2009 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,547 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 36 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 21 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, electrical, navigational system(global positioning system)Sep 10, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 10V401000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionSep 16, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.
IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).
Campaign 09V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, doorJan 9, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING 225 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION WELD ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.
Campaign 09V006000 on NHTSA.gov
WheelsSep 15, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 3,403 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS. SOME THESE WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD CAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUTS ATTACHING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOOSE.
IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS EQUIPPED WITH ONE OF THE AFFECTED WHEELS. IF IT IS, THE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Campaign 08V464000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
859 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 23, 2016
THE ESCL WHEEL LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE TO LET THE VEHICLE START
Steering, Apr 21, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Steering, Apr 19, 2016
TAKADA I GOT STRANDED ON MY WORK MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN ON AT ALL HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME. AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AUTO SERVICE CAME TO FIND OUT ITS THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY I'M BEING CHARGED 975.00 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIX CAME TO FIND OUT ALOT OF PEOPLE WARE COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM THERESOLUTION NEED TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PARTS.
Steering, Apr 18, 2016
CAR WON'T START. IT'S STUCK IN LOCK POSITION.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 18, 2016
CAR WILL NOT START OR TURN ON ACCESSORIES. STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. I WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE CAR UNTIL AAA CAN TO TOW IT TO THE DEAL.
Steering, Apr 16, 2016
STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED LEAVING THE CAR COMPLETELY DISABLED AND UNABLE TO MOVE AT ALL. NISSAN HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS BEING A VERY CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS BUT DID NOT RECALL THE PART. THE EXTENDED WARRANTEE ENDED MARCH 31 2015 AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INDEFINITELY BECAUSE NISSAN KNOWS THESE ARE FAULTY AND HASN'T COMMUNICATED TO OWNERS ABOUT IT AS FAR AS I KNOW.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 15, 2016
I WAS ABOUT TO START MY CAR AT A GAS STATION THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START LEAVING ME STRANDED IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILURE WHICH PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM SENSING YOUR KEY FOB WHICH PREVENTS YOU FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE AND YOU ARE STUCK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT LEAVING DRIVERS STRANDED AND THE CAR USELESS. I COULD HAVE BEEN ROBBED OR OTHER. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE STEARING CONTROL UNIT.
Steering, Apr 14, 2016
STEERING LOCK WENT WITH NO WARNING. NISSAN AWARE OF PROBLEM AND HASN'T RECALLED. COST $959.21 TO FIX. WAS SHOPPING CAR SHUT OFF. WHEN I RETURNED WITH GROCERIES WOULDN'T START. HAD TO TOW TO DEALER
Steering, Other or unspecified, Apr 13, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE- DISABLING THE CAR WHERE IT WILL NOT START. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TO GET THE CAR FIXED IT'S GOING TO BE OVER 1000 DOLLARS.
Steering, Apr 13, 2016
KEY LIGHT APPEARED TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LUNCH TIME. THE BATTERY CHANGED IN THE KEY I WENT BACK TO WORK. AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY WENT OUT TO GO HOME CAR WOULD NOT START! IT WILL NOT MOVE FROM LOCK TO ACC! CANNOT RESET SO THE CAR CAN START WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED!
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 11, 2016
WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN AND DUE TO BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE AREA I WAS SUPPOSED TO DRIVE TO, I DID NOT GO. HOWEVER, ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON I GOT INTO VEHICLE, TRIED TO START IT AND IT WOULD NOT START. NOW, IF I HAD OF GONE OUT OF TOWN LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO, I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. I OFTEN HAVE MY SMALL GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME. GLAD SHE WASN'T THIS TIME. HAD TO CALL TOW SERVICE.
Steering, Apr 11, 2016
I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WAS INSIDE FOR 30 MIN. WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START, IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN UNIT FAILURE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, CAR HAS UNDER 50K MILES.
Steering, Apr 10, 2016
DROVE TO LAREDO, TEXAS TO GET NEW TIRES FOR MY VEHICLE. WHEN THE AUTO TECHNICIAN WENT TO MOVE THE CAR FROM THE PARKING LOT IT WOULD NOT START. THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING THEY COULD THINK OFF, BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, ALTERNATOR. THEY CALLED AN ELECTRONIC SPECIALIST TO COME CHECK THE CAR. IT SEEMED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE. NO WARNING, NOTHING. I NEVER EVEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PART. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND OF COURSE THE RECALL HAD JUST EXPIRED. TO TOP IT OFF THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME TOWING FEES FROM THE TIRE DEALERSHIP TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND TO FIX IT WAS GOING TO BE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. I ENDED UP PAYING 850.00 TO REPAIR THE CAR SOMEWHERE ELSE. I LIVE IN A VERY RURAL AREA WHERE THERE ARE NO STORES, GASOLINE STATIONS, ETC. NEAREST CITY IS LAREDO WHICH IS OVER FORTY MILES AWAY. AT LEAST I WAS AT THE PARKING LOT OF THE TIRE DEALERSHIP. I DON'T WANT TO THINK IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I AM TAKING MY ELDERLY MOTHER TO THE DOCTOR, HOSPITAL, OR FOR CHEMO TREATMENTS. I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE. FOR INSTANCE, NEVER DID I RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE AND THIS WAS SUCH AN UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCE. NOT ONLY WAS I WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST A WEEK BUT FINDING SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP TO TAKE ME HOME AND THEN SOMEONE TO TAKE ME BACK TO PICK UP THE CAR. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT NISSAN DIDN'T HAVE THE COMMON COURTESY TO NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS STEERING COLUMN DEFECT AND THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
Steering, Apr 8, 2016
I LEFT WORK AND WENT TO START MY CAR WHEN I WASN'T GETTING ANY SORT OF RESPONSE. TRIED REPALCING THE BATTERY AND THE KEYFOB BATTERY TO NO AVAIL. I LEARNED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK AND THAT WOULD COST ME 1100 DOLLARS TO HAVE REPAIRED. HOW COULD THE WARRANTY NOT BE UNLIMITED ON A CAR SO TERRIBLE. WHAT IF I COULDN'T GET HOME TO FEED MY KIDS WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN? I DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO MY JOB, THAT'S WHY I HAVE A CAR. TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN IT ON FOR THIS IS RIDICULOUS. IT'S EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS TO NOT HAVE AT LEAST A 10 YEAR WARRANTY FOR THIS PART. STOP SELLING DEFECTIVE CARS.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Apr 5, 2016
MY CAR STARTED FINE YESTERDAY I SAW THE KEY LIGHT CAME ON I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS LOW. I CHANGED THE BATTERY IN BOTH KEYS. THE NEXT DAY MY FIANCEE DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AN HOUR AWAY. IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING IS NOT LOCKED BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL AND IT CAN NOT SHIFT AT ALL. AFTER LOOKING IN THE MANUAL IT STATES THAT IT IS AN IDICATOR THAT THE STEERING LOCK HAS FAILED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER CARS AND IT IS GOING TO COST 1200 TO FIX THIS. MY FIANCEE WAS STRANDED AN HOUR FROM HOME AND HIS CELL DIED, NOT TO MENTION HE WORKS NIGHTS AND GOT OFF AT 5AM AND COULD NOT FIND A RIDE OR A NEARBY PLACE TO CALL HOME LONG DISTANCE.
Steering, Apr 4, 2016
STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILED AFTER I PARKED.CAR WOULD NOT START.CAR HAD TO BE TOWED.WHY NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Apr 4, 2016
COULD NOT START THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS IN SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ON MY WAY TO FLORIDA FROM NY AND HAD STOPPED A NUMBER OF TIME ALONG THE WAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WHICH KEPT THE CAR FROM STARTING. I FOUND OUT THIS WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM NISSAN WAS AWARE OF. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOTAL COST. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN UNPOPULATED AREA IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE.
Steering, Apr 4, 2016
THE CAR WAS STARTING FINE NO WARNINGS AT ALL THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WENT TO OUR PLACE OF WORSHIP AND WHEN WE CAME OUT IT WOULD NOT START. HAD TWO LIGHTS ON DASH ONE WAS THE INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT THE OTHER WAS THE RED CAR FLASHING WITH KEY IN THE MIDDLE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND FORTUNATELY, WE HAD AAA. MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE ESCL. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE IN A SAFE PLACE AND THAT WE HAD A AAA MEMBERSHIP TO GET THE CAR TOWED. IF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST A WEEK EARLIER WHEN WE WERE OUT TOWN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE COSTLY AND UNSAFE. EVEN THOUGH ALL THESE CASES ARE NOT WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION IT IS TRULY DEPENDENT ON WHERE IT IS LEAVING THEM STRANDED AND TIME OF YEAR, WHICH COULD BE VERY UNSAFE FOR A FAMILY. TOTAL CHARGE WILL BE APX. $900.00. DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE AN ISSUE WITH MANY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AND WE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED, AS IT APPEARS THIS IS A MALFUNCTIONING PART THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, WHICH HAS EXPIRED AND NOW ALL OF US WHO HAVE HAD IT GO OUT PAST THE DATE ARE STUCK WITH THE BILL. MY CAR HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT. NOT A HIGH MILEAGE CAR AND I AM SURE MANY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Apr 4, 2016
DROVE THE CAR TO WORK, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. TRIED TO START HE CAR AFTER WORK, AND I GOT THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT. CANNOT START CAR. APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO A FAULTY STEERING LOCK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE BY NISSAN SINCE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO SIX YEARS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. AFTER REVIEWING THE ISSUE ONLINE, IT APPEARS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE.
Steering, Mar 31, 2016
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAVE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THEIR STEERING COLUMNS (ESCL) BEING DEFECTIVE. I WENT TO MY SONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO PICK HIM UP. I TURNED OFF THE CAR WENT IN TO THE SCHOOL TO GET HIM. I CAME BACK OUT TO MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THEIR WAS A KEY LIGHT THAT CAME ON THAT TOLD ME IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEY OR THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAITED FOR MY DAUGHTER TO BRING ME THE OTHER KEY SO THAT I COULD FIND OUT IF IT WAS THE KEY FOB AND IT WASN'T. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER READING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND THAT NISSAN GAVE A LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPLACE IT, WHICH HAS EXPIRED. HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH IN MY OPINION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS LUCKY AND THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN A FAMILIAR SURROUNDING AREA AND I HAD A CELL PHONE TO CALL MY DAUGHTER. HOWEVER WHAT IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW THEIR SURROUNDING AREA. WHAT IF IT WAS AN ELDERLY PERSON AND THE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE YOU WERE DRIVING, AND THEY PULL OVER TO CHECK OUT WHAT IS GOING ON, TURN OFF YOUR CAR AND THEN TRY AND START IT AGAIN AND THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE TO CALL FOR HELP. THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT COULD HAVE DRASTIC CONSEQUENCES IN THE END. THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO PRIOR NOTIFICATION OR WARNING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT AT ANY MOMENT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AND STRAND THE PERSON IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. WHAT IF I HAD PULLED OVER IN A REMOTE AREA AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE RESTARTED, THE AREA HAD NO CELL COVERAGE AND I HAD NO FOOD OR WATER IN MY VEHICLE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO ADDRESSED.
Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 30, 2016
"TAMARA RECALL" I'M A NURSE AND I WAS DRESSED AND READY FOR WORK UPON ARRIVAL TO MY CAR MY FOB ALLOWED ME TO UNLOCK MY DOOR BUT WHOM I GOT IN AND ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR I NOTICED I COULDN'T PRESS MY BREAKS THEY WERE TIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO LOCKED. I PRESSED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON BUT NOTHING HAPPENED I LOOKED AT THE INFORMATION CENTER AND ONLY NOTICED A AMBER KEY LIGHT UP AND LOCK LIGHT ON AROUND THE START BUTTON. I HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO WORK AND ITS PASS MY CLEAR CALL OUT TIME TO WORK BUT I HAVE TO CALL MY DON CRYING BECAUSE I CAN'T GET TO WORK I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. I'M A NURSE MY PATIENTS DEPEND UPON ME BEING THERE TO HELP THEM A WELL AS MY FELLOW NURSES AND DOCTORS!! I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. I ASKED HIM HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO REPAIR HE SAID 800 DOLLARS. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A SON WHO IS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL IT'S HIS SPRING BREAK WEEK, I HAVE PICTURES, CLASS RINGS, ANNOUNCEMENT, CAP AND GOWN, PROM ETC TO PAY FOR BUT I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK!! I DON'T WANT FAVORS, WANT WHAT'S RIGHT!! A 6YR/ UNLIMITED MILEAGE IS A CHEAP WAY OUT. NISSAN KNEW AND KNOWS ABOUT THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT STILL OUT THESE CARS ON THE ROAD NOT REALLY CARING OR CONCERN ABOUT WHAT THE RESULTS COULD BE.. I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR OVER 10 YRS, SO DOES PEOPLE HAVE BE STRANDED BE IT OLD OR YOUNG WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS ASTHMA, DIABETES OR EVEN SOMEONE WHO REQUIRES USE OF OXYGEN TO BREATHE/LIVE TO DIE AND FAMILY MEMBERS SUE NISSAN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? PREVENTION SAVES MORE LIVES AND ITS A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE. THANK GOD FOR ALL THESE PETITIONS PAGES WITH 100S AND 1000 OF SIGNATURES ALONG WITH PEOPLE SHARING THEIR STORIES ABOUT THIS UNFAIR TOO OFF TO PEOPLE!! I EXPECT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SOON.
Steering, Mar 30, 2016
JUST STOP THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY GARAGE DOOR AND NEVER START AGAIN THE LIGHT WITH THE KEY INSIDE THE CAR IS ON AND OFF I STOP BY THE DEALER CHANGE THE BATTERY ON THE KEY THEY TOLD ME IF DOES NOT WORK THEN IT IS GONE TO BE THE STEERING LOCK A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE NISSAN JUST 850.00 PLUS TAX WAS THE ESTIMATE OF COURSE I HAVE TO TOW 45 MILES TO THE DEALER
Steering, Mar 30, 2016
APPROXIMATELY 2-2.5 WEEKS AGO AN INDICATOR LIGHT WITH A PICTURE OF A KEY AND THE WORD "KEY" APPEARED ON MY DASH. IT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR THAT MORNING BUT THEN DISAPPEARED. IT DROVE FINE HOWEVER I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I TOOK THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. I LOOKED ONLINE AND READ ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SO I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THE EMPLOYEE/MECHANIC THAT I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME I JUST NEEDED TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN THE FOB AND GUARANTEED ME THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I MENTIONED THAT I WAS AWARE OF MANY PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING ON THEM AND HE LAUGHED AND SAID THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM IN MY CASE AND THAT I SIMPLY NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. I ASKED IF I SHOULD BRING IT IN JUST TO BE SAFE AND HE SAID NO JUST CHANGE THE BATTERY. I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND IT DROVE FINE HOWEVER WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR THIS MORNING THE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN AND NOW MY STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED UP ON ME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN TODAY AND THE GUY I SPOKE WITH CONFIRMED THAT WAS WHAT THAT INDICATOR LIGHT WARNING MEANS. HE SAID NOW THAT IT'S LOCKED I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TOW IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ESCL. THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL COST ME $1200 TO FIX. I FEEL NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY PARTS AND SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND REPLACE THESE PARTS SINCE IT IS A FREQUENT AND CONTINUOUS ISSUE.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 30, 2016
I DROVE MY NISSAN ALTIMA TO WORK AS I NORMALLY DO, PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT I ALWAYS PARK IN. NO PROBLEM AT THAT POINT. AT THE END OF MY WORK DAY I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE TO DRIVE HOME AND IT WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED AN ICON SHOWING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, IT STATED ONE WORD: KEY. I CALLED MY HUSBAND WHO BROUGHT OUR SPARE KEY TO SEE IF THAT WOULD START THE VEHICLE: NO. I LEFT THE VEHICLE PARKED AT MY PLACE OF WORK. THE NEXT MORNING I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT I COULD NOT HAVE AN APPT FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS AND THAT THE ISSUE IS KNOWN BUT NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY. I WAS VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS AT WORK AND NOT STRANDED IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO CORRECT THE FAULTY PART. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING WITH MORE THAN JUST THE VEHICLE I OWN. A QUICK LOOK ON THE INTERNET BROUGHT UP MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE IN DIFFERENT MODELS. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL NOT RESULT IN A DEATH BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE FORCING NISSAN ON THE CORRECTION. I REMEMBER THE GM IGNITION RECALL THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL PEOPLE DIED!
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 30, 2016
I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND WAS PREPARED TO LEAVE TOWN TO VISIT MY SISTER. I PACK MY CAR AND GET READY TO LEAVE (MY CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION IN MY GARAGE ALL NIGHT) I WENT TO START MY CAR AND NOTHING! I ASSUMED THE BATTERY AT FIRST BUT THE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. I CALLED NISSAN AND I WAS TOLD MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEVICE NEEDS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TOW MY CAR IN, PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I ASK NISSAN, IF THIS IS SO COMMON THEN HOW WAS I NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS? I LEARN THIS DEVICE WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR PROTECTION AGAINST CAR THEFT AND DESIGNED FOR THE KEY FAB TO UNDO THE LOCK UP. MY CAR WAS NOT IN THREAT OF BEING STOLEN, AND MY KEY FAB WOULD NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED FOR NO REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING. I START RESEARCHING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS EFFECTED BY THIS FAULTY DEVICE. I CAN'T BELIEVE NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED OR SET OUT NOTICE TO WARN PEOPLE, OR OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WATCH A VIDEO ON HOW TO TRICK START THE ENGINE. YOU PULL DOWN THE BOTTOM OF STEERING WHEEL AND TAP THE METAL LOCK DEVICE WITH A HAMMER. THIS ALLOWS MY CAR TO START SOME TIMES. I'VE BEEN STRANDED OUT OF TOWN, AT A GROCERY STORE, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE ALL DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE DEVICE. WHAT IF IT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES AN ACCIDENT AND/OR DEATH? I'M SCARED AND UPSET UNTIL NISSAN DOES THE RIGHT THING TO FIX THIS