One problem related to vehicle shudder has been reported for the 2009 Nissan Altima. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2009 Nissan Altima based on all problems reported for the 2009 Altima.
Vehicle transmission failed. From a stand still at a stop light, the vehicle shook and then jumped forward 2 feet as if being rear ended from behind. When the light turned green, I stepped on the gas and the vehicle started to accelerate. Then the vehicle made grinding noises, hessitated, shook, and completely lost power to the wheels. The first incident (jumping 2 feet) almost caused me to hit the vehicle in front of me. The second incident almost cause the vehicle behind me to rear end me because we were accelerating to merge onto a main road, and my vehicle all of a sudden stopped dead in the middle of the road, but with the engine still running.