Our 2009 Nissan Altima hybrid died without warning. We were unable to turn the car on, nothing on the dashboard lit up except a yellow key symbol. The lights, locks, and key fob continued to work, however. I researched the issue we were having and discovered a number of consumers had similar problems with their Nissan. It is a manufacturer's defect with the steering lock which renders the car inoperable, apparently. This is not normal wear and tear. Our car gave no indication of something being wrong. It has only about 64,000 miles on it and we have had no major issues previously, and no indication that anything was wrong prior to it dying. When I contacted Nissan of marlboro, MA, the individual I spoke with diagnosed the problem over the phone. He said he was 99% certain it was the steering lock. This was confirmed once we brought the vehicle in for repair. For him to diagnose the problem accurately over the phone, they must see this issue often enough. Only further solidifying that Nissan is aware that there is a manufacturer's defect. I was told however, that despite Nissan being aware of the problem, we had missed the deadline for the extended warranty which ended in June 2015. Again, this is not due to normal wear and tear. Our car was in perfectly good condition until the moment it simply stopped working. When I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs to report the problem, I was also made aware that the reason we never heard of the problem was that they had the previous owner, michael something, listed rather than us. So the mailing may have gone to him, not us. We purchased the car from Nissan of woburn as a certified pre-owned vehicle. By the time I spoke with the second individual from Nissan, our information was updated and she claimed Nissan can not guarantee that recall information is mailed to the correct owner.

- Acton, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic steering column lock failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

- Harvest, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed. The steering wheel locked and prevented the keyless ignition from starting the engine. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

Steering lock unit failed. Car will not start or even turn over. Nissan extended warranty on the unit, but I and alot of others feel it should be a recall. They didn't notify me of this problem and I had car in for recall for a different issue when they found the problem with these units and warranty on this was still in effect. Luckily I was at home and not stranded somewhere. By tapping on unit with a hammer it started to work I just hope it doesnt fail during driving and lock the steering while driving

- Providence, RI, USA

Takata reca my car is not that old and not that many miles on it to brake down. Got stop late at night at a parking lot and car was totally dead. Aaa couldn't fix it so had to get it towed to the dealership because they are the only ones who could fix the problem of a electronic steering lock.

- Renton, WA, USA

"steer lock" my car had the steer lock failure. Car was parked and would not recognize key. Car would not start. Nissan created an extended warranty for the one specific item for 6 years unlimited mileage. This failure occurred 161 days after the warranty expiration. Nissan or dealer would not provide any assistance.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the keyless ignition failed to operate. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the steering wheel lock was replaced. After the vehicle was serviced, the intelligent key failed to start the ignition. The vehicle was not repaired for the second time but the details were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000. Updated 02/19/16 updated 5/20/18

- Lawton, OK, USA

I purchased my brand new 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5S on April 14, 2009. On November 30, 2015 I was stranded after dining in at a restaurant to find that my car would no longer start. I read the manual and it stated that the electronical steering column was locked and it would need to be serviced at a Nissan dealership. I contacted a local dealership in pine bluff, ar and was given an estimate of $961.01. I contacted Nissan corporate about the problem to see if they could assist me with the issue and was told that my warranty expired in April 14, 2015. The warranty was originally 3 yrs/36,000 miles then was extended to 6yrs/unlimited miles. The representative told me there was never a recall on it. The issue I have with that is, Altima owners were never notified of this problem when in fact Nissan knew there was a problem because they extended the warranty from 3 to 6 years. How would an owner know there was ever an issue with the electronic steering lock until they've experienced it? something should be done, Nissan should be held accountable.

- White Hall, AR, USA

The electronic steering wheel lock system didn't engage on my 2009 Altima. This would not allow the car to be started. Nissan extended the warranty on this part but mine expired in August of 2015. I feel this is a safety issue as you could be stranded at anytime anwhere with this issue and should have been a recall. There was a bad snow storm in denver on Sunday when this occurred and if it had happened up in the mountains cross country skiing I would have been stuck in a very unsafe situation. I contacted Nissan and they said they will not do anything for me as the extended warranty has expired. However they never contacted me stating it would be covered and had I know I would have taken the vehicle in before it left me stranded without a car for 4 days. I had to get the car towed to the dealership to get it worked on. This issue is so bad they had to order the part and won't get it in until 2 days after I had brought it in to get fixed. Someone needs to look into this before people start getting hurt or worse stranded and die somewhere.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

I parked my car went into the store everything worked just fine before I got out, but when I came out my car wouldn't do anything! I was stranded, after reading the owners manual I found it was the steering lock unit! if I had been on the (wrong side of town) it could've been even more dangerous than it already was! I called the this simple part is $764 plus labor! after reading many complaints online this part should have been recalled as it was on the 350Z

- Ward, SC, USA

The steering lock failed, and I could not start my car. I had to have my car towed to the topeka Nissan dealer to have it fixed. It cost $973

- Topeka, KS, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electric steering column lock was damaged and needed replacement. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

I will never buy a Nissan again. I really liked my car until the steering wheel locking system went bad. My son and I were stuck in a parking lot with no help, in a not so good area. I then had to get a tow truck and get to a shop. Where then at the shop I was told they couldn't do anything because is had to be done by Nissan. We then had to find a way to get the car to a Nissan dealer. Then when I started looking this issue up on my 2009 Altima I see that is has happened to lots of others and Nissan won't help or make a recall for it. Then come to find out, surprise, surprise, the warranty ran out on June of this year. Nissan never even gave a second glance at helping cover it when they know that this is an issue. $1000 later I have a list of thousands of dollars of things that they said need to be done. Funny, had them checked, not at all issues like they said.

- Wellman, IA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. A warning light illuminated and displayed a message. The contact was stranded for over an hour. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.

- Racine, WI, USA

Vehicle was parked, stationary when I went to start it. Nothing happened when start button was pressed. The car was recognizing the key fob, due to the fact that when I didn't have it, it was saying no key. However would not start even when fob was present. Contacted Nissan service department, they said it was a common problem, after googling the issue I was surprised at how many sheer numbers of the same exact thing was happening. $1200 later, my car is fixed just because of a faulty steering column lock, which even the private mechanic stated was a big problem, adding that Nissan responded by changing the lock on the 2010 and up models, however not compensating any current owners. Mechanic also advised that the part is so faulty that it will go out again in time.

- Lakewood, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering lock system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 02/19/16 updated 02/25/16.

- Clearfield, PA, USA

"takata recall"-thanksgiving eve stranded with a key/keyfob unable to start car on lock. November 2015-cincinnati, oh (highland/ridge) parking lot I thought it was the key fob not working. Had a kind women take me to a store to purchase and / replace my 2032 battery within key fob. Still did not work. Read the manual several times including contacting the dealership to assist in working through any unknown issues that I might have not discovered or tried. Came back out and tried to start the car, a key light was flashing on the dash, brake was hard to press. The car still would not start. I was forced to have car towed to dealership several hours later. While waiting, I googled the result, I was shocked at all the complaints on the same malfunction."

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

Electronic steering lock mechanism failed when car parked. This caused steering lock to be stuck in lock mode. Failure of this mechanism does not allow car to start and car must be towed. Mechanism did not fail due to security reasons or electrical issue. Part replaced ($500 part) and vehicle running fine now. There are many documented reports of this mechanism failing in 2009 Nissan Altima, and there have been no product safety recalls to my knowledge

- Duluth, MN, USA

On November 24 2015 at 7:35 a.M. I attempted to start my car and nothing happened! it was not the battery or the key fob. The car was parked in my parking garage.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

This is very frustrating, specially finding out that so many people are going thru this too and Nissan knowing it is a problem and just offering a temporary warranty extension not just recalling the part. The steering lock warranty just expired 4 months ago and I find it very weird that I had taken the car to the dealer just 2 weeks ago for an oil change and replaced the batteries for the key, the light with the key symbol was turning on and thought it was just he new batteries in the key, then it happened my car went dead and wont start, towed it to the dealer and the bill $1,100M come on the car is only 6 years old and still making payments. Now my car is sitting idle as I can't afford this. Nissan needs to pay for this.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA