CarComplaints.com Notes: You don't want to get 2009 and 2010 Altima owners started about their cars. That is, unless, you know how to start their cars.
These vehicles can suddenly become impossible to start thanks to a faulty electronic steering column lock (ESCL). Nissan dealers will gladly replace it, but that will run you $1000.
More info & videos about the Nissan ESCL defect are available over at NissanProblems.com.
It's one of the many reasons this car was named CarTalk's Turd of the Week and given our Beware of this Clunker badge. Two dubious honors.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,167 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Went out to start car, and would not start. Key fob allows me to open and lock car, but I am unable to get my car started. I am being told that this is a common issue for the 2009 Altima, what with the steering column locking, and not being able to start. Nissan has been aware of this problem, and still no recall. I will have to pay to have this vehicle towed, and possibly have to pay over $1000 to have repaired. This issue usually occurs after 55,000 miles, but I am just at 33,000. Please wont you help those of us with this issue with a recall ! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the engine stalled and the vehicle failed to start with the push to start button function. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the starter, the fuel line, and the steering column were replaced, but failed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Nissan Altima 2009 escl (electronic steering column lock) part is faulty and failing on the Nissan Altima 2009. Nissan is aware of this problem and the fix and has documented more information here: www.nissanassist.com/web/escl_warranty_extension/faqs.php?menu=62. They state "Nissan has determined that on a small number of vehicles, due to a manufacturing irregularity that has since been corrected, the escl may malfunction after the steering column is locked and could prevent the engine from starting." A petition on change.org (https://www.change.org/P/Nissan-motor-company-recall-the-2009-Nissan-Altima-to-replace-defective-steering-lock-system) has received 409 supporters before it was closed. Additionally, further information has been collated here: 2009nissanaltimarecall.wordpress.com/. hundreds of people are affected, unhappy customers. Nissan is being uncooperative now that the warranty extension which is warranted up to 6 years from the purchase date is expiring. In my case, I bought a 2009 Nissan Altima from a Nissan dealer and had no idea about this problem until I got stranded three separate times between December 2014 and January 2015. Please demonstrate your respect for customer safety and recall the 2009 Nissan Altima to replace the defective steering lock system which is leaving Nissan customers stranded.
The steering wheel lock is defective in cold weather for a number of the 2009 Altima. I had no warning or idea this was an issue until I was stranded with my car not starting due to a known issue with the cars. Nissan will not pay for the repair as I am 3 months outside the extended warranty. This issues is very troublesome as you can not use the car, it has become a pile of scrap. This needs to be a recalled by Nissan and fixed at their expense. The two truck driver told me this was the 3rd one this month with the same issue.
The steering lock control unit is jammed and is causing the car not to start. Nissan will not assist with the fix. This is a common and known issue with this vehicle.
- Belvidere, IL, USA
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After replacing the battery the vehicle will not start / tow vehicle to dealer and got an estimate of $1150 for the steering lock sensor. I am disappointed and ask if I had to take a certain procedure to replace the battery dealer service advisor respond no......what happened the? no answer.
Drove car to gas station and after filling with gas car would no longer start. Car did not recognize key fob. The steering lock is broken and requires $800 to repair. Spoke with tow truck driver who took car to dealer and they tow a lot of these to the shop each week with the same problem. Incident is not isolated.
Drove car to store. Leaving the store and started to start the car. The car would not start. It had a key light indicator on the dash board and a lock notice on the ignition switch. The car was completely locked down. The car has a keyless entry. The batteries were good in the vehicle and the font. Had to call a tow truck and take to the dealership. Very big inconvenience as wife uses the vehicle to go to work.
My original incident date was not correct and I did not include the VIN# of the vehicle so I am submitting an updated complaint date complaint filed: 12/08/2014 component(s): Electrical system, engine, steering date of incident: 11/27/2014 NHTSA id number: 10662919 as previously stated I drove my 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5S to work on 12/04, I drove my 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 SE to work and it started up just fine. However, when I went to leave work for the day the car would not turn over. The keyless remote allowed me to lock and unlock my car, but the car did not start. Instead an error code shows that the electronic steering column lock (escl) mechanism was malfunctioning. Also, there is a yellow key icon on the left side of the dash that intermittently flashes no key. There were no prior warning that the part was about to fail including any lights on the dash panel. I was left stranded trying to find a way home. Due to being in a parking garage I had to leave my car for several days waiting for a tow truck with clearance to enter the garage. Since I cannot afford to pay the repairs at this time I have been a month with no car. Nissan is still refusing to repair my car indicating that it falls outside of the warranty extension period. Which is interesting considering there is a detailed letter explaining the warranty which clearly states, "Nissan has decided to extend the Nissan new vehicle limited warranty, as it applies to the escl unit, from 3 years / 36,000 miles to 6 years / unlimited miles, whichever comes first." - www.nissanassist.com/web/escl_warranty_extension/programdetails.php?menu=61 basic math shows that 6 years from 2009 would be 2015 not 2014. So I am still not certain as to how I am outside of the warranty period. Seeing as how my claim was originally filed in 2014 this should make me eligible for repairs under the covered warranty.
Upon arriving back to car after attending church it would not start. Steering wheel was not locked, ignition light would not come off of lock, battery was good. Had to have vehicle towed. Left us stranded. Talked to Nissan dealership in austin and said it was probably steering lock mechanism as have had several problems with 2009 Nissan. Said it was not under warranty and would cost around $1,000. Upon researching found this is a very common problem! why not a recall?
I got into my 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S and I pushed the start ignition button and my car would not start. It was the steering column lock set that controls the entire vehicle's starting capabilities. I had to pay for a tow truck to come tow my car way across town to a auto-nation Nissan dealership in farmers branch, Texas on the corner of welch road and high way 635. They said that this should be covered on the extended warranty and it is not however this is a recall item that Nissan should cover the cost for all of their customer's who purchased this rotten vehicle in the first place with this built in obsolescence or designed to break down and shut down on the owner and "leave them stranded" why would you knowingly allow this defect on all of these million's of manufactured defected "junk" of a car why would you Nissan allow this piece of sh_ T vehicle to be made knowing that this would be a "huge inconvenience to the customer vehicle owner" I was told by Nissan autonation's [xxx] that the cost for repairing this piece of junk of a poorly and cheaply made car would cost me $849 plus tax. What the [xxx] is the matter with you people" are you out of your F mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I drove my Altima to the shopping center, the vehicle was running fine, there was no sign of a mechanical problem. I parked the car. When I came out about 30 minutes later the car would not start. The key light was flashing. Changed the battery in the key fob but the car still would not start. Appears to be a steering column lock issue. I had to have the car towed to a dealer. Five days later I am still waiting for the Nissan dealership to fix it. Although Nissan has extended the warranty there needs to be a recall. It is reprehensible that Nissan continues letting people be stranded when the company is aware of this failure with the vehicle.
2009 Nissan Altima 2.5S coupe. Car started fine in the morning, then failed to start (did not crank) after sitting in parking lot for 1 hour. Yellow "intelligent key" and red "security indicator" light were lit on dash, otherwise no other indications on the dash. Tried jumping battery and changing key battery, no luck. Called local Nissan dealership, they suspected steering interlock issue, stated that there was a warranty extension on this. Had vehicle towed to dealer. They confirmed it was the steering interlock and fixed it under warranty. Nissan is supposedly reimbursing for part of the tow charge also. Fortunately, car was still within the warranty time limit. Dealer stated there was no recall issued, "Nissan figured if there was going to be a problem, it would occur within a certain time period". I was lucky to be near home and dealership when this happened, could have been worse. Not sure why they wouldn't issue a recall on this type of thing.
The car was driven to a doctor's appointment. When we returned to the car, it would not start. We jumped the battery and nothing would happen. No lights would turn on in the car and the brake was very hard to push down. We did some research online and found that there was a huge problem with the steering mount. We attempted to get it started the next day by following directions online but no luck. We had it towed and found out it was in fact the steering mount. It is a large expense, impacted by the fact that the car had to be taken to a Nissan plant to be reprogrammed, adding an additional 280 dollars. This part needs a mass recall!
Car would not start after work on 12/16/14. Locks worked fine and doors unlocked. Tried jumping car battery and changing batteries in key with no success. Had car towed to local Nissan dealership that night. After looking at car on 12/17/14, local shop advised the issue to be the electronic steering column lock. After reviewing this to be a common issue, so common Nissan extended warranty for this model for this part to 6 yrs unlimited miles (my car has about 80,000 miles). I ask the service advisor at the Nissan dealer was there any recall on this part because of all the issues with it. I was told no and it would cost $1196 to repair it. So I call Nissan Consumer Affairs for any chance of covering under this warranty. Nissan stated they would not do anything until I had a dealer review the issue. Dealer confirmed issue. But I was fully denied was told the warranty had expired October of 2014 and they could not do anything, with the large volume of complaints here and Nissan own admission of known issue by extending warranty for this model year and part, something more needs to be done. Im very disappointed with Nissan. Since 2007 I have purchased 4 Nissan an at this point I will never spend my hard earn money on another Nissan please spread the word on how Nissan is treating their so called "valued customers'.
The electronic steering column lock malfunctioned leaving the vehicle unable to start. This issue needs to be recalled before someone is stuck in an unsafe situation.
The electronic steering column lock failed, preventing the engine from starting and resulting in me getting stranded. Well-known issue with vehicle - was not recalled, but an "extended warranty" for the defective part was offered (now expired, requiring a $900 fix by Nissan). Defective part 48700-JF00 (versions A-C). Entire part removed from future models. Due to lack of a recall, several owners (myself included) were not informed of the "extended warranty". those that did receive a letter were told "if you are not currently experiencing this condition, you should do nothing." Additional information about this issue and the letter that some owners received is available at www.nissanassist.com.
Car would not start after a school meeting on evening of 12/1/14. Locks worked fine and remote start would still start vehicle, but would kill again after hitting start button. Tried jumping car battery and changing batteries in key fobs with no success. Had car towed to local shop next morning on 12/2 for review. After looking at car on 12/3, local shop advised the issue to be the electronic steering column lock. After reviewing this to be a common issue, so common Nissan extended warranty for this model for this part to 6 yrs unlimited miles (my car has just under 75,000 miles). Called my dealer (who I purchased car brand new and have all regular oil/service maintenance done there) and asked about it. My 6 yrs expired on 11/22 (9 days prior to issue) so would have to call Nissan Consumer Affairs for any chance of covering under warranty. Nissan stated they would no't listen to me until I had a dealer review the issue. Had to pay local shop for their diagnosis and incurred another towing expense to get to my dealer (which is the closest) 30 miles away. Dealer confirmed issue and in order to get my car back as I needed to use, I authorized repairs (over $1200 for just the repair). Submitted my claim then to Nissan for all my incurred expenses (which was $1500) but was fully denied. Was told 9 days is the same as 3 years over the warranty in their eyes and they can no't do anything, including even covering the additional towing and diagnosis fees incurred to meet their requirement of the dealer to review. Seeing the large volume of complaints here and Nissan's own admission of known issue by extending warranty for this model year and part, something more needs to be done. Very disappointed in Nissan.
The car would not start and a dash light indicated a small key. When I pushed the start button nothing happened. It was diagnosed as an electronic steering column lock (escl). After researching the issue, I found that this is a known issue with this particular make/model/year of Nissan specifically (2009 Nissan Altima). As a result of this knowledge, Nissan placed that part under extended warranty. That however does not appear to be enough, since many of the issues don't begin until after the extended warranty is up, as in our case. The cost of the repair is approximately $1,100. I contacted both the dealer and Nissan directly for assistance, asking that they cover the part, especially since the extended warranty had just expired in August. Of course, they chose not to help in anyway. It's my understanding that when this part fails it does not give much if any warning. You simply come out to start your car one day and it does not start or attempt to turn over. Nissan choosing to extend the warranty on a part we knew nothing about having issues, does us no good. A recall however would be more appropriate, I feel, in this situation. Many drivers are having the issues after all warranties have expired and the cost is theirs to cover. When it's a known defective part, that does not seem fair.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Peoria, IL, USA