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 Altimas, 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)

Looks like my steering column switch went out. Kids were driving it downtown Minneapolis at 11pm when they went to start it nothing because it was parked on the street cops made me call a tow truck which costed $151.24.. After researching issues and doing things that others tried i tapped on the switch and it started up but went out again... No warranty and looks like about $500 to buy the part and more to have someone do the work. If Nissan knows of this issue why are they not doing a recall as from what i have read thousands of others have this same issue.... Sure wish I found this out before i bought it. I would not bought if i had know about this. Nissan should recall and fix this known issue for free.

First ESCL failure occurred 12/2014. Replaced by Nissan with 'good' part. 'Good' (defective) part just failed again on 11/5/2017. Replacement at discounted cost by personal mechanic was $742. Nissan only warrants the part for 1 year. I've filed a complaint with Nissan Assist for reimbursement, but am not hopeful given what I am reading online. I'm hoping others have had their replacement part fail and that a class action lawsuit may occur. We aren't talking about a fuse blowing - this is typically about $1000 to fix, and this part should not be failing. Nissan's replacement part is obviously still flawed if it failed at under 3 years later. Very unhappy.

I just want to let everyone know about this problem and how I repaired it without getting ripped off by Nissan. My wife got in her 2009 Nissan Altima to push button start - nothing happened = after doing internet research - found out the car Electronic Steering lock for push button - a thief deterrent was bad /broke /not working. The Nissan dealership wanted $700 for the little metal electronic box located beneath the steering wheel column - held on by 2 bolts and the electrical wiring harness and they wanted another $600 to program it, $1300 total and that does not include the TOW charge . I went on Ebay or Amazon - look on Both found the exact ESL in plastic bubble wrap in the official Nissan box for $350 - Hesitant to do so because it was an Electronic part - I ordered thru my Pay Pal account in case something was wrong - once it came in the mail about 4 days later = uninstalled existing ESL - 2 Bolts and 1 wiring harness = installed the new ESL - 2 Bolts and 1 wiring harness = pushed the start button - everything lit up on the dashboard - got in the car - put foot on brake - car fired right up - Did not program anything - Have been told because it was a 2009 I did not have to program - Do you think the Nissan Dealership in Goldsboro NC told me that????? NO Would have been an EASY $600 for them plus the $700 part that I got for $350. If you have this issue - HOPE THIS WILL HELP SAVE YOU SOME MONEY

I also own a NISSAN PATHFINDER AND A NISSAN 350Z (3) Nissan vehicles - My ideas of my future car purchases are changing when I see the type of service people are getting from Nissan.

This just happened to me on 10/14/17. After checking the manual and trying the usual things like everyone else has stated, I got a tow to Larry Miller Nissan in Highlands Ranch...they said they were aware of a recall for this issue. They asked if I got a recall notice, which I had not. I am not sure why others have had to pay such high repair costs, as mine was taken care for free :-( The only cost was the $95 tow (which my insurance should reimburse) and several hours at the dealer, not knowing exactly what the repairs might be.....luckily I came out OK.

After the first long trip (100 miles long), my 2009 Altima refused to turn on, showing the key light on the dashboard and locking the steering wheel. This is the same problem as all the complaints related to the steering wheel lock of this vehicle.

A couple of months ago I received a letter from Nissan Co. offering to replace the mechanical steering lock for an electronic one. I have happily accepted because everyone on the web was saying that's the problem, but after the change, the problem remains the same. I must add that there were times when the dashboard key light went on while driving, and the front lights began to flash, the A/C stopped, and the windshield wipers acted erratically (that was a very dangerous rainy night).

I went to California's Gardena Nissan dealership, and they said it was a battery cable problem that needed cleaning, changing the brake switch (even when never before the car's system failed when the brake was pressed) and replacing the battery. The point is that they did that and charged me over $ 500, but the problem is unresolved. Sometimes I press the button to start and the car does not start, but the key light on the dash is lit (it should be noted the FOB battery has been replaced several times and is well charged; therefore, that is NOT the problem), electric radiator fans and front lights start to go on and off, the power button shows "ON" but the engine is off, and no matter how hard I press it I cannot change the button to the "LOCK" position again.

The only solution I found is to disconnect the battery and reconnect it, wait several hours and then try again. Sometimes starts to work normal, sometimes not. When I returned to the dealership, they just said that it was now necessary to replace the cable that is connected to the brake switch (the same switch they already changed) and recommended me to eliminate the alarm because this "could" be an interference for the car's electrical system, all this would have another additional cost of more than $ 300. I refused to let them keep stealing my money.

Obviously, they don't know how to solve this problem, and they want to keep playing riddles with my car, while I'm paying for that. I had the alarm removed by the person who installed it, but The problem is still there. After this experience, I cannot believe otherwise than Gardena Nissan (and maybe all dealerships) are scoundrels, and probably I need some legal help to solve this.

I own a 2009 Nissan Altima with 95000. I drove my car home from the local water park, we ate dinner, and then I got back into my car to go to the store and nothing. Key fob in, foot on brake which was hard to push, and pushed the ignition start button and nothing happened. Keyless entry worked for unlocking and locking doors but not to start the dang thing. Had my car towed this morning to the local Nissan dealership and by the looks of all of the other posts on here it is going to cost me a pretty penny. I do not understand with all the problems that have occurred with this why Nissan doesn't think to have a recall on this. It is completely asinine to think that this type of undependability is ok when you purchase a vehicle. We are supposed to be going out of town this weekend, I hope my car is fixed and that this problem is under warranty. I am so glad that this did not happen 300 miles away from home. Wake up Nissan and get a recall going on for this problem, so it doesn't keep happening to people.

The car didn't start all of a sudden and did some workarounds (tapping the bottom of the steerring lock box) seen in a youtube video to start the vehicle. Later the dealers told that it is known problem of Nissan Altima 2009 model and they asked me about 1000$ to fix it. But I found that this is actually known to Nissan and they have extended the warranty to 6 years (http://web.archive.org/web/20150219214832/http://www.nissanassist.com/web/ESCL_Warranty_Extension/ProgramDetails.php?menu=61), Bad that, I am not eligible for it since warranty expired, I am hoping if Nissan can extend the warranty again.

My 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START ON JUNE 18, 2016. I HAVE 95,000 MILES. I REALIZE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG WITH A CAR HAVING THAT MANY MILES. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR RECALLS AND EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA AND FOUND THE STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE IN 2009 ALTIMAS AND IS ONLY COVERED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 3 YEARS.

I WOULD SAY A DEFECTIVE PART IS "DEFECTIVE" AND SHOULD BE COVERED WHEN IT BREAKS,

NOT ONLY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 3 YEARS. IT IS EXTREMELY UNFAIR FOR THE NISSAN TO ONLY COVER A "DEFECTIVE" PART FOR ONLY 6 YEARS. I HAD IT TOWED TO GLENDALE HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS NISSAN DEALER AND HAD TO SPEND 1,100.00 FOR A DEFECTIVE PART.

VERY UNFAIR. I WILL NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND ANOTHER NISSAN.

I have only been financing my 2009 Nissan Altima for 2 months. Now on 6/11/16 I drove to the store, came home a few hours later, went to go in my car and it wouldn't start. The dealer I got the car from was telling me it was that my fob key needed to be reprogrammed to my car. So on Monday 6/13/16 I had my car towed to a Nissan dealer just to find out that it was the power steering box under the steering wheel. I called the car dealer to tell them what I was told and of course I get their lying to me a bunch of bs lies. The Nissan dealer is telling me its a 700$ part I don't have that kind of money to pay for something that was recalled last year and expired. I have an extended warranty and as far as I know it doesn't cover the problem. I wont know more about this issue until tomorrow when the Nissan dealership reopens. I missed days of work now have to find ways this week until I know whats going to happen with my car. This is a huge inconvenience for me cause of no transportation back and forth to work, no money to pay if I have to pay, and whatever the cost of labor will be the money I put into this car in the past month has been ridiculous. Paying a warranty that doesn't cover sh*t, the dealer who is no help at all wants to yell and argue says that there's nothing they can do. But yet if u miss a payment they want to repo your car. When making a complaint to the bank where I pay my loan the dealer wants to threaten me. This is unfair that I have to go through this in the 2 months of owning this car

Car in good condition, only time this problem as occurred. Car would not start, battery was fine, read online about the known issue concerning the 2009 Altima steering lock mechanism that for some reason Nissan did not recall, which they clearly should have. Now I am out $1100 to replace a part that should have been replaced for free through a recall. I will be contacting Nissan directly as well. I have owned Nissan cars for over twenty years, if they do not pay for what is their issue I will never buy a Nissan again.

I went into Starbucks for a few minutes and when I came back to the car (2009 Altima) it wouldn't start and the steering wheel was locked. There was also a red 'key' indicator displayed in the instrument panel. I also tried manually inserting the key fob but that did not help either. So I had the car towed to Premier Nissan in San Jose. The service advisor pulled up my VIN on his computer system but did not see the ECSL replacement recall/replacement campaign for my car. I now will have to pay for the cost of this repair which is due to Nissan's poor build quality. I will never again buy a Nissan vehicle. I've reached out to Nissan consumer affairs about this. Not sure why my VIN is not part of the replacement campaign.

Update from Jul 30, 2017: The dealership today confirmed that this is the ESCL problem. I had to pay for the repair myself since for some reason my VIN does not show up as part of the replacement campaign in their computer system. I've submitted a reimbursement request with Nissan.

The car would not crank. It had to be towed. The electronic steering lock had gone out. The repair shop replaced the steering column and the car would crank. However, the rear wheels would not turn. The vehicle was towed to a Nissan dealership and the repair shop was told that the steering column caused the security system to think that the car was being tampered with so it locked the brakes. The dealership told the repair shop what needed to be done to fix the problem. The car had to be towed back to the repair shop, fixed, then towed again to the dealership for electronic programming. Nissan instituted a recall on the steering column and said they would pay for repairs if they had already been done. The repair cost $1370.65.

When Nissan contacted the repair shop after receiving my claim, they obviously did not remember the work they did. It had been 16 months prior. They told Nissan that the brake problem occurred later. The car could not be driven until the brakes were repaired from the security system lockdown caused by the steering column. How could I drive a vehicle with back wheels that would not turn? I did not drive a vehicle with non-turning wheels away from the repair shop and the bring it back later for the brakes to be unlocked. Nissan denies that the steering wheel lock could cause this problem. They deny that there has ever been a problem or recall regarding Nissan brakes.

If they are going to "make things right and whole" they should pay for the entire repair since everything was caused by the steering wheel column lock that they are recognizing. Just because a mechanic does not recall everything regarding a car 16 months earlier does not mean it did not happen. What are the chances of the steering column lock, brake lock, and electronic security system all going out, individually, at the same time. Nissan says they will reimburse between $400 and $500 dollars and will let me know the exact amount in a week.

Do not buy a Nissan. They do not stand behind their vehicles. Also, if they had taken the initiative to make the recall sooner, it could have been fixed before it messed up other systems.

MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT START AND I NOTICED THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS ON. I LUCKILY PARKED ON A CITY STREET, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE MY CAR. IT WAS AT NIGHT AND I WAS BY MYSELF. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A FRIEND TO PICK ME UP AND LEAVE MY CAR OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO GET A RIDE BACK TO MY CAR, I STOPPED AND PICKED UP A REPLACEMENT BATTERY, THINKING IT MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEY. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO BRING MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP.

NISSAN SAID THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT ENDED UP COSTING ME $942! I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY IT, WHICH WAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY. DURING THE TIME I WAS TRYING TO LOOK FOR REASONS MY CAR JUST STOPPED STARTING, I READ THAT NISSAN HAD OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIES, OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN THE CAR TO HAVE THE PART REPAIRED. THIS WAS A VERY UNCALLED FOR EXPERIENCE, NISSAN SHOULD'VE LET THEIR CAR OWNERS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE! I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED!

Unfortunately, this incident happened to me on Xmas Eve while dropping off Xmas present to my family and once I returned to my car, the steering wheel would not move. I called the dealer and the service department had left early due to the holiday. I made arrangements for the tow truck to pick me up on Xmas morning at 8:00am and tow me home and even though I had insurance to tow, the cost was over my limit. This was not a good Xmas for me, especially with the cost of repairs being $954.00 and the extra $100.00 for the tow truck.