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:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,282 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.
The electronic steering lock module for my car is starting to go bad. Once the module does go bad I will not be able to start my car and would have to have it towed to a dealership to be fixed where the charge begins at $800 to have the part repaired. This seems to be a common issue among Nissan cars in general. They have extended warranties for this issue but won't issue a recall even though this is a known and common issue.
Unable to start car due to steering lock failure. Car was parked outside on cold winter night. Left businees early am, car recognized smart key but would not pass out of lock position. Had battery and remote checked issue due to failure in the ignition control module
My vehicle was in a parking space and when I went to start the car it didn't make a sound and the steering column was not locked. Got towed to the dealership and was told it was a steering wheel lock malfunction. Read on the internet that this is a known problem for my 2009 Altima. I repair cost was almost $1000 which it totally ridiculous but it needed to be fixed. This could be a safety hazard that can be avoided
The car would not start with fob. Was not the battery, had power throughout the car. The key indicator light was flashing in the dash. Brake lights worked. Did some research and found that there was a know problem with the escl unit. Never received any type of notification. Luckily, I was at work when I got stranded.
Takata inflator my Nissan was stopped to pick my grandkids up from school and when I went to start the vehicle it wouldn't start and the steering wheel was locked and we was stranded for two hours tell I got towed to my daughters house
- Camarillo, CA, USA
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12-2-16, Friday 9:30 pm very cold in northeastern Ohio. Car in parking lot would not start because of a steering lock failure. Called neighbor 25 miles away for a ride home. 12-3-16, sat.car towed to Nissan dealer where purchased. Repair would cost upwards of $1,000. Research on the internet indicates Nissan had extended warranty repairs for this problem and then recinded it. I believe this is a safety issue. If a person is stranded and cannot get a cell tower connection, one could freeze to death. What if a family with small children experienced this on a sub-zero night? the car has only 55,400 miles on it but I do not trust it for me or my wife to drive. There should be a federal recall for this problem.
Nissan knew of this problem of the defective steering lock system, but did not do a recall. They changed an indefinite warranty to a 6 year warranty in January 2016. I ran to the store on my lunch hour to pick up a few items, came out and car would not start. Had to have the car towed to Nissan. Had to sit in a parking lot waiting for tow truck for 2 hours, only to find they had to come back for the car after 11 pm when parking lot emptied out, as with the steering locked you could not move the car out to get onto the flatbed.upon looking up this problem, found that Nissan knows this happens to this car, but refused to do a recall, just extended the warranty. Unfortunately, my warranty expired last year - I purchase this car brand new in April of 2009. Now they want almost $1100 to replace this part they knew was defective to begin with! I am waiting to see if the dealership is going to be of any help in getting this replaced for no charge.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start because the steering was locked. The contact spoke with the dealer and was advised that the extended warranty was expired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 91,000.
The steering lock failed. The car wouldn't start and was stuck in the lock position. I had to have the car towed to a dealership and it is now going to cost me $957 to fix for parts and labor.
2009 Nissan Altima steering lock failure occurred for no reason, fault, wear and tear, leaving me stranded without the key working to start the stationary car. Nissan admitted a defect and extended the warranty on the 2009 Nissan Altima steering lock part knowing this, but placed an expiration on the extended warranty. This expiration did/does not cover the actual cars impacted and was, I believe, solely designed to avoid a formal recall. I did not receive any communications informing me of this defect, including during all of my dealer servicing visits that were within the warranty period. The steering lock failed on my 2009 Nissan Altima. The dealer, clay cooley in irving tx service advisor said that I was six months out of warranty and it would cost $1,200 to repair it. Nothing was wrong with my key fobs and the car was in great shape with the exception of the defective 2009 Altima steering lock that prevents my car from reading my key fobs. This should be a recall without expiration. I purchased the car new from Nissan and remain the original owner. Nissan should bear the cost for this entire $1,200 repair as it is not normal wear and tear, preventative, of any control of myself. It is a manufacturer defect.
Steering wheel lock /ignition, car not able to start using key fob, total steering and brake lock. Got off work and could not start car, was running fine prior to work 7am
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock was faulty. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
3 times in the last 2 weeks my wife has been stranded in sub freezing temperature due to the electronic steering column lock (escl) not unlocking. Each time the car has been stopped and does not restart. Having read multiple reports Nissan extended the warranty on the part and even removed it from 2010 models however I am out of luck since the extended warranty has expired. This defective part should be part of a national recall and consumers should be reimbursed for fixes and towing cost. Currently Nissan will not fix the issue until it is occurring which means you have to wait to be stranded some where and have it towed to a Nissan dealership to be fixed which is absolutely insane. I am lucky that me and my wife are handy and have been able to restart the card by literally hammering on the escl until it unlocked. If we had kids or were in the middle of an emergency this would be gathering national news attention on how Nissan knew about a defective piece and (even replacing it in the next years model). I would appreciate anyone's help if bringing awareness of Nissan's negligence.
I was driving my car all day with no problems at all. I decide to the grocery store with my son and after doing all my shopping I get back into my car and the key security light was on and I tried to start the car by pressing the push start button and it would not start. The key allows me to lock and unlock the door even recognizing it when I put it in the ignition but would not start. Me and my son was stranded for hours in cold. I had to leave the car in the parking lot for 3 days before I was actually available to get it towed. And then I was informed its going to cost about $1000 to have it fixed because of a steering lock. When I researched this is a common and known issue with these cars. I just got this car about 2 years ago why do I have to pay for something I didn't do to the car. Why are these cars still being stole to the public and people not aware of these issues. This could of happen anywhere!! and I don't stay in the most safest area these problems are dangerous for them to just happen anywhere. And it's December!!! it's cold!!! why am I coming out of pocket for a Nissan issue!!!
I tried to start the vehicle this morning, which has a push-button start, but the car wouldn't start. The outdoor temperature was around 6 degrees. I got a light on the dash that that indicates there's a problem with the steering wheel lock mechanism (attached photo). The vehicle will not start unless this lock mechanism is replaced. Apparently, there was a voluntary recall on the wheel lock mechanism for owners who've had issues, which expired Jan 2016. The part and repair can cost $900-$1000. Here is a link to the expired service bulletin: web.archive.org/web/20150219214832/http://www.nissanassist.com/web/escl_warranty_extension/programdetails.php?menu=61
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the steering wheel locked. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column had to be replaced and reprogrammed. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
2012-I was headed to my car to drive home from work. My car wouldn't start. I tried jumping the battery and a few other things and nothing happened. It was winter in Michigan and it was snowing and it was freezing out. After researching the make and model year, 2009 Altima, I realized the problem was the steering column. My step father watched a youtube video to fix my car. He put a zip tie in to hold the column open so the car would start even though it cant lock now. Which means, I cant use my automatic starter and I live in Michigan were it's cold in the winter. I am thankful this didnt happen while out on back roads. In 2015 the zip tie broke and I was stranded once more during winter. It took several hours before I could get someone to help me. So I sat in my car with no heat and froze. It was blowing snow and it was 14 degrees out. Who knows what the wind chill was. But, I was stuck one more time! my step dad once more came to the rescue. I had my hunting knife in the car so he jammed the column open and I drove it home that way. Once home he put a bolt in the column to prevent it from locking up. I wish I would have known about this issue before I bought this car. I love my car but I hate that Nissan wont stand behind their product. This is a serious issue and the part to fix it is about $1000! this is a known issue that Nissan should fix. What if I was in the up and this happened? I truly want to know why the steering column issue is not considered a big enough issue for a recall!
So I was at work came out to start my car and it wouldn't start...thought it was my battery it wasnt that. Got it towed to Nissan dealership.young lady advised me it was steering column lock.after doing my research I seen this matter to alot of Nissan customer's.the cost was over 1,000 dollars and seen the warranty expired last year. Had to paid other people to get back and forward to work and pick my child up from childcare. Called nissan1 the woman told me it would take 3 business day to review my case....she called today telling me it was nothing they can about this matter.I was pissed off. This problem wasnt my fault and Nissan knew about this problem way before me. Its sad to be a customer to Nissan. They really dont care about their customers or this problem seem like everyone having.
I am the latest victim of faulty steering lock on 2009 Nissan Altima. I didn't know until it happened with me. I along with my family (including 10 months old kid) went out around 7:30 pm on 10th Dec 2016 and stopped to fill fuel at the nearby fuel station. Switched off car's ignition before filling fuel as usual but was unable to start it later. Car ignition didn't start at all, both steering and brakes got locked and didn't move at all. Eventually car was showing key symbol repeatedly. It was little cold outside and started raining as well. Had to get car towed back home, it took me 3 hours to get home as towing service was delayed as well. Meanwhile attempt to jump start the vehicle also didn't help as batteries were all okay. Being Sunday next day, no repair shops and Nissan dealer were opened. During this time researched about the issue and learnt that there is a defect on 2009 Nissan Altima steering lock system which disabled the car until replaced. And Nissan had kept only extended warranty of 6 years on this part but there was no recall. I had to get vehicle towed to nearest Nissan dealership on Monday and upon diagnostic they also found the same problem. Had to cough up $1200 to get it replaced including labor charges. It is huge dent to pocket but seems there was no choice. It is unfortunate that Nissan has decided to not to recall this part even after learning mutliple reports and its defectiveness. Keeping 6 years extended warranty doesn't help as low mileage car will take more years to detect this problem. Moreover there is extra burden on consumers of their time, spoiled plans and money. Worst case if it happens to someone at remote location where getting help is bleak. I urge NHTSA to take this matter seriously and direct Nissan to recall/reimburse on the defective parts. Safety of consumer should be top priority than profits.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kaneohe, HI, USA