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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
111,239 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.
- Fuel system and Gauge - Smell of gas in the car, gas gurgles out of the filler tube. Concerned of driving the car with the smell of gas. - Dealer says repair it's not covered yet there's a recall bulletin on this problem (Nissan TSB NTB17-030). Say's diagnosing the problem isn't covered nor the repair. - NO - Fuel gauge reacts very slowly, won't go past halfway point. Can only fill $5 dollars of gas into the tank.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. While driving at an unknown speed, there was an abnormal noise underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to hall Nissan chesapeake (3417 western branch blvd, chesapeake, va 23321, (877) 475-0728) where it was diagnosed that the high pressure line was leaking fluid, both control arms needed to be replaced, and the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the high pressure line was not. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 145,194.
2010 Nissan Altima has an extremely dangerous safety defect that many other consumers are also experiencing, not just me. (see NHTSA id # 10899578). I have almost been rear-ended several times, sometimes with my small children in the car, because of this problem. The extremely dangerous safety defect is the car turns off completely while coming to stop, when stopped, and/or when accelerating from stop. All systems turn off including the ability to steer and stop. After turning off, the car will not immediately turn back on. Took the car to the dealer several time but the dealer was unable to diagnose the problem. The dealer replaced the transmission, since it had a recall and was under warranty, to see if it fixed the problem. It did not, as the vehicle turned off this morning, 8/14/18, when coming to a stop on a main city street. I was almost rear-ended because the car unexpectedly turned off and the brake lights do not seem to work when this happens. The car did not turn back on for several minutes. There needs to be an investigation and recall of this extremely dangerous safety defect.
The cvt transmission started shifting hard a few months ago. Then about a month ago the transmission started slipping. I exited the freeway and came to a light. Turned left and was in the middle of the intersection when the car would not go. I was nervious and pushed then pumped the gas and the car would not go. Then out of the blue it took off with out my foot on the gas. I had the transmission fluid changed. Then a few weeks latter I was driving 75 (speed limit) with cruise control on then the car started loosing power, 65,60 55. I accelerated the car and it just would not go faster. I was able to stop it with the cruise at 55. With flashers on could have been killed. Started my research and found that Nissan has extended the warranty by doubling it from 5 years/60,000 to 10 years/120,000 miles. My issue is my car is only 6 years old with 128,000 miles and Nissan has my car in their shop and will not fix it. I believe the cvt transmission needs to be recalled before someone get killed. I have very service record since the day I bought the car with 12 miles on it. The car has been well maintained.
Traveling East on I-20 in arlingtjon Texas our car began losing power and coasted to a stop. We were powerless to move and could not get off the freeway. We were hit from behind and as reported our car went airborne. The truck that hit us also hit another vehicle and flipped onto its top. In all 4 people went to hospital including my self and my wife. In researching the reason the car stopped, I found a number of other cases over several years of people online that lost power in this type vehicle. The problem seems to be a sensor for the crankshaft/camshaft that fails causing stalling. I contacted Nissan representative(case number18593816) at 615-725-7539. Told them the car had been sealed and secured awaiting their inspection to determine the problem. They refused to inspect the vehicle saying their were no recalls on it. I feel this is a dangerous situation that could have killed us and others.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Erie, PA, USA