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:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,508 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.
Car could not be started and had to be towed to a Nissan deal where they charged me $900 to fix. This is a defective part, electronic steering column lock, that Nissan knows about. They extended the warranty for this part and have it listed on the nissanassist.com website. It is specific to the 2009 Altima and maxima. They refused to help with cost in anyway because the warranty expired 2 months prior...even though they know it is a big enough issue to have the extended warranty on it. If the part is defective...why put any time frame on it. Do a recall, or fix them as it happens.
I finished work late at night during a snowstorm, only to find that my car would not start and I had to get a tow. Nissan later explained that the cause was a defective electronic steering column lock (escl) unit. Because this malfunction occurred a few months after the 6 year extended warranty, in addition to waiting hours for a tow truck in a snowstorm, I was then forced to pay $1000 to fix Nissan's defective part.
My car will not start. It is a push to start system and the nothing happens when I attempt to start my car. Turns out that I have a defective steer lock switch and this is a very common issue in the 2009 Nissan Altima. This is a safety concern and should be recalled.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while in park, the vehicle failed to start. In addition, the security indicator warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.
- Collins, MS, USA
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Engine with push button start would not turn over after 3hr stop and a long drive previous to stop. Battery was totally dead, but after repeated attempts to jump start it did turn over. There was no unusual draw on battery during stop either. Stopped at Nissan dealer to check the starting system and everything checked out normal. Service tech recalled this problem with my particular year and model, and said a brake switch and sub harness assembly should be replaced, but at $800+ cost I declined offer. Purchased a new battery later and as of this date I have not had a problem, but every time I start it I cross my fingers.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. A warning light illuminated on the instrument panel when the contact attempted to restart the vehicle. The dealer could not locate a failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
Car will not start and battery is fine. Appears to be a known defect with 2009-2010 Altima related to the steering lock sensor and happens just out of warranty. Apparently because it is not deemed a "safety issue" the NHTSA is not mandating a recall. However, this is a safety issue as my dog and niece were locked in the car and we could not open it because this defect shut down the entire electronic system. Make Nissan replace this defective part before someone is injured or killed.
Steering column locked and has to be replaced. Car will not turn on at all. Had to get it towed to dealership where they are trying to slam me with a $1100 repair bill. Car was bought in Feb 2009, and extended warranty for said specific part ended Feb 2015.
Electronic steering column lock failure. Engine would not turn over and electronic key warning light (yellow) lit. Car would not start and left stranded. Resorted to rapping on the escl box mounted under the steering column which works with varying degrees of success. Nissan is aware of the issue and extended the warranty of the part but, to the best of my knowledge, never attempted to contact or notify owners of the need to replace this part. My warranty for this part expired in October 2014, but it was unknown to me since my first issue was May 2015. Nissan dealer estimates $1016 to repair.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the key light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000.
After stopping at the store my car no longer would start. I live in Texas where it is hot, this is a danger to be stuck and no way to fix it. The key light popped on. Apparently after research it is noted Nissan is aware of the electronic steering lock problem. If there are so many issues why not recall the part instead of leaving motorist stranded. If the part malfunctions there is no way to move the car. I'm not sure where it is ok to charge 1200 dollars knowing your part is defective. This problem has left me stranded 3 different times.
On May 1, 2015 my vehicle would not start. I had to have the car towed to a Nissan dealer. My 2009 Nissan Altima's electronic steering column lock (escl) system failed 4 months after the warranty extension expired.this is a known issue that according to Nissan "happening to only a small number of vehicles". if the number is so miniscule then why not issue a recall?? I cannot imagine what I would be dealing with if I experienced this failure away from home or traveling. I thank god that my family and I were at home.
I have a 2009 Nissan Altima. Apparently Nissan is fully aware of the issues that the electric steering column lock is having. Nissan chose to extend the warranty instead of recall the part. Knowing that the majority of the effected Altima owners would fall outside that warranty. Of course now my steering column has malfunctioned even though Nissan states that this would not be an issue for majority of car owners. They know this is a huge problem. I have found thousands of write ups on the internet. It is unfair to the Altima car owners. Nissan is not taking responsibility for using defective parts. They have since discontinued using these parts, and left Nissan Altima car owners holding their dirty little secret. The one car we have can not function, and they are asking for over$1000 to repair it. Issue: The car will not drive because of this malfunction and defective part. Please help us the 2009 Nissan Altima car owners G *tret this part fully recalled by Nissan. Thank you!
There is a plug under the dash board close to the steering column that comes lose. The car will not start when this happens. This is a common problem with other Altima owners.
Driver side door lock stop functioning with the remote keyless entry fob. This is the only door that stopped working all the other doors function as intended. I believe it is a malfunction of the lock regulator.
In the September of 2014, the power door locks stopped working (would not open/close with the use of either the remote or the button on the driver door). At first it was the front and rear passenger doors, but then over the next 1-2 weeks both driver side door locks stopped working as well. The vehicle was not in any accident nor exposed to excessive water/fire/etc around this time. When I had it evaluated at the Nissan dealership, I was told the door actuators had broken, but given no explanation as to how/why this would happen for all 4 doors at the same time. Due to the high cost of repair (quoted $250 per door), I have not had these fixed. Now, nearly 9-10 months later, the locks remain completely unresponsive to the keyless entry remote and the power lock button on the driver's door, and must be manually locked/unlocked.
I went to start my car and an amber light with a key came on my dashboard. My car would not start. The car had to be towed to a Nissan dealership where it was determined it was a malfunction of the escl(electronic steering column lock). The repair cost me $893.90. There was an extended warranty on this so Nissan new it was a problem. The warranty ended 3 months ago. Nissan will not pay for the repair. This is my 4th Nissan.
My car wouldn't start after leaving work, couldn't figure out what was wrong, until I did a google search. I contacted corporate Nissan, who informed me that the warranty expired two months ago, exactly, and I would have to have it diagnosed by a Nissan repair before they consider covering faulty parts. I had my car towed to the Nissan repair, who confirmed that the power steering lock was faulty and needed to be replaced for $1020. Nissan mechanic said that it is a known problem with 2009 and 2010 Altima's. I reported back to corporate, who said they would "investigate" my claim, and assured I would be contacted two days ago. Never received a call, despite several attempts to reach them, and convenient for Nissan that the department I need doesn't have an available telephone number.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Meridian, ID, USA