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.
Car will not start due to steering wheel lock malfunction. Called my local Nissan dealership who advised me of the problem which they are aware of. However, the extended warranty to cover this issue expired March of 2015. So that leaves the customer with an out of pocket expense of 900-1100 dollars. Nissan has not issued any recall. I'm stuck paying for a car that doesn't start and forced to shell out over a $1000 for a problem that is the manfacturer's fault. This is highway robbery. A complete ripoff to Nissan's customers. This company is a joke. I will never ever purchase another Nissan again. And I strongly recommend that one else does.
The steering wheel lock is a defective product that Nissan has known about in their 2009 models. The repair is going to cost me, and anyone that comes this issues, and that out of warranty $1100. This repair isn't guaranteed either. Called Consumer Affairs only to be told no. This part you need is only available at a Nissan dealership, and the part itself cost $900. For Nissan to not stand by their cars is a shame.
Steering lock control unit left me stranded. Parked my car the night prior as usual and was unable to restart my car the next morning leaving me without a way to get my kids to school. After reading up on this issue I have found complaint after complaint. Not a happy customer.
The steering column lock module broke. The car would not start or drive. I had driven it to a home. Stopped the vehicle, turned it off. When I got back in, it did not work at all. The car would not recognize my intelligent key. Pushing the start button did nothing. It did not even light up.
I bought this vehicle new and it now has 49,000 miles on it. In the last two weeks, the steering wheel has locked 3X and I have been unable to start my car. I have been able to get it started by continuously stepping on the brake and shimmy the wheel. I'm a 65 year old female and it takes minimally 5 minutes to complete this task in a vehicle overheated by the soaring summer temps. This us unhealthy and a safety issue and it should be addressed.
- Paramus, NJ, USA
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From the time I purchased the vehicle in 12/2015, I've had nothing but major problems with my steering. It yanks me all over the road and I have to fight the steering to keep from hitting other cars next to me. It's a nightmare every time I have to drive it and it's had 3 blowouts on the right front tire. My mechanic can;T seem to find the problem with it. He suggested putting 4 brand new tires on the car to see it it helps. It did not help one bit, when the roads are wet it's like driving on glass, I'm so afraid this car is going to kill me. Also, I can't keep buying a new tire for the front right every couple of months. Something is definitely wrong with this car, is there anybody out there that can help me before this car kills me and possibly someone else.
My power steering suddenly failed at 80 mph on the highway. I did not recieve any warning of an issue. It just stopped working.I almost hit an eighteen wheeler!!
The electronic steering column malfunctioned causing my car to not start. With the push button ignition as long as I have the key and step on the brake the car should start. The electronic steering column failed so even with the key it would not start. To make a long story short the car was unable to recognize my key which it should do automatically when I get close enough to the car. Since the car was unable to do this it pretty much went into lock down mode as if someone was trying to steal the car. My car should never treat me as someone trying to steal it especially if I have the key. As a result I had to spend over $1,300 to fix it and the worst part is that no one can tell me exactly what caused it so even though I spent all that money to fix it, it could happen again for no reason and no on can tell me why. And it not like there is any warning that it is going to happen. I drove the car earlier in the day with no problem. Then my fiance tried to start the car while it was parked in her driveway and the car simply would not start. Thank goodness she was at home where it was easily able to be towed, but if she was hours away from home in the middle of no where and this happened it would've been a much worse situation. I would just like to see that what happened to me doesn't happen to anyone else.
In September 2015 I purchased a one owner certified pre-owned 2010 Maxima with all service records up to date with extended warranty; thinking I was as safe as I could be. Just 5 short months later on February 8, 2016 after work, at dusk my 2010 Maxima with only 82,700 miles failed to start. The brake pedal was extremely hard and nothing happened when I pushed the start button. This poses an extreme safety hazard, as I work in the field in crime stricken areas; hence buying a cpo vehicle and purchasing an extended warranty. There was no warning whatsoever that this was about to happen. I had to wait about 45 minutes, in the dark on the West side of san antonio, Texas for a tow truck to have my car towed to the nearest Nissan dealership. Being that it was after 6pm, the dealer would not be able to diagnose until the following morning. Dealership called the next day to inform me that the problem was the steering lock assembly, which is not covered by the extended warranty and will cost me $925+tax!!! the car was operating just fine; no reason to think I was at risk of being stranded. According to online research, hundreds of people have experienced this issue and been stranded with their children and/or in horrible whether conditions, yet no recall. 2009 Nissan models were recalled for the same faulty part. Since the same part continued to be used on 2010 models, why was this recall not extended for 2010 models? Nissan should be held accountable for this expensive faulty part before something horrible happens to someone.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.
I double parked my 2010 Maxima to run into a store to buy a newspaper. When I returned a minute later to the car, it would not start - the steering wheel was locked. I was stranded on a very busy avenue with a lot of traffic. After reading all the complaints about the same problem on the 2010 Maxima, I am shocked that Nissan has not recalled this car to repair the issue. I had to wait 4 hours in the freezing cold before a tow truck arrived. The driver took me to the bay ridge Nissan dealership where it was repaired at a cost of $1,056. I also missed a day's work due to this problem. This is definitely a vehicle that should be recalled for this dangerous situation.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. While parked, the vehicle would not start after repeated attempts. The contact stated that there was a key with a lock warning symbol illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Unexpectedly the 2010 Nissan Maxima wouldn't start. I then check this website, and find a ton of complaints about the same issue! the electronic steering lock control! I don't understand how Nissan isn't held responsible for this faulty part. I paid almost $40,000 for a car that won't start. This can happen without any warning. My issue occured with my 4 month old son in the vehicle while everyone else I knew was at work. This is completely unacceptable! this same part number was recalled in previous years for the Maxima! the vehicle was stationary after stopping at the bank to make a deposit. Will someone please hold Nissan responsible for this ongoing issue!
Unexpectedly, after driving one kid to school this morning, vehicle (stationary) would not start to drive my other kid to middle school. The electronic steering column lock (escl) unit that locks the steering wheel when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off to help prevent theft prevents the vehicle from recognizing my key (fob), no regular key is issued, just button start. In my vehicle the escl may malfunction after the vehicle is locked and could prevent the engine from starting. Still waiting to hear the dreadful call from the dealer (have to be towed and I am not even done making payments for my 2010 Maxima) to see what the damage will be or if covered under an extended warranty. Not because the vehicle is in park, means it is not a safety issue. If you are stranded with a non reliable car, it is a safety issue, it can be in the middle of the mountains or the middle of a desert, no way to start a car if no mechanic key is issued and the only option, the fob, is not recognized by your own car.
Steering wheel lock system works with fab turning on vehicle disengaged and the wiring was determined to be the culprit and without the repair of $950 the car will not turn on. The vehicle was running just fine 1 hour prior to locking me out and causing many of hours with aaa diagnostics, then towing to 2 separate locations and I asked the dealer if this is a routine issue it seems extreme and a manufacturing defect that could have caused serious injury or death resulting if it happened when on the road and not in my garage to quote their response was no it wouldn't of done it while driving but it could of deserted you in a location other than your home causing you even further inconvenience. The vehicle is only 5 years old, I maintain it by operators manual, I cannot explain how upsetting it is to have a vehicle with the "auto theft" selling point be a faulty manufacturing of the ability for owners to start their vehicle. The random stop working is very concerning because the steering wheel cannot move. Its definitely a vehicle that should be recalled for this situation.
I drove to a friends was out of the vehicle about one hour.the vehicle was parked still. I returned to the vehicle and it wouldn't start. I call roadside assistance and got a tow to Nissan dealer. I was told I had to pay $115 diagnostic fee. Then they told me that it was my steering lock unit and it would cost me $1109.09.
It is shame!Nissan need to recall their max 2010 today it is cost me 1073.40$ my car 54,053 mileage, I went to work whit my car and off to day my friend pick me up because I am unable to turn car on lock steering lock my car.next day tow truck pick up the car.plus years a go suspension and wheels give me problems to.I am not going to buy a Nissan aging they're losing customers.
I went to start my vehicle and an orange light that read "key" popped up on the dashboard. On my ignition button the "lock" word was luminated. My vehicle would not start, nor turn on electrical systems. I was stranded from picking up my daughter, which caused chaos and unnecessary obstacles that could have been a safety issue. My vehicle was in the off position, parked after only 2 hours after last use. Schools can call child protective services if you do not pick up your kid by a certain time. That proves that if I didn't find a way to get my daughter picked up in a timely manner she would've been in danger. Thank god I was in front of my home when this happened because I could've been in a hostile neighborhood, in the cold, with no heat. The piece in question that was the problem... quoted by Nissan is the "steering lock." This piece has been recalled by Nissan in the earlier models, but apparently not for my vehicle. (which is the year after the one that is recalled) apparently they didn't fix this issue. What if I was someone who needed to be home to take medicine at a certain time, or I didn't have a phone to tell the school where my daughter is waiting for me the issue, or my wife was in labor? this piece is an unnecessary hazard and needs to be fixed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Freehold, NJ, USA