I was parked at a store and the car wouldn't start. I looked up a temporary fix and was able to get the vehicle started. Once I got home, I researched the problem and discovered that Nissan knew what the issue was: The steering lock assembly was malfunctioning. This is an intermittent problem. It can occur anywhere or any time. Nissan extended the warranty (just for that part) 6 years. The dealership informed me that they wouldn't honor the extended warranty unless they could duplicate the fault...and they would charge an $80 fee...just for a mechanic sitting in the car and starting it. And if I wanted to have the work done anyway, it would cost approximately $1200. Obviously, I didn't leave the vehicle with them since I knew it would start at that time. The problem is, from every comment about the problem on Nissan boards, from what the Nissan dealership itself said, this is an intermittent problem. So the next time it happens I could be at work late at night. I could be driving across Texas and stop for gas, then I'm stuck at a gas pump unable to shift into neutral to move the car. I (or my wife) could get stuck anywhere when this problem occurs again.

- Killeen, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While parked, the vehicle failed to start with the key fob. The contact stated that the key warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the electronic steering column was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000. MA 10/25/15

- Birmingham, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. After opening the door with the key fob, the vehicle failed to start as the key warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the electronic steering column lock was damaged and needed replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.

- Concord, NC, USA

On 8/3/2015 I went to the grocery store drove my car perfectly well. When I was ready to go home my car would not start. My steering wheel was locked. I had to call a tow truck since the dealership was closed. Next day I call Nissan since I saw so many postings about this issue opened a claim, and they told me I would have to take the car to get a diagnosis from the dealership and call them back with the findings, because I was out of warranty as of March 3,2015. I took the car payed a tow truck again then had to pay $130 for the diagnosis only to find out they could and would do nothing! I had to pay $1007. And they claimed I was out of warranty for over 41 months. How is it that they know its a malfuntion, and they get away with no recall! I will never purchase another Nissan vehicle

- Salinas, CA, USA

I had stopped at the grocery store and went to get back in my car and it would not start, it would not even recognize the key. My key fob would unlock, lock & pop my trunk but my car acted like it wouldn't accept my key fob. My steering wheel was not locked & it has been towed and sat overnight & its still not locked, my electronic steering wheel lock has gone out on my car & with all the research I have done I found out several other people are having the same problem. Nissan extended the warranty on this part to 6 years but it seems all these failures are happening after that 6 year mark has been hit. Nissan is well aware of the problem and released a bulletin on it but not a recall, I believe with all the problems that everyone is having that a recall should be issued I was quoted 800-1000.00 to fix this problem. This is evidently a faulty part installed by Nissan and they should make it right

- Henderson, KY, USA

Steering lock does not disengage and the car does not start, something wrong with electronic control unit.

- Porter Ranch, CA, USA

Got in my 2009 Nissan Altima Monday 07/27 would not start. Had towed to dealership. Steering lock system was replaced. Wednesday 07/29 got in my car again would not start. Took to dealership again. Changed brake plug. Friday 07/31 car would not start again so took back to dealership for the 3rd time and they fixed and sent me on my way. Car with key symbol still blinking on my car so not sure it is fixed yet...updated 10/05/15

- Clinton , NC, USA

My car was not starting. It was indicated as no key. I called Nissan customer care. They told that my cars warrenty expired on March 2015. My cars first registration date is November 2009. I have heared that the ecsl of Nissan Altima is having 6 years of warrenty. But I am told by the Nissan authorised dealer - pinnacle Nissan scotsdate phoenix that my warrenty expired. My car have not completed its 6 year and I am wondering how the warrently would void. I have replaced the part from my pocket as well, I am really disappointed. It would be great if Nissan can refund the cost of replacing the part. Thanks, binu.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

On 07/15/15 I received a call that my brother in law had died I stop and pulled over to regroup from crying I shut the car off and my car would not start back up, light was flashing intelligent key and also saying key was not in the car which this is called electronic steering column lock failure I had to have to car towed on top of everything else I was dealing with call pearson Nissan in ocala fl told them what the car was doing and mention to them about the extended warranty that I had ran across and they stated they didn't know what I was talking about. I don't under stand why wasn't I notified by Nissan about this problem I like my car but if this don't get resolved I will not buy another Nissan car. Upon doing some research I discovered a lot of people have had this same problem and complaint

- Ocala, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While driving at 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the steering wheel lock column failed. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was not available.

- Greeley, CO, USA

My 2009 Nissan Altima has been failing to start daily since 07/13/2015. It takes me 20-30 minutes to get car started. Key fobs appear operational. While pressing the break & push button to start the car, the radio comes on but the car doesn't start. It makes a clicking sound & won't do anything. I have to wait a few minutes & retry several times before starting.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

Car would not start, battery was charging. It is the steering lock mechanism. This issue will cost $1000 to repair. After research it is clear that Nissan is aware of the issue. Why has that not been a recall? this is unsatisfactory. I have been a Nissan owner for 15 years, but if this is not resolved, this will be my last Nissan. I thought Nissan was a good company, but this is no way to treat your customers.

- Colonial Beach, VA, USA

The electronic steering column lock failed - the car would not start. This is a well documented and widespread, major defect issue with 2009 Altima models.this apparent defect is well documented on internet forums. The car needs to be towed to a dealer, and a new steering column lock installed. Approximate cost $1,000. The problem is very widespread. Nissan extended the warranty on this part only to 6-years. My failure occurred at 6-years, 2-months. Most failures appear to occur just after 6-years. Rather than issue a 6-year extended warranty which recognizes a problem exists, Nissan should have issued a recall because this problem is so widespread. Luckily for me, this happened close to home and in warm weather.

- Augusta, GA, USA

I was at the grocery store around the corner from my house I parked went into the store to purchase a few things. I got back to the car no more than 15 minutes later unlocked the car with the fob and got in. Try to start the car and it did not start. I tried plugging it in to the fob holder and the car still did not start. I saw the key light on the dash turn on. I had to have the car towed to the Nissan dealership upon having the vehicle examined it was determined that the electronic steering control lock had malfunctioned. They told me it will $ $1020 to fix. I researched to see if this was an issued with the 2009 Nissan Altima and what do I discover that people have been have the this issued since 2011 when the vehicle was not even 3 years old yet. This is rediculous and outright negligent on Nissan's part for not recalling this part. I have seen well over a 1,000 complaint regarding this issue. Some have left people stranded in bad conditions. Nissan needs to reimburse each and every customer for this issue as they choose to use a very faulty part.

- Pasadena , CA, USA

2009 Nissan Altima - steering wheel malfunction - Nissan refuses to recall this defective part

- Deltona, FL, USA

Drove car to work everything ran fine. Went on break and got in car it would not crank. The indicator light appeared( yellow keyless light) on the left side. Looked it up in my car manual and it says steering electrical problem call Nissan. So now im stuck without a car and I am still making car payments. This sucks. I've been reading other comments about issue. It seems that this has happened a lot. Supposedly there was an extended warranty that only lasted up until Feb. But its now July, so I guess im assed out. Smdh!! this car needs to be recalled asap

- Lexington, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the electronic steering column was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

Truly cant believe Nissan Consumer Affairs, on 6/30/2015, my electric steering column lock went out. I called Consumer Affairs on 6/30/2015, to see if its part of this extended warranty, ( which I found out though google), rep explain mine expired on 6/3/2015, and I needed to tow it to dealership. Which I did, and found out that was the problem, so I called back on 6/30/2015, and ask since it was less than a month will they help with the cost. On 7/1/2015, I had to call 4 times and message Nissan though facebook to even get a call back from the regional consumer affair agent, when she finally called back an hour before the dealership service dept. Closes, she explain they wouldn't help with any cost. The cost to fix this problem, that Nissan knew about since 2009, would be 1,000 dollars. Personally I don't have the money to fix it, at this point of time it is sitting at the dealership, I'm missing work everyday because of an issue that could have been avoided if Nissan took responsibility of there failure.

- Byram, MS, USA

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.

- Meridian, ID, USA

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.

- Marlborough, MA, USA