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

Car was turned off (stationary) while I was in drive thru atm lane. Steering lock mechanism locked and car would not start. While I waited over an hour to be towed to dealer, many bank customers were unable to use atm - very embarrassing! dealer said warranty expired 3.5 months ago and cost will be $850! research shows numerous problems with this mechanism/model reported to Nissan but no recall!

- Hampton, VA, USA

Car was parked in an apartment complex. It wouldn't start, the steering wheel was locked, and you couldn't changed it to neutral to position it for jumper cables. Found it it was a steering lock failure. Had car towed to my house, where we took the car apart to try and fix it ourselves. Ended up taking out a fuse to get it working. While this isn't a direct hazard (accident, injury, or death), this has happened to too many people for it to not be looked into. Nissan is unwilling to help. More and more people will become desperate and jerry-rig their cars to avoid paying $800-$1000 for repairs. That is the bigger hazard. You will continue to have unlicensed people looking at youtube for ways to "fix" their own cars, probably creating more issues. Then you will get the accidents, injuries, and deaths you need to investigate Nissan. Please don't let it get to that point.

- Rocklin, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure occurred once. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock mechanism failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

- Springfield, IL, USA

The steering lock columm actuauator goes abd causing the car to not start and leaving driver and passengers stranded. Nissan refuses to replace or recall the part. It is a dealer only part that costs $1,000+ to fix. Nissan cares more about quantity than quality at their plants and fail to quality control check their vehicles. Reference this forum: www.altimaforums.net/steering-column-lock-escl-T21569P2.html

- Christiana, TN, USA

I was in a parking lot, about to leave from plasma center. Entered vehicle and attempted to start up. Would not start. Looked up warnings of key symbol and car symbol. Referenced to steering lock failure. Was never able to get vehicle cranked. Numbed var battery and changed battery in fob. Still nothing. Had vehicle towed home. Contact end Nissan who stated warranty is out. Please help.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

Out of no where, without any warning, my steering lock broke, to the point where I could not start the car. I had to get it towed to the nearest Nissan dealership (one that I am unfamiliar with). Then I was told I had to replace this part which would cost $1200. If that wasn't enough, I was notified that my warranty expired on August 25, 2015. This occurred on November 11, 2015. Nissan was unable to do anything for me even though they were on notice that this piece was malfunctioning in the 2009 Nissan.

- San Diego, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the push to start button failed to function. The contact had to make numerous attempts to maneuver the push button start and after multiple attempts, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering wheel lock mechanism failed and needed to be replaced. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

- South Bend, IN, USA

Nissan known steering lock failure issues. I was stranded at gas station at 1am because car would not start again after getting gas. Nissan is aware of issue, extended the warranty but did not notify me of potential problem. Now it is out of extended warranty by 4 months and they want me to pay 1K for being stranded in dark at 1 am for known failure issue they did not notify me about.

- Cumming, GA, USA

Car wouldn't start, left me stranded I was stationary at the time in the snow with my kids.

- Prescott Valley, AZ, USA

When purchasing such vehicle sales rep automatically without knowledge added extended warranty which did not include part(steering lock ) needed, however on 11-10-15 Nissan regional office said out of courtesy added to warranty due to the fact of knowing this was a faulty part. Steering column lock, lock up on said vehicle without offer of extended warranty on said part. Due to the thousands of complaints regarding this issue there should of be a recall, rather than expecting customers to pay for their faulty equipment. Said vehicle was stationary

- Springfield, IL, USA

The steering lock according to the Nissan dealership was faulty and the car would not start. Unfortunately our car was out of warranty. Nissan knows about the problem but refuses to issue a recall. Ended up costing us $1300 to replace. Call Nissan Consumer Affairs and they did nothing but make us wait 5 days to tell us they will do nothing.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

On 11-4-2015 after returning home from work that evening I parked my 2009 nissian Altima in front of my residents, on the following morning 11-5-2015 I went to get in my vehicle to go to work but the car would not start, it appeared as though the car was searching for my key fob because the lights on the dash was aluminated with the picture of the key encircled, after trying for about 30-45 minutes I gave up and had to call my employer to inform them that I would be late not only was I late for work but I also had to have the vehicle towed to a mechanic to find out after the diagnostic test that the steering lock failure was the problem, after speaking with a service adviser on several occasions and getting no resolve and $750 later I'm out of pocket for a faulty mechanical steering lock mechanism.as I researched all the possibilties and realized that this part is known to be a faulty part it's very apparent that nissian is aware of the ongoing problem with this particular part this is not an isolated incident.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

I had a failure in the steering column sensor for my 2009 Nissan Altima resulting in my car being unable to start. My car had been parked while I was at work and there were no indications this would happen. This is an issue that has been widespread enough for Nissan to extend the warranty, which ended Oct 2014. My issue occurred 11/1/15. I paid out of pocket to take a cab, get my vehicle towed, and then fixed. I submitted a complaint (case # 20709999) and was informed Nissan would do nothing about this issue. I had the car serviced at ricart Nissan in columbus, oh.

- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The failure occurred without warning. The electronic steering key light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

Stranded at night in parking lot 10/30 due to car not starting. Had car towed to Nissan and repaired 10/31 (steering wheel lock column malfunction). Cost 800+$. not covered in warranty, although the warranty extension letter states: "Nissan believes majority of its owners will not experience this unique condition" contradictory, if you ask me. The next day (October 31) the car would no longer accelerate. Had it towed back to Nissan dealer, where they said I was missing a transmission fuse? did not charge me to replace said missing fuse.

- Endicott, NY, USA