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.
Truly cant believe Nissan Consumer Affairs, on 6/30/2015, my electric steering column lock went out. I called Consumer Affairs on 6/30/2015, to see if its part of this extended warranty, ( which I found out though google), rep explain mine expired on 6/3/2015, and I needed to tow it to dealership. Which I did, and found out that was the problem, so I called back on 6/30/2015, and ask since it was less than a month will they help with the cost. On 7/1/2015, I had to call 4 times and message Nissan though facebook to even get a call back from the regional consumer affair agent, when she finally called back an hour before the dealership service dept. Closes, she explain they wouldn't help with any cost. The cost to fix this problem, that Nissan knew about since 2009, would be 1,000 dollars. Personally I don't have the money to fix it, at this point of time it is sitting at the dealership, I'm missing work everyday because of an issue that could have been avoided if Nissan took responsibility of there failure.
Car could not be started and had to be towed to a Nissan deal where they charged me $900 to fix. This is a defective part, electronic steering column lock, that Nissan knows about. They extended the warranty for this part and have it listed on the nissanassist.com website. It is specific to the 2009 Altima and maxima. They refused to help with cost in anyway because the warranty expired 2 months prior...even though they know it is a big enough issue to have the extended warranty on it. If the part is defective...why put any time frame on it. Do a recall, or fix them as it happens.
I finished work late at night during a snowstorm, only to find that my car would not start and I had to get a tow. Nissan later explained that the cause was a defective electronic steering column lock (escl) unit. Because this malfunction occurred a few months after the 6 year extended warranty, in addition to waiting hours for a tow truck in a snowstorm, I was then forced to pay $1000 to fix Nissan's defective part.
The steering control unit seized up, the vehicle wont start....updated 08/12/15 the consumer stated the cost of installation and reprogramming of the unit was $90. Updated 12/23/2015
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While driving 40 mph, the steering wheel seized and the engine stalled. The vehicle continued to coast and crashed into a curb. The contact mentioned that the front passenger side tire bent inward. The contact was unable to restart the engine. The contact did not specify if a police report was filed or if any injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the power steering failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
My 2009 Nissan Altima unexpectedly would not start in June of 2015 and I was on my way to pick up my brother from school. I thought it might have been a battery issue. So, I called my insurance company and they came out to give me a jump. That was not the culprit. Unfortunately, it was after hours and I had to wait till morning to have my vehicle towed to tires plus. They were unable to figure out the problem. Next, I had my vehicle towed to Nissan who were able to diagnose the issue. After further research, I learned that the escl is a known defect and that an extended warranty was issued to these vehicles. My warranty expired a month prior to this incident (very inconvenient) resulting in a $1,000 out of pocket expense that I did not have readily available (I am a graduate student). I wish that instead of just offering an extended warranty for this part that Nissan would have recalled the part to avoid this headache all together.
My 2009 Nissan has a key warning light on it which can cause the steering wheel to lock up when I visited the Nissan assist site it stated they had a extended warranty for this specific problem since it is a problem that affects the 2009 Altima, the warranty expired in January so they refuse to get it fixed this should be a safety recall issue since its a problem they know affects the 2009 Nissan Altima sand maximas
2009 Nissan Altima bought brand new. Under 36,000 the motor was changed out, around 70,000 miles the transmission was replaced. Good times. Friday 5/22/15 went to friends house and went to leave and car would not start. Checked battery and fuses and then noticed a yellow key flashing in gauge cluster. I called the dealer and told them what I saw. Dealer told me there was no way I was going to get the car to start and that it needed to be towed to the dealer. Called tow truck and was towed from helmet ca, to Ontario ca 60+ miles in the rain with my windows down. I could not roll the windows up or do anything else besides unlock and lock the doors. Nissan has extended the warranty for this problem but still denies that there is a problem. I was 3 months late for this warranty and I have been denied coverage for repairs that will cost more than a $1000 dollars. Nissan knows there is a problem and will not recall this problem witch is wide spread. Just google it and they will see. Want to get the news involved. Tired of being stranded by Nissan. Nissan step up to the plate and take care of your customers!!!
My son went to work and when he got off of work the vehicle would not start. I called the Nissan dealership they towed the vehicle and said it was the steering column lock. The manager stated "I see at least two of these a week every week for this same problem." It will cost us $999 to repair our vehicle. There are hundreds of the same problem with this model. Why there is no recall is laughable if it weren't so sad
Drove car to work with no problem. Reentered car 3 hrs later and it wouldn't start. A yellow key light displayed on the dash and the brake and steering wheel locked. Replaced key batteries but that didn't work. Had car towed to dealership and was told it was the steering lock mechanism which would cost $986.
Steering column locked and has to be replaced. Car will not turn on at all. Had to get it towed to dealership where they are trying to slam me with a $1100 repair bill. Car was bought in Feb 2009, and extended warranty for said specific part ended Feb 2015.
After stopping at the store my car no longer would start. I live in Texas where it is hot, this is a danger to be stuck and no way to fix it. The key light popped on. Apparently after research it is noted Nissan is aware of the electronic steering lock problem. If there are so many issues why not recall the part instead of leaving motorist stranded. If the part malfunctions there is no way to move the car. I'm not sure where it is ok to charge 1200 dollars knowing your part is defective. This problem has left me stranded 3 different times.
On May 1, 2015 my vehicle would not start. I had to have the car towed to a Nissan dealer. My 2009 Nissan Altima's electronic steering column lock (escl) system failed 4 months after the warranty extension expired.this is a known issue that according to Nissan "happening to only a small number of vehicles". if the number is so miniscule then why not issue a recall?? I cannot imagine what I would be dealing with if I experienced this failure away from home or traveling. I thank god that my family and I were at home.
I have a 2009 Nissan Altima. Apparently Nissan is fully aware of the issues that the electric steering column lock is having. Nissan chose to extend the warranty instead of recall the part. Knowing that the majority of the effected Altima owners would fall outside that warranty. Of course now my steering column has malfunctioned even though Nissan states that this would not be an issue for majority of car owners. They know this is a huge problem. I have found thousands of write ups on the internet. It is unfair to the Altima car owners. Nissan is not taking responsibility for using defective parts. They have since discontinued using these parts, and left Nissan Altima car owners holding their dirty little secret. The one car we have can not function, and they are asking for over$1000 to repair it. Issue: The car will not drive because of this malfunction and defective part. Please help us the 2009 Nissan Altima car owners G *tret this part fully recalled by Nissan. Thank you!
Went to start the car and nothing happened. After several attempts the orange "key" light appeared on the dash. Figured I needs to change the battery in the fob so I did... still nothing! googled the issue and found this is a known problem with this vehicle and that the warranty had been extended on this part. Called the closest dealer who informed me my extended warranty expired in 2/09/15 and the repair was no longer covered. Are they serious? I was never notified of this issue. Nissan should be ashamed. Will never buy another one...
I went to start my car and an amber light with a key came on my dashboard. My car would not start. The car had to be towed to a Nissan dealership where it was determined it was a malfunction of the escl(electronic steering column lock). The repair cost me $893.90. There was an extended warranty on this so Nissan new it was a problem. The warranty ended 3 months ago. Nissan will not pay for the repair. This is my 4th Nissan.
My 2009 Nissan Altima did not start one morning as I needed to go in to work. I called Nissan in libertyville il and I was told the it was probably the steering column locking issue that needed to be addressed. I provided them the VIN number and they said it was still under warranty so it would be covered 100% if that was the issue. Once at their shop they determined it was the steering column locking issue but switched their story and said it no longer was under warranty. I called Nissan and they confirmed the warranty expired 4 months prior to the date of my Nissan breaking down. After further complaints and appeals to Nissan customer service I was forced to replace the part which cost me $850 in repairs.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Byram, MS, USA