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.

8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,030
Average Mileage:
131,350 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. replace transmission (1 reports)
2009 Nissan Altima engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #4

Oct 042017

Altima 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 108,000 miles

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

Driving home from work which is approx 62 miles. Approx. 6 miles from home on interstate car has lost power. Gas pedal pushed to floor. Car losing speed to the point it was not safe. Limped 4 miles to my exit. Turned on to road with speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Could not get car to pick up speed. The was an incline. Had to turn on emergency flashers. Once I reached peak, car started going like nothing wrong with it. Next time I drove it, same thing happened on my way home. Temperature outside was upper 80s Low 90s.

- Christine W., Linden, US

problem #3

Sep 022017

Altima 2.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 157,000 miles

Nissan Altima lose power. During a trip from Louisiana to Alabama the car lose Power after driving for maybe 2 hours. If you pull over and let the car sit for maybe 15 to 20 minutes it's good for another hour or so.. This is very dangerous and this will get someone killed. I literally went from 75 mph to 20 mph on the interstate.. I took my car to the Nissan Dealership in Louisiana and they claim nothings wrong, they have never heard of this happening and their diagnosis is "can not duplicate issue". WTF... I've read 100's of complaints on this same issue. Nissan has to know this is happening..Obviously something is wrong with these nissan altima's that has these terrible CVT Transmissions. I have no clue where to go from here. This has happen to me on 4 different occasions within a year. Can someone please help since Nissan don't give a sh*t...

- Juan W., Slidell, US

problem #2

Jul 012017

Altima

  • CVT transmission
  • 122,000 miles

On our way to Florida the car lost all power. You could push the gas pedal all the way to the floor and it would do nothing. Put it in neutral and the RPMs would go up and you could hear it whining. Same damn thing happened on the way home. I got to researching and found that there are numerous people that have had the same problem with these CVT transmissions. I also found out that Nissan extended the warranty on the transmissions to 120,000 miles because they KNEW there were problems with them. I contacted Nissan about this and I had to take the car to a dealership to get it diagnosed. The result was I need a new transmission. Mind you this car is ONLY 2000 miles out of warranty. What did Nissan say? They will pay for 50% of the repair costs. REALLY!!??? These jackasses knew there were problems and to get out of recalling them they extend the warranty. EVERYONE that has this same problem needs to contact Nissan and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and file a complaint. Hopefully if everyone does this they will issue a recall

- Karen R., McKenzie, US

problem #1

Apr 152011

Altima S 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,362 miles

We have a 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5, after 130 thousand miles we noticed it had no power going up steep hills and will come to a stop. This happens all the time and is very dangerous, there have been a number of times this issue has almost caused accidents. We have to pull over and let the vehicle cool down. We have replaced the spark plugs, fuel pump, struts, you name it. It is still happening. This is a huge cause for concern. We took our search online and found this is a huge problem for all Nissan owners who have a 2008-2013 model. Turns out a Transmission Cooling Kit is what is needed. We were directed in our efforts to this site in hopes to get this kit installed as we now have learned there is a fuel pump recall. We would like to have a Transmission Cooling Kit installed in our vehicle and hope to not have any accidents in the mean time.

- Frank L., Vadito, NM, US

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