YearToAvoid

2009 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA has 158 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2009 Nissan Altima, 10% of all 1,547 complaints for this model year. That is #4 highest engine complaint count among 21 Altima model years. These complaints report 15 crashes, 5 fires, and 7 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 80,000 miles.

Engine complaints
158
10% of 1,547
Crashes reported
15
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
80,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2009 Nissan Altima engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 19, 2009, latest Jun 10, 2025.

2009 Nissan Altima engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter112009 Q32012 Q12013 Q42015 Q22016 Q42018 Q22020 Q12022 Q4
158 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q3 to 2025 Q2; peak 2016 Q3 (11).

Engine recalls for the 2009 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Altima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005417 (38%)
  2. 2006375 (46%)
  3. 200789 (19%)
  4. 2008104 (10%)
  5. 2009158 (10%)
  6. 201070 (18%)
  7. 201147 (20%)
  8. 2012105 (25%)
  9. 2013206 (9%)
  10. 2014100 (9%)
  11. 201595 (10%)
  12. 2016127 (23%)
  13. 201773 (19%)
  14. 201823 (10%)
  15. 201964 (28%)
  16. 202043 (27%)
  17. 20217 (10%)
  18. 20227 (23%)
  19. 20237 (24%)
  20. 20245 (12%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Nissan Altima have engine problems?
NHTSA has 158 owner complaints about the engine in the 2009 Nissan Altima, 10% of all complaints for this model year, including 15 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 80,000 miles.
Which Nissan Altima year has the most engine complaints?
The 2005 Nissan Altima has the most engine complaints (417), compared with 158 for the 2009.
Is there a engine recall for the 2009 Nissan Altima?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Nissan Altima is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.