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:
13 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,932 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.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that seat air bag warning light remained illuminated after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.
The airbag passenger notification light keeps blinking on in the dash. It can be reset, but as soon as a passenger sits in the chair the light comes on again. According to the advisor the sensor needs to be replaced. According to the Nissan advisor none of the airbags will deploy if the light is on. This seems to me a very dangerous situation.
- Fort Myers, FL, USA
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Airbag light flashes when car is on whether stationary or in motion. Was told its the sensor in the passenger seat cushion and the whole cushion has to be replaced. Airbag will not deploy and is a safety issue if not fixed asap. Very frustrating...at a cost over $1000.
I am the original owner of this vehicle and this has been an ongoing problem since 2011. My 2010 Nissan Altima coupe passenger occupant classification system (OCS) reads off when a passenger is seated. I am a 6ft 4in 230 pound individual and the OCS system fails to recognize me when I am seated in the passenger seat. This occurs when the vehicle is in motion, stoped, and driving down the highway. I made my Nissan dealer aware of this issue before the first recall in 2013 of the OCS system and they failed to fix this safety issue. My Nissan dealer (petro Nissan hattiesburg, ms 39402) lead me to believe the problem had been fixed and told me to ignore the OCS off light on my dash. After four Nissan Altima OCS recalls (03/01/2013, 10/20/2015, 04/26/2016, 12/19/2016) I have grown more concern for the safety of my passengers and myself. As of 12/04/2018 at 5:52 P.M. I have directly contacted Nissan customer service. A representative proceeded to tell me that Nissan is no longer responsible for the safety defect in their vehicle because it was eight years old as of March 2018. I continued to press Nissan's responsibility for the safety defect and after several back-and-forths the representative scheduled a 'specialist' to contact me tomorrow 12/05/2018.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. An independent mechanic and the dealer (coral springs Nissan, 9350 w atlantic blvd, coral springs, fl 33071, 954 755-5600 ext 3101) were notified and diagnosed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 08V521000 (air bags and electrical system), although the failures were the same. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer stated that the vehicle was excluded from a recall and out of warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 43,388.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact struck a pothole and the air bag indicator illuminated immediately. The contact stated that "air bag off" was displayed on the instrument panel. Priority Nissan richmond (16301 priority way, colonial heights, Virginia 23834, (804) 414-0550) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 210,000.
The driver side airbag deployed without any impact upon making a right turn, subsequently, the driver lost control of the vehicle with airbag deployment making it impossible to and ran over a curb causing extensive damage to the vehicle.
Head on collision at approximately 45 mph, braked, direct impact about 25 mph, airbags did not engage. Driver seat belt did not lock on brake or impact. Consumer stated trucking company has taken steps for repairs but dealership missed some repairs and trucking company refusing to pay outstanding repairs.
On my way to work on a rainy day, I was making a turn at a intersection. I loss control of my car & hit a tree. The driver side airbag didn't deployed when my car hit a tree. I was transported to the westchester medical center trauma er. I sustained a fractured sternum & bruised ribs.
Takata inflators: One of my vehicles (the other is a 2013 Ford Fusion VIN [xxx]), was issued a recall notice regarding the takata inflators. I was informed repeatedly that parts were not available and I would be informed when they were in stock. I do not have the original documentation regarding this recall and cannot recall which of my vehicles was pinpointed, the inflators have not been changed on either of my vehicles, but mysteriously, neither shows up on the takata recall list. Can you tell me how or why this should be the case? I feel that something has "slipped thru the cracks". information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The incident happened the week of 02/08/18 my wife noticed some light vdc slip ABS lights all came on them while on highway all of the brakes locked and she could not accelerate car.
My car airbag light on my dash board is flashing. I have contacted the dealer see if there has been a recall and they have said no. They told me to bring the car in to be evaluated. However, I was told that the air bag will not deploy if there is an accident.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. Upon starting the vehicle, the "passenger air bag off" indicator illuminated and remained lit even when the passenger seat was occupied. The vehicle was taken to kamaaina Nissan (471 kalanianaole ave, hilo, hi 96720) where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor underneath the passenger seat failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that they would open a case and call the contact back. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Denton, TX, USA