2009 Hyundai Elantra vs 2009 Nissan Altima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2009 Hyundai Elantra | 2009 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 250 | 1,547 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 44 | 117 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 28 | 36 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 27–28 | 21–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 130 | 859 |
| Electrical System | 24 | 466 |
| Air Bags | 42 | 91 |
| Engine | 13 | 107 |
| Power Train | 8 | 95 |
| Structure | 11 | 90 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 49 |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 23 | 483 |
| Airbag warning light | 18 | 34 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 16 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 58 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 11 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 229 |
2009 Hyundai Elantra
2009 Nissan Altima
Compare all Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Altima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.