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, Dec 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR AND KEY ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MITCHELL NISSAN (1640 E PARK AVE, ENTERPRISE, AL 36330, (334) 347-9567) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A COST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Steering, Dec 6, 2019
I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK AFTER HAVING NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING AND IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. I AM THE ONLY ONE WORKING IN THE HOME AND IT IS APPROACHING CHRISTMAS. I NOW HAVE NO CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK BEING FAULTY. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I SEEN THAT SEVERAL OTHER NISSAN MODELS FOR 2009 WERE RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER. HOW WERE ALL MODELS THAT HAVE THIS PART NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL???
Steering, Dec 5, 2019
ON THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, AFTER WALKING OUT OF TARGET, I UNLOCKED MY CAR AND FOUND MY CAR WOULD NOT START WITH THE KEY FOB. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS A FEMALE STRANDED ALONE IN A TARGET PARKING LOT. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF TRYING TO GET MY CAR TO START, A WOMAN WITH LITERALLY A BABY ON HER HIP OFFERED TO USE JUMPER CABLES. THEN A MAN CAME TO HELP WHEN HE SAW HER HELPING ME. IT WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE, SO THE JUMPER CABLES DID NOT HELP. I WENT INTO THE STORE AND REPLACED MY KEY FOB BATTERY JUST IN CASE. IT WAS NOT A KEY FOB ISSUE. TWO HOURS LATER, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND CONFIRMED IT WAS A STEERING LOCK ISSUE. MEANWHILE, I'M RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND RECURRING ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS. HOWEVER, SINCE MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL, IT WAS NOT COVERED. IT IS THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, MY ONLY FAMILY IS OUT OF TOWN, AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE OVER $400 FOR A KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING RECALLED OR TAKEN CARE OF. I AM FORCED TO PAY OR I DON'T HAVE A DRIVABLE CAR OR A WAY TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAY. I WAS PUT UNDER IMMENSE FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STRESS DUE TO THIS SITUATION.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 5, 2019
LEAVING FROM WORK I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A YELLOW KEY INDICATOR LIGHT. I PROCEEDED TO STEP ON MY BRAKE TO START MY ENGINE AND MY CAR DID NOT START. ONCE DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THE PROBLEM I BEGAN TO SEE THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. I THEN LEARNED THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START DUE A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS STOPPED ME FROM PUTTING MY CAR IN THE ON POSITION OR CONTROLLING MY GEAR SHIFT. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS IN A SAFE PARKING LOT BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM COULD'VE CAUSED A HUGE INCONVENIENCE OR PUT ME IN DANGER. NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THIS PART AND CONTINUES TO PUT MANY NISSAN OWNERS IN THIS UNSAFE SITUATION.
Steering, Dec 2, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE RUSTY WALLACE NISSAN (865-687-6111, LOCATED AT 4515 CLINTON HWY, KNOXVILLE, TN 37912). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RECALL ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME PART WAS REPLACED IN 2014 AND AGAIN IN 2019 BY THE SAME DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *PM*JB
Steering, Nov 13, 2019
I AM HAVING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE ON MY 2009 NISSAN. THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR OTHER 2009 NISSAN ( NOT SURE WHY) WHICH MAKES NO SENSE. THE CAR DID NOT START WHAT SO EVER AND STUCK WITH A TODDLER IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING NISSAN MADE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF.
Steering, Suspension, Oct 14, 2019
THERE'S A LOUD CRUNCHING AND CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I HEARD THIS. I ALSO FOUND LOOSE BALL BEARINGS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE WHEEL. IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THE TOP RUNG OF THE SPRING HAS BROKEN OFF ON BOTH SIDES. UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATOR RECALL 09 V 35800
Steering, Oct 7, 2019
MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. AS SOON AS I WOKE UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING MY CAR WOULDN'T START UP AND A YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS LIT UP. I'VE CHANGED MY KEY FOB BATTERIES, MY CAR BATTERY, AND OTHER THINGS I COULD DO. HOWEVER I COULDN'T GET BYPASSED AROUND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK WHICH I BELIEVE COULD POSIBLY BE DEFECTIVE. SEEING HOW MY CAR WON'T EVEN ENTER ACCESSORY MODE AT ALL AND NONE OF THE ELECTROCIAL COMPONENTS WORK APART FROM THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Oct 3, 2019
SEVERAL THINGS ARE WRONG OR GONE BAD. NISSAN SUPPOSE TO BE AWESOME VEHICLES WITH GOOD REPUTATION BUT TELL YOU IF I HAD KNOWN OR COULD HAVE FOR SEEN ALL THE TROUBLE, WOW. 1. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, OK THAT WAS FIXED IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. MODULE IS BAD. 2. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION VERY COSTLY 3000, AND WAS TOLD THAT IN A COUPLE YRS WOULD NEED IT AGAIN. PUSH BUTTON START IS PART OF THE LOCKING ISSUE SO WHY IS THIS NOT FIXED FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM, ACTUALLY THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY 2009 ALTIMA IS EXACTLY WHAT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH, WHY IS THIS NOT FIXED WHY ARE WE ALL STILL HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, MY CAR IS TAKEN ALL THE WAY TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN LOUISVILLE KY. OH ABOUT 45-TO AN HOUR AWAY, FOR ALL REGULAR MAINTAINING, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE OIL CHANGES. LIKE I SAID NISSAN SUPPOSE TO BE SUPERIOR VEHICLES THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE PRICE OF FIXING THE CAR EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND. TRADE IN ON IT SUCKS, RESALE PRIVATELY DOES TOO. SOMETHING NEEDS DONE, HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ALTIMA
Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, May 24, 2019
TAKATA RECALL LEAK IN THE STEERING WHEEL FLUID HOSE, STEERING WHEEL FLUID LEAKS OUT OF THE RUBBER BAND IN THE STEERING HOSE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN. TAKATA RECALL EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT CONNECTED OR WORKING. TAKATA RECALL SUSPENSION BROKEN CAUSING CAR TO RATTLE AND MAKE LOUD NOISES WHILE DRIVING.
Steering, May 10, 2019
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WILL NOT START AND IS BLINKING KEY ON DASH BOARD, CHANGED BATTERY IN REMOTE CONTROL, STILL WON'T START. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUM LOCK IS DEFECTIVE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER CHANGING BATTERY AND FUSES DISCONNECTING BATTERY AND CHANGING A RELAY FUSE.
Steering, Apr 5, 2019
THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WILL COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT APPEARS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SAFE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED ON, BUT WOULD NOT START.
Steering, Feb 27, 2019
MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT LUNCH TODAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. FAULTY STEERING LOCK. THE CAR WON'T START/DRIVE AT ALL DUE TO THIS. IT COSTS A SMALL FORTUNE TO HAVE REPLACED. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS BUT THERE SHOULD BE. DEALERSHIP SEES THIS A LOT.
Steering, Feb 1, 2019
HAD THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK REPLACED JANUARY OF 2019 FOR THE SECOND TIME. REPLACE IN 2013 ALSO. SERVUCE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT TOLD NOT MY SPECIFIC MODEL ALTIMA. ALL MODES USE THE SAME PART. CAR WONT START WHEN IT FAILS AND CAN OCCUR ANY TIME. WORRIED IT WILL FAIL IN A DANGEROUS PART OF TOWN. WHEN PART FAILED I WAS OUT OF STATE AND LUCKILY IN A PARKING LOT. WHY IS TIS PART COVERED BY A SERVICE CAMPAIGN BUT ONLY CERTAIN MODELS THAT USE THE SAME PART?
Steering, Jan 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOCH NISSAN (525 BOSTON PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062, 781-619-7200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
Steering, Dec 27, 2018
"STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES ME TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 15, 2018
TAKATA RECALL . NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE PARKED AT A GAS STATION, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED. KEY FOB WAS STILL WORKING AND COULD OPEN AND LOCK THE CAR BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED THE KEY ALERT. I TRIED PUTTING THE KEY IN THE SLOT WHILE DOOR WAS OPEN, NOTHING HAPPENED. CAME TO FIND OUT IT' A DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK. REPLACED IT BUT SCARED TO DRIVE IT AS IT IS STILL SHOWING THE KEY ALERT AND MIGHT LEAVE ME STRANDED LIKE IT DID THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES AN HOUR AWAY FROM HOME. A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART THAT NISSAN IS NOT COVERING FOR ALL 09 ALTIMAS. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND NISSAN WANTS UP TO 1200$ TO REPLACE IT. EXPENSIVE COST FOR AN OLDER CAR AND FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S NISSAN'S FAULT FOR SELLING A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE PART.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 10, 2018
STEERING LOCK MODULE KEEPS LOCK AND I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 6, 2018
THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE "STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES OWNERS TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK REPLACED. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED AT ALL. THUS, OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CONTINUOUSLY FIND THEMSELVES STUCK IN VERY INCONVENIANT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THEIR CAR. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS WHO ARE IN REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREAS. THIS SAME OCCURANCE HAPPEN TO FOLLOW ME THIS WEEK WHEN AT WORK. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND AFTER SWAPPING REMOTE KEYS PLUS LOOKING AT ONLINE FORUMS, I REALIZED THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THE STREERING LOCK WAS SWAPPED IN 2010 BY NISSAN. HOPEFULLY THIS CAN HELP A LARGE GROUP BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO SPEND MONEY ON REPARIING MY VEHICLE AND THIS COULD COST APPROX MORE THAN 500.00 IN PARTS ALONE. MY CAR IS STILL NOT STARTING AFTER 4 DAYS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN IT ON.
Steering, Dec 2, 2018
ON DECEMBER 2, 2013 STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR WOULDN'T START IT WAS STATIONARY. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT AN INTERNAL FAILURE WAS FOUND IN THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT AND REPROGRAMMED KEYS NO CHARGE DUE TO A RECALL AND UNDER WARRANTY. 5 YEARS LATER, NOV 30, 2018 STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AGAIN AND CAR WOULDN'T START ALSO STATIONARY, AGAIN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BATTERY ISSUES, ONCE BATTERY WAS REPLACED I WAS THEN TOLD THAT IT WAS SAME SITUATION AS BEFORE(STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT) AND I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR REPAIR. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR AN EXTENDED RECALL IN THE STEERING SYSTEM BECAUSE THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO SOMEDAY SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AT A LIGHT OR ON THE ROAD CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IF IT WAS REPLACED DUE TO RECALL, THEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES. ALSO DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED AND TO HAPPEN AGAIN A FEW YEARS LATER. CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURER OFFICE ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I FEEL THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE STEERING SYSTEM FOR MY MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. I HAVE A COPY OF MY INVOICE REPAIRS AND WILL SUBMIT IF NEEDED.
Steering, Nov 22, 2018
NISSAN WEBSITE AT HTTPS://NISSANASSIST.WPENGINE.COM/CAMPAIGNS/ELECTRONIC-STEERING-COLUMN-LOCK-ESCL-SERVICE-CAMPAIGN/ STATED THAT NISSAN IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON SPECIFIC MY2009-10 NISSAN ALTIMA, ALTIMA COUPE, ALTIMA HYBRID, AND MAXIMA VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WITH AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN BOX (ESCB). MY 2009 ALTIMA IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THIS DEFECTIVE ESCL THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OF LOCKING UP THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN'T START AFTER PARKED. THE NISSAN DEALERS IN CERRITOS AND SIGNAL HILL CALIFORNIA WILL CHARGE ME TO FIX IT FOR MORE $1220 BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST. I TOLD THE DEALERS THAT IT IS NOT A RECALL AS IT STATED ON THE NISSAN WEBSITE, AND IS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN. SO FAR, I COULDN'T START MY CAR AFTER PARKED FOR FOUR TIMES FROM MID OCTOBER TO THIS NOVEMBER 2018. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, AAA TOW TRUCK DRIVERS HAD TO REMOVE THE PANEL UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET TO ESCL AND PUSH A MIDDLE PIECE OF METAL INSIDE THE ESCL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF ITS BOX, THEN THEY COULD START THE CAR. NOW I HAVE DO THE SAME THINGS AS AAA TOW TRUCK DRIVERS DID IT. I WAS SO SCARED TWO DAYS AGO IN 7 ELEVEN PARKING LOT AT AROUND 11:30 PM, WHEN ONE PERSON APPROACHED ME AND TALKING TO ME, AND ANOTHER OPEN MY CAR'S DOOR AT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND TOOK MY ITEMS THAT I JUST BOUGHT FROM WALMART AND BOTH RAN AWAY. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, AND TAKING PUBLIC BUSES TO WORK IN THE DAY TIME AND AFRAID NOT TO GO ANY WHERE AT NIGHT TIME. A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FOR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) THAT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION IN A WIDE RANGE OF NISSAN AND INFINITI VEHICLES.
Steering, Sep 17, 2018
CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF STEERING LOCK SYSTEM WILL NOT COME UNLOCK NO WARNING NOTHING
Steering, Other or unspecified, Sep 3, 2018
I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER (A 10 YR OLD CHILD) SUFFERING FROM AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WHEN THE VEHICLE DID NOT TURN ON. MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 (SEDAN) HAD BEEN USED WITHOUT ISSUES JUST THE DAY BEFORE AND I HAD PARKED IT AT HOME. IT WAS PARKED AND WHEN I TRIED TURNING IT ON, IT DID NOT READ THE KEY, THE IGNITION DID NOT EVEN NOTICE THERE WAS A KEY, THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. WE WERE LEFT STRANDED UNABLE TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE AND GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND GET TREATED ASAP. I HAD TO GET A CAB WITH THE SICK CHILD AND COME BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL THE SAME WAY. THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, I ALSO HAD TO SEE HER DOCTOR AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT TURN ON. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAS A STEERING LOCK PROBLEM AND THEY SEE THIS OFTEN IN THAT MODEL(!). I LOOKED ONLINE AND WAS AMAZED TO FIND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS! I SAW NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ON THIS MODEL AND HAD A CAMPAIGN BUT MY VIN WAS NOT AMONG THE SUPPOSED VEHICLES UNDER THE COVERAGE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, BEING A WOMAN (AND EVEN WORSE, A WOMAN WITH A MINOR) I WAS UNABLE TO USE A VEHICLE THAT IS OTHERWISE MECHANICALLY COMPLETELY SOUND (IT HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS BEFORE!), THIS CAR HAS VERY FEW MILES, IT WAS THE LAST THING I WAS EXPECTING IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE GONE MAJORLY WRONG. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER'S ALLERGIC REACTION WAS TENDED TO AT THE HOSPITAL IN TIME BECAUSE I TOOK A CAR SERVICE AND I DON'T LIVE IN A RURAL AREA, BUT I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE OR EVEN TO MYSELF IF I WERE TO BE IN A REMOTE LOCATION OR IN A PERILOUS SITUATION AND NOT ABLE TO TURN ON MY CAR AND USE IT. I AM NOW VERY WARY AND WORRIED THAT (ONCE CORRECTED) THIS ISSUE WILL AGAIN TAKE PLACE. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION, THOUGH IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, IT DOES PUT THE OWNER'S SAFETY AT PLAUSIBLE RISK.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 17, 2018
MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS WERE STRANDED FOR A TIME DUE TO A SUDDEN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THIS SUDDENLY MADE THE CAR INOPERABLE AND LEFT THEM OUT IN 102 TEXAS SUMMER HEAT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE. WE BOUGHT OUR CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN 2014 AND WE NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE OR ANY POTENTIAL WARRANTY EXTENSION. THIS IS A $500 PART (EXCLUDING LABOR AND TOWING FEES) THAT CAN AND HAS STRANDED PEOPLE WITH LITTLE TO NO NOTICE. HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?
Steering, May 25, 2018
ON OR ABOUT APRIL 4, 2015, L NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED NISSAN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS REGARDING THE REPAIR WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED TO MY VEHICLE. LN RESPONSE, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN ADVISED THEY WOULD OPEN A CLAIM AND INVESTIGATE THE MATTER FURTHER. I WAS ULTIMATELY TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WORK WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY NISSAN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS OF SEPTEMBER 2014. LN FACT, L WAS ADVISED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, TO MY DETRIMENT, THE STEERING LOCK IN MY VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED PAST THE WARRANTY DATE. THE PARTICULAR DEFECT IN MY VEHICLE IS A DEFECT OCCURRING IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED. IN FACT, THE STEERING LOCK HAS SINCE BEEN ALTERED IN FUTURE MODELS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THAT NISSAN WAS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, YET CHOSE TO DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DESPITE MY AMICABLE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE NISSAN REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR WORK THAT WAS DONE TO THE STEERING LOCK, OF WHICH NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR SAID REPAIRS AMOUNTING TO $1,098.06. I RECENTLY CONTACTED NISSAN AGAIN BECAUSE NISSAN HAS NOW ISSUED A RECALL CONCERNING THIS SAME PROBLEM (STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION). AGAIN, NISSAN HAS IGNORED MY REQUESTS.