under warranty, to my surprise it is not.I can't believe that a push button car does not have a back up to start a car when the push button malfunction. This does not make any sense. I can not believe that there is no alternate way of starting a car when a push button does not work. Thank goodness that this happened close to home and not while I was out with my daughters. How can a car be built with out any back up plan. Better yet how can this happen to a 3 year old car with only 70297 miles. Also my tires have been recalled and the engine was recalled and lastly my passenger air bag goes on when it wants to. I am paying so much money for a lemon and no one can help me. I will never buy a Nissan again. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I was traveling westbound on the interstate when a Chevrolet Silverado truck cut into my lane and stopped abruptly. I did not have time to react and rear-ended the vehicle. My car ended up under his bumper with major front end damage. My bumper was dragging when I pulled to the side, both headlights were broken, the hood was damaged, and the radiator and transmission were leaking. The grill was smashed in and was behind the front bumper. I was traveling at least 40 miles per hour. I bought the car brand new in 2009 and it had less than 40,000 miles on it. This is the first accident I have ever been in. The other vehicle left the scene of the accident. I was taken to the hospital for head and neck injuries. The airbags did not deploy. The police, fire, and tow truck driver all said the airbags should have deployed.
- Avondale, AZ, USA
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I was not aware of your Agency until a few weeks ago that is why I am sending this E-mail to you. My 2009 Altima was approximately 3-4 months old when I was sitting in the passenger seat (my husband was driving) the no air bag light came on for me. I notified alhambra Nissan, alhambra, California and they told me that there was nothing wrong. The problem continued for 3 years and every time I advised alhambra Nissan and they kept telling me nothing was wrong (I have documentation showing all the times this issue was brought up). In 2013 I advised alhambra Nissan I was still having problems with the air bag sensor, they told me to contact the Nissan corporation. I placed several calls with them and one of the representatives had the nerve to tell me that if Nissan took every silly complaint of a customer they would be out of business. Finally a report was made with them. I was advised by them that I would have to have the dealership see it when it occurred. When it occurred my husband drove me to the dealership they took pictures and ran some type of test with a laptop. I was told they would notify me when to return vehicle. I received a phone call and returned the vehicle. They replaced the seat on the passenger front were they told me that the sensor was located. When the replacement was done I picked up my vehicle. I drove it for several days and never had a chance to sit in the passenger side to test if it occurred again. When I did it occurred again my husband drove me back they took pictures again and did testing with a laptop and said they would get back to me. When they did I was told that per the Nissan corporation my vehicle is functioning as it should. I see that the 2013 Altima is recalled for the same issue that I have had for 4 years. I also see that 2003-08 has been recalled for same reason. Can you help me with this issue.
While sitting in the passenger seat riding with my wife, I noticed the passenger air bag lit meaning I was not protected in the event of a crash and I weigh 180 lbs. I don't see a recall for this but I am going to call dealer Monday and check on this. My son has also reported this to me as well and he weighs about 160 lbs.
On multiple occasions since taking ownership of this 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S sedan, the passenger airbag warning light has come on, meaning that the airbag was disarmed, while a full sized adult was seated in the passenger seat. On the most current occasion, my wife was sitting properly with only her legs extended when this occurred (seatbelt was on properly too). I took a picture of the warning light, my wife seated in the passenger seat with my camera phone to show to a Nissan service center, as I had hoped they would fix this defect under warranty. The Nissan dealership could not replicate the warning light, so they said they would not be able to fix this issue. Doing some research both here and on other sources, there was a major recall of some 200,000 Nissan Altima in 2007 and 2008 for this very same issue. The worry that I have is that god forbid we are ever in a collision, that the airbag might not be there when we need it most. The feature is added in the Nissan Altima to guard against small children or preteens who are seated in the front passenger seat from airbag-inflation related injuries. What it has done is put the lives of many Nissan Altima owners in jeopardy. Shame on Nissan for not designing this feature poorly or not removing it from their design entirely with the previous history of recalls in prior years. This defective seat sensor system needs to be replaced, recalled, or fixed in my opinion.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated was driving 35 mph when he was involved in a crash. The front driver side air bag did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the vehicle was safe to drive and the air bag did not deploy because the air bag sensor was not close enough to the battery area, where the vehicle was struck. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileage was 27,000. Updated 12/13/11
Passenger side airbag light comes on and stays on with adult (150 lbs plus) in the passenger seat. This happens about 50% of the time. Nissan has been aware of this problem for years and so far has done little to correct the problem. The problem started the first month after purchase of the new vehicle on 4-20-2009 and was reported to the dealer. They found no trouble with the airbag system.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima coupe. The contact was driving at an unknown speed with the passenger seat occupied when she noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The failure persisted intermittently so the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to diagnose the failure. The bottom portion of the front passenger seat was replaced but the failure continued. The contact was informed by the manufacturer that they were aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 16,877.
2009 Nissan Altima 2.5S - passenger airbag disabled light comes on when a person is sitting in the passenger seat indicating that the passenger airbag will not deploy in any situation. The passenger meets and passes the weight requirement and is seated correctly. We can not produce this issue on demand. Environment doesn't seem to matter. Shape and size of the passenger doesn't seem to matter either. Dealer replaced the seat bottom 6 or so months ago. Didn't fix the issue. My wife and I were blamed continually for months (10 or so) as being the cause of the issue. I documented with video and they still said it was our fault. One day we almost got hit and I the Nissan dealer I would hold them liable. That day the disabled light remained on and we were able to show the dealer. After that an engineer game in to check the car. They said the system works are it should, we were not doing anything wrong and they couldn't find a fault. That engineer submitted the issue up the chain to the Altima engineers in the usa. It has been two months now and no resolution has been made. Nissan has told me they are re-engineering the seat bottom and a replacement part will be produced. It will take time they say. My wife and I have had this car and complained about this issue from the first month we owned this car back in Sep/Oct 2009.
My 2009 Nissan Altima coupe passenger side air bag will go off and on when an adult is sitting in the seat. This has been an intermittent problem. I have had it in to the Nissan dealer to fix the problem on two different occasions and both times they tell me there is nothing wrong. (it has always done this - every time a passenger is in my vehicle) my research indicates the 2007/2008 coupes were recalled for what appears to be same issue (08V521000). I can't get the dealer to fix the problem. I don't want to die in the crash or someone else to die in a crash because the airbag didn't inflate. Help! updated IVOQ 05/25/11
On July 27,2010 my vehicle was approaching a corner and trying to come to a stop. A truck was approaching perpendicular heading North. I motioned for the truck to take the right of way before making my turn. My foot was on the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop, resulting in the truck hitting my vehicle in the left front side, causing considerable damage. In addition the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is now in the body shop. Nissan na has been contacted, and planning to investigate the problem concerning the brakes and airbags. Insurance is estimating body damage.
Passenger airbag off light randomly stays on when a passenger in seat. Means the passenger is not protected by the air bag. This happens to passenger over 110 lbs. This is working as it supposed to, according to Nissan dealer, anymore over 80 lbs sit in passenger seat, the light should be off and the airbag should be on. The dealer could not find out what is wrong. I search complaints on NHTSA and it turned out to be a large number of complaints on 07-09 model. Please help us out, there is a truly a life related safety issue.
Passenger airbag turns on and off even when passenger is in seat. It occurs frequently and daily. So far Nissan has not issued any recalls, heard there was the same problems on the 2008. This was on a 2009 Nissan Altima coupe.
There is a problem with the 2009 Nissan Altima in which the passenger airbag turns off (indicated by a passenger airbag off light), while an adult passenger over 100 lbs is correctly seated on the passenger side, sitting square with seatbelts fastened. If an accident occurred while the airbag is turned off, the passenger is not protected in Nissan Altima. At the least, an override on or off is needed because the weight sensor doesn't work correctly on the Nissan Altima, based on the first month of driving on my 2009 Nissan Altima, with a 108 pound passenger. I purchased a 2009 Nissan Altima from mossy Nissan oceanside last month. Today on 2 separate occasions the passenger airbag turned off. The first time it turned off, I checked the manual which stated that the passenger needs to sit correctly for the airbag to turn on. We believe she was, however her feet were on the right side rather than the center of the floor. Later this evening, we made certain the passenger was sitting correctly when the passenger airbag off light turn on again. In both cases, within 10 minutes the airbag off light then turned off. If an accident occurs during the airbag failure period above, a fatality can easily occur.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Exton, PA, USA