2009 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

107Engine complaints

6.9%Of all 1,547 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING855 · 55.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM461 · 29.8%

Unspecified / other146 · 9.4%

ENGINE107 · 6.9%

POWER TRAIN91 · 5.9%

Share of the 1,547 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Nissan Altima overview page.

What owners report

“CAR WILL NOT START. THE IKEY LIGHT AND THE "RED KEY" SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. THE IKEY OPENS THE DOOR LOCKS, TRUNK. HOLDING THE UNLOCK…”NHTSA complaint 10483987 — filed 11/11/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Nissan Altima: 107 of 1,547 complaints on file (6.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Nissan Altima have in total?

1,547 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 36 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 21 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.