2009- 2010 Nissan Altima and Maxima's have voluntary recalls on the electronic steering wheel lock column but the 2008 Altima models do not. I have done my research and this year and model has the same issues, only it cost nearly $1000 or more to fix. I have a severe cardiac condition and went out to my car to go to the ER and it wouldn't start because of the electronic steering wheel column lock. Nissan does not warn customers about this issue; nor do they care about customers with serious illnesses getting a known issue fixed for a reasonable price in a reasonable amount of time. I definitely will return to buying Mazdas. Nissan Altima is not worth the constant issues or hassle with the manufacturer not taking responsibility for poor ESCL installation.

Description of problem: Upon depressing brake and pushing the "start button", starter turns over but engine does not start. Various sources have suggested the 2009 Altima's have similar issues. This has occurred 1 other time previously, solution was turning the wheel HARD to the right to disengage the wheel lock.

Solutions: (a) hitting the area under the steering column to "disengage" some sort or "lock" (worked 2 out of 4 times) or (b) locking and unlocking the door with the key fob (worked 2 out of 4 times).

I've also had the car won't start due to the brake sensor under the brake not working correctly. I've had this problem off and on basically since the day after I purchased it (I didn't realize the reason it wouldn't start until much later). As others state, it's internittent. It will do it for several days (but not every single time the car is started) and then not happen for weeks or months. I can't pin down anything concrete that happens to make it start up again - such as heavy rains,e tc. It just happens.

I've owned the car almost 7 years (come September) and I think I need to break down and get it fixed. I'm having to take my mother places (who has heart issues and starting dementia) and will be headed on vacation to another state in a few weeks. Definitely don't want to be completely broken down in the middle of the 90's in July with my mother or in a strange area. This should be a recall. As others have stated, the dealership (the third day I owned the car) couldn't figure out why it wouldn't start the day before. Sad situation. No more Nissan's in my future.