Used 2009 Nissan Altima Sedan Consumer Reviews

Glad I bought it

I bought my 2009 Nissan Altima new. I was looking for a new car and went to a local car show, where they had many cars of the type I was looking for (sedans). I’m 6’5” tall, my first concern was whether I fit or not. Either not enough head room or not enough leg room eliminated 90% of the cars. Price range, basic features, comfort narrowed it down to this car. I chose the bigger engine for more control and better handling. I have almost 60,000 miles on it now and I still love the car. I did have a problem with the front windshield cracking within the first month; they replaced it without any problem. This car has been well worth my investment.

2009 Nissan Altima ? Beware of ESCL

I've been unfortunate enough to be an owner of 2009 Nissan Altima. I purchased it shortly before Christmas 2009. Today the car has 63,635 km on its odometer. As you can see, it isn't driven often and spends most of its time resting in a cozy garage. Actually, it isn't driven at all these days, because it wouldn't start. The 2009 Nissan Altima sits in the driveway in front of the garage. On September 28, 2020 I drove my 2009 Nissan Altima to a dentist's office. After treatment I came back to my 2009 Nissan Altima on the parking lot, using the Intelligent Key opened the trunk to allow my wife to deposit some items there, then I unlocked the doors and we both settled in the car. I pushed down the brake pedal and pressed the Ignition Push Button. Nothing happened, except a small amber key shaped symbol, which briefly appeared on the instrument panel. I'll not try to describe what I've been through since the September 28, 2020, but I've been stuck with a car that wouldn't start. I've been driving numerous vehicles before, but Nissan Altima is the very first car that wouldn't allow me to limp home, or to the nearest garage. It has been a failure of ESCL. I had to walk back home and there, browsing an Internet, I have learned that I am an unlucky owner of a car, which is, thanks to the ESCL system installed in these vehicles, unreliable, dangerous and largely impossible to get rid of, unless I decide to have it towed to the nearest scrap yard. Selling this masterpiece of engineering to someone else would be difficult, because this ESCL shortcoming is already well known. Having the ESCL replaced cost was quantified by several of these infuriated 2009 Nissan Altima owners in excess of $1,000.00, some of them claim paying $1,200.00 and I suspect that this was in U.S. currency. Some of those more intrepid ones decided to replace the unit themselves, but they had to order the part at the Nissan dealership and the part itself costs somewhere around $600.00, most likely in U.S. currency again. But it took a week to get the ESCL replacement part to the dealership. I conducted extensive research. I wanted to know whether, since there appear to be hundreds, if not thousands, of disgruntled 2009 Nissan Altima owners in North America, who experienced problems with the ESCL unit in their cars, there was any sort of a recall by Nissan. It appears that at some time there was, but there are conflicting dates specifying when this recall expired. I've read stories of satisfied 2009 Nissan Altima owners, whose ESCL units have been replaced free of cost and no questions asked, while others have been flatly refused and no one would talk to them at certain Nissan dealerships, although they also own 2009 Nissan Altima and they had to pay over a thousand bucks to have the ESCL unit replaced. These stories, however, apparently come from the U.S. I couldn't find any reference to a recall of 2009 Nissan Altima cars for replacement of the ESCL units here in Canada. This is what Nissan Altima owners in the United States had been offefed: "Nissan will re-notify owners of affected vehicles that have not yet had the campaign completed beginning in March 2020, via U.S. Mail." What about Canada? I approached the Nissan Canada Customer Care Centre and received a letter from Nissan Canada. It says, among other clichés: We understand . . . and so on. But, it goes further: . . . this warranty extensions are not corrective measures, but simply additional coverage to assist with the potential repair in the event of a failure during this time or KMs. At this time, the warranty parameters have already been exhausted and we are unable to provide any financial assistance. And it goes a bit further: We do not have you showing in our database as the registered owner of the above VIN so the information would not have been sent to you. Strangely, I had been receiving phone calls and also mail from the local Plaza Nissan for several years after purchasing this 2009 Nissan Altima, offering to show me the latest Nissan vehicles. It is obvious that the Nissan people knew my phone number and my mailing address when they wanted to sell me a car. They didn't know who I was when there was a recall. The letter is signed by Sandra, the Customer Care Specialist. The very first paragraph of this letter states: As a company interested in winning lifetime customers . . . Some sixteen years ago I purchased a Nissan car for my son. He complained that it was unreliable (it was Nissan Sentra), but I thought that he was imagining things and I purchased a Nissan Altima regardless. It was a terrible mistake. Now I know what my son was talking about. The Nissan people have certainly "won" two lifetime customers. My son has been happily driving a Toyota for a couple of years and I am heading to the Toyota dealership as soon as I have my 2009 Nissan Altima towed to a scrap yard. The car has 63,635 km (39,541 miles) on odometer.

Altimas are not reliable and Nissan does not support customers

The air compressor clutch failed on my Altima with only 52,000 miles on it.The cost to repair it is $1000.00 and Nissan has refused to cover the cost of repair because they say that my car is "outside of its warranty parameters." Two reputable mechanics have informed me that it is unheard of for a car with such low mileage that has been impeccably maintained to have a air compression clutch failure.Nissan is not willing to look beyond the warranty parameters and see this as an ethical, good business, customer service issue.They are basically saying that even if the mechanics of the vehicle fall apart after the warranty period, Nissan will not stand by its vehicle.

Great car

I love this car. It has great looks, ride, and mileage. I tested the Accord and Mazda6 and the Altima was a better car for me. I still don't understand why no lumbar support for the drivers 6way on the S series and why 9 cup holder?

Great product