8.6
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $960
- Average Mileage:
- 90,350 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 467 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace steering wheel lock (171 reports)
- not sure (109 reports)
- replace steering lock controller unit (99 reports)
- make it recall (28 reports)
- replace electronic steering wheel column (13 reports)
- replace brake switch (8 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Nissan dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
This vehicle has just turned over 50,000. We have found out through our dealership (as well as through many boards on the internet) that this part was recalled and had an extended warranty that was has expired. This part needs to be covered indefinitely as it is a defective part and should be a "total recall". I will be looking for information periodically for a Class Action suit on this matter. As everyone else on this board, we are faced with a $1,000.00 repair and this car is for our son who is in college. As you can imagine the hardship this poses paying for this while paying for college expenses as well. Thought we had purchased a dependable car. Thank you Nissan.
- Carolyn C., Fairmont, US
The Intelligent key light came on when I was driving more than a month ago, the dealer told me that I need new battery for the key, I did, it was gone. Last night, I went into the car and found I could not start it, the only indicator on the dash is the Key icon, I could not even turn on the radio. Called the dealer, they said it is likely the steering column lock problem which they know have a extended warranty, but mine has just expired. He said it is ~$800-900, ouch, Nissan bites me again---I promise I will never look for another Nissan again!
I wonder did they have a recall or just extended warranty as some of friends mentioned on the site. If there was a recall, I never got any notice.
Update from Feb 16, 2016: Towed my car to dealer, it is the ESCL, cost me ~$1016 to replace it. Though the car is running ok now, I will not buy another Nissan, for sure!
Update from Feb 19, 2016: Because I had the similar symptom Jan 2015 when my warranty was still valid, I called them then. But the dealer said it was the brake switch that was causing the problem, not necessarily the ESCL. I could still start the car after a few pushes. When it got warmer, it was ok until earlier this year. This time it did not want to start no matter how many time I push the button. I called Nissan and I got the response today. They agree to pay for the part--it will still need to be approved! I feel better since they will cover the bigger cost, but still a little disappointed that they did not recall this part as they should.
- Jiantie Z., Edwrads, US
I have started to have problems with my car in the last three months. The latest problem is the steering lock. I was never informed by the dealer that there was a recall, so of course I did not make the deadline and I may have to get this problem fixed on my own, and the part is about $800.00, and that's just for the part that does not include the labor. I have been extremely frustrated with my Nissan Altima, and wish I had stayed with Toyota!!!
- Kelli T., Baltimore, MD, US
Apparently this problem is widespread....the part is defective....steering lock control mechanism.....I was stake ...had the car towed to a local garage....they couldn't fixit ...then had to have another tow to the Nissan dealer...paid &228.70 for two tows. Now I have to get a ride to the dealer to pay in excess of $900 for a recalled part.....that was supposed to be UNLIMITED WARRENTY....
- carmellak, Bensalem, PA, US
left me stranded, could not start with the push button start. had to have car towed to a garage.
now won't have a car for 2 days until it is fixed. Dealer says the recall has expired and cannot fix under the original recall. now it is costing me over 1000.00 to get the car to start. Nissan should cover this as they did not notify me of any recall.
- anndavis54, Milmay, NJ, US
I am yet another 2009 Nissan Altima owner whose car would not start due to a failure of the Electronic Steering Column Lock. Unfortunately for me, mine failed shortly after expiration of the extended warranty, and cost $1100 to fix at the dealer (could not be fixed by my local mechanic).
This is a latent defect in the car, and a known issue, which Nissan has already acknowledged by extending the warranty from 3 to 6 years. If Nissan is not going to issue a recall, because they don't want to fix ALL of them, then they should make it so that they cover any repair cost.
This should be the subject of a class action lawsuit (seriously!).
I had a 2004 Audi with a CVT transmission issue, and a class action lawsuit resulted in a settlement in 2013, a full 9 years after manufacture date (see Anna Sadowska, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Case No. 11-cv-00665, California Central District Court). Any lawyers out there?
- Beverly P., Georgetown, TX, US
Car would not start. It's a push button start and was parked behind my extra car. Can't turn a key to put it in neutral to push it out of the way.
Called the dealership and was told it's probably the immobilizer system and would need to be replaced. I was quoted $917.00 but need to have it towed to the dealership, the immediately offered their service. Key Fob works to unlock the car, open the trunk, just will not start it. If this is a known issue, and it was removed from the 2010 model, why didn't they issue a recall for the 2009 model. This will be my last Nissan.
- justmekj, Suwanee, GA, US
Drove my car to work just fine. But upon leaving for lunch break my car will not start. The key fob Locks/unlocks car. But the trunk will not open using keyfob or switch in the car. I have two key lights on my dash board. One is red and the other yellow. When I put the key fob in the slot under the steering wheel the car does recognize the key. Some searching online indicates that the steering lock mechanism is malfunctioning.
- papipoe, Winston Salem, NC, US
Nissan has ADMITTED that there is a problem due to manufacturing....as they extended the original warranty. Unfortunately, my car died AFTER the warranty had expired. This is a WIDESPREAD DEFECT!!!!! Yet all the guy at consumer affairs could tell me was they "Won't provide assistance" since it is "outside the warranty extenstion"
I have seen THOUSANDS of complaints about this part. WHY won't Nissan back up their product??? I will never buy a Nissan automobile again.
- Joyce B., Dumont, US
Today I learned just how much the quality of Nissan has declined over the years. I was stranded earlier due to my car not starting. When I look it up, it is a KNOWN issue with the steering lock to fail causing the car to lock up. I had to have my car towed to Nissan (since they are the only ones that can fix this issue) and it will cost me approximately $1000. There are countless sites and people, and also a petition that was started to complain and request a recall for this issue with this year/make/model car. Google Nissan Altima steering lock to get a better understanding. They even extended the warranty for this specific part, but of course it is expired now. And Nissan will not create a recall because it is not considered a safety issue. There should be an honor with putting out quality products, especially from a name so well known. They should also make the wrong things right when they do not put out quality.
- Stephanie T., Old Bethpage, NY, US
On 1/28/2016 my car would not start and there was a yellow "key" light on my dash and it was not the fob light. After researching on-line I see hundreds of complaints about this and find it is a "steering lock failure". Nissan has not deemed it necessary to pay for or fix this issue.
Nissan did find that some needed to be fixed and extended the warranty until 1/01/2015. I took my car to the dealer and was told it was be $1000 out of my pocket to fix. I called Nissan directly and was told that my warranty expired and that I have not had my car service by Nissan since 2014, this is not true as I get regular maintenance at my Nissan dealer.
Nissan is lying and being shady to it's customers and I will not stop!
- Tracy M., Antelope, CA, US
Never ever had an issue with my car until now!!!!! Drove my to work with no problem, got off from work was able to unlock the door but that's was all. Attempted to start the car multiple but it wouldn't do anything the start the key symbol showed up on the dash and the word "lock" . So I left the car at work in garage the next day a replaced the battery on the intelligent key, tried to start the car again after placing the new battery but my car still wouldn't start. Then had it towed to Sheehy Nissan in Waldorf where they told me that it was a "Steering Lock" and it cost $998 to fix and the part itself is $778. Of course Nissan had an extended warranty on this part but mines had expired about 6 months ago. I started researching steering lock and found out there are hundreds of cases about the 2009 Altima. So as of now my car is still at Sheehy and I have contacted Nissan regional and made complaint with BBB.
Kudos to carcomplaints.com
- Tusheena M., Capitol Heights, MD, US
NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY OR RECALL UNTIL MARCH 2015 I NEVER WAS INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM NOW CAR WONT START AND THEY SAY I HAVE TO PAY. I THINK THIS IS BULLCRAP IF THEY ENTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXTENSION SHOULD BE FOREVER . NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND I THINK IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. I HAVE READ ON INTERNET SOME PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM SOON AFTER THEY PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. THIS ITEM IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM DEALER. THEY SAID IT WILL COST ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX. I USUALLY DO MY OWN REPAIRS BUT I CANT WITH THIS ITEM. THIS HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED AT THE DEALER. NISSAN SHOULD FIX THIS NOT ME.
- Tim S., West Paducah, KY, US
I have bought my last four vehicles from this dealership. With all the complaints on the internet, I am appalled with the policy of Nissan to not cover this. This is not how you treat loyal customers.
- Jim J., Barbourville, KY, US
My car failed to start and showed both key locks on the dash. I had it towed to my mechanic who was unable to fix the problem. I had to have it towed to the dealership where they told me what the problem was. Although I already new what the problem was after doing a quick online search.
Seems this is an issue known to Nissan and they extended the warrant to six years to cover it. Of course that expired last July for me. I have only 40K miles on this car. I shouldn't expect to have an issue like this after only 40k miles.
The dealer charged me $850 to fix the steering wheel lock mechanism that causes this issue, that's on top of the $270 I had to pay to my mechanic for the two tows and him looking at it. I'm out over $1,100 and I'm extremely disappointed in Nissan for not fixing a part they know to be defective. Not only will I not buy an Nissan again, I will be sure too let everyone I know about this experience i have had.
- rob w. lynn ma, Lynn, MA, US
This is the 2nd issue i have had with electrical with this car. This should be a recall. Go figure warranty expired 3 monrhs ago.
- Jason W., Lowell, MI, US
This problem with the ESCL has been identified by Nissan. The warranty on the part was extended to 6 years, unlimited miles. My car is 4 months past the 6 year point, although it has less than 53,400 miles. I received a letter from Nissan in April 2013 stating that due to a manufacturing irregularity that has since been corrected, the ESCL may malfunction and prevent the engine from starting, thereby stranding the driver, who has no option but to have the car towed.
Nissan has admitted the problem is due to a fault in manufacturing. Therefore, they are responsible and should cover the cost of the repair no matter how old the car is!
- nancyid, Boise, ID, US
I went inside a store and return my car wouldn't start. Thought it was the key faub. Replaced the battery on the key faub. Jumped start the car, disconnected the battery and still nothing. Had to tow to Nissan dealership, which found out the warranty was up in May 201, a few months ago. Well it was steering lock and was charged over $900.
- Michelle M., Oklahoma City, OK, US
Went out at lunch time to run errands while at work and the car won't start. Intelligent Key indicator on and car will not do anything. Called Nissan Service and they say that they car needs to be towed in. Upon research, it seems many, many, many, many cars have this problem. Why is this not a recall item????
- Jill R., Garfield, NJ, US
Never bought a car with this issue. I cannot believe the this happened. will never by another Nisson or recommend it to anyone. I have a very in person job. Customer Service utility company. i know you will loose many customers. thanks for nothing.
- Nancy L., Brooklyn, CT, US