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:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,530 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.
I currently own a 2009 Nissan Altima with a steering wheel lock mechanism defect. Upon researching this defect I have come to realize that several consumers have had this issue. This defect has been so common that a warranty was placed on this part until 2014.because of the number of customers that have had this issue I believe that a total recall should've been made. Please review all of the petitions posted online in an attempt to drive the manufacture to do the right thing. The repair for this defect is costing it's customers a minimum of $1200 and I am outraged that they put a expiration date on the time this part has to malfunction.
Vehicle would not start. The brake was extremely stiff, the steering wheel was locked and pushing the start button did nothing. Aaa came and said it wasn't the battery, alternator or starter. I had the car towed to the local Nissan dealer ' they said it was a defective steering lock module which had an extended warranty but it was expired. This cost me approximately $700 for the tow, part and labor. The service department told me that they thought this should be a recalled item because it is a safety issue since the part was defective, Nissan is aware of the problem, and it could leave people stranded in a dangerous situation.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. When attempting to start the vehicle, it was unable to start. The "push to start" did not start the engine and the steering failed. The failure was included in an extended warranty; however, the contact was not sure if the vehicle would still be covered. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
I pulled in to the gas station late night December 9,2015, and after filling up, the car refused to start. When tested it showed that the battery was fine. The car was towed to the dealer (even the tow company worker had the same problem with the same make and model car). True to the worker's experience, the dealer told me the car had a steering problem. This is a very expensive undertaking, and extremely inconveniencing. Needs to be recalled from the number of complaints I read.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While driving home at approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled and shut down. The check engine light illuminated. The vehicle restarted and was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column lock fractured. The component was recalled and repaired previously; therefore, the manufacturer was not responsible for the repairs. The dealer also diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacture was made aware of the failure, but did not offer assistance. The failure mileage was 78,479.
Takada I got stranded on my work my car wouldn't turn on at all had to get it towed home. After I took it to the dealer auto service came to find out its the steering lock assembly I'm being charged $975 dollars to get it fix came to find out alot of people ware complaining of this problem theresolution need to be a recall for this parts.
Car will not start or turn on accessories. Steering lock mechanism failed. I was unable to do anything with the car until aaa can to tow it to the deal.
Steering lock mechanism failed leaving the car completely disabled and unable to move at all. Nissan has know about this being a very chronic problem with these cars but did not recall the part. The extended warrantee ended March 31 2015 and it should have been indefinitely because Nissan knows these are faulty and hasn't communicated to owners about it as far as I know.
I was about to start my car at a gas station the vehicle was stationary and my car would not start leaving me stranded it is a known issue with Nissan and it was diagnosed as a steering lock control unit failure which prevents the vehicle from sensing your key fob which prevents you from starting the vehicle and you are stuck. There should be a recall for this defect leaving drivers stranded and the car useless. I could have been robbed or other. Nissan is aware of this issue and has done nothing to notify owners and replace stearing control unit.
Steering lock went with no warning. Nissan aware of problem and hasn't recalled. Cost $959.21 to fix. Was shopping car shut off. When I returned with groceries wouldn't start. Had to tow to dealer
Steering wheel lock failure- disabling the car where it will not start. Nissan is aware of the issue and has not done anything about it. To get the car fixed it's going to be over 1000 dollars.
Key light appeared took the car to the dealership at lunch time. The battery changed in the key I went back to work. At the end of the work day went out to go home car would not start! it will not move from lock to acc! cannot reset so the car can start will have to have it towed!
Was going out of town and due to bad weather conditions on the area I was supposed to drive to, I did not go. However, on Sunday afternoon I got into vehicle, tried to start it and it would not start. Now, if I had of gone out of town like I was supposed to, I would have been stranded. I often have my small granddaughter with me. Glad she wasn't this time. Had to call tow service.
I went to the grocery store and was inside for 30 min. When I got back to my car, it would not start, it was completely dead. I had it towed to the dealership and they diagnosed it as electronic steering column unit failure. I am the original owner, car has under 50K miles.
Drove to Laredo, Texas to get new tires for my vehicle. When the auto technician went to move the car from the parking lot it would not start. They checked everything they could think off, battery, battery cables, alternator. They called an electronic specialist to come check the car. It seemed it was the steering lock module. No warning, nothing. I never even received a recall notice for this part. I called the Nissan dealership and of course the recall had just expired. To top it off the Nissan dealership wanted to charge me towing fees from the tire dealership to the Nissan dealership and to fix it was going to be over a thousand dollars. I ended up paying $850 to repair the car somewhere else. I live in a very rural area where there are no stores, gasoline stations, etc. Nearest city is Laredo which is over forty miles away. At least I was at the parking lot of the tire dealership. I don't want to think if this would have happened when I am taking my elderly mother to the doctor, hospital, or for chemo treatments. I feel Nissan should reimburse me for the replacement for the steering column module. For instance, never did I receive the recall notice and this was such an unexpected experience. Not only was I without a vehicle for almost a week but finding someone to pick me up to take me home and then someone to take me back to pick up the car. I cannot believe that Nissan didn't have the common courtesy to notify its customers of this steering column defect and the Nissan dealership taking advantage of the situation.
I left work and went to start my car when I wasn't getting any sort of response. Tried repalcing the battery and the keyfob battery to no avail. I learned it was the steering lock and that would cost me 1100 dollars to have repaired. How could the warranty not be unlimited on a car so terrible. What if I couldn't get home to feed my kids when the car broke down? I don't live close to my job, that's why I have a car. To not be able to turn it on for this is ridiculous. It's even more ridiculous to not have at least a 10 year warranty for this part. Stop selling defective cars.
My car started fine yesterday I saw the key light came on I assumed it was because the battery was low. I changed the battery in both keys. The next day my fiancee drove my car to work an hour away. It would not start at all, the light comes on and the steering is not locked but the car will not start at all and it can not shift at all. After looking in the manual it states that it is an idicator that the steering lock has failed. This seems to be an issue with hundreds of other cars and it is going to cost 1200 to fix this. My fiancee was stranded an hour from home and his cell died, not to mention he works nights and got off at 5am and could not find a ride or a nearby place to call home long distance.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Dallas, TX, USA