I have a 2009 Nissan Altima that now sits in my garage. I went to leave to run errands and my car wouldn't start. My husband found the problem to be the escl - electronic steering column lock. After much research, I found quite a bit of information about the escl. For one, it's too expensive to have repaired.

- Greenwood, IN, USA

The key fob for the 2009 Nissan Altima works to lock and unlock the car doors, but it the dashboard lights up with the key symbol indicating an error. I went to go start my vehicle maybe an hour after I had just used it to get home and the vehicle will not start at all. When the push to start button is pushed, nothing happens. It is essentially like the car does not sense the key. The problem has to do with the steering lock on the vehicles and is a costly repair that appears to be fairly common.

- Ludlow, MA, USA

Escl has gone out twice now. First time Nissan repair at their cost. This time they won't replace at their expense. This is very dangerous and Nissan knows that this is a defect on their part. I had to pay towing charge and replace escl for the second time!! $1000 fix.

- Metropolis, IL, USA

I can't get my car to start because it won't recognize my key. Nissan has a campaign and extended the warranty to help some of the thousands of owners whose vehicle won't start due to a faulty electronic steering column locks. However, these recalls are VIN specific and even though my vehicle has the identical problem, they denied my claim. I appealed and they denied again. Now I get to pay $1,000 to pay for a part that Nissan has publicly admitted was due to shoddy manufacturing in thousands of 09 Altima, but somehow not in mine. Nissan, I know you're not Honda or Toyota, but, C'mon: Make an effort. (https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2017/Nissan-Altima-maxima-steering-lock-problems.shtml)

- Bellevue, NE, USA

Electronic steering lock control has failed twice. Nissan has replaced at no charge once, and has a service campaign for all 2009. However, the 3 year old replacement failed with no warning and left me stranded and had to have car towed.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

Took vehichle hunting. When I returned to car found that vehicle would not start. No cell phone coverage. Had to flag down a car to find a ride back to where I could get cell coverage and call wife for a ride home. After much research I found that the steering colum lock was the culprit. Also found out that I was not alone with this problem. How could this be a secret, if that many people have been affected and Nissan did not do a full recall. Shame on them some needs to make this a full recall. What if this would have happened to my wife or kids "??"

- Deforest, WI, USA

My entire dashboard is melting and it's very sticky.. the glare is a major concern that could possibly cause an accident. It doesn't matter if it's day or night it's difficult to see out of the windshield.

- Galveston, TX, USA

Car will not start and key lock is on as well as the red light with the car flashing inside of the car. I looked the problem up and it stated something about it being a steering mechanism. I was parked in a restaurant got out to get my food and came back to the car and car wouldn't start.

- Tunica, MS, USA

Vehicle would not start after being shut down in parking lot. Dash display showed a key light but information console did not state the problem. Occupants in vehicle were mother and 3 year old daughter in 90+ degree heat. Could not operate air conditioning and had to have car towed to residence. Upon inspection, found steering wheel lock malfunctioned. Solution: Disable malfunctioning unit compromising security system with possibility of steering wheel lock activating while vehicle is in motion. Extremely dangerous as vehicle may be used on hiway or in less than optimal driving conditions. Nissan should recognize that this hazard was not completely communicated to all 2009 Nissan Altima owners when the initial recall was issued that ended in January of 2017. This is an ongoing issue and should be addressed to all current owners of 2009 Nissan Altima and corrected as soon as possible.

- Avon, IN, USA

The steering wheel lock mechanism. I was fixed once by dealership under extended warrenty they say. They told me recalled. Now only "certain 2009 Nissan Altima" are recalled again. Mine is broke again and cost is approx $900. They said I get no assistance even paying for it because of the miles on my car. It is still their mistake and faulty part. Car is nit driveable

- Mcdonald, OH, USA

My car left me stranded as I went to pick up my daughters from daycare. I had to pay to get my car towed to the dealership, my key fob would allow me to lock my doors and turn on the alarm but my car would not start. I have been looking in the complaints commentary and the majority of your complaints are for this same problem. Nissan should take responsibility for this failure. It is obvious that it has something to do with the way this model was built. The customer should not have to pay for manufacture mistakes.

- Sanger, CA, USA

I purchased a Nissan Altima 09 and haven't had any issues until 8/03/17. As I went to turn the car on a light came up on the dash board indicating that there was an issue with the steering lock. I figured it was a quick fix so I called my local dealership and they told me it's a faulty steering lock and asked for me to bring my car in. I had to call out of work to try and resolve this ongoing issue. I looked on online for possible solutions and couldn't find any but I did find that many Nissan Altima 09 owners were dealing with the same problem. I have no warranty on my car but there has to be a way to fix my car so I won't be stranded and won't have to pay 600$ for a small part...

- Bridgeport, CT, USA

The won't start due to the steering wheel won't lock so the car won't start

- Miami, FL, USA

The car will not start. The dash lights and radio come on and the "on" indicator is lit where the push button is. However, the engine does not start.

- Austin, TX, USA

I change my radiator 2 times - and they change the steering column lock and they charge me 1,200. I have change the pressure sensors couple times. This always happen when I was driving

- Aurora, IL, USA

Steering wheel lock unit failure. My car was all of the sudden dead at home depot the other day and this was the second times it happened. First time it happened but I was abled to start my car the next day so I thought it was ok. Until couple days ago it happened again and this time I had to tow my car to the shop to have it check. The shop checked it and told me it was the steering wheel lock box problem. I have searching online and here are many people had this problem happening to their 2009 Nissan Altima. I would like to file complaint about this issue snd have Nissan to recall this problem.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was inspected and diagnosed by an independent mechanic who was further testing the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

"takata recall" on Thursday, May 11th, 2017, I left for an appointment. After the appointment, I tried starting the car and it would not start. I noticed the steering wheel was a bit stiff. I tried the battery, but no relief. I called my insurance company and they sent a tow truck to have it towed. After much reading, I realized this is an ongoing problem with Nissan.

- Leroy, NY, USA

Steering lock control unit has failed

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

Vehicle was stationary and the steering column went out. Vehicle will not start, seems there are thousands of people with this same problem, do not understand why a recall has not happened.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA