2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid Problems

IN 2013, I WAS STRANDED AT WORK LATE AT NIGHT DUE TO A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I GOT INTO MY CAR AND WENT TO START IT AND THE KEY LIGHT WAS LIT ON THE DASH AND MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THANKFULLY, I WAS STRANDED IN A SAFE PLACE ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M A SINGLE FEMALE. IT'S NOW 2017, AND I FIND MYSELF IN THE SAME SITUATION. THANKFULLY, I NOTICED THE ISSUE EARLY WHILE IT'S STILL DAYTIME. I'M NOW WAITING FOR MY CAR TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ONLY HAS A LIFE SPAN OF 4 YEARS SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. IS IT NORMAL FOR A PART TO JUST MALFUNCTION AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS? WILL I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING STRANDED AGAIN 4 YEARS FROM NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME? MY CAR IS SERVICED REGULARLY AND TAKEN CARE OF SO I WON'T BE STRANDED. IT'S TROUBLING THAT REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT MY CAR IS SERVICED AND TAKEN CARE OF, I CAN BE STRANDED ANYWHERE.

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKUP MY WIFE AND THE FOR SONE REASON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED . I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE OR SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THE CAR. I PRESS ON THE BUTTON TO START ,NOTHING AND TRY TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ,STILL NOTHING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND BACK IN ,NOTHING ,SO I DID THIS FOR 30 MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY GAVE UP. I HAD TO RUSH TO GET OUR OTHER CAR TO PICK HER UP. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS OKAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ,STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. I CONTACTED THEM AT THIS SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR APARTMENT.

THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, PUTTING ME AT EXTREME DANGER. IN THE FIRST CASED, THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER UNIT WAS THE DEFECTIVE PART, ON THE SECOND OCCASION, IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, PLACING ME AT GREAT RISK AS THE VEHICLE SEIZES UP WITHOUT WARNING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKUP MY WIFE AND THE FOR SONE REASON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED . I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE OR SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THE CAR. I PRESS ON THE BUTTON TO START ,NOTHING AND TRY TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ,STILL NOTHING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND BACK IN ,NOTHING ,SO I DID THIS FOR 30 MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY GAVE UP. I HAD TO RUSH TO GET OUR OTHER CAR TO PICK HER UP. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS OKAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ,STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. I CONTACTED THEM AT THIS SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR APARTMENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE WARNING LIGHT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, WHICH INFORMED THE CONTACT TO SHUT-OFF THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NISSAN OF BRADENTON (1611 CORTEZ RD W, BRADENTON, FLORIDA 34207) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.*DT*JB

ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN GOING ON AND OFF, CAR SHUDDERED OCCASIONALLY. TOOK CAR IN FOR THAT ALONG WITH 60K SERVICE. MECHANIC SAID DIAGNOSTIC CODES REVEALED NEED TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD DUE TO EXCESS CARBON BUILDUP. SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY SEE. CAR HAS USED SYNTHETIC OIL FROM BEGINNING ONLY 62,000 MILES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM NISSAN OF SOUTH BURLINGTON (1095 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403, (802) 864-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TO DETECT AN OCCUPANT AND ENABLE/DISABLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILED. THIS IS AN ITEM CRITICAL TO OCCUPANT SAFETY THAT IS NOT A WEAR-AND-TEAR ITEM AND ONE WHICH SHOULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK AS INTENDED WHEN OCCUPIED BY AN OCCUPANT OF THE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT PER THE SENSOR'S SETTING. IT IS APPARENT THAT MANY ALTIMA VEHICLES, MODELS BEFORE AND AFTER MY 2009 YEAR MODEL, HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE SAME EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE COMPONENT. NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM VOLUNTARILY; THEREFORE, NISSAN SHOULD BE ORDERED BY THE NHTSA TO REPLACE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT THROUGH A RECALL. FAILURE OF THE NHTSA TO ACT WILL LIKELY LEAD TO MANY INJURIES OR FATALITIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A PART WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE A LIMITED WARRANTY AND WHICH NISSAN, AS A RESPONSIBLE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, SHOULD REPAIR/REPLACE AT NO COST TO ITS CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED ITS VEHICLES DUE TO THEIR ADVERTISED SAFETY RATINGS.

DRIVING APPROX 25 MPH ON FRONTAGE ROAD, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WENT ON AS WELL AS CONTINUOUS ALARM. STEPPED ON BRAKES WITH NO BRAKE RESPONSE,HAD TO USE E-BRAKE TO STOP. NO PRIOR WARNING. *TR

PUSHED ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT DOWN WITH NO BRAKES. ONCE PEDAL GOT TO A LOW POINT THE BRAKES CAME FULL ON WITH CAR ABRUPTLY COMING TO A STOP. AT THE SAME TIME ALARMS CAME ON. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. THE ALARMS WERE STILL ON. I TRIED DRIVING FORWARD AGAIN AND SLOWLY PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL CONTINUED DOWN WITH NO RESISTANCE UNTIL IT REACHED A LOW POINT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY COMES TO A STOP. BEAVERTON NISSAN CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. BEAVERTON NISSAN MECHANIC WITH THE HELP OF NISSAN TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A BRAKE BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR FAILURE. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING SLOW IN AN AREA WITH NO TRAFFIC. HOWEVER I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE BRAKES, EITHER THEY WERE NOT ENGAGED OR ENGAGED TO A POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD ABRUPTLY STOP. I WANT TO EMPHASIS THE WORD ABRUPTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: WHAT IS I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN? I WOULD START TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THERE IS NOTHING, THIS DELAY WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO REAR END SOMEONE. OR LETS SAY THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED DOWN, I WOULD HAVE SLOW FEATHERED THE BRAKES AND FINDING NONE I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO PUSH ON THE PEDAL AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE FULL BRAKES. I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. AND ANY OF THIS OVER A BRAKE SENSOR FAILURE. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS BRUSHED IT OFF LIKE IT IS JUST A SENSOR FAILED, NOTHING MORE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 5 MINUTES DIFFERENCE I WOULD HAVE WRECKED THE CAR. *JS

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE PARK, AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS IF I HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR RAN OVER THE PARKING STOPPER AND THE SIDEWALK ONTO THE SOCCER FIELD FENCE. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID SUDDENLY ACCELERATION. I WAS GOING SLOW PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL WHEN MY CAR "JUMPED" AND SUDDENLY WENT FORWARD CRASHING INTO THE RAILING. THERE WAS A WITNESS THAT SAW ME PULLING INTO THE PARKING STALL SLOWLY WHEN MY CAR "JUMPED" CRASHING THROUGH THE RAILING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM NISSAN OF SOUTH BURLINGTON (1095 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403, (802) 864-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR ACTUATORS STOPPED WORKING ON MY NISSAN WHEN I USE MY FOB OR THE DOOR BUTTON TO OPEN. I PRESS THE BUTTON AND THE DOOR LOCKS WILL ONLY MOVE PART OF THE WAY, BUT WILL NOT FULLY LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. I HAVE TO PUT THE PHYSICAL KEY INTO THE LOCK AND TWIST TO OPEN THE DOOR. I KNOW THIS IS MY DOOR ACTUATORS BECAUSE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED 4 MONTHS AGO TO MY REAR TWO DOORS. I REPLACED THEM AND THE DOORS WORK IN THE REAR NOW, BUT I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL PARTS ARE FAULTY AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE GOING OUT IN THE FRONT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THEM IN A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. I AM A YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN AN URBAN AREA AND REQUIRE SWIFT ENTRY IN AND OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO REMAIN SAFE. THIS IS WHY I REQUIRE USE OF MY FOB. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR ACTUATORS STOPPED WORKING ON MY NISSAN WHEN I USE MY FOB OR THE DOOR BUTTON TO OPEN. I PRESS THE BUTTON AND THE DOOR LOCKS WILL ONLY MOVE PART OF THE WAY, BUT WILL NOT FULLY LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. I HAVE TO PUT THE PHYSICAL KEY INTO THE LOCK AND TWIST TO OPEN THE DOOR. I KNOW THIS IS MY DOOR ACTUATORS BECAUSE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED 4 MONTHS AGO TO MY REAR TWO DOORS. I REPLACED THEM AND THE DOORS WORK IN THE REAR NOW, BUT I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL PARTS ARE FAULTY AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE GOING OUT IN THE FRONT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THEM IN A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. I AM A YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN AN URBAN AREA AND REQUIRE SWIFT ENTRY IN AND OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO REMAIN SAFE. THIS IS WHY I REQUIRE USE OF MY FOB. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE PARK, AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AS IF I HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR RAN OVER THE PARKING STOPPER AND THE SIDEWALK ONTO THE SOCCER FIELD FENCE. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 06/17/14*LJ

NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 2009 TPMS MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN AUG 2009 AND THE TPMS FAILED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES TILL TODAY (MAR 2 2011). THE TPMS LIGHT WAS ON EVEN WHEN ALL THE TIRES WERE IN STANDARD PRESSURE. THE DEALER/SERVICE CENTER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT ALL THE TIME BUT THE EQUIPMENT CAN LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 06/17/14*LJ

NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 2009 TPMS MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN AUG 2009 AND THE TPMS FAILED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES TILL TODAY (MAR 2 2011). THE TPMS LIGHT WAS ON EVEN WHEN ALL THE TIRES WERE IN STANDARD PRESSURE. THE DEALER/SERVICE CENTER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT ALL THE TIME BUT THE EQUIPMENT CAN LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. *TR

MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE WIRELESS KEY, LEAVING ME STRANDED. IT WAS SEVEN DEGREES IN CHICAGO AND THE WINDCHILL WAS BELOW ZERO, BUT I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I TOWED THE CAR TO A DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE "STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY" HAD FAILED, BUT THEY COULD FIX IT FOR $1170 PLUS TAX. I FOUND THAT THERE USED TO BE A SPECIAL WARRANTY IF THIS PART FAILED, BUT NISSAN HAD PUT A TIME LIMIT ON IT SO THAT CARS WHERE THE DEFECT SHOWED UP WERE BEING DENIED COVERAGE AS EARLY AS OCTOBER OF 2014. NISSAN INSISTS THAT: (1) THIS DEFECT AFFECTS FEW CARS, SO THEY ISSUED A SPECIAL WARRANTY RATHER THAN A RECALL, (2) THE DEFECT DOES NOT HAVE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS, AND (3) CUSTOMERS ARE ADEQUATELY COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE ALL THREE STATEMENTS ARE KNOWINGLY FALSE. (1) THE DEALER WHERE MY CAR WAS REPAIRED TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE SEEING SIMILAR CASES MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK. MULTIPLY BY THE NUMBER OF SHOPS IN THE COUNTRY AND PRETTY SOON YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES AFFECTED. THE NHTSA WEBSITE ALONE HAS HUNDREDS OF CASES REPORTED. (2) ASIDE FROM THE DANGER STEMMING FROM BEING STRANDED IN BAD WEATHER OR LOCATION, IF THIS PART FAILS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING THE LIKELY RESULT IS A FAILURE OF THE STEERING AND TRANSMISSION LOCKS. A TRANSMISSION THAT DOES NOT LOCK CAN EASILY LEAD TO A CAR MOVING BY ITSELF IN AN INCLINE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. (3) ALMOST ALL AFFECTED CARS MANUFACTURED AFTER OCTOBER 2008 ARE BEING DENIED COVERAGE. THE OWNERS WERE TOLD IN WRITING TO WAIT UNTIL THE DEFECT OCCURRED, AND THEN THE PROBLEM WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY NISSAN. THIS DOES NOT LOOK LIKE TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION: ASK NISSAN TO ISSUE AN OUTRIGHT RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE SAFETY OF THOUSANDS IS AT STAKE. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKUP MY WIFE AND THE FOR SONE REASON THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED . I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE OR SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THE CAR. I PRESS ON THE BUTTON TO START ,NOTHING AND TRY TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL ,STILL NOTHING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND BACK IN ,NOTHING ,SO I DID THIS FOR 30 MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY GAVE UP. I HAD TO RUSH TO GET OUR OTHER CAR TO PICK HER UP. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS OKAY. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ,STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM. I CONTACTED THEM AT THIS SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR APARTMENT.

CAR WHEN I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR TWO HRS, HAD TOO START CAR AND AFTER STARTING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE IT WOULD ONLY GO INTO REVERSE. *TR

THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY SEIZED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, SO THE ENGINE STARTER WAS PREVENTED FROM TURNING ON AND THE STEERING AND TRANSMISSION REMAINED LOCKED. THIS HAPPENED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER AND AT NEAR-ZERO TEMPERATURES, REQUIRING A TOW TO A DEALER AND A $1200 REPAIR, WHICH NISSAN LATER REDUCED TO $450. I ACCEPTED THIS ON CONDITION IT WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A SETTLEMENT. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT TURNS UP IN ALL ALTIMAS BUILT DURING SEVERAL MONTHS IN 2008, WHICH THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED. THEY OFFERED A 72-MONTH WARRANTY AFTER MANUFACTURE (NOT A RECALL, THOUGH CUSTOMERS CLAMORED FOR IT) JUST FOR THIS ITEM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE DEFECT TENDS TO SURFACE AFTER THIS PERIOD. MY CAR MISSED THE WINDOW BY 22 DAYS. MANY SIMILAR CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED SINCE, AND NONE HAVE BEEN COVERED. HAD THE UNIT FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE FAILED TO LOCK UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, LEADING TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. BEING IN THE COLD FOR HOURS WAS HAZARDOUS ON ITS OWN, ANYWAY, BUT I SURVIVED IT.