While out shopping, I returned to the car and the intelligent key warning light came on when I tried to start it. The car would not start at all. It was dark out, and I had to have the car towed because it was in the store parking lot, in addition to it not starting. When towed to dealer, they said the steering lock unit was broken and needed to be replaced. After looking online, I noticed that Nissan knew the steering lock unit was defective because they issued an extended warranty, which expired in November 2014. My problem is the same problem that they fixed for hundreds, if not thousands of other Altima owners for free, but since mine happened later that 11/2014, they refused to fix it. Now, I am out almost $1300 dollars for the repair. Defective is defective, regardless of when it happened. They knew it was defective, or they wouldn't have extended that warranty in the first place.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Within the last month I've had problems with the steering wheel lock 3 times and it's very frustrasting. When I bought at the dealer they told me it was a very reliable car. This past Saturday I had to get it towed because it failed to turn on while I was grocery shopping. This problem occurs when I want to start the car.

- Orange, CA, USA

The electronic steering control lock disabled the starter so that I could not move my car. I was in a wal mart pharmacy parking lot when this occurred. My wife is undergoing chemo-therapy for breast cancer and we had to wait about an hour before we could get a ride home. The wait made my wife feel worse considering her condition.

- Thibodaux, LA, USA

My steering wheel locked up and now it will not start...... I have researched this and it is a huge problem with the 2009 Altima and I was told this is not coever under warranty

- Kankakee, IL, USA

Steering lock switch failed, which prevented the steering wheel from locking when parked, and the car from starting. Battery is in good condition. Required towing for repair. Nissan is aware of the steering lock issue, but has not issued a recall although this seems to be a frequent part failure.

- Rowlett, TX, USA

"the 2009 Nissan Altima has a defective "steering lock" which causes owners to be unable to start their vehicles. This defect can affect owners of the 2009 Nissan Altima without warning and without cause. When this issue occurs the only way to resolve the issue is to have the car towed to a Nissan dealership to have the faulty steering lock replaced. The car cannot be started at all. Thus, owners of the 2009 Nissan Altima continuously find themselves stuck in very inconveniant circumstances with no ability to drive their car. This can be very dangerous for drivers who are in remote or dangerous areas." This was exactly what happened to my 2009 Nissan Altima on Oct 10, 2016. I was further disappointed to receive a phone call from Nissan to the effect that they knew this but their extended warranty expired last year and they will not even cover the cost for this defective product that imposes great danger.

- Westlake, OH, USA

Car will not start due to escl issues headlight turn on door locks and unlock, red and yellow key icon flashes

- Baltimore, MD, USA

Nissan Altima steering lock issue I called Nissan customer service on Monday (Oct.9) and explain that my car did not start. I already knew what the issue is, since it is written in Nissan booklet(the symbol that on dashboard) they told me to go to Nissan shop, and we will see what we can go to resolve the issue. So I was thinking they will cover or partially cover the cost to fix the problem. On Thursday(Oct.13) I am getting phone call from corporate office and they give me the whole speech. So basically they told me, you need to fix it yourself. The guy name rod give me excuse that I am not loyal customer, since last time I went to Nissan service was 2 years. But I try to explain that I have my own mechanic in different body shop and you are welcome to call him and get my history of taking care of my car. Plus pep boys can pull my history as well. But I was not sure what loyal to Nissan has to do with defective part. So bottom line I need to pay $1007 or I am without car. Rod told me if you would go more often to Nissan service, they would catch the problem earlier, not sure how. I told him there are at least 3 ways to get in touch with me and most of the customers by phone, email, text message, and mailing address. No one letter came, so how any of us with this problem should know about steering lock recalled. So we are little people, can't really fight with such a big corporation like Nissan, unless government can get involved with this problem. It is clearly Nissan fault that steering assembly is malfunction

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

After leaving a doctor's apt on 4 Oct, I get to my car and it want start. The intelligent key warning is lit up O the instrument panel and when I hit the push start button, the lock light is illuminated and I cannot push the brake pedal down. The steering column is completely locked. I recalled getting a letter from Nissan extending the warranty on the escl fro 6yrs/unlimited mileage. Nevertheless, I had to have my car towed to Nissan and as of today they are telling me that the extended warranty has expired. How is that possible when I got the letter a year after I purchased the car. So now I am stuck with paying $900-1200 to get this fixed. Nissan should be ashamed of themselves and should do a recall. I am so disappointed in Nissan response and service and I was looking at buying a new car at the end of the year from them. But they will not get my business.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

My 2009 Nissan Altima won't start. I had to get it towed to the dealership and they have stated that the steering lock assembly has failed and will need to be replaced for $1,000!! I soon found out that this is a common problem with Nissan Altima and that there was an extension for this problem but only for cars under 120,000 miles. What are the chances that a 2009 car will have less than 120,000 miles; not very likely! at one point it looks like they are doing something in good faith until you realize wait this doesn't even apply! I have been a loyal customer to Nissan and have really loved my Altima up to this point but this is really turning me into a critic more so than an enthusiast very quickly. I would at least appreciate Nissan at least paying for the part in good faith and showing some sympathy. Had I not been taking care of my car with routine maintenance I could understand but this is a known manufacturer problem that should be addressed for all people affected not just a certain mileage group of people. Apparently Nissan removed this part from the 2010 Altima. I assume there was some knowledge of the parts failure (apparently there was a recall for the same part in the Nissan 370zs).

- Houston, TX, USA

I tried to start my car on a rainy cold night& it was dark out. My car would not start so I called tripe a & waited an hour & they could not start it. It wasn't the battery. I waited for a ride & waited another hour after they left. I was 45 mins away from home. I got a ride back the next day & paid for a tow. They towed it to the closest Nissan dealership on Sunday. I spent most of my day waiting & had to wait at the dealership for them to unload cars before the tow truck could put the car there.the next day I called them. The service department said that it would be $119.95 to diagnose then that would be put towards the repair. The dealership called me and told me that they needed to replace the faulty steering lock controller. I called back an hour later & the price was more. $1120.85. I picked up the car in tears. I questioned the invoice & then questioned the dealship & they said it wasn't covered under a recall. I feel like they took advantage of me. Also I asked why didn't you put the diagnose charge of $119.95 towards the repair ? please look into this and help me.

- Reading, MA, USA

Electric steering column lock (escl) failed and left me stranded at work. Had to wait 2 hours for someone to come get me.

- Fargo, ND, USA

The push button start will not recognize the key "fob". I can still unlock and lock my doors with the fob, pop open my trunk, but the system that is supposed to recognize my key and unlock my steering wheel is faulty. Reading up this has been a problem for many '09 Altima and Nissan even extended a warranty on this part, unfortunately that warranty is expired and my car now has the problem.

- Olathe, KS, USA

Ignition lock cylinder fail. Common with 2009 Nissan Altima's

- Manassas Park, VA, USA

The electrical steering column lock (escl) failure which wouldn't allow the car to start is the most stupid thing I've ever heard. And that Nissan wouldn't recall it is a big shame on the manufacturer. On top of that, they charge ridiculously expensive to have the part replaced ($600+labor)"?!! this is super unsafe for drivers in the northeast as we may get stuck in a cold winter freezing to death for what? there is even no mechanic problem with the car. Just a little wedge-like thing that wouldn't drop to where it's supposed to be???" ridiculous!!

- Plattsburgh, NY, USA

2009 Nissan Altima. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle would not start, towed to dealership and diagnosed as, electronic steering column lock problems. Consumer states problem should be considered a recall issue.

- Dade City, FL, USA

Ecsl went out and my high school daughter was driving the car at the time as we were out of town, this could really be a hazard and definitely was costly as far as towing, thank god we have an extra vehicle but she had to find transportation, had the stress being 17 and not really knowing what to do, the car sat until we got home to have to towed to dealership, missed some of school. This part definitely should be recalled and put back out there indefinitely to be warrantied. I had heard nothing prior but good things about this vehicle and then after reading about the same year and model of vehicle I am praying after the fix this will be the only time it happens!

- Helena, MT, USA

The steering lock has now become completely incompetent, did my research and found there was a recall for the 2009, 2010 models. Yet for some reason I was never informed of that. Also, now finding out that the recall extension was cutoff in January of 2016. I was lucky enough that this had happened a mile away from my house, if this would have happened on the highway, there would have been a huge issue.

- Mount Airy, MD, USA

A few months ago I was left stranded at work, had to have my car towed, the car would not start. A yellow key appeared on dash board as if the car was not sensing the key fob evident. I called the dealership and turns out to be the steering wheel lock issue. There was a recall on this part however I purchased the car used, and was never sent a recall notice. I called Nissan corporation but was never got a response. I need the vehicle fix and this can be a dangerous situation if I am ever stranded in a remote area.

- Coppell, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While the vehicle was stationary, the steering wheel locked and the vehicle lost power. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start when prompted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 68,000.

- Hollywood, FL, USA