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 contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated the that the push-to-start would not engage and the vehicle could not be started. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who advised that the steering lock unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 58,000. Updated 03/27/13 updated 3/28/13 updated 04/19/2013
I purchased this used 2009 Nissan Altima from a dealer in my local town. When I bought the vehicle it had around 36-38,000 miles on it (can't remember at this time). Had the vehicle for a little over a year, I do regular maintenance on it and have had no problems. I drive this vehicle approx 100 miles a week, and when I went to leave work the other day the vehicle wouldn't turn on. The intelligence key battery was charged, the battery for the car was charge, I unhooked the battery and reset it, still nothing. The vehicle was in park and I couldn't do anything to get it to turn on. I towed it to the local dealership who ran a diagnostic and said it was the, "steering lock control unit" which would cost $717 for part and labor along with a $70 diagnostic fee. I was lucky I wasn't stranded in a bad area or without a way to reach someone. They need to recall this part, too many incidents with this part in Nissan vehicles.
Parked can in front of store and attmpted to start it but it would not start. Yellow "key missing" light comes on but it won't start. Key battery is new, car battery is new, won't jump start. Car is dead. Turns out to be the steering lock mechanism. Only 57, 000 miles and this is only one of many issues we have had with this car. New battery (2) new brake switch new alternator new A/C pump new front rotor.
Electronic steering lock control board - car will not start and is illuminating the yellow key symbol. Had to have it towed to the dealership and they diagnosed it as a failing electronic steering lock control board. They told me that the part is around $500 and with labor the total is $779. Was told it has been happening a lot with this model and mileage. My car is less than 4 years old so I should not have to spend this much money to drive it. Please insist on them recalling this issue and reimbursing the full amount to me. If not, this will be my last Nissan.
When my daughter went out to start the vehicle, the security system for the steering column lock/unlock would not allow the car to be started due to it saying that the steering column was locked when it actually wasn't.this seems to be a very common problem in all of the 2008-2009 Nissan Altima.it has been at the Nissan dealership for 5 days now, and they are telling me it will be another 5 days before they can get the part needed due to it being on backorder.these cars should be recalled by Nissan before someone gets stranded.the only thing that can be done when this relay quits is to have the car towed to the closet dealership.this repair costs around $1000 (labor, parts, towing),and that is if and when they can get the part.
- Georgetown, KY, USA
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Car will not start and is illuminating the yellow key symbol. Had to have it towed to the dealership and they diagnosed it as a failing electronic steering lock control board. They told me that the part is around $500 and with labor the total is $950. Furthermore, the part is on back order and they do not know when the part will be available. They indicated possibly two weeks. Was also told that this is an issue that is going on with this part and that I should call Nissan to file a complaint with the Consumer Affairs department at 800-nissan1. It looks like there are tons of people having this issue, so if you are as well, please log your incident/complaint with Nissan at the number above as well entering it on this website.
I purchased this used 2009 Nissan Altima from a dealer in my local town. When I bought the vehicle it had around 36-38,000 miles on it (can't remember at this time). Had the vehicle for a little over a year, I do regular maintenance on it and have had no problems. I drive this vehicle approx 100 miles a week, and when I went to leave work the other day the vehicle wouldn't turn on. The intelligence key battery was charged, the battery for the car was charge, I unhooked the battery and reset it, still nothing. The vehicle was in park and I couldn't do anything to get it to turn on. I towed it to the local dealership who ran a diagnostic and said it was the, "steering lock control unit" which would cost $717 for part and labor along with a $70 diagnostic fee. I was lucky I wasn't stranded in a bad area or without a way to reach someone. They need to recall this part, too many incidents with this part in Nissan vehicles.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the key could not be turned in the ignition to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis where he was advised that the steering lock mechanism failed. The vehicle was scheduled for repairs. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 81,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that she attempted to start the vehicle but to no avail. The key warning icon was also illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic, who diagnosed that the steering lock control unit failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000 and the current mileage was 27,291.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the steering assembly needed to be replaced. The part was on back order and the vehicle would be repaired upon the arrival of the part. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that when trying to start the vehicle, a warning erroneously appeared stating that the steering was locked. The vehicle was later towed to a dealer. After diagnosis, they advised him that a switch in the steering column malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that the parts were on back order. The failure and current mileages were approximately 117,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the key warning light illuminated and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer where it was found that the steering lock control unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 36,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that all attempts to start the vehicle failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where it was found that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 56,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Drove to a store about a mile from my home and when I came out the car would not start and the key warning light illuminated (car went into lock mode and it could not be reset). The vehicle was towed and the technician stated that the failure was located at the steering lock control unit. The steering lock control unit is being replaced and the cost is $918. The approximate failure mileage was 28,100.
Leaving work to go to lunch and my Altima wont start. Push button start not responding and will not move from lock position. Changed the battery to my car along with battery for key. Still nothing. After doing research on the internet I found that my problem is the steering lock control module, which seems to be a big problem for several other people as well. My brother was able to locate the steering control module and held in the start button, and the break and at the same time he tapped on the module and my car started. We were able to drive it home thankfully without calling a tow truck. 100% without a doubt that is the problem with my car and it will need replaced. I am scared to drive my car anywhere because I don't want to get stranded somewhere. I started my car the next morning and it did start, who knows how long it will last until the part fails again. I will need this replaced but really feel as through Nissan should be doing something about this problem due to the hundreds of people with the very same problem.
Car was driving perfectly fine, parked at a friend's house for 2 hours and then got in it to leave and it wouldn't start. The key warning light was on, and the lights on the dash indicated that the key was not in the car even though it was in the ignition hole. After speaking with the technician, it is the steering lock mechanism and needs to be replaced. My issue is that there was no warning at all, it was below 30 degrees outside and I was unable to get my children home. Were I not at a friend's house, I would have been stranded somewhere with two small children in the middle of winter. There was no warning at all that this was going to happen, no warning lights, no signals to indicate to me that something needing replacing or fixing. And it's an $800 dollar fix with parts and labor... there needs to be a recall, this is ridiculous. Apparently this happens after about 2-3 years in this year make and model.
The key warning light appeared on the dash; replaced batteries in both of the keys and the warning light disappeared. One week later, with no additional problems or warning, I parked the car to go to a doctor appointment and when I returned less than 1 hour later, I was able to get into the car, but the brake would not depress, the steering wheel would not lock, and the car would not start. Car will not go into accessory mode either nor does the other key start the car.
Drove my car to an appt and when I came out it wouldn't start. Tried jumping battery, did not work. Changed the battery in key fob and it still didn't work. I brought my back-up key over to the car and that one did not work either. Had it towed to the Nissan dealer and they diagnosed it as the steering wheel mechanism and the part was on a 7-10 day back order. I paid an additional $50 to expedite the part. It took 7 days to get my car repaired. I contacted Nissan usa, described the situation and sent them a hyperlink that had anecdotes of steering issues from other 09 Altima owners and requested that they cover the repair. Someone from Nissan called me and I returned his call 2 times without a return call. On the third message I and told him I would escalate the call if I did not hear back from him. That prompted him to return my call and he stated they would not cover the cost because I don't take my car to Nissan for scheduled service. I told him I was not going to rest until I get Nissan to cover this and he basically told me he had the final say. I am contacting my local news station and my state ag for resolution. Please do the same! I am out $960 for the repair.
Drove to work in the morning, parked my Nissan Altima in the parking lot. When I went to leave for lunch the car would not start. The brake was extremely stiff and pushing the start button did nothing. I called the local Nissan dealer - they immediately thought it could be the steering lock module if that was it I would have to have it towed. Once towed to the dealership they confirmed it was the steering wheel lock module had malfunctioned. They admitted they have seen 4 others in just this month for the same issue. The part was ordered and should have arrived in 3 business days. After a week I was notified the part is on back order and they do not know when they will have it in to fix my car. I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs to ask for help, they declined stating it is all a case by case basis they won't help to pay for the part, repair or a rental car. It has now been 23 days and they still don't know when or if they will get a part to fix my car. I am stranded without a means to get to and from work. Nissan needs to recall this part or help cover the costs for those affected. After extensive research there are tons of people going through the same issue. The same part was recalled for the Nissan gtr why not own up to your crappy part and take care of the customers.
I just wanted to let the people know that there is no guarantee that the new steering lock mechanism that is placed in your car will not malfunction. I picked my car up from the dealership after having the part repaired at the cost of $1055 not including towing and wasn't even home 40 minutes before the same thing occurred again and the car had to be towed back to the dealership to be repaired again. I'm now finding out that the replacement part is not a newly manufactured part without the defect making the probability of having to deal with situation again very high and of course the Nissan Corp. Is still acting like there is no problem at all. Please people call your attorney general news stations and whoever you think will listen because the more waves we make forces Nissan to recall this part.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Southington, CT, USA