10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,530 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #329

Oct 262015

Altima

  • 0 miles
I have an 09 Altima and the steering lock module has gone bad. Started it up for work got left stranded. Had to have it towed home, and did some internet work and there are a lot of complaints about this locking up on people leaving them stranded. Nissan extended the warranty to 6 years but the part goes after the warranty ends. If you searched the internet there so many complaints about this. I called the dealership and they said it's a common problem with these cars. So why are we being stranded for a faulty part than Nissan all knows to well. And it's not cheap to fix this either. Why are we paying for their craftsmanship. There are a lot of stories of women, children bring stranded. As I was one (female) that had to find a way to tow my car home. Please hear us we need help, we need your help.

- Euclid, OH, USA

problem #328

Oct 222015

Altima

  • 86,000 miles
Car deesn't start, it is because of faulty steering lock system. Nissan extended warranty on this part but didn't do recall. It has happend to many people and yesterday I was stranded and my car wouldn't start. The repair is costly and Nissan is not paying for it.

- Billerica, MA, USA

problem #327

Oct 222015

Altima

  • 120,000 miles
I went drop kids off at the bus stop came home cut car off went in the house not even three minutes came outside to start car nothing happens, brakes are hard, car does not start the key symbol comes on the dash to the left, start switch says lock, engine won't budge, the vehicle was stationary.

- Jeanerette, LA, USA

problem #326

Oct 172015

Altima

  • 51,371 miles
My 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 sl started without a problem. Stopped at the store, was in there for 10 minutes. Came out, my car wouldn't start. It would lock and unlock, lights worked, but wouldn't start. Attempted fixing for 2 days by driving up to the parking spot with a bunch of tips and tricks online but ended up towing my vehicle to Nissan dealership and spent $800+ to get it fixed. Refer below links for similar complaints, should have been a recall www.nissanproblems.com/trends/steering-wheel-locks/ www.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Altima/2009/electrical/car_wont_start_key_anti-theft_light_blinking.shtml

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #325

Oct 012015

Altima

  • miles
I been having problems with steering for some strange reason Y car would not start there was no warning sign of anything.this is very un-safe I was stranded with my daughter in the car late night. I thought it was my key fob that was low in battery, but no luck I was stuck for hours trying to figured what was going on with my car.

- San Pablo, CA, USA

problem #324

Sep 292015

Altima

  • 127,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the key warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #323

Oct 082015

Altima

  • 96,000 miles
Received notification from Nissan in the mail that the steering column lock control unit can break causing the vehicle not to start. This event occurred to me on 10/08/2015 resulting in a towing bill, rental car fee and a repair fee at Nissan. Nissan Consumer Affairs will not reimburse since vehicle is outside warranty period even though they admitted in their corporate letter that this malfunction is a known issue. Vehicle was parked at the time of the occurrence.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #322

Oct 072015

Altima

  • 84,578 miles
Electronic steering column lock replaced for $974.97. Bought car new 9-7-09. Warranty for this known problem extended to 72 months/unlimited mileage. It failed on 10-7-09, one month after warranty expired. These vehicles should have been recalled.

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #321

Oct 092015

Altima

  • 100,000 miles
Tried to start my car one day and it would not start. The car was located in front of my children's school. After getting a diagnosis from the dealer I was told it was the electronic steering column lock. I was later told that it was an extended warranty issued for the part because tons of people are having the problem but the warranty ran out June 29, 2015. How would I know that the part was defective if they do T contact me? now they want to charge me $1100

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #320

Oct 052015

Altima

  • 70,300 miles
Car was parked for 8 hours, went to start and nothing would happen, key light on dash was light. Steering wheel was not locked. Battery ok, fob working opening door locks.

- West Nyack, NY, USA

problem #319

Oct 022015

Altima

  • 145,000 miles
Without warning the vehicle would not start after being driven an hour prior to the malfunction. The key fob indicator light comes on but the car will not start or respond to the start button. The key fob unlocks/locks the car. Upon researching the issue online, I discovered that the issue is with the electronic steering control lock that keeps the car from being stolen or started without the key fob. This is, from what I discovered, a known issue with Nissan and in my view a major safety issue. Nissan has made this a warranty extension instead of a safety recall for reasons unknown. With no way to tell when and if a steering lock will fail it is a game of chance that many Nissan owners are losing. If you are like me, and purchased your car used, it is safe to say that you will not know about the issue until its already too late. On top of that, since it is a warranty it has an expiration date. Which means that if you are unfortunate enough to no know about this and it fails there is a good chance that Nissan will not fix it for free.

- Fayetteville, GA, USA

problem #318

May 072015

Altima

  • 31,689 miles
Notified by dealer that right inner tie rod was failing - slight play - at the time of a pa state inspection with only 31,869. No external damage noted. Recommended replacement.

- Allentown, PA, USA

problem #317

Aug 112015

Altima

  • 71,000 miles
This vehicle was purchased at 60,000 miles from a Nissan authorized dealer. The push button does not start the car. Sometimes it does start and will go off by itself. The shift tick is locked and won't change gears. I have called the dealership and Nissan and they both said nothing can be done. So I am paying for a car that does not work. When it does turn on I have to press the lock release on the shifter for it to engage into drive. Dangerous really. No accountability

- Clifton, NJ, USA

problem #316

Oct 032012

Altima

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While driving in a parking lot, the power steering seized without warning and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the electronic steering column lock was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 30,000. The VIN was not available.

- Pooler, GA, USA

problem #315

Sep 172015

Altima

  • miles
I got in my car fine this morning with my key fob, but the key light was on when I got inside. When I pushed the break to push the button trying to start my car it would not turn on. The light stayed on lock. The steering wont budge and the break is locked. My car is in park and the wheels are straight.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #314

Sep 062015

Altima

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While the vehicle was being serviced at a dealer, the steering wheel seized. The dealer informed the contact that that the sealing lock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

- Richmond, CA, USA

problem #313

Sep 012015

Altima

  • miles
It won't start because of steering lock they said (service center ) need to change, I ask them if it is still under warranty.

- Richmond , CA, USA

problem #312

Sep 072015

Altima

  • 122,000 miles
I purchased my vehicle from diamond valley Honda. I have only had my car for about 6 months with a 90 day warranty. My car was working absolutely fine on 9/7/2015 (labor day) until the evening my ignition locked. I read the manual and it stated that my key may need to be reprogrammed, but I did have a spare and when neither worked I towed my car to my dealership. A day and a half went by and they ran a diagnostic test on my car stating that the starter locked, but that they did not have the proper system in fixing my car in which they had to tow it to Nissan to be fixed. My dealership waved the diagnostic test, but wanted to charge me for towing to the Nissan dealership. I refused, because I towed my car to the place it needed to be taken to and I was not going to be charged to simply have my car taken across the street. The Nissan dealership wanted to charge me $120 to run another diagnostic on my car, but I explained to them that my dealership did one and told me what the problem was, but they continued to come up with excuses as to why they needed to run it through their system. I was extremely frustrated that not only I was unable to get to work, but that my dealership was unable to fix the problem. I pleaded with Nissan to do payments, because this was my only source of transportation, but they refused and stated that I needed the entire payment of $850 to walk off the lot with my car. Upset and extremely emotional that I just purchased this car and now have to come out of pocket to pay this obscene amount of money, I have to push back my car payment along with my registration and insurance payments. I feel that my dealership cheated me, for not being able to fix a car that was purchased from them. I have read many reviews and feel that Nissan should recall this, because no car with the proper keys should lock on persons thinking it's in theft mode.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #311

Sep 012015

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
I haven't been happy since I had my car, which I purchased in 2012 with 45, 0000 miles at the time of purchase. I complained about so many things every other month I was going to get it checked. When you hit a bump you can here something loose underneath the front end of course I seemed like the only crazy one hearing the noise. Then when I took it back again I was told the sway bar arms need to be replaced when this was a problem when I first purchased the car they just ignored now my warranty is expired. The steering lock was one issue and I was told through the dealership that there was not a recall on my car. Until I contacted you guys I was told that there was a recall. Now when I drive the car at a certain speed it starts wining and slows down to 60 mph with the gas pedal to the floor I am furious because I was traveling on the interstate 4 different times going out of town and this happened. Someone could have ran into the back of me. I changed out the air filter thinking that may have been the problem but no it continued. Also sometimes the car wouldn't start I was told by Nissan I needed a new battery and I had it checked by someone else they said the battery was fine. The passenger sensor light stays on when an adult is sitting there. Now my sister 2013 Nissan Altima transmission is gone and she only had the car almost two years and we were complaining about the issue with the car going a certain speed and making noise. I went to Nissan and they told me my car can be put on the machine, but I would have to pay to have it checked. Too many people having the same problems with these cars.

- Pleasant Grove, AL, USA

problem #310

Sep 022015

Altima

  • 73,200 miles
I went to start the car and nothing was working and a red key sign showed up in the dash. I tried changing the batteries in the keyfob (which had already unlocked the car before replacing the battery) and it still wouldn't work. I had to have it towed to a dealership and they said it is the steering lock mechanism. I googled this and it is apparently a well known issue with 2009 Nissan Altima and yet Nissan had stopped the warranty. This is ridiculous that they no longer fix a known issue or have found a way so that this will not happen O to customers who still have 2009 Altima.

- Beverly, MA, USA

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