What breaks most · 2007 to 2011 model years
Nissan Altima Hybrid problems by year
Owners have filed 113 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Nissan Altima Hybrid across model years 2007 to 2011. Three years stand out: 2009 for steering complaints, 2007 for air bags complaints and 2008 for engine complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2009, 2007, 2008
- Complaints on file
- 1132007 to 2011, all trims
- Worst year
- 200954 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 93 fires · 0 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 65kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 2Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 2 | 1 | Air bags (8) | |
| 16 | 4 | 1 | Engine (3) | |
| 54 | 2 | 0 | Steering (26) | |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (4) | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (2) |
What fails on the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 48% |
26 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 39% |
21 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 13% |
7 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid |
| Unknown or other | 9% |
5 | 0 | — |
| Air bags | 7% |
4 | 0 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 6% |
3 | 2 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 4% |
2 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 4% |
2 | 0 | Shop brakes parts for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
I was not notified about a recall on my vehicle. Now i am getting told that my steering lock control unit needs to be repaired and it is going to cost me $1300.
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Sway bar broke after no particular incident. The mechanic, a friend who i trust greatly and have known for a long time, said it seemed odd that this piece would break for no apparent reason. The piece was not rusted or corroded in any abnormal manner.
-
Nissan dealer is saying i must replace part # 48700-9n00b, this same part is under extended warranty on the altima 2009-2012. Can i get a new version of these.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Nissan Altima Hybrid years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2009, 2007, 2008 carry the most filings on the Nissan Altima Hybrid. The 2009 alone has 54 complaints, led by steering.
What is the most common Nissan Altima Hybrid problem?
On the 2009 model year, the most-reported component is steering with 26 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Nissan Altima Hybrid problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Nissan Altima Hybrid complaints that include mileage is about 65,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.