The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the steering wheel locked. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column had to be replaced and reprogrammed. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

- Butler, PA, USA

My car will not start this is the 3rd time this has happens in 2012 they changed my car battery and in 2013 it wouldn't start after work and I towed it to the dealership and they changed the steering and break lock mechanism and now 2016 my car won't start and it is the electronic steering column lock and now there is no warranty, so it is costing me about $900 to 1,000 to fix a problem that should not be happening or that should have a life time warranty.

- Elgin, IL, USA

Instrument panel does not light up and car will not start, it doesn't crank, not even a click form the starter, the steering wheel does not lock. Seems to be the electronic steering column lock (escl) as I googled for similar complaints of other owners. Nissan extended the warranty to 6 years on this issue, however cause they know this is a safety issue with this car. They should extend the warranty for a well known defect indefinitely. If this happens in the middle of nowhere is a very serious life and death issue. web.archive.org/web/20150219214832/http://www.nissanassist.com/web/escl_warranty_extension/programdetails.php?menu=61

- Vienna, VA, USA

I drove to work everything was fine went out on break to start my car and can't do anything windows are lowered and it started to rain the steering lock has went out and leaves you know way of doing anything with the car now I have to miss work to get vehicle put in to a dealership I see many others with the same problems

- Palmyra, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While attempting to start the vehicle, the intelligent key malfunction indicator illuminated and the engine would not start. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Fairview, NM, USA

Went to work car, will not start when I went to leave work. Standard for a couple of hours. No warning it was going bad.

- Batavia, OH, USA

When leaving to go home from an event for my kids, the car would not and could not start. The key lock symbol (red) and lock symbol (yellow) were lit on the dashboard. I did some research and found that the it was the steering column lock which many has been complaining about. This should be considered a recall with all the problems.

- Wyoming, MI, USA

The car doesnt start because the car's starting system is faulty. It is called electronic steering column lock (escl) failure. Only Nissan dealers can fix this issue and they charge exorbitant amount of money for replacing a small part and for labor. This is not caused by a user error but because of a defect with this model itself. There are many such complains online and happens to people randomly. This is a severe health and life hazard. Me and my wife were about to leave for remote places when this issue happened and if that would have happened, we would have been in a huge mess! Nissan does not even have the courtesy to reimburse the full repair amount. I didn't even ask for the hotel and trip cancellation reimbursement but still they are not ready to budge. I escalated it to three levels but to no effect. This is sad. There must be a recall on this model. My car just has 60K miles on it and I feel cheated to have to pay $1100 for Nissan's fault just for the repair, let alone additional expenses I had to incur to book hotel last minute for two days and incur charges for the hotel stays for the rest of my trip. My honeymoon trip was screwed up because of Nissan and they are saying they can only reimburse me for the part which is only half the cost. I will sell this car as soon as I can and will never ever buy a Nissan car again. But, I would like to see this car recalled asap before it leads to someone's death.

- Union City, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the push to start feature failed to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock mechanism failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000...updated 03/29/17 updated 08/03/2017

- Lowell, MA, USA

The date was 12/7/2016. My 2009 Nissan Altima failed to start at the end of my shift at work. After some research I found that what I had was a faulty escl. I found that this is a very common problem for this model car. The car fails to even turn on the to the acc mode. Nissan knows that this is a problem and extended the warranty for only 72 months and has refused to make a recall since it involves a parked car. The temperature for today was 26 degrees and had I been somewhere far from home where my father couldn't pick me up then I'd be stranded in the cold to freeze. This is also a safety concern because the car may fail to start in an unsafe neighborhood or other unsafe conditions. Nissan needs to either recall or extend their warranty on the escl.

- Lansing, IL, USA

The escl died today, at night here in Maine. Searching the for this problem, it seems that this is a known issue with Nissan, which did nothing to prevent my teenager from being stranded, at night. I see the part is on amazon for only $400, and takes about 30 minutes to install. Why does a dealer want $1000 for a repair of this sort? this is crazy - considering that Nissan even extended the warranty on this part to 6 years - I just missed the deadline.

- Brunswick, ME, USA

I got in my car the other day to run to the store and the cars push button ignition would not start the car, the llght on the dash suggests that the steering wheel is not locked, but it is locked. Vehicle is parked in my driveway

- Franklin, LA, USA

My wife was driving her 2009 Nissan Altima and parked. When leaving to go home, the car would not and could not start. The key lock symbol (red) and lock symbol (yellow) were lit on the dashboard. I did some research and found that the it was the steering column lock which many has been complaining about. I took it to the Nissan dealer and the part would be $600. Attached is the printout of the warranty. This had me and my wife stranded on one of the coldest day of the year. They wouldn't consider fixing it unless it was a standard repair. This is crazy!!! it's the holidays and now this is happening. Good grief!!!

- Crown Point, IN, USA

Was driving Altima running great got ne tires service done. Went to a friends house when I came back to start the Altima wouldn't start. I tried everything changing batteries in car, remote batteries changed. I finally came across this video and explain everything that was happening and said Nissan is aware of this issue but doesn't want to put a recall on it. It's believe it's a major safety problem what would have happen driving down the highway in their vehicle automatically stop and locked the strain will basin only one direction I would cause a major car pile up with myself and possibly many others because it is faulty part Nissan has put in. I have work in the car business for 10 years and I have never seen a manufacture do what they're doing right now. They have put me and my family in major jeopardy.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Electronic steering control lock failed, leaving me stranded on the side of the road, apparently a common problem with 09 Nissan, contacted Nissan and opened a case, they called back and refused to help, with anything. What a joke Nissan is turning out to be. There are literally thousands of posts on this problem, and Nissan gives an unlimited mileage replacement that ended in 2014, I offered to pay for the labor if they would replace the part, obviously they have no interest in my future business.

- Mohave Valley, AZ, USA

Electronic steering column lock (escl) failed and was sticks and stranded. I am a full time student as well as working full time. Had to get my 09 Altima towed to the dealship and lost out on work and made my daily life a financial hardship. It is going to cost me $1100 just for the part and labor. This is a known issue with 2009 Altima's and needs to be recalled until Nissan fixes the issue. This is very dangerous situation to be in, if I was camping and had no cell phone service my life could seriously be in danger. Please issue a recall for this part.

- Union City, CA, USA

My car would not start and I was forced to sit in my car for hours as the stores had closed and it took over a hour to have my car towed. This left me in a situation in which I could have been harmed as a young woman in vulnerable situation. Nissan states that this is a manufacturer irregularity which means this is something that shouldn't be happening and is a manufacture issue. After getting it diagnosed by a certified Nissan dealer, I was told it was my escl. Nissan should honor their word and fix the issue at no cost since it's a manufacture malfunctioning issue in which the customer has no control over.

- Richmond, VA, USA

Luckily the car was parked and wouldn't start for this incident. After having it towed they needed to replace the steering lock mechanism. We're glad it wasn't being driven on the highway at the time it failed and possibly locked up the steering column. That could have been deadly. The replacement cost of this part is outrageous and should have been covered or replaced by Nissan. They've had a history of issues with this and should refund us the $1000 it cost just for the repair bill. It's ridiculous that people keep getting taken for something like this. Something needs to be done to remedy this situation.

- Mankato, MN, USA

Car won't start do to a defective escl electronic steering column lock. The car left me stranded after work at midnight. The car is useless it does not start. I was never informed by the dealership of any problems with the escl.

- Brawley, CA, USA

I was driving on highway when "intelligent key" warning light flashed on dashboard. I continued to my work place. When I attempted to leave my place of employment, the steering wheel locked, ignition self start would not work and I had to contact aaa to bring car to dealer. I was told that when this warning light is on, the car may lock up at anytime. I was told that I ought be driving since the steering wheel would lock up in the middle of traffic. One of the representatives at the dealer indicated that many people with this car had similar problems, in fact that day there were three 2009 Altima in the same area going to the same dealer with the "smart key" locking the car. Nissan is going to reimburse $800+ dollars because I believe they know this is a problem, yet they have not announced an official recall. This is very concerning for all of those people driving this vehicle with the risk of having the car lock while in motion.

- Concord, NC, USA