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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,440 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.
Unknown... I just got this car I haven't even had it put in my name yet but when I drive it there's a really bad glare I thought it was something sticky from the previous owner that was on the dash but it's not I got some goo off and tried to clean it off and tried to use a scraper and it's never ending stickiness so I thought that was kind of weird so I looked it up online Florida has a recall on this vehicle for the dash melting my dash is literally melting but they don't have a recall in Georgia, Texas or anywhere else there's such a bad glare on this car that I almost hit somebody walking down the road and another incident I almost hit a kid on a bicycle because it affects your visibility I think that Nissan should have to replace this.this is a safety issue and it's very dangerous luckily I saw them both in time I would hate to see if somebody didn't see them in time I looked up the price of it and it's almost $2,000 to have the dash replaced thats an insane amount of money for something that I feel like is Nissan's fault its clearly a faulty dashboard.it melts if it gets too hot and it puts this glare on the windshield and its not just a small glare it is terrible so I wanted to see if I could get something done or if maybe we could make Nissan fix the cars in Georgia and everywhere else that has this car it seems to only be 2008 and 2009 I believe so far from looking it up on the internet today but there's got to be something that we can all can do to make them pay to fix it everywhere I mean it's not only affecting drivers in Florida it's affecting every one of these cars I'm sure... in every state our kids matter I almost hit that kid on that bike and kids in Florida shouldn't matter more than the kids in Georgia or any other state for that matter and I think that it's ridiculous that they were allowed to only fix cars in Florida for that that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard this is a danger to everyone and I was hoping Y'all could help me.
Direct sun radiating on the dashboard has resulting in a deterioration of the surface, creating a sheen that creates a reflection on the windshield that is a constant distracts and under certain circumstances (depending on where the sun is at on the horizon), can impair the driver's view of traffic and objects in front of the vehicle. The deterioration of the dashboard began after about five years of being owned and operating in Texas (and resulting sun and heat), but is becoming increasingly problematic as the dashboard surface continues to degrade.
We are owners of one of the "melting dash" Altima model year 2009. The glare that the dash projects onto the windshield in sunny conditions is a safety hazzard. On more than one occasion, we have almost hit other cars or people because of the bad reflection in the windshield from the melted dash. We have contacted Nissan, but they do not seem to be interested in fixing the problem. Please address this safety issue before anyone is killed or injured because of this defect.
The dashboard and steering wheel on my 2009 Nissan Altima are melting due to the high temperatures in the cabin. When the vehicle is in the sun, the top surface of the dashboard melts, and restricts the forward visibility by causing a glare on the windshield. This makes it extremely difficult to see objects that are close to the vehicle in the sun.
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Air bag light comes on periodically 'no airbag'. problem since 2014; along with steering lock failure (fixed), along with manifold exhaust problem(fixed). Windshield wipers keep wearing out, left driver side because blade is too tight; brakes vibrate when stopping, ;car vibrates at 70 mph, and car sounds like wind tunnel when driving highway yet windows are up.
My dashboard is melting and creating a dangerous glare on my windshield. I just had a minor accident this past week due to the glare being so bad that it interferes with my everyday driving. I am living with fear every time I commute anywhere with this vehicle whom I've owned ever since I bought from the Nissan dealer.
The dashboard in my Nissan is literally liquifying over the last 7 months. This appears to be known issue that resulted in class action lawsuit in fl against Nissan that was won for the plantiffs. There is facebook group for Nissan melting dash boards and a news station covered the story: Https://www.click2houston.com/consumer/drivers-want-sticky-dashboards-fixed I contacted Nissan, who referred me to our local dealership and they documented issue and I was ulitmately referred to cameron, a regional Nissan qa representative. I was told at tht time that nothing can be done. I did very clearly (and politely) describe the safety concern as the melting dashboard causes a horrific glare on the windshield. I do indeed understand that the car is out of warranty but given the safety hazard piece, I was hoping that Nissan would stand by thier products in this case and consider generating a recall to address the issue. Toyota had a similar issue and offered full replacement.
My entire dashboard is melting and it's very sticky.. the glare is a major concern that could possibly cause an accident. It doesn't matter if it's day or night it's difficult to see out of the windshield.
I have 2009 Nissan Altima and it has a very sticky, shiny dashboard. Some part of the dashboard is so shiny that it creates a glare on windshield during daytime when it is sunny outside and makes it very difficult to see the other cars, pedestrians etc.during driving. This a huge safety concern and should be take care of by Nissan asap.
I was driving my car on regular roads about to get on a highway without any issue with all functions perfectly working. Then all of a sudden my turn signals would not activate by the toggle switch, however the hazard button would activate them. Then my headlights turned off on their own(this was at 2 am in pitch dark area and raining). I tried turning the switch all the way off then back on after pulling over, nothing worked even with turning my car off entirely then back on. My headlights wouldn't work, blinkers nor my windshield wipers. My car has never been in an accident or had any other failures. I was informed by the dealer that the issue was nothing I could have possibly done as an operator. It was something that went wrong at the factory when the car was built. I am only writing this because this is a huge concern as I had to find my way home with only my hazard lights blinking every other second. It was very dangerous. The dealer stated that the part that failed was a "body control module is $919.35, part, labor" which is an insane amount of money for 1 part. However it is so expensive because once replaced the entire car and key fobs need to be reprogrammed by Nissan and only a authorized Nissan dealer can acquire said programming tools/software. Sure my car is a 2009 however the dealer said this is very uncommon to randomly short out in general but especially while driving because of how dangerous the effects can be even with the age of the vehicle. I love my car but adding this kind of technology that controls all these functions without a fail safe is an awful method of production. After this experience I felt the need to share it with the Nissan owner community.
Dash board melting very sticky can't clean blinding glare in windshield when in sun hard to see oncoming traffic this should be a recall but as I have read this is a major concern in hot humid climate along with the steering lock defects.seems Nissan doesn't care about safety only wants to sell the vehicle and take the profits
Melting dashboard cannot see out the windshield when sun is shining on the dash. Glare is so bright. Dash collects dirt. If you touch it you finger will sink into the melting dash.
2009 Nissan Altima that has a sticky-melting dashboard that can not be cleaned it has a glare that make it very difficult to see out of the wind shield this can cause a major accident-Nissan will not fix it unless you pay them to replace it for almost $2000 and there are many complaints of this issiue all over South Florida
1. the dashboard totally melted creating a blinding glare while driving. It is completely sticky to touch, which is great if I wanted a permanent and highly effective bug trap. The glare it creates on the windshield is so blinding that I've almost hit pedestrians crossing the street on several different occasions. The dealership where I purchased the car only offered to replace it at a ridiculous cost that I cannot afford as a school teacher. It was only 2 years old, however old enough to not be under warranty. My major concern is having an accident or hitting someone crossing the street. Will Nissan cover damages then" 2. headlights: Plastic headlight is completely covered in film creating a visibility hazard at night. Restoration processes did not work. Again after only 2 years they had a film over the lenses. Now they are worse. As a school teacher with a limited income I depend on my car lasting. I cannot even sell the car in these conditions for a decent price. Nissan is not holding up to the standards it should; especially safety standards. Let's hope myself or someone else does not wind up as another statistic. Let this be on records as a safety hazard complaint for the manufacturer and others who share the same occurrences. If pictures are needed, I have plenty. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my car! however, this is completely unacceptable and I am concerned for not only my safety but the safety of those around me, and all because of the manufacturer slacking in their safety standards division. Please help"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ellabell, GA, USA