Car won't start, steering wheel locks up, brake would press down. Found out that Nissan is well aware of this problem since they extended the warranty from 3yrs to 6yrs with unlimited miles. So why restrict this to 6yrs?

WHAT DOES IT TAKE A CAR MANUFACTURER TO FIGURE OUT THAT THIS IS BAD MARKETING?

OWNED FOUR NISSAN AND IF THIS THE WAY NISSAN TREATS THEIR REPEAT CUSTOMERS THEN WE WILL MAKE SURE EVERYONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS MADE AWARE OF THIS.

NISSAN IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIX AND WARRANTY YOUR CAR, THAT YOU KNOW IS A PROBLEM SINCE THE PROBLEM ONLY RELATES TO 2009 ALTIMA, BAD ON YOU.

A sensor that costs Nissan pennies on the dollars will end up costing the consumer over $800 dollars.

YOU WILL LOSE THIS CUSTOMER AND ANY FUTURE BUSINESS FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

GREAT WAY TO INCREASE YOUR SALES NEGATIVELY - SCREW THE CUSTOMER WHO FILLS YOUR COFFERS.

On my way to work, 5:30am, stopped for gas and it never started. Search for help on Internet with cell phone. Found the trouble, anti-thief device on steering. None of the suggestions worked. Called in late to work, called wrecker to tow to nearest Nissan dealer. After two days dealer called, explained issue (anti-theft device on steering column). Extended warranty expired a few days ago. They can fix for $895.

I could not afford that so I disassembled the unit in their parking lot after work one day. Took it home and did some research on it. I broke it apart, jumped out the circuit board, reinstalled it, then removed the fuse out under the hood for it. I also ran a hot wire to a switch under the dash and back to starter solenoid wire. Then drove it home. Still driving today. This is my second Altima, I traded in my 2004 for this 2009. I will never own another Nissan vehicle. My family have all got rid of theirs because of this also, (6 children). Up to this point I had recommended Nissan, now I warn people to avoid Nissan.

Had the same issue of lights, radio, door locks working but car would not start. Drove to work, ran errands at lunch, no problems whatsoever. 2 hours later, got into car, AC blows...lights and radio come on, but car would not crank!! The shoe on brake picture is showing on my dash along with the car and key symbol. Had battery checked...no battery problem. Changed battery in key fob....car still won't crank. My brake light will not illuminate once the pedal is pressed.

Like the other complaints, I am thinking either ignition switch lock problem or brake switch problem...either way the car will not start without them because it has push button start. I called Nissan America Hotline 1-800-647-7261 with Vin # handy. Although there is no recall, the CSR stated that if the vehicle is diagnosed with the ignition switch failure that Nissan will replace it for free under the ESCL extended warranty program.

Car is getting towed to dealer as we speak! Will update as soon as I have a diagnosis. I can say that I was a Honda fan who always admired Nissan vehicles but now after this scary ordeal...I am rethinking my line of vehicles. I just hope no one else has to go thru the fear of being stranded and engine won't start.

Haven't had the car two good weeks took my family out to the park when we were about to leave, car wouldn't start, got stranded with my family until 12:00 midnight. Wife had to walk my two sons and 3 year old granddaughter 3.5 miles home and then she had to walk 3.5 miles back to bring the phone back so we can call a tow truck. That was on 10/2/2014 and my son has asthma and had an attack because we sat so long in the car because the windows wouldn't roll up. Finally, once wife gets back after being scared to walk back by herself because we don't live in a safe neighborhood, tow truck arrives about one and a half hours later.

I have been dealing with this electrical problem for some time now. I thought i needed a new battery so I purchased one from a auto parts store not from Nissan. I made contact with the dealership I purchased the car from and they told me that I need to go to that store to address the battery issue. It cant be a battery issue because all interior lights and stereo work. I turned the stereo off and right away the car started. I had a passenger and the passenger seat belt light stays on after the passenger is out. The passenger air bag light sometimes stays on, then when I hit my brakes it just goes off. there is definitely an issue with this vehicle but I am getting no help from Nissan at all.

I am very upset. I turned off my car and turned it back on and it wouldn't turn on. I thought It was the battery and I got a new one and it still didn't work. Went online to do research and my car had all the symptoms of the steering wheel lock failure. What the hellllllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This should be on recall there are many people that have had the same problem....Bullshit I will NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On August 29 my 2009 Nissan Altima failed to start after leaving Dr. office. Had to call someone for help. TRY jumping car off; got new battery for fob. Still will not start.

CHECK internet for similar problems; seems to be other people with same problem. FURTHER INVESTIGATING shows steering wheel mechanism problem. This is very costly repair. Should be paid for by Nissan Company. SEEMS THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND CHANGED ON 2010 MODELS.

My husband and I are both on disability, we have fixed income, we cannot afford to have car fixed. WITH so many complaints why have you not done a recall? Also this problem can happen while driving. Does it take a bad accident or death to get your attention? Please do a recall.

This happened on a Saturday morning. I was at a restaurant and when I went to get in the car to go home, it would not start. Lights came on, locks worked, and but it would not start. Got a ride home and called the local Nissan dealership, but they did not answer the phone. After consulting several relatives and an off-duty service technician from another dealership (friend), he said that my key fob was probably not being recognized by the car and that it would have to be reconfigured by a locksmith. Found a locksmith that would come to the car, and after two trips to the car and calling tech support at Nissan he told me that it was the steering lock mechanism. He also said he thought there was a recall on that part. He got the part #48700-9N00B and replaced it. Costs $855.64. Nissan refuses to help at all with the cost. I have called, talked, and e-mailed them to no avail.

Add me to the list. The Altima is perfectly fine in every way except that the car won't start when you press the start button. It has a new car battery, new battery in the key fob, all electronics function except that it won't start. This clearly merits a recall! The impact is that the car cannot be driven, period, without spending an average of $1,000 on replacing the defective part.

As others have noted, Nissan identified its own problem and made changes in more recent models. So why hasn't this been the subject of a recall?

Key/security alert or brake light is on, brakes freeze up and the car won't start. This is the second time I've had this issue. The first was 2 1/2 yes ago when the car had 32,000 miles. I replaced the battery and it's worked fairly well the last couple of years but occasionally needs a jump to start it. The sunroof, windows and radio work but the thing just won't start. It takes a jump and then runs fine until you turn off the engine. That's why I thought something was just sucking the life out of the battery.

My son read some fixes on this website so banged on the steering column and down by the brakes then unhooked the new replacement battery (installed a week ago) hooked it back up and it now starts again.

I'm going to call the numbers I saw listed here, not that I think Nissan will do anything but the complaint needs to go on file.

I was getting in my car like any other day headed to work. I pushed the start button and nothing happened. I got very anxious because I didn't need to be late to work. I freaked the f*ck out to be honest!! I noticed the key light on so I thought at first it was the battery dead in my key fob. My next thought was to call the Nissan dealership for advice. How dumb to the fact were they, lol. He told me they have had many complaints about that same problem that I would have to have my car towed in and repaired.

I thought great, I bought this car so I would have a dependable ride back and forth from work. Not to mention I saved for almost 2 years to get it. I love my car but, now every time I get out I have to make sure the steering wheel is straight to prevent it from happening again. There should definitely be a recall on this problem. What if someone was trying to carjack you and you couldn't get away. I have told my family about this problem on my car so if ever something bad happens to me they know who to blame if it had something to do with the steering lock system.

You can add me to the list as well. Went out to local convenience store. Came out, car would not start. Got my wife to bring me the second key fob. I replaced batteries in both key fobs (not necessary). I was able to lock and unlock the door locks and trunk but that was it. Little "Key" symbol was lit on dashboard. Ignition switch would not move from lock to "On" position. Could not jump start car either. Car was totally immobilized. I left it parked on borough street all night. Next day had it towed to Nissan Dealer where it sat all night since it was a Sunday. Through the help of this website and NissanAssist, I determined that the problem was the Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL). The next day, they replaced the entire Lock Module & Ignition Switch Assy in 2 hours. They didn't charge me anything at all since Nissan has given a Warranty extension for this problem. It's a very annoying problem and Nissan should have had a general recall for 2009 Altimas.

It could leave you stranded when you least expected maybe in a city location or somewhere isolated. Fortunately, for me it was in my own town.

Woke up Friday for my daily work commute, low and behold car would not start. It's as if intelligent key was rendered useless. Towed vehicle to local shop and waited a day for a diagnostic. While conducting independent research I found out that there is an extended warranty to all 2009 Nissan Altima's with Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) issue. And from what I've read on this website this applies to 99.99% of people experiencing this issue.

Nissan will extend its new vehicle limited warranty coverage for the affected part numbers from its original duration of 36 months/ 36,000 miles to 72 months/unlimited miles. All other warranty terms, conditions and limitations otherwise remain unchanged and continue to apply.

Contact Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1-855-619-8190 and confirm your VIN to see if your vehicle is eligible.

Good luck and hope this helps!

I was at a store and in the middle of a severe rain storm.Came out and my car would not start. i called the dealership and they told me it was the steering column box. It was under an extended warranty recall which means they knew this could happen but they wanted to wait for you to be stranded to fix it. They towed me and fixed it free of charge but left me without a car for four days. Nissan would not give me a loaner for work.They made their problem my problem. How dare they know about the issue and not take care of their customer. They did not care about your aggravation. Until 2008 when the economy went bust I always drove a Lexus and let me tell you Nissan should take some customer care lessons from Lexus. Lexus would of had a car in my driveway within a few hrs. Very dissatisfied with Nissan.Very,very poor service/customer care.

I STOPPED TO GET GAS AND GOT BACK IN MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I CALLED A LOCAL AUTO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDNT REPAIR IT, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A NISSAN DEALER. WE FINALLY GOT IT TO A DEALER ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL. IT WAS NO COST TO ME FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE ITS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD 5 MORE CARS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED IF IT HAD BROKE WHILE DRIVING I COULD LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR AND CRASHED.