Car woould not start with push button. Did start remotely but as soon as tried to restart car after getting in, car would not start. Defective locking mechanism in steering wheel so would not start. If late at night in no cell service area what do you do" no way to call for help? car no start" car was parked in garage. Remotely started then tried to restart after getting in car. Push button start will not work because the steering lock mechanism is defective. Many many of them do this. After replaced ok. This should definitely be a safety recall. Note cost is $1045 to fix. Very bad safety situation. Needs reconsideration for recall.. is problem with 2009 and 2010 Altima's.

- Ludlow, MA, USA

Went out to go home from work and it would not start...waited 3 hours for aaa and finally cancelled it when I realized it was not a battery issue...I had called Nissan dealership and the service person told me that it should work if I put the fob in the little fob insert on the car...did not start...I had my sister bring me the other fob and it made no difference...after 3 hours, I cancelled aaa service and just went home...it was very cold and it was dark. I drove my daughter's Altima to work the next day and called aaa to tow it to the dealership(towed at 8:30 am). They did not have time to look at it because they were so busy. I had left a note in the drivers seat about the steering lock issue with the 2009 Altima. The next day they told me it was no longer under the "extended warranty" and the part might be in Chicago and if so would be ready the next day (3 days later). When I went in to discuss this with the service manager about why this was not a recall or Nissan should cover the charges because it was a defective part that had been installed...he told me that the part was on "back order." He was not helpful at all...we can't just pay for everyones repairs. Things fail on cars. Nissan needs to recall this and restore the trust in Nissan cars. I have been a customer for about 30 years and there is no loyalty with customers with Nissan as I can see. It was a $1092 repair for the defective part that Nissan used. I am thankful that I was not on vacation or in another area. This needs to be a recall because it is very unsafe and can happen with no warning.

- Fishers, IN, USA

The electronic steering lock module for my car is starting to go bad. Once the module does go bad I will not be able to start my car and would have to have it towed to a dealership to be fixed where the charge begins at $800 to have the part repaired. This seems to be a common issue among Nissan cars in general. They have extended warranties for this issue but won't issue a recall even though this is a known and common issue.

- Kaneohe, HI, USA

Unable to start car due to steering lock failure. Car was parked outside on cold winter night. Left businees early am, car recognized smart key but would not pass out of lock position. Had battery and remote checked issue due to failure in the ignition control module

- Woodbury, MN, USA

My vehicle was in a parking space and when I went to start the car it didn't make a sound and the steering column was not locked. Got towed to the dealership and was told it was a steering wheel lock malfunction. Read on the internet that this is a known problem for my 2009 Altima. I repair cost was almost $1000 which it totally ridiculous but it needed to be fixed. This could be a safety hazard that can be avoided

- Phillipsburg, NJ, USA

The car would not start with fob. Was not the battery, had power throughout the car. The key indicator light was flashing in the dash. Brake lights worked. Did some research and found that there was a know problem with the escl unit. Never received any type of notification. Luckily, I was at work when I got stranded.

- North Augusta, SC, USA

Takata inflator my Nissan was stopped to pick my grandkids up from school and when I went to start the vehicle it wouldn't start and the steering wheel was locked and we was stranded for two hours tell I got towed to my daughters house

- Camarillo, CA, USA

12-2-16, Friday 9:30 pm very cold in northeastern Ohio. Car in parking lot would not start because of a steering lock failure. Called neighbor 25 miles away for a ride home. 12-3-16, sat.car towed to Nissan dealer where purchased. Repair would cost upwards of $1,000. Research on the internet indicates Nissan had extended warranty repairs for this problem and then recinded it. I believe this is a safety issue. If a person is stranded and cannot get a cell tower connection, one could freeze to death. What if a family with small children experienced this on a sub-zero night? the car has only 55,400 miles on it but I do not trust it for me or my wife to drive. There should be a federal recall for this problem.

- Berea, OH, USA

Nissan knew of this problem of the defective steering lock system, but did not do a recall. They changed an indefinite warranty to a 6 year warranty in January 2016. I ran to the store on my lunch hour to pick up a few items, came out and car would not start. Had to have the car towed to Nissan. Had to sit in a parking lot waiting for tow truck for 2 hours, only to find they had to come back for the car after 11 pm when parking lot emptied out, as with the steering locked you could not move the car out to get onto the flatbed.upon looking up this problem, found that Nissan knows this happens to this car, but refused to do a recall, just extended the warranty. Unfortunately, my warranty expired last year - I purchase this car brand new in April of 2009. Now they want almost $1100 to replace this part they knew was defective to begin with! I am waiting to see if the dealership is going to be of any help in getting this replaced for no charge.

- East Patchogue, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start because the steering was locked. The contact spoke with the dealer and was advised that the extended warranty was expired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 91,000.

- Mapnaperville, IL, USA

The steering lock failed. The car wouldn't start and was stuck in the lock position. I had to have the car towed to a dealership and it is now going to cost me $957 to fix for parts and labor.

- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA

2009 Nissan Altima steering lock failure occurred for no reason, fault, wear and tear, leaving me stranded without the key working to start the stationary car. Nissan admitted a defect and extended the warranty on the 2009 Nissan Altima steering lock part knowing this, but placed an expiration on the extended warranty. This expiration did/does not cover the actual cars impacted and was, I believe, solely designed to avoid a formal recall. I did not receive any communications informing me of this defect, including during all of my dealer servicing visits that were within the warranty period. The steering lock failed on my 2009 Nissan Altima. The dealer, clay cooley in irving tx service advisor said that I was six months out of warranty and it would cost $1,200 to repair it. Nothing was wrong with my key fobs and the car was in great shape with the exception of the defective 2009 Altima steering lock that prevents my car from reading my key fobs. This should be a recall without expiration. I purchased the car new from Nissan and remain the original owner. Nissan should bear the cost for this entire $1,200 repair as it is not normal wear and tear, preventative, of any control of myself. It is a manufacturer defect.

- Dallas, TX, USA

Steering wheel lock /ignition, car not able to start using key fob, total steering and brake lock. Got off work and could not start car, was running fine prior to work 7am

- Chicago, IL, USA

The power lock steering keeps on locking the start system and car can`T start.

- Guntersville, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock was faulty. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

- Brick, NJ, USA

3 times in the last 2 weeks my wife has been stranded in sub freezing temperature due to the electronic steering column lock (escl) not unlocking. Each time the car has been stopped and does not restart. Having read multiple reports Nissan extended the warranty on the part and even removed it from 2010 models however I am out of luck since the extended warranty has expired. This defective part should be part of a national recall and consumers should be reimbursed for fixes and towing cost. Currently Nissan will not fix the issue until it is occurring which means you have to wait to be stranded some where and have it towed to a Nissan dealership to be fixed which is absolutely insane. I am lucky that me and my wife are handy and have been able to restart the card by literally hammering on the escl until it unlocked. If we had kids or were in the middle of an emergency this would be gathering national news attention on how Nissan knew about a defective piece and (even replacing it in the next years model). I would appreciate anyone's help if bringing awareness of Nissan's negligence.

- Reston, VA, USA

I was driving my car all day with no problems at all. I decide to the grocery store with my son and after doing all my shopping I get back into my car and the key security light was on and I tried to start the car by pressing the push start button and it would not start. The key allows me to lock and unlock the door even recognizing it when I put it in the ignition but would not start. Me and my son was stranded for hours in cold. I had to leave the car in the parking lot for 3 days before I was actually available to get it towed. And then I was informed its going to cost about $1000 to have it fixed because of a steering lock. When I researched this is a common and known issue with these cars. I just got this car about 2 years ago why do I have to pay for something I didn't do to the car. Why are these cars still being stole to the public and people not aware of these issues. This could of happen anywhere!! and I don't stay in the most safest area these problems are dangerous for them to just happen anywhere. And it's December!!! it's cold!!! why am I coming out of pocket for a Nissan issue!!!

- Norcross, GA, USA

I tried to start the vehicle this morning, which has a push-button start, but the car wouldn't start. The outdoor temperature was around 6 degrees. I got a light on the dash that that indicates there's a problem with the steering wheel lock mechanism (attached photo). The vehicle will not start unless this lock mechanism is replaced. Apparently, there was a voluntary recall on the wheel lock mechanism for owners who've had issues, which expired Jan 2016. The part and repair can cost $900-$1000. Here is a link to the expired service bulletin: web.archive.org/web/20150219214832/http://www.nissanassist.com/web/escl_warranty_extension/programdetails.php?menu=61

- Canton, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the steering wheel locked. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column had to be replaced and reprogrammed. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

- Butler, PA, USA

2012-I was headed to my car to drive home from work. My car wouldn't start. I tried jumping the battery and a few other things and nothing happened. It was winter in Michigan and it was snowing and it was freezing out. After researching the make and model year, 2009 Altima, I realized the problem was the steering column. My step father watched a youtube video to fix my car. He put a zip tie in to hold the column open so the car would start even though it cant lock now. Which means, I cant use my automatic starter and I live in Michigan were it's cold in the winter. I am thankful this didnt happen while out on back roads. In 2015 the zip tie broke and I was stranded once more during winter. It took several hours before I could get someone to help me. So I sat in my car with no heat and froze. It was blowing snow and it was 14 degrees out. Who knows what the wind chill was. But, I was stuck one more time! my step dad once more came to the rescue. I had my hunting knife in the car so he jammed the column open and I drove it home that way. Once home he put a bolt in the column to prevent it from locking up. I wish I would have known about this issue before I bought this car. I love my car but I hate that Nissan wont stand behind their product. This is a serious issue and the part to fix it is about $1000! this is a known issue that Nissan should fix. What if I was in the up and this happened? I truly want to know why the steering column issue is not considered a big enough issue for a recall!

- Walkerville, MI, USA