CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009-2010 Maxima has an expensive problem where the steering lock prevents the car from starting, & costs upwards of $1,000 to fix!
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.
I had driven my car to church, everything was fine. After chruch, I got in my car and it wouldn't start. Nothing would work. The keyless remote would unlock the doors but when pushing the start button nothing happened. The auxiliary didn't even work. I had to have the car towed to a mechanic. After running diagnostics on the car, I was told the car had to go to the Nissan dealership due to Nissan doesn't release all coding. Another tow bill to have the car taken to local Nissan dealership. Diagnostics ran on the car and it was the "electronic steerling wheel lock". this is part of the security/anti-theft mechanism that is located in the steering column. It had to be replaced at owner's expense. This is known defect in 2009-2010 Nissan Altima, Maxima and 370Z. The owners have no warning before this happens. You are total stranded at that spot. After googling this problem, I have found multiple complaints and that Nissan is not accepting responsibility. This part is now been "redesigned" so that this isn't happening.
Came out of the store and the car would not start. Got the car tow to the Nissan dealer on Monday November 25th 2014. The dealer said it was a internal short in the steering lock that cost me $950 to repair.
I was at work, went to get into my car and couldn't start it up. I noticed the "lock" was on and the key light. I called my husband and he didn't know what to do. My husband came and picked me up and fortunately where I bought my car is right around the corner from my job. We went into ganley Nissan in mayfield heights, oh and they told me to try the key port. I placed my key into the key port, still nothing. I spoke with the service people at ganley and they told me that they will check my extended warranty, but this was only covered on Altima's last year and not Maxima's. my question is why not! this is fraud as far I am concerned. How can these big industries get away with this nonsense, selling us products that does not last, and then we have the service industry capitalizing on this. It is not fair, and this is a big bummer on my thanksgiving/christmas holiday if I have to come out of my pocket for something that Nissan should be taking care of. They have enough complaints for Maxima as well to do a recall, or be fair and pay for these repiars. This is not right! I loved my car until yesterday!
Car parked at my employment parking lot and will not start because the steering wheel locked and key intelligent key light is on. Key does not work. This has been a problem with Nissan for years, and Nissan wants to charge me $100 for diagnostics when they already know what the problem is and how to fix it. Complaint: Vehicle won't start; Nissan's failure to recall this problem and have it corrected; failure to start with steering wheel in lock position and intelligent key does not work. The intelligent key is not that intelligent!
After getting back into my car after dinner, my car would not start. The steering wheel moves, but the brake pedal was locked. The push ignition switch would only go in the "lock" position. The "key" icon was lit up on the left side of the dash. Putting the fob key into the slot (the back up way of starting the car) also did not work. From what I read on line, many 2009-2010 Nissan models have had this problem, which has been attributed to a steering column lock mechanism that doesn't disengage. I imagine this will cost me about 700-1000$ to fix, not to mention the cost to tow the vehicle to the Nissan dealership.
- Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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The electronic steering wheel lock on the vehicle has malfunctioned and will not allow the steering wheel to lock. This ultimately prevents the car from starting do to the push to start feature. Nissan released a warranty extension for the 2009 model Maxima which is identical to 2010 model that I have, but the replacement part for my vehicle is not covered under the warranty.please investigate this issue because there are almost 100 similar complaints listed on NHTSA website.
Our 2010 Nissan Maxima would not start. This presented an unsafe situation in which my wife was virtually stranded late in the afternoon with inclement weather. The ignition switch would not start the car when depressed and the steering wheel was locked. We attempted to use two separate key fobs for our car but neither worked. We had our car towed to the Nissan dealership and they stated that it had a defective steering lock and therefore would not start. The parts needed and part numbers are shown below: ** steering lock (some referenced parts sources online also refer to it as an ignition lock assembly) (1 ea) part #: 48700-9N00B ** lock bolt/screw (4 ea) part # 48703-06F0A we were quoted an astronomical price of $1,650 dollars to replace the steering lock. It just seems outrageous and unbelievable! I read several complaints about the same issue online for owners of this same type of Nissan vehicle. Many had the same problem arise at roughly the same recorded mileage. This appears to be a mechanical defect that Nissan has been aware of but has done nothing to remedy the problem. I know of absolutely no recalls for this problem. I believe that this problem constitutes an inherent mechanical defect in the design and construction of the steering and ignition system which presents a hazard for owners/operators, an unrealistic cost for an issue that actually should not occur, and leaves owners/operators stranded and because the system won't operate and turn on the vehicle. I see it as a major safety issue which should be examined closely for an immediate recall. I ask that you please take action with Nissan to remedy this issue as quickly as possible. Thank you.
The anti theft steering wheel lock switch failed. The car will not start. Car was towed to a Nissan dealer for repair. Nissan has extended the warranty for the same defect in model year 2009 Maximas and Altima. But they say the problem does not exist in 2010 models. Obviously it does.
The electronic steering wheel lock on the vehicle has malfunctioned and will not allow the steering wheel to lock. This ultimately prevents the car from starting do to the push to start feature. Nissan released a warranty extension for the 2009 model Maxima which is identical to 2010 model that I have, but the replacement part for my vehicle is not covered under the warranty. The new part will cost me $965 out of pocket. Apparently this is a known problem with Nissan Maxima vehicles. Please investigate this issue because there are almost 100 similar complaints listed on NHTSA website.
I drove my 2010 Nissan max to church...the vehicle was working perfectly and we had just recently had it serviced. When I got in vehicle to leave church the vehicle would not start. The key fob would lock and unlock the door but nothing else would come on. There was a light on the dash showing a key but nothing else worked. I had the vehicle towed to the Nissan dealership the next day and was informed the electrical steering column lock switch was not working and needed to be replaced. Repair would cost $1100. I was informed no recalls for 2010 but 2009 Altima and Maxima had same issues and recall was done for that year only. I am so upset and disappointed with Nissan especially after reading all the other complaints as well. We have always owned Nissan but I am totally reconsidering my next vehicle purchase.
The car after being driven to work and parked in garage stopped working. After leaving the car for a few hours, while at work, I realized the car wouldn't start and like others the car lock sign was on. Reading further about it, it is a very common problem with Nissan's electrical steering control lock and has been reported by many others. After towing the car, the mechanic mentioned the same but Nissan doesn't cover this model. It covers 2009 Maxima and Altima, even some other models but not this one. It is costing me over 1200 dollars for the repair, that include 650 dollars for the part, 400 dollars for labor as this is extensive, and then taxes and change. Nissan needs to reimburse its customers for such faulty parts.
My car wouldn't start, so I called aaa and they tested the battery and determined the battery was not the issue. No sound, no power and the key indicator light was on, clearly not recognizing my key fob. I got a ride home 30 miles away and returned with my alternate key fob thinking it could be a key fob battery issue. The alternate key fob also did not work. I had the car towed to the local Nissan dealer and they said it was a problem with the steering wheel lock, not releasing, and the replacement part is $895 and not in stock. Many of the Nissan forums I looked up on line also experience this problem, too. Hello is anyone listening or taking note" shouldn't this many complaints equate to a parts recall?"
No activation of the ignition system. After following all trouble shooting advice in the car's manual, I towed the car to dealer where they flagged an issue with the steering lock control unit (part# 487009N00B) and it needed to be replaced. This is all part of the vehicle anti-theft immobilizer system. The cost to replace this unit was $1041.17. I feel this is a serious safety flaw in the 2010 Nissan Maxima. This was a fully functioning car (except for anti-theft circuit glitch) that left me stranded in a situation where my car could have been towed by the city. Nissan promotes how safe, reliable and economical their cars are, but the anti-theft system can disable the vehicle leaving driver stranded with only one option, which is, to be towed to a dealer because of ant-theft system glitches. This is particularly dangerous especially to female drivers.I feel that Nissan should come up with an override code or device that will allow a driver to escape from potentially dangerous situations that were created by Nissan's vehicle immobilizer system. Especially when the car is fully functional except for an anti-theft immobilizing circuit falsely telling that the vehicle is not ready to start when it is. I believe this is a serious safety flaw in their vehicle security system.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who stated that the ignition switch would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 62,285. Updated 5/27/14
The steering wheel lock became faulty and vehicle will not start. The same part number of steering wheel lock was put into the Nissan Maxima, Nissan GT-R, and Nissan 370Z. The part was recalled in the GT-R, however it hasn't been recalled in the Maxima or 370Z. The total work for the repair is $1300. Nissan should be responsible for the costs of the repair due to a faulty steering wheel lock. Nissan recently came out with a revision to the steering wheel lock because the part was faulty.
Steering lock mechanism failure. Unable to start vehicle, not covered under warranty for 2010 model year, same part failed in 2009 model year, warranty extended for 2009 only.
There was absolutely no activation of the ignition system. After following all trouble shooting advice in the car's manual, I towed the car to dealer where they flagged an issue with the steering lock control unit (part# 487009N00B) and it needed to be replaced. This is all part of the vehicle anti-theft immobilizer system. The cost to replace this unit was $703.43. I feel this is a serious safety flaw in the 2010 Nissan Maxima. 1. this was a fully functioning car (except for anti-theft circuit glitch) that left my pregnant wife stranded in freezing temps in an empty school parking lot late in the evening. 2. Nissan promotes how safe, reliable and economical their cars are, but the anti-theft system can disable the vehicle leaving driver stranded with only one option, which is, to be towed to a dealer because of ant-theft system glitches. 3. the car, being economical, should not require such an expensive repair because of an anti-theft device circuit malfunction. 4. there are several conditions that can occur that will result in the Nissan Maxima becoming immobilized stranding drivers. I am stating only one. This is particularly dangerous especially to female drivers. 5. I feel that Nissan should come up with an override code or device that will allow a driver to escape from potentially dangerous situations that were created by Nissan's vehicle immobilizer system. Especially when the car is fully functional except for an anti-theft immobilizing circuit falsely telling that the vehicle is not ready to start when it is. I believe this is a serious safety flaw in their vehicle security system.
Arrived at work on 9 Feb 2014, car was working perfectly fine. When it was time to go home, car would not start and a red blinking light with a keylock appeared on dashboard, an attempt was also made with additional key to no success. After researching problem online, it is a well known problem with the automatic steering wheel lock mechanism where it just stops working for no apparent reason. It was recalled on all 2009 Nissan Maxima and Altima, mine is a 2010 manufactured in Sept 2009 and the part number is the same as the 2009 Nissan Maxima model. Car was towed to nearby Nissan dealer where they stated my VIN number did not show up as a potential candidate for the 2009 issue extended warranty. I paid $1272 for the repair bill where it is clearly a factory defect and have had zero luck with Nissan customer affairs. They simply denied my request stating that there is no known problem with 2010 and needed more people to come forward. I continued my quest online to search other drivers who had similar issues and have found an entire forum dedicated to this same problem with everyone having the same outcome and having to pay out of pocket expenses for a well documented issue with this model. When car was at Nissan, the option was pay $1200 to fix the issue or leave the car there, there was no other option given or provided as an alternative.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wrightsville, GA, USA