10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 70,211 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Steering lock assembly malfunctioned car will not start. Nissan has knowledge the problem but won't repair honor repairing a defective part.
- Rosharon, TX, USA
The electronic steering lock has malfunctioned. The car would not start, leaving myself and two children stranded.
- Columbia, IL, USA
Electronic steering column lock failure. Leaves car disabled where ever you are. Car will not start. Must be towed. Nissan had an earlier recall but never published it to 2009 Altima owners.
- Auburn, MA, USA
Steering wheel lock malfunctioned causing car not to start. Was having a severe asthma attack at the time and was in a life or death situation. Thankfully others were around that could take me to the er. This part was a known issue as evidenced by an extended warranty on this part but no customer notification was ever issued to me. I was lucky! to be in a situation where you are panicked and not thinking clearly and trying to get help only to be held hostage by a known faulty part that would not let my car start is infuriating.
- Portage, IN, USA
When parking in reverse, car does not start after 2 minutes. The electronis steering column lock unit (escl) malfunctions and shows error symbol on dashboard showing that immobilizer is activated and steering is locked. It is unsafe, dangerous and scary situation. I have family, with little kids in the car and stranded on side of a road, with car parked while the traffic is flying by. Nissan dealership and service center representative informed that there is no warranty and no recall. The cost of replacing steering wheel lock system is $1250. This can not done by any other repair shops as all the parts must come from Nissan. It is a Nissan monopoly and ransom to get this repaired.
- Sammamish, WA, USA
Takata recall my daughters 2009 Nissan Altima was running fine, she parked it and ran inside to grab her school lanyard and right back out to go back to school when it wouldnt start. The key fob was in the car, and it was as if the car didnt recognize it. We searched online and did our own trouble shooting and replaced the brake switch and key fob batteries which didnt help. Had the car towed to our dealership and it is the steering lock at the tune of $1,005. There was no warning of any issue and there was nothing we could do other than have it tested and pay.after looking at the national highway traffic safety admin page and seeing all of the complaints I do not understand how this has not been recalled. My daughter couldve been stranded anyplace and that is not acceptable to have no way to start this vehicle.now..do we play the waitin game to see if and when it happens again? this seems to be a recurring issue for the Nissan and hopefully they will have to take responsibility in fixing the problem. Our family cannot afford this, as I'm sure nobodys family can.
- Lawton, OK, USA
The key icon displays and the car does not start while it was stationary. Dealer said steering lock unit (Nissan part #: 48700-9N00B) is short circuited. Nissan dealer is asking for $1,100 to fix it.
- Ashburn, VA, USA
I was at a friends house in downtown albany doing some work, but when it came time to leave I got in my car which was parked on the street and my car just wouldn't start. I towed it to a Nissan dealership nearby and they told me that the issue with my car is the steering lock assembly. Apparently there was a recall on this issue and the warranty was extended because of this problem but neither my parents or I were notified by Nissan that the car was having this issue and there was a recall on it. The extension ended last year and now I'm here having to pay for this problem out of my pocket. I shouldn't have to pay for something that was clearly their manufacturers fault. The part is not cheap and there are a lot of people experiencing the same problem with their Nissan Altima.
- Astoria, NY, USA
I have Nissan Altima 2009. My car was parked at home and just would not start. Able to open doors with key fob but not start with the push button. Found the electronic steering column lock was the problem and needed to be replaced. Cost me $1100 to fix it. Nissan has known about this problem and had extended warranty on this part to 6 years, without informing the customers. I realized this when the part had a problem in the 7th year and Nissan denied to cover the costs. Thank fully this happened at my home. Would have been extremely dangerous if I was travelling with my family had the problem at an isolated place.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
The car will not start when I push on the brake and push the button for it to start. The dealer says it is the steering column lock module. It was in a stationary position but we were stranded and had to get the car towed.
- Elizabeth, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, it failed to start and the steering wheel locked up without warning. The contact received an email that informed her of the failure; however, the VIN was excluded from the recall. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel locked. The push to start button failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The NHTSA campaign number was unknown. The failure mileage was 91,000.
- Smithville, NJ, USA
Steering column lock
- Sulphur Springs, TX, USA
My stationary car would not start when I inserted the key. I was stranded. Nothing would happen. I had to have my car towed to the Nissan dealership where I had no choice but to pay 1000 for my electronic steering lock to be replaced. It is very frustrating because this is a known issue with 2009 Nissan Altima that the company is not taking responsibility for.
- Centerville, OH, USA
Steering wheel won't lock there for im not able to turn on my car
- Hawthorne, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, both with the push to start button and the emergency key slot. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.
- Opp, AL, USA
Car will not start because of the electronis steering column lock unit (escl) this is very unsafe I could have been with my children at a unsafe area for Nissan to tell me warranty is not avaiable anymore. The price to get this fix is 1200 this is so unfair if its a Nissan issue
- Galloway, NJ, USA
My electronic steering column lock has malfunctioned for the second time. This malfunction does not allow the car to recognize the key fob, preventing ignition. I was stranded in a remote part of a forest preserve and because my car would not start I had to hike out 6 miles until I got cell phone coverage and could call for help. This problem happened to me previously in 2011. At that point Nissan had covered this repair as part of a lifetime extended warranty on the electronic steering column lock, but they decided in January 2016 to cancel this warranty.
- Lake Bluff, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While in park, the vehicle failed to start and "key fob" was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there was an extended warranty for the electronic steering column lock (escl); however, the warranty was expired. The failure mileage was 50,000.
- Sunnyside, NY, USA
Car wont start because of bad steering lock. Seems to be a common issue with 2009 Altima and should be recalled and covered by Nissan. Definitely a safety issue. Never received a notification from Nissan of faulty part.
- Norwalk, CA, USA
- Los Angeles, CA, USA