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2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Altima Hybrid.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid is a passenger‑car that blends a conventional drivetrain with an electric motor to deliver 35/33/34 mpg EPA‑rated fuel economy, all managed by an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios. Its powertrain runs on a 4.9‑quart 0W‑20 API engine oil, reflecting the hybrid’s modest consumption profile. That model year sits at the peak of the Altima’s early‑model complaint history—1601 owner complaints, chiefly about steering—yet it was still only one of four recalls issued during its production run, indicating that while reliability concerns were notable, they were not pervasive across the platform.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.9 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque72-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy35/33/34 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 550 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-60TR16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	1520865F0E
Engine air filter	16546JA00B alt 165460Z000
Spark plug	22401EW61C alt 22401JA01B
Battery	24410JA10A alt 24410JA80A
Front wiper blades	28890JA000 discontinued · alt 28890JA010
Serpentine belt	11720JA10B alt 11720JA80A
Thermostat	210496N220 alt 21049ED00A
Cabin air filter	27277JA00C

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189.8 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	57.9 in
Wheelbase	109.4 in
Curb weight	3516 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	35 / 33 / 34 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	101 cu ft
Cargo volume	10 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.9 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 72-87 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0-26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil	0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.9 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.9 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.9 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE NISSAN POWER STEERING FLUID

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts	65 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	31 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	22.0-26.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	5 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	72-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	129 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	129 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	600 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	600 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Ignition Timing	15, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	5 degrees

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.04-1.16 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.03 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	550 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	35

Service checks

Pressure Test	23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	177-182 °F
Pressure Test	23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	180 °F
Pressure Test	23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18-22 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	20 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	98 ft-lbs / 62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0016 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.024 in / 0.354 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.024 in / 0.354 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.945 in / 0.315 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

1.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.3 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.0

1.4 ft. lbs

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

1.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.3 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.0

1.4 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 360 degrees, Step 3: 14 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90

22 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

14-15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 95

14–15 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

31 ft. lbs., step 2: 60

31 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

32 ft. lbs., step 2: 84-90

32 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	37 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
2	60 degrees	60 degrees
3	completely loosen bolts in reverse order
4	29 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
5	75 degrees	75 degrees
6	75 degrees; Check diameter of bolts at two points, 12 mm and 55 mm from the end. Whenever the difference between these two points exceeds the limit of 0.23 mm, replace bolts. Apply new engine oil to threads and seating surface of mounting bolts.	75 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	72 ft. lbs.	72 ft. lbs
2	loosen all bolts in reverse order
3	29 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	90 degrees; Check diameter of bolts at two points, 11 mm and 48 mm from the end. Whenever the difference between these two points exceeds the limit of 0.11 mm, replace bolts.	90 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Bolts 1-10

29 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

24-28 ft. lbs., Step 2: 95

24–28 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 3,750 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 3,750 mi. The big-interval services (every 3,750 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 3,750 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Battery (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel System (inspect) · Headlamp (inspect alignment) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
Every 60,000 mi	Radiator Hose (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal data positions the 2009 model year at the crest of a complaint spike, with 1,601 filings representing a sharp increase over 2008’s 1,044 and far exceeding 2010’s 392, while recall counts held steady at four campaigns and TSBs remained flat at 121. The 2009 docket is dominated by steering concerns, accounting for 556 standalone complaints plus 191 steering-electrical hybrid entries, accompanied by 38 crash-related and 8 fire complaints for which the data specifies no root cause. This concentration suggests 2009 captured the peak of this generation’s reported issues before a dramatic improvement in 2010, when complaints dropped to 392 despite increased technical service bulletin activity. Although investigations decreased from two to one, indicating regulators identified no new systemic safety defects specific to this year, the volume of steering-related filings remains concerning. Consequently, prospective buyers should approach the 2009 Altima Hybrid with caution, budgeting for thorough steering and electrical system inspections, or preferably seek the 2010 model year with its markedly cleaner federal record.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

121

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

1,601

Owner complaints

38 involved a crash · 8 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’08’09’10

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,601 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering556

Steering,Electrical System191

Electrical System176

Unknown Or Other73

Air Bags64

Power Train61

Structure50

Engine35

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 121 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
NTB09-131C	2026-04-13	Structure	CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C	2026-04-13	Structure	CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB13-107G	2024-05-20	Electrical System	VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB13-027D	2024-05-20	Electrical System	CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…
NTB10-066C	2024-05-20	Electrical System	CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Altima Hybrid. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery Vehicles taking 4.9 qt Engine oil filter 1520865F0E Engine air filter 16546JA00B Spark plug 22401EW61C Battery 24410JA10A

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 Altima Hybrid take?

4.9 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 Altima Hybrid have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Altima Hybrid get?

EPA figures are 35 city / 33 highway / 34 combined mpg.