So I guess I was one of the lucky ones - my car died in the garage, So much for the intelligence start system. Nothing happened. Have new battery - couldn't figure it out until I got out the manual. Had to be towed in. After getting a call from the dealership saying it was a faulty steering lock assembly, I went online and noticed all the complaints. I called Nissan customer service before I gave the go-ahead and talked to them. They advised me they had a recall which expired but it wasn't on the Z. They have different manufacturers and the Z's steering lock wasn't covered under the expired recall. Yes, a real crock of . So, Merry Christmas to me!

It was over 100 degrees and I was leaving work at about 5:30. The car's start button was locked, key indicator light came on, I tried the FOB insert, everything was dead and locked. It cost me approx $200 in towing fees to my Nissan dealership in Roseville, CA. I looked online only to find this is a known and common problem with 370z models. It isn't "if" it will happen, it's "when".

I was alone and stranded in a parking lot, I waited an hour for the tow truck. I am furious that Nissan refused to do a recall in 2011 when I bought the car brand new. The car is now past any warranty provisions, and I had to pay out of pocket a total of approx $1,300.00. I think Nissan should reimburse me for the expenses and anguish it caused me. Thank goodness it had not yet gotten dark, as the parking lot at my work was empty with me standing there waiting for a tow truck dripping wet from the heat of the day.

I had no idea this was a STANDARD PROBLEM with the 370z models from about 2009 -2011. Thanks, Nissan, I had no idea you like women stranded alone with a car completely dead and waiting for a tow truck. Time to cough up the money and reimburse me for my time, expense, anguish and trouble.

If I had known about this common problem with all Z's of that time period, I would not have purchased one in 2011.

Steering lock defect, car would not start. Nissan obviously know that this is an issue as they replaced the same part on the GTR. After paying 50% of the repair I feel that this is an admission on their part that there is a fault, therefore do the right thing and pay the lot Nissan. They need to value their customers, I had a similar issue with Mazda over brake discs and they would not admit responsibility, I refused to buy another Mazda! 370 owners love their cars and Nissan has a duty to look after their loyal customers. I am really disappointed with the way they have dealt with this issue.

Update from Sep 8, 2015: After threatening court and contacting consumer affairs Nissan finally paid the repair cost in full, but still took four weeks to send the cheque.

Bought my beautiful 2011 370Z less than a year ago (bought it used), and love it. Until now. Like the other person who complained about this same issue, my key "warning light" lit up on my dashboard. I checked the manual and all it said was "See your Nissan Dealer". The warning light went off that same day. I figured it was an error. Then, it came on again, but again, turned off immediately after. The very next morning, my Z won't start. Thankfully, it's in my garage and not in some 7-11 parking lot!

Had the manual stated "Your car may seize. Contact Nissan IMMEDIATELY" I would have definitely contacted them immediately. There is NO mention anywhere in the manual that when this little key symbol shows up on your dash, that your car will probably stop working completely within 48 hours! This is another thing Nissan was lax in. They should state in the manual what WILL happen and to get to your dealership IMMEDIATELY! I could have pulled the fuse at that point, had I known what would happen!

Nissan is well aware of this ongoing problem, and even recalled 09's and extended the warranty on the '10s, but that doesn't help us 2011 model year owners!! I'm stranded at home, and will have to tow my car to Nissan.

I saw online that once the car is started, all you have to do is remove the fuse and you won't have this problem again. Unfortunately, the local Nissan dealer is only interested in making that $1300 repair, (just so it can break again, probably), and is not willing to help me just get the car started. They are insisting on replacing the whole module, which I don't want to do because it'll just break again eventually. I called some "Mom and Pop" type shops in Las Vegas, and they didn't even know what I was referring to. I asked them if they could help me get it STARTED so I can remove the fuse myself, and bypass the steering lock mechanism completely. They told me they would "look at it", blah, blah, blah, they said they aren't sure what the problem is, what I'm telling them it is, but I am 100% positive that this is the faulty steering lock failure that 2009-2011 Nissan's are notorious for. (see short Youtube video I attached to this complaint)

I read online that Nissan REMOVED the whole darn Steering Lock module from the late 2011's. Lucky for me, I have an EARLY 2011. I filed a claim with Nissan USA and they are supposed to get back to me on Tuesday (today is Saturday, so that means I'm stranded at home for another 3 days!). Lucky I'm home, though. It could be worse, right??

Nissan is WELL AWARE of this problem, and has had THOUSANDS of complaints, but because no one was hurt or killed, they haven't helped the people suffering through it now. They BETTER pay for this faulty, factory installed part that conveniently dies AFTER the factory warranty expires. Maybe Nissan USA will allow my Nissan dealer to bypass the thing for me, even though it's not a "fix" but rather a "bypass". I just need to get the car started and I can bypass it myself!! AAARRRGGGHHH........

I still LOVE my 370Z. It's a beautiful car. It looks better on the road than sitting in my garage. That's for sure.

Update from Jan 4, 2015: Okay, so I found this great mobile mechanic who agreed to come to me (since I couldn't start my car!) and help me just get the car started. Nissan refused to assist me in just simply getting it started. They would only replace the steering lock module at a cost of approximately $1300.

The mechanic came out today (Sunday!), and after about 1-/2 hours, he got it started! He unmounted the actual steering lock module located under the steering column and poked around on it with a screwdriver. All of a sudden, we had power! I was elated!

The reason I decided to just try to get it started, is because everything I've researched says if you can get it started again, you can then remove the fuse for the steering lock feature, which will disable it (who cares, really?) and prevent it from breaking again and leaving you stranded. There are other quick, inexpensive fixes you can perform but they only work when the steering lock is UNLOCKED.

We turned off my car after the mechanic got it started and it started up with no problem. The key symbol was gone from my dash and the mechanic said my battery is low and needs to be replaced. He thinks that since my battery needs to be replaced, that maybe this caused the steering lock mechanism to get stuck in the locked position. I personally don't think this is the case, but I'm not a mechanic.

I decided to put my car back in my garage (I backed it in just in case!), and I will replace the battery first thing tomorrow morning. The mechanic jumped my battery earlier, and now the gauge is reading 14v, which is good if it stays there.

My opinion of this whole fiasco is this: Nissan needs to recall ALL of the models and years that are affected by this faulty part. (I am waiting to hear back from Nissan USA on their decision regarding my car), and it's obvious they know of this ongoing issue because they removed the steering lock module from all late year 2011's. For me, I'm just glad I didn't have to spend the money to tow the car, and then pay Nissan an unnecessary $1300 for them to fix it in order to get it started again. I don't think this is necessary at all. If you stick with the suggested remedies to get your car started, you can decide if/how you want to proceed. At least you are no longer stranded and at the mercy of Nissan, who of course wants to charge you top dollar to fix something you never needed in the first place (kinda like a gall bladder or tonsils!).

I'm SO thankful I took the time to remedy this situation how I wanted to remedy it, not how Nissan or some other auto repair shop WANTED me to fix it. They are in business to make money, after all.

PS: I want to add that if Nissan had noted in the owner's manual that when/if the key icon shows up on your dashboard, the car is going to die, I would have brought it to Nissan immediately or researched how to avoid this situation BEFORE being stranded. The manual does not inform you AT ALL that this is extremely urgent. It just says "see your Nissan dealer". When the light came on and then went off that same day, I figured that whatever the problem was, it was solved because the light was now gone.. Nissan should be more specific in the manual about the possibility of being left stranded.

Thanks!