NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Nissan Altima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I'M STRANDED. IT WON'T RECOGNIZE MY KEY. THE INTERNET TELLS ME THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHERS AND THAT NISSAN IS UNRESPONSIVE. UNLESS YOU COUNT BEING WILLING TO TAKE $1000.00 PLUS TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
ON OR ABOUT APRIL 4, 2015, L NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED NISSAN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS REGARDING THE REPAIR WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED TO MY VEHICLE. LN RESPONSE, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN ADVISED THEY WOULD OPEN A CLAIM AND INVESTIGATE THE MATTER FURTHER. I WAS ULTIMATELY TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WORK WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY NISSAN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS OF SEPTEMBER 2014. LN FACT, L WAS ADVISED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, TO MY DETRIMENT, THE STEERING LOCK IN MY VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED PAST THE WARRANTY DATE. THE PARTICULAR DEFECT IN MY VEHICLE IS A DEFECT OCCURRING IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED. IN FACT, THE STEERING LOCK HAS SINCE BEEN ALTERED IN FUTURE MODELS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THAT NISSAN WAS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, YET CHOSE TO DO NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DESPITE MY AMICABLE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE NISSAN REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR WORK THAT WAS DONE TO THE STEERING LOCK, OF WHICH NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR SAID REPAIRS AMOUNTING TO $1,098.06. I RECENTLY CONTACTED NISSAN AGAIN BECAUSE NISSAN HAS NOW ISSUED A RECALL CONCERNING THIS SAME PROBLEM (STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION). AGAIN, NISSAN HAS IGNORED MY REQUESTS.
CAR WOULD NOT START IN SUPER MARKET PARKING LOT.HAD TO BE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER CAUSING MUCH TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE VERY BUSY LOT ,AS THE CAR WAS BEING LOADED ONTO THE TRUCK.NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY PART AND IS NOT ISSUING A RECALL.JUST CHECK OUT THE INTERNET FOR ALL THE COMPLAINTS. *TR
I WENT TO START MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THE IGNITION LOCKED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS LATE FOR WORK BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT AND HAD TO RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE FOR A RIDE. I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE STEERING LOCK PROBABLY FAILED ON THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO BOWSER. I GOT A CALLED TODAY CONFIRMING IT WAS STEERING LOCK FAILURE AND THAT IT WOULD COST ALMOST A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I ASKED THE DEALER SHIP IF THEY HAVE HAD MANY OTHER CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAVE. AS I CONTINUED TO DO MORE RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW ON NISSAN'S BEHALF. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
I HAD TRIED TO LEAVE FRIDAY FROM WORK AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON AND NOTHING I DID WOULD START THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY AND TOOK IT HOME AND RAN WELL FOR ABOUT A WEEK BUT THEN AS I WAS LEAVING FOR LUNCH THE SAME ISSUED HAPPENED. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF HERE TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WAS WRONG WITH IT AND A LOT OF THE MODELS FROM THAT YEAR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I CONTACTED THE CORPORATE NISSAN TO FILE A CLAIM AND GET THE REPAIRS PAID BY THEM SINCE THERE IS A KNOWN MALFUNCTION OF THIS VEHICLES. AFTER WAITING FOR OVER TWO WEEKS AND MANY CALLS TO THEM TO TRY AND GET THEM TO RETURN MY CALLS I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH ANY OF THE REPAIRS AS IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED TO THEM OR TRY TO THAT IF IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE I WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT THROUGH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AS WELL. BUT IT WAS A WELL KNOWN MALFUNCTION THEY ARE HAVING THAT SHOULD START A RECALL ON IT. THE TOTAL FOR THIS REPAIR IS $1021 AND NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS REPAIRS OR START A RECALL CAMPAIGN AS THE VEHICLE BECOMES COMPLETELY DISABLED AND YOU CAN'T MOVE IT OR EVEN START IT. *TR
VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK VEHICLE NEEDS STEERING COLUMN LOCK ACTUATOR. *TR
STEERING LOCK ESCL, MALFUNCTIONED AND CAR WOULDN'T START. I WAS AT MY JOB LEAVING TO PICK UP MY 2 CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL, AND COULD NOT GET MY CAR TO START. I HAD TO WAIT FOR MY SISTER TO GET OUT OF WORK TO PICK ME UP AND THEN GO GET MY KIDS WHO WERE WAITING AT SCHOOL LONG AFTER HOURS TO BE PICKED UP. NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE ERROR WAS THEIRS DURING MANUFACTURING BUT DID NOT NOTIFY ALTIMA OWNERS AND NOW I MISSED THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" BY 3 MONTHS WHEN THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $1,000. THANKFULLY MY FATHER IN LAW WAS ABLE TO TOW MY CAR, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 100S OF NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS IN THE 2009 MODELS. HE WAS ABLE TO DO A TEMPORARY FIX, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THE EXPENSE THAT I CANNOT SPARE RIGHT NOW. BUT JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOT BEING ABLE TO START YOUR CAR IN FOR EXAMPLE, WINTER, AT NIGHT, ON A VACATION OR FAR FROM HOME, WITH MY 2 YOUNG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR WITH ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!!!!! IF A RECALL NEVER HAPPENS, THEN THIS WILL BE THE LAST NISSAN I EVER OWN, AND I WILL BE SPREADING THE WORD ON FACEBOOK AS WELL!!!!!! *TR
I DROVE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM THE BABYSITTER AND I PARKED MY CAR ALONGSIDE THE CURB. IT WAS LESS THAN 10 MIN AND WE WENT TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I PERFORMED MY USUAL ROUTINE WHEN STARTING IT...INSERT KEY IN SLOT...PRESS FOOT DOWN ON BRAKE...THEN PRESS THE IGNITION START BUTTON AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. I TRIED THE SAME ROUTINE A SECOND TIME ONLY TO NO AVAIL. FINALLY ON THE THIRD TIME...MY INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED A YELLOW KEY AND A RED KEY AND IT THE IGNITION BUTTON STAYED IN THE LOCK POSITION. I EVENTUALLY CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WHEN HE ARRIVED HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE TOW DRIVER THAT IT WAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE AND THE ONLY REASON HE KNEW WAS BECAUSE I WAS HIS 6TH NISSAN IN OVER A THREE DAY SPAN. APPARENTLY...NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AS A RECALL. *TR
LAST FRIDAY MY CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TRY DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET IT GOING AND IT FINALLY WORKED. TODAY THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED AND STARTED DOINGNSOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONLINE TONFIND OUT THIS VEHICLES HAD A MALFUNCTION FOR A ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED AND THEY STATED THE EXTENSION EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. I ASKED WHY WERE THE CONSUMERS NOT NOTIFIED. HE GAVE ME H 1800 NUMBER FOR NISSAN TO SEE I THEY CAN HELP OUT WITH THIS ISSUE THAT APPARENTLY TONS PEOPLE ARE HAVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SPARE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,902.
I HAVE A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 6 YEARS NOW, AND MY MILEAGE IS ABOUT 81500 KM. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I HAD SLOWED DOWN TO ENTER A TURNING LANE, AND MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME THE CRANKSHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I READ ONLINE THAT THERE HAS BEEN THE SAME ISSUE IN MULTIPLE NISSAN ALTIMAS AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR IT. I ASKED NISSAN ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID MY CAR YEAR DOES NOT QUALIFY UNDER THE RECALL AND THAT IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. IT WILL COST ME ~$400 PLUS FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO GET IT REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT CANNOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE SAME PROBLEM FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL IS HAPPENING TO MY CAR AND MY CAR IS ALSO A NISSAN ALTIMA. THE RECALLS WERE SPECIFICALLY FOR 2002-2006 YEARS. MINE IS 2009. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE WITH THEIR 2009 MODEL. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AND HAVING YOUR CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THEY SHOULD MAKE THIS AN OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THE 2009 MODEL AND GIVE EVERYONE A REFUND FOR THE COSTS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT NISSAN HAS WITH THEIR ALTIMAS. [FROM EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA]. *TR
I HAD NO ELECTRICAL SERVICE IN THE VEHICLE AT ALL, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. *TR
AS I STOPPED AT TOLLBOOTH AND STOP SIGN.CAR CUT OFF.IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP.AS LONG AS I WAS MOVING IT WOULD STAY ON.THEN SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED.IVE HEARD OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.I JUST BOUGHT CAR LAST YEAR.
THE HOOD SUDDENLY FLEW UP, HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. FORTUNATELY THE WINDSHIELD DID NOT BREAK, BUT THERE IS DAMAGE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR WHERE THE HOOD BENT THE BODY. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THE INITIAL HOOD LATCH COMING LOOSE, SO I NOTED THE CAR SITTING IN THE PARKING AREA WITH THE HOOD ONLY ON THE 1ST LATCH. *TR
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DID NOT START ONE MORNING AS I NEEDED TO GO IN TO WORK. I CALLED NISSAN IN LIBERTYVILLE IL AND I WAS TOLD THE IT WAS PROBABLY THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. I PROVIDED THEM THE VIN NUMBER AND THEY SAID IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO IT WOULD BE COVERED 100% IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE. ONCE AT THEIR SHOP THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING ISSUE BUT SWITCHED THEIR STORY AND SAID IT NO LONGER WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY CONFIRMED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF MY NISSAN BREAKING DOWN. AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS TO NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE PART WHICH COST ME $850 IN REPAIRS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PUSH ROD INSIDE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,385.
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.
CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
VEHICLE WILL NOT START MINUTES AFTER A SUCCESSFUL START. ALL OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS BATTERY, ELECTRICAL, AND FOB KEY ISSUES ELIMINATED AS POSSIBLE CAUSE. SIMILAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED, MOST LIKELY A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, OR IN SOME CASES, A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHEREIN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED BUT THE IGNITION SYSTEM IS REGISTERING AN UNPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL. A SAFETY ISSUE AS MOTORIST COULD BE STRANDED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER OR OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATION.
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, SUN ROOF GLASS CAME OUT OF ROOF. THERE IS A RECALL ON SUN ROOF GLASS DUE TO SHODDY, IMPROPER INSTALLATION. CONTACTED SUN ROOF COMPANY ABOUT RECALL, FILED A CLAIM, WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED IN A CONVENIENT AND TIMELY MANNER. THEY GAVE ME THEIR INSTALLERS CONTACT INFO AND INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT THEM WITH SOME INFO AND THEY( THE INSTALLER) WOULD HANDLE THE REST. WHEN I CONTACTED THE INSTALLER I WAS TOLD RATHER RUDELY THAT I WAS NOT TO CALL THEM(INSTALLER), THAT THEY WERE VERY BUSY, AND WOULD GET THE INFO FROM THE COMPANY(WEBASTO) AND CONTACT ME WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PARTS. AFTER A WEEK OR SO, I CONTACTED WEBASTO AGAIN TO SEE IF I COULD HAVE AN INSTALLER IN MY CITY TO REPAIR THE GLASS DUE TO THE TIME IT WAS TAKING AND THE FACT THAT THEIR INSTALLER WAS NOT IN A CONVENIENT LOCATION. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD YES, I WOULD JUST HAVE TO GET A ONE TIME AUTHORIZATION FOR THE INSTALLER I CHOSE. MY INSTALLER FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN, THEN AFTER ABOUT FOUR DAYS OF NO RETURN CALL ABOUT THE AUTHORIZATION, I CONTACTED WEBASTO AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE REFUSING TO O.K. MY INSTALLER, AND INSISTING THAT I USE THEIR INSTALLER EVEN AT THE COST OF IT BEING DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER OR AT MY CONVENIENCE. STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE TO DATE. TODAY'S DATE BEING 3/31/15. *TR
MY DAUGHTER, AGE 24, STOPPED BY A LOCAL WALGREENS AFTER WORKING AS A PERSONAL TRAINER. IT WAS LATE EVENING AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 15 DEGREES. SHE WENT TO START HER CAR (PUSH BUTTON START) AND IT WOULDN'T START. SHE WAITED FOR 2 HOURS BEFORE SOMEONE COULD COME HELP. THIS IS AN ISSUE NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF AND HAS ADMITTED IS DUE TO A "MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITY". IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF THE PART WILL FAIL BUT WHEN THE PART WILL FAIL. WHILE THE CAR MAY BE STATIONARY, IT NONE THE LESS PUTS THE DRIVER AT RISK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE THEFT SYSTEM LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,690.
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. THIS COULD CERTAINLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT OCCURRED LATE AT NIGHT OR IN A DANGEROUS AREA. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THIS. COULD THIS HAVE CAUSED A FIRE? COULD THEY HAVE FIXED THE SHORT WITHOUT CHARGING ME $993.65 BECAUSE IT WAS 3 MONTHS PAST THE 6 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY? CAR HAS ONLY 26466 MILES ON IT. THE STARTING MECHANISM WHICH SENSES THE BRAKE BEING DEPRESSED HAD FAILED PREVIOUSLY, AND FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, WHEN I WAS FAR FROM HOME AT A LAKESIDE. TWO ELECTRICAL STARTING FAILURES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. FROM THEIR WEB SITE: YOUR NISSAN VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF TO HELP PREVENT THEFT. ON SOME VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITY THAT HAS SINCE BEEN CORRECTED, THE ESCL MAY MALFUNCTION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED AND COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. THIS CONDITION, SHOULD IT OCCUR, WILL ONLY OCCUR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, AND NOT WHILE DRIVING. ALTHOUGH NISSAN BELIEVES THE MAJORITY OF OWNERS WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS UNIQUE CONDITION, TO ASSURE YOUR CONTINUED SATISFACTION AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR VEHICLE, NISSAN HAS DECIDED TO EXTEND THE NISSAN NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY, AS IT APPLIES TO THE ESCL UNIT, FROM 3 YEARS / 36,000 MILES TO 6 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. ACCESS TO COMPLETE INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING A REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM FORM WILL BE AVAILABLE AT WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM ON APRIL 1, 2013. *TR
AIRBAGS LIGHT FOR BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE CAME ON INDICATING THAT THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR
ON A VERY COLD DAY (O DEGREES F), THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND CAR COULD NOT BE STARTED. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF $1106.98. *TR
JUST FINISHED A 13 HOUR SHIFT AT WORK WHEN I WENT OUT TO MY CAR TO HEAD HOME. THE KEY FOB OPENED THE DOORS BUT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE IGNITION TO START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE, WHICH NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF. I SPOKE WITH TWO DEALERSHIPS WHICH TOLD ME THIS IS INDEED A CHRONIC ISSUE. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHICH THEY DENIED SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 8 WEEKS PRIOR. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY AGAIN ADVISED ME TO COMPLAIN TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AS THEY HAD 5 CARS COME IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 4 DAYS THAT MY CAR WAS THERE. I AGAIN CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO TOLD ME AGAIN THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, THEY WOULD NOT BUDGE ON THIS. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE HE WOULD HAVE HIS SUPERVISOR CALL ME BACK, STILL WAITING FOR THAT CALL. NISSAN IS VERY AWARE THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO EAT THE COSTS WHEN THE PART INEVITABLY FAILS. THEY SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN, BUT DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRANDED. NISSAN DOES NOT STAND BY ITS PRODUCT OR ITS CONSUMERS. *TR
WENT OUT THIS MORNING, STARTED MY CAR, DROVE IT TO THE SUPERMARKET, CAME OUT AND THE CAR WON?T START. ACCORDING TO THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT INFORMATION IN THE MANUAL, IT SAYS I HAVE TO CONTACT THE DEALER. LOOKING AT OTHER POSTS HERE AND OTHER SITES, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NISSAN DOESN'T RECOGNIZE AS A RECALL PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE I DON?T GET RIPPED OFF TOO MUCH FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
AFTER MOVING MY CAR TO SHOVEL SNOW, I PARKED IT. I CAME OUT 2 HOURS LATER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. ELECTRONIC KEY WORKED, INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED, HORN WORKED, ALARM WORKED BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I PRESSED THE START BUTTON AND NOTHING. WE TRIED TO JUMP START IT THINKING THE BATTERY MIGHT BE A LITTLE WEAK BUT NOTHING!!! NOW AFTER 2 DAYS OF RESEARCH AND MISSED WORK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE LOCK STEERING COLUMN. I NOW HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH THIS WILL COST ME. THANK HEAVEN THE CAR JUST DIDN'T DIE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT! THE CAR ISN'T EVEN PAID OFF YET AND HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES...I HOPE YOUR AGENCY WILL DO SOMETHING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE LIKE MYSELF, THAT PAY GOOD HARD EARNED MONEY FOR SOMETHING, ONLY TO BUY A DEFECTIVE PIECE OF JUNK.IF IT WAS ONLY ME, I'D SUCK IT UP AND MOVE ON BUT ITS HUNDREDS OF US AND IF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS AREN'T COMPLAIN NOW, DON'T WORRY THEY WILL!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 170,000 MILES ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MELTED WITH A STICKY SUBSTANCE AND CAUSED A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH DISTORTED THE VISION WHENEVER DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 6/3/15*CN UPDATED 10/06/2017*CN
WENT OUT TO START CAR, AND WOULD NOT START. KEY FOB ALLOWS ME TO OPEN AND LOCK CAR, BUT I AM UNABLE TO GET MY CAR STARTED. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE 2009 ALTIMAS, WHAT WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO START. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND STILL NO RECALL. I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE TOWED, AND POSSIBLY HAVE TO PAY OVER $1000.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED. THIS ISSUE USUALLY OCCURS AFTER 55,000 MILES, BUT I AM JUST AT 33,000. PLEASE WONT YOU HELP THOSE OF US WITH THIS ISSUE WITH A RECALL ! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITH THE PUSH TO START BUTTON FUNCTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STARTER, THE FUEL LINE, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WERE REPLACED, BUT FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK SUDDENLY FAILED, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO START THE CAR. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THE ISSUE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD COST BE $900+. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH THE 2009 ALTIMA AND IT IS CLEAR THAT NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I WAS STRANDED, AWAY FROM HOME, AND HAD TO REARRANGE MY ENTIRE DAY WHILE COMING OUT OF POCKET A LARGE SUM OF MONEY WHICH I, QUITE FRANKLY, DO NOT HAVE. I SUBMITTED A WARRANTY EXTENSION REIMBURSEMENT FORM TO NISSAN WHO TURNED AROUND AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I WAS REFERRED TO THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO CONFIRMED THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA, OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECAME A PROBLEM. I AM ONLY 3 MONTHS OUTSIDE OF THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REIMBURSEMENT. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
AFTER STOPPING AT THE STORE MY CAR NO LONGER WOULD START. I LIVE IN TEXAS WHERE IT IS HOT, THIS IS A DANGER TO BE STUCK AND NO WAY TO FIX IT. THE KEY LIGHT POPPED ON. APPARENTLY AFTER RESEARCH IT IS NOTED NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. IF THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WHY NOT RECALL THE PART INSTEAD OF LEAVING MOTORIST STRANDED. IF THE PART MALFUNCTIONS THERE IS NO WAY TO MOVE THE CAR. I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT IS OK TO CHARGE 1200 DOLLARS KNOWING YOUR PART IS DEFECTIVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. *TR
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS DEFECTIVE IN COLD WEATHER FOR A NUMBER OF THE 2009 ALTIMA. I HAD NO WARNING OR IDEA THIS WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL I WAS STRANDED WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CARS. NISSAN WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS I AM 3 MONTHS OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS ISSUES IS VERY TROUBLESOME AS YOU CAN NOT USE THE CAR, IT HAS BECOME A PILE OF SCRAP. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALLED BY NISSAN AND FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE TWO TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THIS WAS THE 3RD ONE THIS MONTH WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND BECAME STICKY AND SHINY. WHEN THE SUNLIGHT SHINED ON THE MELTED SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD, A GLARE WAS PRESENT CREATING A VISIBILITY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCKING MECHANISM IS FAULTY AND WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY PAD AND REFUSES TO ALLOW THE PUSH BUTTON STARTER TO START THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO WHAT IS ON THE INTERNET, NISSAN KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2015*JS
HELLO, I AM AN OWNER OF AN 09' NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR MY DASHBOARD HAS BEGUN TO MELT CREATING A MIRROR LIKE GLARE WHICH REFLECTS OFF OF MY WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE A TOUGH TIME SEEING THE VEHICLES BRAKE LIGHTS IN FRONT OF ME. PLEASE RECALL THIS ISSUE. *TR
DROVE CAR TO GAS STATION AND AFTER FILLING WITH GAS CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE KEY FOB. THE STEERING LOCK IS BROKEN AND REQUIRES $800.00 TO REPAIR. SPOKE WITH TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY TOW A LOT OF THESE TO THE SHOP EACH WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. INCIDENT IS NOT ISOLATED. *TR
ON MONDAY, JAN 26, ,2015 MY NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START OR TURN OVER DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK. I CONTACTED NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET ASSISTANCE BY DESCRIBING WHAT ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY CAR. I PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE; MY CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THE KEY SYMBOL LIGHT IS APPEARING ON MY DASH BOARD. I WAS TOLD BY THE REP AT NISSAN THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP/AUTO NATION ASAP. MY CAR WAS TOWED ON MONDAY EVERNING JAN 26, 2015. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY (SO I THOUGHT), I CONTACTED MY WARRANTY SERVICE AND WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED NOV 26, 2014. ON THE AUTO NATION INVOICE IT SAYS (REPLACE STEERING LOCK AND PERFORMED REGSITION ON STEERING LOCK). MY CAR REPAIRED ON TUE, JAN 27, 2015 AND I WAS ABLE TO PICK-UP MY CAR ON WED, JAN 28, 2015.THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1,067.47. *TR
DROVE CAR TO STORE. LEAVING THE STORE AND STARTED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT HAD A KEY LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASH BOARD AND A LOCK NOTICE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED DOWN. THE CAR HAS A KEYLESS ENTRY. THE BATTERIES WERE GOOD IN THE VEHICLE AND THE FONT. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. VERY BIG INCONVENIENCE AS WIFE USES THE VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
KEYLESS START MALFUNCTIONED, STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND RENDERED THE CAR UNABLE TO START. PART:LOCK ASSY STRG 48700-9N00B REPLACEMENT PART USED AT THE COST OF TOWING AND 899.95 AT MENTOR NISSAN OHIO. THROUGH RESEARCH FOUND THIS IS A WIDELY KNOW ISSUE, MANY CASES INVOLVED THIS. 250,000 HITS ON INTERNET. CERTAINLY THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND REIMBURSED BY NISSAN.
THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 75 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AT A STEADY PACE. IT WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE EVEN WITH THE PEDAL PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND IT BEGAN TO MAKE A WHINING NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING AGAIN THE DROVE NORMAL LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCUR ABOUT 7 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AGAIN AT ABOUT 60MPH. THIS TIME THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN, BUT IT WOULD LET ME ACCELERATE PASS 60 MPH AND THE RPM NEEDLE NEVER MOVED. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT I STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN AND EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND STARTED MAKING THE SAME WHINING NOISE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A WHILE LONGER IT DROVE NORMAL. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM.
CAR WON'T START DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK BEING DEFECTIVE. *TR
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DID NOT START. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE BAY RIDGE NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT I MIGHT HAVE A WARRANTY BUT IT WAS MOST LIKELY EXPIRED. IF I WAS TO DO OTHER WORK ON THE CAR, THEY COULD MAKE A PITCH TO THE MANUFACTURER TO COVER THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK COST. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD OTHER PROBLEMS, CONTROL ARM, WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND SERVICE MAINTENANCE AND I NEED TO GET IT FIX WHICH TOTAL OVER $900. THE WARRANTY TO FIX THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WOULD ONLY APPLY IF I WAS TO AGREE TO DO THIS OTHER "NEEDED" WORK. THE BAY RIDGE NISSAN ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL CHARGE OF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK $966.63 IF I DID NOT AGREE TO DO THE OTHER WORK. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, I DID NOT KNOW THAT I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL AFTER THE CAR WAS FIXED AND A SECOND PROBLEM DEVELOPED. THEY TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF MY SITUATION TO SELL ME SERVICES I DIDN'T NEED. I'M VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A GOOD LAWYER, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE INFORMED THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND DEALERS SHOULD BE HONORING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMER'S BAD SITUATION TO MAKE A PROFIT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TOO AND THEY TURNED A BLIND EYE, SAYING THAT THEY "RESOLVED" THE PROBLEM. THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME A REFUND AND SAID THEY SPOKE TO THE DEALER. THIS IS THEIR IDEA OF "RESOLVED". THIS IS TOTALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. NO ONE IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DISHONESTY, NOT THE MANUFACTURER, NOT THE DEALER, NOT EVEN THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUREAU. THEY ARE THE WORST CAR COMPANY EVER WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTS. I HOPE NO ONE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO RECALL THIS DEFECT. *TR
I DROVE TO WALMART 5 MILES FROM HOME WITH NO PROBLEM. I CAME OUT OF WALMART AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. I PAID $900 TO FIX IT.