Used 2009 Nissan Altima Sedan Consumer Reviews

Electronic Steering Column Lock

Got stranded when the ESCL failed. One month out of extended warranty with very low miles, only 5000 miles a year on average, and they denied warranty. So $975 bill for me. Wouldn't buy one again. Had other issues with the car as well.

Push Button Ignition System

I have owned a new 2009 Nissan Altima for a little less than 5 months. And I find the push-button ignition very unreliable. On three different occasions now, I just could not start the car. I took it into the dealer. I was told that they changed the codes.It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it is most aggravating. Tonight, I waited in the dark for the Auto Club after trying more than a half hour to start it. Finally, the push button ignition connected and I called the Auto Club to cancel service. I know that you have to push on the brake pedal to get it started and I have done this repeatedly without success. Is there a sure-fire way to start this car? Please tell me.

I can't believe the responses on here.

After reading several of the reviews, I'm pretty surprised. I've had mine for 2 yrs. I have 60k miles on it & have put nothing into it but oil changes & a set of snow tires. I agree with the review about poor handling in winter, but have not had a single problem since buying 2 front snow tires. Before badmouthing the car, check your tread. I also love the CVT. It is designed to be smoother & it is. As for engine noise, its a 4 cyl people, they're all louder. Also, I'm still on my first set of brakes all around with about 25% left. A lot of the complaints are differing preferences, not quality issues. Do research before you buy! Don't badmouth the quality bc you made a poor personal choice!

It is what it is.

I have had mine six years. It has 160K on it. Other than what you would expect - a set of brakes and a serpentine belt. Not a single repair, just routine maintenance. It is a basic model, cheap interior, not overly comfortable but I knew that when I bought it. It is extremely reliable and it was not expensive. It has been paid off for years. I plan to drive it until it drops - I think that is going to be a long time. ..--About 2/3 of them are highway miles.

crappy transmission

when i got this car it was awesome. then all of a sudden going about 30 mph car would shake and my mileage decreased from combined city and highway 25 to 19 mph. i repeatedly took it in and nothing wrong was found. although dealership felt the shaking right away. they couldnt fix it. repeatedly took it in. all of a sudden a service bulliten came out that this is the way the car is supposed to drive. b s. i say. i contacted nissan usa and tried to reason with them. and they told me yea thats the way it is. i am a car audio installer for more than 8 yrs, and i have worked on many nissan altimas like mine. they all drove great.. obviously there is something wrong. i trade piece o crap in.

I love my 09 Nissan Altima

very fun to drive around in, and my comfort level in this car is excellent!!! I added on 20% window tint and all the girls turn their heads to look at me. What can I say this car just feels right for me. My last car didn't feel right at all. The engine is very quiet, and it is a undercover powerhouse best 4cly engine I have ever had, even comes with dual exhaust. I don't understand all these bad reviews because I absolutely love the car and have had zero problems since I bought it (not to mention it was a rental before I got it). I got it at 33,668 miles for 14,147$$. I love this car if you are considering purchasing this car I would say this would be the most efficient car you can get.

Don't buy!

Well here it goes...I don't complain much, but Ive had it with my 2009 Nissan Altima. The steering lock column has failed on me, leaving the vehicle dead in its tracks. After researching the issue, Ive learned that it has been and continues to be a major issue on this make and model. I reside in Minnesota and this happened at night with the temperature of -5 and wind-chills at -30 leaving my wife and I stranded 30 miles from home and 45 miles from the nearest Nissan dealer. The $700 part fails to disengage from the steering column and therefore renders the car useless. After numerous conversations with Nissan consumer affairs I have yet to get an answer. Apparently they extended the warranty for this part, but go figure...It happened to me after the warranty expired. In doing more research I have learned that unless a certified Nissan mechanic diagnosis the issue they(consumer affairs) cant or wont(not sure) do anything for me. Furthermore, the part is the size of a deck cards and riveted so I cant replace the part myself. So, long story short...$700 part, $300 in labor, $150 towing bill for a part that is essentially useless. What has me upset is that Nissan knowingly has not placed a recall on the part even though there have been thousands of issues directly related to this issue....Not to mention its on the National Highway Safety Dept list of hazards. There will never be another Nissan in my garage...ever! UPDATE- Recall placed on part. Finally. Reimbursed money from Nissan. Enough people complain things sometimes get handled.

It's the Ultima

Just got this car and it is wonderful. Has a lot of get up and go, very spacious, tons of leg room, comfy seats, great interior. I could go on and on. The glove box is very deep, and theres tons of little compartments around the car to store your things. It's a fun car to drive.

6 years and still going strong

So I've had my 2.5-SL for 6yrs and 57,000 miles now ... haven't had a single issue with it beyond routine maintenance stuff. It's been a great car ... was very happy with this purchase.

Getting Closer to Luxury

I've owned a '98, '04, and now the '09. Every Altima has been an improvement over its former self, however, this Altima is surpassing every expectation that I had for it. The CVT is smooth and keeps the car in a superb power range, yet maximizing the fuel economy. The noise outside of the cabin is greatly reduced from the prior models and everything is just perfectly improved. Nissan has certainly pulled themselves into an area that is capable of competing with European and American Luxury brands. Think about it...do you want Luxury that'll cost you as much as a house, or car that is almost just as good for a supremely phenomenal deal!!!

Thee Worst Nissan ever owned!!!!

I have owned about 9 brand new nissan 10 used ones. from 1979 till 2009 5/pick-ups /3-200sx 5-altimas (2 have 200k onthem) 3/240sx and yes even my toys 2001 Skyline/2001 silvia S15 bluetop (stationed in Japanand now in the states with daddy) plus 3 sentras. never any problems at all!BUT! my 09 Altima 2.5s is the biggest dissappointment ever/ engine replaced at 30k for Knocking/ wears tires on rear evry 20k but alignment shows it is fine. now tranny at 59k and engine noise is back. real loud in mornings like oil is not getting up to top end. I am going to trade in ASAP on A Hyundai or VW Passat asap! I have owned my last Nissan.

Thin paint

I very much enjoy driving this car. It rides smoothly and has punch when you hit the accelerator.

Do not buy any CVT vehicle.

I got this car when it was 49,000 miles and the transmission went bad at 129,000 miles. I found out later that there was a recall on the transmission and could be changed by the dealership when it reaches 120,000 for free. Why are these companies being allowed to sell a vehicle if they are aware that they have transmission problems. I have always liked Nissan for the fact that I placed it along with the likes of Toyota and Honda. I have now changed that and seriously believe Nissan is not even close to these two companies. Please save your money and get something more reliable rather than this lemon and if you have already purchased one I suggest you trade it in. It might look good and be roomy but it is completely not worth it. The Nissan of yesterday is not the same Nissan of today, even the current Ford sedans are above the Nissan sedans.

New Car Nightmare

Since owning this car the following has taken place - both tail lights had to be replaced, carpet replaced, door seal replaced, defective sunroof wind deflector replaced, sunroof drain clogged & caused excessive moisture damage, which resulted in having part of headliner glued back in place and interior musty smell, trunk seals not installed correctly which caused the trunk lid to rub grooves into the bumper, hood had to be adjusted to fix large gaps, console became loose driver's side window seals have gaps, sometimes car idles so loudly it sounds like a diesel. I could go on. In April of 2010, I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs. Today, they called as said the problems are normal.

2009 Nissan Altima Poor Quality Interior

I have a 2009 Altima with 25000 miles and the dashboard is melting. Nissan refuses to replace it. They have poor customer service. The regional manager I was speaking to hung up on me. Poor quality, Buy a Toyota it’s a better car. Look into the class actions law suite regarding melting dash board and the concerns around safety. Nissan refused to replace mine because it is out of warranty. They are currently involved in a Class Action suit that goes to trial this summer. This is not an isolated problem. There are many reports of the 2008 and 2009 years with this issue. It is truly a safety problem. The dash gets so shiny that when driving into the sun you cannot see. Nissan as well as the other Japanese auto makers are fully aware of the substandard dashboards. Toyota stepped up and extended the warranty on both the Toyota and Lexus brands. Nissan refuses to do anything unless they lose the class action suit and even then I fully expect them to drag their feet. The dealer I took my car to for the inspection wished me luck but basically said Nissan Corporate will do nothing to help you. They said they see the melting dash issue all the time here in South Florida. http://www.wftv.com/news/action-9/action-9-melting-dashboards-causing-safety-issues-for-drivers/155341084

Nissan worst car I've ever purchased

I bought this 2009 Altima with 40,000 miles on it. Within a month the tps sensors went out. 600$ to repair. Less than 2years later those same sensors go out again another 600$ to repair. 4Years into the car the transmission is going bad and Nissan does not repair or even troubleshoot the transmission they only suggest replacing it when they feel it might b the issue. HONDA HERE I COME!!! I also have a 2003 honda that has 180,000 miles that I've had over 8years no issues at all with it.

2009 2.5 S

I bought this car new in October 09 and have only positive things to say about it. Great power and acceleration for a 4cyl. Some reviewers have stated problems with a delay on acceleration. I have not experienced this, my car accelerates immediately and quickly. I barely have to touch the gas. Much more responsive than any other 4cyl I have driven, and I have driven many. The engine did sound like a diesel when it was below freezing, but that seems to have gone away after the first 6000 miles or so. It is no louder than any other 4cyl. One suggestion for those concerned about problems with the CVT: read the owners manual for proper break in procedures on a new transmission.

All Good Until Now

As long as you perform routine maintenance you should have a long lasting Altima. The items needing attention after 120,000 miles include ignition coils and now the most important and costly single item to date, the electronic steering lock. The extended dealer warrant for the ESCL ran out in 2015 for the 2009 model. Of course mine failed a year later. There is no recall for this well known issue concerning the lock so it will leave you stranded somewhere down the road, believe it. You can bang on the box for a temporary remedy, disable it with the knowledge that you are driving with a faulty item, or cough up $1000 to get it fixed at the dealer. All good choices. The honeymoon is over. I can live with the tire press low light (how easy is it to check your own pressures?), the CVT surge when accelerating, the routine maintenance, affordable brakes and parts easily replaced, but the one item I feel entrapped by Nissan's non committal to address and fix is what burns me. Again, $1000 for a box you need to get going. Before you buy that used Altima consider this and ask if the ESCL was changed. Otherwise, it's a good comfortable car for commuting or day trips.

3 Major Failures within 50k miles

I bought this car used at 40k miles, history was good. I have driven it for 50k miles (so at 90k now). Since I have purchased it, there have been 3 major failures, and also a recall that turned out to be nothing. The first major failure was the exhaust manifold cracking and needing to be replaced. An exhaust manifold should never crack that early, and the exhaust shop told me he has seen a lot of Altimas with this problem. Second major problem was the Electronic Steering Column Lock. This failure caused me to be stranded, as the car would not start. As of two days ago the final major failure occurred. Dealer is saying it is a rod bearing! STAY AWAY - much better options out there.

Was bought brand new and would buy again

UPDATE #2 July/2022 Well, I am thinking now that I probably didn't need to replace the transmission. We had this grinding noise coupled with a "pause" issue after stopping (this is noted in my original post). Turns out the issue was a fairly large hole in an air intake hose and a bad axle. The local Nissan dealer could not find the pause issue. It was a shade tree mechanic on disability that found it. Thank God! Car now has 265,000 and with the remanufactured transmission, I feel this car can go another 250k. Here's hoping! ----------------------------------- UPDATE!! Jan 29, 2022 Well, the CVT went out at 256,000 miles. From what I have been reading, this is considered excellent given the track record of this tranny. With that said, I decided to get it replaced. I chose to do this since the market for used cars is insane and we bought the car new and it has an excellent service record. We did buy a used Honda CR-V since my Accord that has 405,000 on it and is becoming problematic. This way we saved some money by fixing the Altima and I will have the CR-V to replace the Accord. ----------------------------------------------------------- My wife and I bought this brand new back in August of 2009. We liked the price and what you would get for the best bang for the buck. We traded a four wheel drive on the Clunker Deal that was offered back then. We got a good price for the trade in and some price credits which sweetened the deal. Our Altima is stored in the garage and isn't out in the sun much as the wife works third shift. As it stands now, ours has 237,000 miles with some normal maintenance repairs such as the alternator, serpentine belt. I keep spreadsheets on all of our vehicles and so far, this one is the cheapest to run, even against my 1996 Honda Accord that has 397,000 miles on it. Lately, some issues have been cropping up but nothing major. I see a lot of reviews about being stranded with ignition issues. This was true for us as well. Fortunately for us, the first time this happened, it was covered under the manufacturer's warranty. The power steering lock assembly went bad. If we had to pay out of pocket, it would have cost around $800. For those that have the ESCL issue, reference this link >> http://www.nissanproblems.com/escl/ We just had another issue with the car not wanting to start. The battery was fully charged and I find out that the brake light switch was bad. The other issue we have noticed lately is that after being stopped at a light, when you start to accelerate, it sometimes refuses to move, even with the engine running and you are pushing on the accelerator. After about 3 or 4 seconds it will go. This has happened about 4 times and not totally sure what the issue is. My thinking is the gas cap with a vapor lock issue. I read you are not supposed to keep pumping gas after it shuts off. Topping off is not recommended so I hope this is the issue or maybe a faulty gas cap. Keep in mind that these recent issues just came about after 230,000 miles are the car. I plan to drive this one in the ground since I have done some of the maintenance such as oil changes. I do have my CVT transmission serviced every 60,000 miles since I know the transmission is critical. I have been fortunate so far with mine. All in all I am very happy with this car and as long as you are not spending more than $700 or so per year in repairs/maintenance, you should hang on to them. That is cheaper than a car payment. I am trying to see if this will pass my Honda Accord for price and durability. So far, it is performing cheaper by 1 cent per mile (4 cents). -Keith

Motor Blew Now Transmission has gone out P.O.S.

Motor Blew Now Transmission has gone out! Had this 2009 Nissan less than two months and had to replace the motor and the day after that the transmission has gone out called Nissan and their wonderful extended warranty is out by 4000 miles gave me a case # and said I would HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER to get it diagnosed and pay for it myself and then call them back with repair cost from the DEALER SHIP! Now how do you think that will go? Less than 2 months motor and Trans.!!! Well I will never own or buy anything from Nissan again! I have a real nice looking piece of crap setting in my drive way that I have been out thousands of dollars on and only drove less than two months!! I plan on doing some free advertising for Nissan for as long as I live and will advise anyone and everyone I know to never ever buy any Nissan product! Very unhappy very disappointed in this car!

Nissan Sucks

Let me just say that, one shall never buy Nissan. If you need your warrenty honored, you will have to spend more on your inspections and work around that Nissan will recommend before they agree to pay for it. I have Altima 2009 with bad transmission. Nissan support recommended 1800 worth of work around and it still has a problem and they are not honoring the warrenty. Nissan users, please lets get togather and sue Nissan. It shouldn't be selling these cars in USA because they are treating customers really bad.

Good car but unstable in winter

As posted in separate message, my 2009 Altima has stability problems in winter and weighted conditions. Aside from this, it is rather decent car but the fear to drive in winter out-weighs any benefit. I would recommend not to buy due to safety concern.

Awsome,no problems

Idk what people are saying about charging issues, mines fine and I love the car. Leather, sunroof, bose, dial climate control (as was my 96.5 regal gs but at least nissan caught up) no problems, stiff,sporty suspension was a pleasant surprise, Hub bearing in front went out at 200k can't complain about that.

Transmission issue

I have seen lots of problems with my Nissan Altima and having another problem with Transmission now. It really sucks, don't buy Nissan ever.

2009 Altima Hybrid--disappointed

I really wanted to like this car. Even though it wasn't originally sold in the Midwest where I live, I had a dealer get one for me back in 2010. Over the weekend, my car stranded me with the infamous steering column issue. I couldn't get it started in the Mall parking lot...no prior warning lights, etc. Upon trying to start it, the red "key" light came on. Today they fixed it under the "extended warranty" which should've been a recall. The dealer did tell me the parts aren't always in stock, and some customers had to wait a month for a part and repair. Bad job, Nissan. The romance is over, and I'm kicking you to the curb.

Creak, rattle, and roll.

Can’t believe car is rated 4 out of 13. We have 125,000 miles and are on our third transmission. All three have been replaced under warranty and third one makes just as much noise as first two did and should probably be replaced but first we have to replace the front wheel bearings, again! The wheel bearing noise wouldn’t be so noticeable if you could play the radio but half the time the radio display is blank and radio doesn’t work and since the A/C blows cold air into the cabin in its own schedule half the time you have to drive with the windows down which also, luckily, helps to drown out the wheel bearing and transmission noise. The nice thing with the windows down and the fresh breeze blowing through the car you can pretend you’re at the beach in stop and go traffic with all the water that sloshes around in the front passenger side door. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this car!

These Altimas rocked!

I owned one for 8 years with absolutely no problems save replacing the brake starter switch 6 months after I bought it. It has been a great commuter car. The Bose audio system is top of the line. Like most Nissans, it just ran and ran and ran completely reliably. The CVT was never a problem. The SL package with heated leather seats was nice. The engine always ran smoothly and had good to great acceleration, if occasionally 3/4 a second of hesitation when punched. The audio was the most outdated thing on it, as it pre-dated Airplay or any LCD-type display, just textual radio displays and (gasp) a 6-disc CD changer. It only required normal maintenance - oil changes, rotations, a couple of 60Kers. It was still in great condition when I sold it in '19.

Bad transmission, bad brakes, noisy engine

Terrible transmission, brakes have to be changed every six months, worse car is snow... Do you want more reasons to stay away from this piece of junk called Altima? i got blue tooth and leather seats in my altima but who cares for these options when the car transmission failed on the first year of ownership... This car was the worse purchase i have ever made

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.

Enough Is Enough

Had the car for about six months with less than 3000 miles. Car refused to start. Took it to the dealer who told me there was nothing wrong. Same thing happened the following week. My garage guy told me it was the brake switch and is a common problem with Nissan and there may be a recall. Nissan service department either didn't know or refused to admit there was a problem. They also told me the battery was low which was ridiculous after such a short time. Agrees with what others have said about battery drain. They replaced the switch and the battery. I'm waiting to see what happens now. Bottom line is stay away. The electronic ignition stinks and the car's electronics drain the battery.

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.

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.

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

good car prone to some repairs, i sold the car

Takes about $100/year in miscellaneous repairs. Update, August 2, 2017, 58000 miles, runs well no major problems just serpentine belt and routine maintenance. I am pleased with the car. the new owner has had no problems in 2 years.

A winner

I'm what you could consider a hesitant buyer, someone who may spend a year researching and test driving vehicles before committing to buy. As a long- time Honda owner (I still own an Odyssey), the Accord was my initial favorite, but I've researched and test drove most of the competition as well. These are all excellent cars. While I cannot claim that the Altima is the better car, it had enough features I liked to win me over. I owned it for almost 3 months now and I am still excited every morning when I get into it. Since the Accord was my initial choice, I'm listing below the features of the Altima that won me over. What I liked in the competition is listed as suggested improvements.

Big regrets

I was drawn to this car by the body style, the overall appearance, and the smoothness of the CVT. I have owned it for about 17 months. I think the luster was gone fairly soon. The visibility is very poor in my opinion. Gas Mileage is just okay. I recently hit a deer on the freeway. I was going about 65 mph. I'm fortunate that neither myself or my passenger was injured. But the damage to the car amazing and the repair bill to my insurance company was $9000. I wish it were totaled so I could have returned to driving a Honda Accord. Overall, I think the car is poorly designed.

Great car!

Although I've only owned this car for one week, I'm already in love. It handles well and the ride is so smooth. I initially went to purchase the 2009 Nissan Rogue, but quickly changed my mind after test driving the Altima. The price compared to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord is good. The car looks very sporty, yet still feels like you are driving a luxury car. I'm now a dedicated Nissan customer. I bought the fully loaded Altima, with the exception of the navigation system.

Performance Without A Heavy Price Tag

I recently traded in a 2009 Honda Accord EXL-4ycl because I was not satisfied with the braking and acceleration. After about 9k miles I started having problems with the rear brakes. I test the drove the Altima and was pleasantly suprised with the performance as compared to the Accord. The Altima has a silky smooth powertrain thanks to the CVT transmission. I prefer a more sporty type vehicle and did not have alot of money to spend. I purchased a used 09 that was in almost showroom condition for 16k. This is the vehicle to purchase if you are seeking performance in a 4 cyl.

Almost like my beloved 92 Camry

Strengths: It is mechanically reliable and when I took the plastic cover off the engine this year to get a better look at it I was surprised at how clean it was. The rubber hoses are holding up well. Good passing acceleration Good overall craftsmanship and sturdiness in the engine compartment, interior, body Paint is durable Stiff suspension on good roads makes for excellent handling. Nice small turning radius for a mid-sized car making it easier to park and maneuver in general Weaknesses: Suspension too stiff in dry weather when road conditions are bumpy, better in rainy weather. Overly sensitive to small changes in tire pressure due to a defective TPMS that had a slow leak for three years since purchase until finally it was properly diagnosed when putting on new tires. Accelerates too suddenly from zero unless you gingerly apply just a little pressure to the gas pedal. Takes some getting used to. Brakes too grabby. You have to ease in on the brake pedal. Takes some getting used to. Audio System has way too much base even at minimum setting of -5. Had to replace original unit one year from purchase because of no display. Audio quality on factory replacement unit is worse on mid-range and base. Had to replace headlights after 4 years for fogging up (improper seal). Though the headlights have good spread for detecting deer the depth of field is weak on distance. Slant of windshield makes for compromised visibility for those wearing glasses because of optic interaction distortion between windshield and prescription glasses. Note - older cars with less slant to windshields have much better visibility. Poor rear view vision out rear windows requires extensive use of side mirrors. Large truck and van drivers probably won't notice but the average car driver will. MPG is less than advertised though that can be attributed to poor road conditions in Wake County NC and poorly timed traffic lights, and lately, drivers distracted by their cell phones. Original tires made for poor handling. After they wore out I bought the Michelin Defender which improved drive-ability drastically, like night verses day.

2009 Nissan Altima used purchase.

Con: Road noise is apparent, especially with front end, nothing loose tho. Biggest Pro is excellent acceleration, plenty of power from 4 cycl engine, 175Horse.

Out standing car

I have 234,324 miles and still running like new.How ever maintained in a great conditions and maintenance is always on point love this car, this is the first time I buy a nissan from now on this is what I will always buy.

Couldnt' be Happier

To say that I am happy with my Nissan Altima would be an understatement. This vehicle replaced a 2006 Murano. It has everything I could want... and more. My car comes with Bluetooth, which is easy to use and it actually understands me! I don't have the optional Navigation system, but there is a convenient compartment with electrical to plug in my portable Nuvi. My Altima only has 4 cylinders, but I have no problem with acceleration onto the expressway. My only regret is that I am leasing. If I had known how happy I would be, I would have bought it.

Amazing

The reason I purchased my Altima was because my wife wanted a bigger car. Owned a Honda Civic, which I loved great on gas. Just not roomy enough. I like the styling. Very roomy for my wife and my 2 daughters. The 4 cyl @ 175hp is amazing. Owned a Nissan Maxima before, so I know about Nissan performance. Enjoying every minute of it. Interior styling while not great is comfortable. Some slight exterior noise, a little noisy when accelerating.

Good 4 Dr. Sedan Choice!

Owned this car for just over 1 month, and I know I made the right choice. I had 23 choices: Accord, Camry or an Altima. I was looking at the 6 cyl. versions of these sedans. Nissan came through in quality of the interior over the Camry. The Honda had more road noise than the others. The Nissan was the most comfortable for me (6'1", 200#). The handling was superior in the Altima - it felt most in touch with the road. I thought I would not like the transmission, but I LOVE the CVT. No harsh shifting points. The CVT does make a noise when accelerate or shutting the engine down like a jet engine. The 10 year CVT warranty assured me it is ok. I do not hesitate to recommend it.

Fun, but room for improvement

Fun car. Looks great. Issues: Super loud wind noise esp. with windows down and driving over 40mph. Steering is weird. Always aligning it. tends to pull too much to left. Found condensation in rear brake light already. Volume knob makes squeaky sounds sometimes. Don't like the seek control on steering wheel. why hold it down and have to wait. That isn't good. Brakes are jumpy and just not right. The CVT shifting is okay,but takes too long to shift and hangs in high rev too long. It is better when i do it manual and shift at the proper time. It is not smooth at all. it's fun to drive around town. Engine revs a bit too loud and wish the shifting was better. Mileage is good and it looks nice

Great road trip car!

Reliable, comfortable, low maintenance , great highway mpg.

Great fun car but not perfect

I have owned my 2009 Altima for 7 months now. I love to drive it. It is such a fun good looking car. It drives and handles well, but it does have some exterior engine noise that could be looked into. Interior room needs a little expanding. They could have taken some of that trunk and given more leg room for backseat passengers.

So Glad I Bought IT!

I bought this car in June 09 but it was an 08 left over from the previous year. I paid 21,500 including ttl. They gave me and awesome deal and I loved the service. It has great pick up and no can pass me up. Has good traction and excellent features. It could more cushy seats, but they are ok. The only thing worng is that the right wiper doesnt work right. So I am going to take it to get the wiper replaced. But as far as a v6 it is an awesome car. Better than Toyota and Honda. Another thing I noticed that was fishy was that the gap between the passenger door and the back passenger side door has a larger gap between them than the opposite side. Same with gaps on the hood sides