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.
On 1/6/17 my 2009 Nissan Altima would not start due to a locked steering column. I was stranded at a school in below freezing temperatures, and had to ask someone for a ride. This part has been breaking down for awhile. I was fortunate to find a ride. The temperature in kc that day was between 1-14 F with packed snow and ice on the ground. Someone could be stranded in a place or situation that is not safe. I was told the car had a faulty steering lock. I had to have the car towed and repaired at a cost of $1,192.34
I go to college in a remote part of Nebraska and in the winters it gets really cold and when you have a car in the middle of nowhere and it does not want to start. Thanks Nissan for not caring if I die of exposure. I live in remote town that doesn't even have a grocery store. Everything is closed by 6pm in my town and we are the last place to close in my work town which is a 30 min drive home. Both of these towns would be considered small town midwest farm towns, so when I close work and I can't start my car at midnight, I'm stranded. I can't go back into work to keep warm as the lock and alarm are activated when I leave. No one is up and the only people on the streets are the cops & are not taxis to drive me 30 mins to another town home. Point is, my car doesn't turn on, I'm left out in zero degree weather or below zero with one heck of a wind chill to just wait for some one that is over an hour away to come get me. If I'm lucky enough to find some one in peru, ne. Otherwise I am call my mother in Lincoln, ne. That's over an hour and half drive. I have been stranded now 3 times since December 10, 2016. 1st time. I was told it is my battery. Replaced it to no resolve. 2nd time was told it is my alternator. Tested fine and since it started fine at the dealership they said my car was fine. 3rd time, I hoped on the internet and to my complete surprise and shock to find that this is not an isolated issues. Nissan has known about the steering lock control unit stranding people for years and has done nothing to notify there customers or have it as a recall, but only as a warranty issue which expired 1-2016. I have already spent over $300 trying to get the problem fixed. I am a college student putting myself through college. That was my book money this semester. I don't have rich parents and need a reliable car. Nissan get it together and make this a recall to fix it!!
Steering lock actuator: Steering lock mechanism went out and left my daughter stranded and we had to have veh towed. There was no alternate way to start car or put it in neutral to roll it out of the way. All due to a push start button on car and no other way to operate it safely. Having to have it repaired myself which will cost between $1500 and $700. This part should be recalled due to the danger it imposes. Also not being able to put it in neutral imposes other damage to car in having to find an alternative way to move veh.
Takata recall. Last evening I went to the closest store, which happens to be 12 miles from home. I did as many do when getting to a store. Turned off my 2009 Nissan Altima and locked it as I was walking away from the store. I had left my car off roughly 15 minutes. When I got in the car there were no flashing lights or indication something was wrong. I applied my foot to pedal and pushed the ignition, but nothing happened. I thought the fob possibly needed a new battery, but this wasn't the case. After replacing the fob battery and trying to insert the fob in dash nothing happened. The car left me stranded in cold temperatures after hours of course. With this problem the car would not even slip into neutral to be towed without extensive fees. Upon having the 2009 Nissan Altima diagnosed the "steering lock module" is not working and causing this to put the car out of commission. The fees of towing, parts, and labor are a little over $1,100.
I am unable to start my car due to the steering wheel lock. My key fob works perfectly fine and I did not do anything out of the ordinary when I went to start my car yet I cannot drive it and I am stuck in the frigid cold in front of my job.
Arrived at a gas station to fuel up, after I was done the car wouldn't start. Come to find out that the steering lock pump (which is connected to the push to start mechanism) is worn out which stops the car to turn
Dec 2 2016..on my way to work at 5am car would not start at gas pump after all fail attempt to start even by nissian pro..car was towed..one hour to repair 880 dollar steering lock..lost 2 day pay.. never recieved extended warranty yet was told car has 65000 excellent condition so I thought..nissian need to be accountable
Nissan Altima 2009 has a defective steering lock system. Suddenly this evening after work when I get back to the car, it just did not start. This is a dangerous situation if it would have happened any remote place and I would have been stranded. I see there have been several people complained about this on the internet but Nissan has not recalled this car. Please investigate and take appropriate steps. They should either replace the defective part of just replace the car.
Parked car at a planet fitness because my 6 year old autistic daughter was having a meltdown. When that was all and done with we come back to the car and it will not turn on. The no key icon comes on the left top side the lock sign is blinking, and no key in the middle red sign.. my children and I are stranded.
Power steering lock, has broke again after being fixed just 50,000 miles before. It is time for a recall. This happened in situation where I could do nothing to fix it. Getting a tow and a bill of over 1000 is not my version of a good day. Recall!!
The steering lock mechanism is defective the car shut off causing it to steer hard. Then car won't start. It costs $800+ to fix the car. It only has 70,000 miles on it.and at one time this part had a lifetime warranty on it then Nissan changed it to 6 years when they started to get complaints. Our car ran out of the warranty in July but we didn't receive a notification about it. Luckily we was able to bypass the steering lock. Someone needs to check Nissan Altima's car accident deaths because this could cause a serious car wreck and I predict this has already happened. Nissan needs to recall this defective part.
Nissan Altima 2009 parked on side of road in order to change drivers. The electronic steering column lock activated after the vehicle was turned off and the vehicle could not be restarted. This was an extremely dangerous and emotionally damaging experience. What should have been an easy routine change to an experienced driver in an unknown neighborhood resulted in passengers being stranded and requiring assistance to contact and wait for a tow-truck for an otherwise functioning vehicle. The vehicle was ultimately brought to Nissan for repairs (at the recommendation of Nissan Consumer Affairs) with estimated cost of $1290. Compared to the listed kbb price of the vehicle at $6442, the costs for repair is about 20% of the value of the vehicle. Nissan Consumer Affairs later informed us that the vehicle is outside of warranty (which was extended for a period of 6 years up to 2015 as Nissan was aware of the escl defect for our VIN) and will not assist with repairs.
Recently my 2009 Nissan Altima experience a steering column lock failure that left my car incompacitated (unable to start) and left me in freezing cold temperatures.
Takata recall, defect steering lock unit, unable to start engine! after parked Nissan 2009 Altima at a shopping mall, "nokey" light is on, car can be lock and unlock through remote control key, but no display information visible at the dash board, wheel is locked and unable to switch gear. Nothing can be done to the car!
On 12/26/11 I went to do an errand. I parked the car, came back, and the car wouldn't start. All the electrical worked. I had the key with me, yet the car would start. I had the car towed to the capitol Nissan in atlanta. They diagnosed it as a faulty steering lock unit. They replaced the part as well as the ignition switch assembly. The mileage at that time was 33,572. I purchased the car in Oct 2011. On 12/21/16 I went out to do an errand, returned to my car, and it wouldn't start. I had the car towed to nalley Nissan, who bought capitol Nissan. The same scenario. All electrical worked. I had the key yet the car wouldn't start. They diagnosed it with a faulty steering lock unit and replaced it. At this time the mileage was 59,125. The first replacement of this unit the car was still under warranty. This recent incident it wasn't.
I have a 2009 Nissan atima. I got in my car today it started ok, went to drop my daughter at daycare, and after getting back to car, it would not start, showed picture of steering wheel and push button would not start the car, I have researched online here and found out it was the steering security lock box, it's very common issue for 2009 Nissan and there was a extended warranty on it, which ended in July 2016 since it's defective part. It's a security problem with all 2009 Nissan Altima plus with my work sometimes I go into very bad neighborhoods at night and being stuck there is a very dangerous situation, I can't afford to pay what the dealer wants to fix this obvious faulty part that Nissan new about and never receive a recall at all and I have own this car since 2011, so now my job is in jeopardy because I need this car for my job. This problem is a definite safety problem., I just hope no one with children or a pregnant woman is stuck while in labor or in very cold temperatures, or in a place where cell phones do not work. Shame on you Nissan for not fixing this problem in these cars indefinitely, it is a defective part and should be replaced free of charge I paid today $1268.74 for replacement and fixing.
While home from college for the holidays, my daughter's car was stranded at a gym after hours. We had to have her car towed to the nearest Nissan dealership, which was 60 +/- miles away. We have since found the steering mechanism is a common issue with the 2009 Nissan Altima and in fact the warranty for this concern had been extended until 2015. Since it's 2016 the $900+ repair is not covered. Had this been a recall we would have been notified and would have repaired the mechanism long before this became an issue. I would first of all like to report this incident as a safety concern and secondly request an explanation as to why this hasn't elevated to recall status.
Car woould not start with push button. Did start remotely but as soon as tried to restart car after getting in, car would not start. Defective locking mechanism in steering wheel so would not start. If late at night in no cell service area what do you do" no way to call for help? car no start" car was parked in garage. Remotely started then tried to restart after getting in car. Push button start will not work because the steering lock mechanism is defective. Many many of them do this. After replaced ok. This should definitely be a safety recall. Note cost is $1045 to fix. Very bad safety situation. Needs reconsideration for recall.. is problem with 2009 and 2010 Altima's.
Went out to go home from work and it would not start...waited 3 hours for aaa and finally cancelled it when I realized it was not a battery issue...I had called Nissan dealership and the service person told me that it should work if I put the fob in the little fob insert on the car...did not start...I had my sister bring me the other fob and it made no difference...after 3 hours, I cancelled aaa service and just went home...it was very cold and it was dark. I drove my daughter's Altima to work the next day and called aaa to tow it to the dealership(towed at 8:30 am). They did not have time to look at it because they were so busy. I had left a note in the drivers seat about the steering lock issue with the 2009 Altima. The next day they told me it was no longer under the "extended warranty" and the part might be in Chicago and if so would be ready the next day (3 days later). When I went in to discuss this with the service manager about why this was not a recall or Nissan should cover the charges because it was a defective part that had been installed...he told me that the part was on "back order." He was not helpful at all...we can't just pay for everyones repairs. Things fail on cars. Nissan needs to recall this and restore the trust in Nissan cars. I have been a customer for about 30 years and there is no loyalty with customers with Nissan as I can see. It was a $1092 repair for the defective part that Nissan used. I am thankful that I was not on vacation or in another area. This needs to be a recall because it is very unsafe and can happen with no warning.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kansas City, MO, USA