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
IN THE EARLY MORNING OF MARCH 6, 2013, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA (MILEAGE 46027), BUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD (NO CRANK OR OTHER SOUND). I NOTED AN ILLUMINATED KEY SYMBOL IN THE DASH. I PROCEEDED TO CHECK (1) THE CAR BATTERY - IT WAS FULLY CHARGED, (2) INSERT THE KEY IN MANUAL SLOT - IT WOULD NOT CRANK/START, (3) RELEASE GEAR SHIFT AND MANUALLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL - IT WOULD NOT CRANK/START, (4) USE THE SECOND REMOTE KEY - IT WOULD NOT CRANK/START, (5) PURCHASE A NEW ENERGIZER BATTERY FOR THE REMOTE KEY - ALL TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP; I WAS ADVISED THAT STEERING LOCK (REPLACEMENT NISSAN PART NUMBER 48700-9N00B) HAD FAILED AND GIVEN AN INITIAL ESTIMATE OF $915 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. LUCKILY. THE FINAL COST OF THIS JOB WAS REDUCED TO $769. AFTER FURTHER ONLINE RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN HAS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN (DATED MARCH 2010) TO REPLACE THE SAME STEERING LOCK WITH THE IDENTICAL PART NUMBER ON THE 2009 NISSAN GT-R (THIS CAR'S ORIGINAL BASE PRICE WAS $76,840). *TR
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUP V6 EDITION FREQUENTLY TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE PERSON WEIGHS OVER 125 LBS AND SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR THE SEAT TO SENSE AN ADULT IN IT. FOR SOME REASON IT INTERMITTENTLY WILL FLASH THE DASH BOARD LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OFF DURING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE OCCUPANT IS TOO LIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IN INTO THE DEALER ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THE SENSOR AND AIRBAG UNIT ARE FUNCTIONING, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
DEAR SIRS: ON MARCH 31ST AT APROX. 2PM I WAS HEADING TO WORK IN I-4 WESTBOUND WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO WOBBLE. I WAS JUST PAST THE OFF-RAMP FOR THE B-LINE, NEAR SEA WORLD, BUT BARELY GO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE NARROWED THE ROAD. WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGN OR LIGHT,THE LEFT SIDE REAR TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE RIM AND WAS FLOPPING AROUND AND CAUGHT THE BUMPER TEARING IT PARTIALLY LOOSE. THROUGH MY INSURANCE, GEICO, I WAS ABLE TO GET A TOW TO UNIVERSAL NISSAN A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE MET ME BY THE CAR. WE WENT WITH THE TOW TO UNIVERSAL AND LEFT THE KEY IN THE DROP BOX. I HAD TO MISS WORK THAT DAY. THE NEXT DAY NISSAN CALLED TO TELL US THE CAR NEEDED "BODY WORK" AND WE HAD TO CALL GEICO TO GET ANOTHER TOW TO UNIVERSAL AUTOBODY. WE WERE VERY CLEAR THAT THE CAR HAD A WARRANTY AND WE THOUGHT THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED. WE HAD A GEICO REPRESENTATIVE INSPECT THE CAR ON 4-1 AND HE SAID IT WOULD BE 3 DAYS AND $443 TO FIX IT; THE TIRES WERE NOT COVERED BY GEICO AND WE DID NOT MEET OUR DEDUCTIBLE. WE SPOKE WITH UNIVERSAL SEVERAL TIMES TO HONOR THE WARRANTIES WE ARE PAYING FOR. THE PAPERS WERE IN THE CAR AND I ASSUMED OUR RECORDS WOULD BE ON FILE AT UNIVERSAL NISSAN. HE KEPT INSISTING THAT THE TIRES AND DAMAGE WERE NOT COVERED. WE WERE USING MY MOM'S AND ANOTHER OLDER CAR TO GET TO WORK, SO WE DIDN'T GO BACK TO UNIVERSAL AUTOBODY UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, APRIL 8TH. WE AGREED ONLY TO REPLACE THE PAIR OF BACK TIRES WITH A USED RIM, AND A "WHEELHOUSE LINER" AND MOUNTING AND BALANCING. THEY SAID THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE CAR AND GO TO WORK; THE BILL WAS$725.47 WHICH WE ARE NOW DISPUTING. THE TIRES: 215/60R15 ARE INCORRECTLY BILLED. THE WARRANTY PAPERS WERE INSIDE THE CAR: ROAD HAZARD TIRE COVERAGE (5 YRS) OIL CHANGE & TIRE ROTATION PLAN, TOTAL LOSS PROTECTION ADDENDUM, ROYAL PROTECTION PLAN, ETC. WE ONLY HAD THE CAR 9 MONTHS; I'M READY TO RETURN IT. *TR
DROVE VEHICLE THIS MORNING, GOT OUT THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, KEY LIGHT WERE ON, TOWED TO DEALER, STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE VIEWED ONLINE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS TO THIS SAME VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC KEY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE PUSH TO START BUTTON FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 5/7/13 *CN UPDATED 05/22/2013 *JS
MY CARS DASH STARTED LOOKING SHINY AND FELT STICKY. IT IS ALL STICKY AS IF IT WERE MELTING ITS ALSO CRACKING. THE STICKINESS CAUSES A GLARE THAT MAKES SEEING THE ROAD ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. EVERYTHING IN THE AIR STICKS ON THE DASH TOO. EVEN THOUGH THE BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE GLARE THAT REFLECTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAN SERIOUSLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JS
INCLUDE MY 2009 ALTIMA 2.5SL TO THE GROWING LIST OF STEERING COLUMN ELECTRICAL SHORT PROBLEMS. I TOO HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE CAR AND 20 MINUTES LATER RETURNED TO FIND IT WOULD NOT START. BRAKE FELT DEPRESSED WHEN I FIRST PUT MY FOOT ON IT. PUSHED THE BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. TRIED THE KEY IN THE DASH SLOT, AND NOTHING. CALLED DEALER, HE TOLD ME TO TRY AND JUMP START WITH CABLES AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE VERY COMMON ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN SHORT, AND THE FIX WAS 1100.00. LUCKILY I HAD PURCHASED A SERVICE CONTRACT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2011. PAID DEDUCTIBLE OF 100.00. THIS ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A NISSAN RECALL. DEALER TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE 370Z, BUT HAD NOT MADE IT YET FOR ALTIMA. I DID SEE THROUGH RESEARCH AND A FRIEND WHO WORKS FOR NISSAN, THAT THEY CHANGED THAT WIRING IN THE MODEL YEARS THAT FOLLOWED. *TR
I DROVE MY CAR THIS MORNING WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I WENT TO RESTART THE CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY.I TRIED OVER AND OVER I EVEN CHANGED THE BATTERIES IN THE REMOTE TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER NISSAN OWNERS THAT ITS A STEERING LOCK. I AM ALSO BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ITEM THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. IT APPEARS TO BE MORE OF A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR
DRIVING ON STREET WHEN MOONROOF SHATTERED. NO APPARENT CAUSE DETERMINED, BUT WAS RAINING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. BREAK OF MOONROOF SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT WITH GLASS FRAGMENTS GOING BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COVERED IN GLASS, BUT NO INJURIES. HOWEVER, ROOF AND TRUNK HAD PAINT DAMAGE FROM BROKEN GLASS. *TR
DROVE MY CAR TO LOCATION, TURNED CAR OFF, RETURNED TO CAR 5 MINUTES LATER WOULD NOT START. THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY, FUSE, OR DEAD KEY FOB BATTERY. CALLED DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER STATED OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND PUSH IGNITION BUTTON...DIDN'T WORK. ON MY DASH PANEL I NOTICED THE KEY LIGHT SYMBOL WAS LIT UP, WHEN I TRIED TO START CAR WITH THE KEYFOB THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND AT DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE THE STEERING LOCK. IT MALFUNCTIONED AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PART HAS BEEN ORDERED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED ON 03/21/2013. ESTIMATE IS 914.00. *TR
MY HUSBAND CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN HE GOT OUT OF WORK. I WAS CURRENTLY TRAINING ACROSS THE STATE SO WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST I TOLD HIM TO CALL THE CAR INSURANCE IF GETTING A JUMP OR CHANGING THE KEY FOB BATTERIES DIDN'T WORK. $85 LATER AND A TOW I WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND WHEN IT DID COME BACK IN STOCK THE PART IS GOING TO COST ME $1200!!!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN AND THE LAST 5 CARS I HAVE PURCHASED HAVE BEEN A NISSAN. *TR
ON 3/13/2013 I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 8:55AM AND PARKED EVERYTHING IN CAR WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AT 6:30PM I APPROACHED MY VEHICLE UNLOCKED THE DOOR USING MY KEY FOB, ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO PRESS THE IGNITION BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENS. AFTER SWITCHING ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND NOTICING NO POWER ISSUES I NOTICED A FLASHING INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE DASH THAT SAID NO KEY PRESENT. AFTER BEING THE ONLY CAR LEFT IN THE DARK SECLUDED PARKING LOT I STARTED OFF ON A JOURNEY TO PURCHASE A BATTERY FOR THE KEY FOB AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PHENOMENON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH IS ABOUT 60 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. THE DEALER AFTER INVESTIGATING FOR A MATTER OF MINUTES WERE QUICKLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS A STEERING LOCK MODULE THAT WAS VERY COSTLY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF ALTIMA'S AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLE THAT ARE INFECTED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK DEVICES THAT CAUSES YOU TO RANDOMLY BE STRANDED IN SECLUDED AREAS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THIS I FIND HIGHLY UNETHICAL FOR NISSAN TO BE TOTALLY AWARE OF SUCH DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND NOT HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS NOR THEIR CHILDREN. IM HOPING THAT THE NHTSA CAN PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM BULLIES LIKE NISSAN AND HELP US GET THE RECALL WE DESERVE. ALL WE WANT IS A RELIABLE PRODUCT THAT CAN PERFORM THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED TO PERFORM. SO LET'S DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HOLD NISSAN UP TO THE AMERICAN STANDARD OF PUTTING OUT QUALITY RELIABLE PRODUCTS AND NOT RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS. *TR
OUR PUSH BUTTON START IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WORKING AS WE WERE AT A GAS STATION. THE BACK-UP METHOD AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL WOULD NOT WORK. WE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. "LOCK STEERING" PIECE MALFUNCTIONED AND COST $981 TO FIX. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS BUT NISSAN HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL (HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/NISSAN/ALTIMA/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/INTELLIGENT-KEY-ISSUE-WILL-NOT-START-T550340.HTML HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/NISSAN/ALTIMA/STEERING-PROBLEMS.PHP). *TR
DROVE CAR TO WORK. AFTER WORK WENT OUT TO VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH LEARNED THIS HAS HAPPEN TO MANY NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. THERE IS NO WARNING. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN FAILING LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED - I AM ONE OF THEM. THE PART CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT A NISSAN DEALER. THE COST IS $1000.00. NO WARNING. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS I LIVE IN MN. WE HAVE EXTREMELY COLD WINTER. IF I WENT ICE FISHING IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND CAME BACK TO MY VEHICLE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH NO SOURCE OF HEAT. MY ONLY HOPE WOULD BE A CELL PHONE, PROVIDING I HAVE ONE. THE SECOND PART IS A LOCAL GARAGE WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. IT CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED BY NISSAN. I HOPE YOU RECOGNIZE MY CONCERN. *TR
I WAS WASHING MY CAR AND THEN WANTED TO VACUUM IT OUT. I MOVED THE DRIVER SEAT FORWARD AND THE BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT DETACHED AND FELL IN THE BACK SEAT. I COULD NOT FIX IT SO I TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO INITIALLY WANTED $ 1,200.00 TO REPAIR. THEY EVENTUALLY PUT THE SEAT IN PLACE AND TOLD ME NEVER TO MOVE IT AGAIN. THIS IS CRAZY IT IS A POWER SEAT. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT FROM FACTORY. HAD I BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING UP THRU THE ROOF AND MOST LIKELY HAVE WRECKED. *TR
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA-26,500 MILES WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. COST $900 TO REPAIR WITH NO GUARANTEE NEW PART ISN'T DEFECTIVE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL AND REFUND EVERYONE WHO HAS PAID TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS. *TR
STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *TR
03/06/2013, MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO PICK ME UP FROM THE TRAIN STATION, AND MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WOULD NOT START. WE CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHOM GAVE US A COUPLE OF OPTIONS, PLACE THE KEY IN THE PORT, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND GET THE SPARE KEY, NOTHING, WORKED! SO THE LAST OPTION WAS TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. FIRST, IT HAD TO BE TOWED THERE, A DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE, IT WAS STATED THAT STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT WAS NEEDED, THIS WAS A WHOOPING $800.00. NOW I READ THE FORUM ON THIS AND THIS IS A MONOPOLY, EVERY ONE WHOM COMMENTED WHOSE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 30, 000 TO 60,000, THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. NOW THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IF YOU ADD UP EVERYONE WHOM HAS SPENT $800 OR MORE TO GET THIS PRICE FIXED AND IS TRULY OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. ITS REALLY SHAME THAT PEOPLE WHOM WANT A NICE CAR HAVE THE PAY SUCH AN EXPENSE, THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR IN 10 YEARS AND WAS REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF AND STILL AM AND HAVE RECOMMENDED OTHER NISSANS TO MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BUT MY I AM TRULY UPSET THAT ONLY AFTER HAVING MY CAR LESS THAN A YEAR, I HAD TO INCUR SUCH A MAJOR EXPENSE LIKE THIS ONE. PLEASE RECALL THIS! WE NEED A STOP TO THE MADNESS!!!!!!!! *TR
I WENT TO DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK AND WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EXCEPT FOR THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND SECURITY INDICATOR LIGHTS. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT EVEN START TO TURN OVER. I NOTICED ALL OF THE LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS STILL WORKED SO I KNEW IT WAS NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN THE DAYTIME AND I WAS NOT LEFT, STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND/OR I HARSH CONDITIONS, THOUGH I HAVE READ ON FORUMS ABOUT OTHERS WHO WERE NOT SO LUCKY. UPON CALLING THE TOW TRUCK AND BEING TAKEN TO THE NISSAN SERVICE STATION, I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THERE THAT MY CAR PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY EITHER A MALFUNCTION TO THE KEY FOB OR WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT IT SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE PROBLEMS THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD WITH THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT WAS INDEED THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL (PART #48700-9N00B) WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE OF THE CAR NOT WORKING. MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND LOOKING AT THE ACCUMULATED MILEAGE, HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN EXTENSIVELY. THIS, COMPOUNDED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF NISSAN CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PART MALFUNCTION ON THE SAME EXACT YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WITH THE EXACT OR CLOSE MILEAGE IS VERY TELLING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PART. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A CAR AS YOUNG AS MINE/THE OTHERS INVOLVED SHOULD BE HAVING A MAJOR AND EXTREMELY COSTLY MALFUNCTION SUCH AS THIS ONE. CLEARLY THIS PART IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
WHILE OVER 700 MILES AWAY FROM HOME IN MINNESOTA WINTER WEATHER, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER TRYING TO JUMP THE BATTERY, CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON RADIO, ETC.. I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM (PART NUMBER 48700-9N00B) HAD BROKE NOT ALLOWING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK SO CAR WOULD START. THE CAR ONLY HAS 34,545 MILES ON IT, HOWEVER, AGE OF CAR IS 3 YR 5 MONTH SO NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT AN ALARMING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE WITH REPAIRS RUNNING $1,000 ON AVERAGE HAVE BEEN FOUND. I AND OTHERS FEEL THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED OR COVERED MY THE MANUFACTURER. IT IS UNREASONABLE THAT HIS PARTICULAR PART WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACE AS MANY TIMES AS IT HAS. BY LEAVING CONSUMERS STRANDED AND UNABLE TO OPERATE THEIR CARS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART NOT ONLY BECOMES NUISANCE, BUT IN MY OPINION, A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC HAD TO PULL THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO STOP THE ENGINE. DANGEROUS. COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE AFTER SHUT DOWN. NEARLY $1000.00 IN REPAIRS. *TR
WE HAVE A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH LESS THAN 3500K MILES. WE USE A SUN SHADE AND WE TRY TO LIMIT SUN EXPOSURE. THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSES A MAJOR REFLECTION IN THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE SINCE IT BLOCKS THE VIEW OF VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. THE WINDOWS KEEP FILMING UP FROM THE OFF-GASSING PRODUCED WHICH CANNOT BE HEALTHY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE IGNITION WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
AFTER I WAS FINISHED WORKING I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE START BUTTON. NOTHING HAPPENED. I SAW AN ICON OF A KEY IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE DASH. I TOOK OUT MY OWNERS MANUAL TO SEE WHAT THAT MEANT. I READ THAT THE REMOTE BATTERY MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WENT INTO THE HOME DEPOT WHERE I WORK AND BOUGHT NEW BATTERIES. I REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT NOW I WAS GETTING A NO KEY ICON. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR FOR SOME ADVICE. THEY SAID MAYBE THE REMOTE LOST ITS MEMORY SO I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO BRING ME THE EXTRA KEY. HE CAME.WE TRIED AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT START. THE NO KEY CAME UP AGAIN. AFTER TRYING FOR TWO HOURS I CALLED AAA FOR A TOW TO MY MECHANIC. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO MY NISSAN DEALER.I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED AND HE SAID IT IS THE STEERING LOCK COMPUTER. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $850. HE ALSO SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECALLED BY NISSAN. *TR
I GOT INTO MY CAR WITH MY 3 MONTH OLD SON TO BRING MY FIANC DINNER AT WORK. AFTER WE DROPPED DINNER OFF WE STOPPED BY THE GAS STATION TO GET GAS. I TURNED OFF MY CAR TO PUMP, AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DRIVER SEAT I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE LIKE NORMAL AND HIT THE START BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I ASSUMED MY CAR HAD DIED, BUT MY LIGHTS WOULD STILL COME ON AND I NOTICED A WARNING LIGHT THAT SAID KEY. I HAD MY 3 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR AND IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE SO I QUICKLY FLIPPED THROUGH THE MANUAL TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT LIGHT MEANT. AFTER READING ABOUT IT IN THE MANUAL AND LOOKING IT UP ONLINE I QUICKLY REALIZED THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE ALTIMAS. I HAD TO CALL MY FIANCES FATHER TO COME PICK US UP AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED. SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CAR TO GET TOWED AND FROM EVERYONE ELSE'S COMPLAINTS IT WILL COST ATLEAST $700 TO FIX. NISSAN HAS A HUGE ISSUE THEY NEED TO RECALL. I TRAVEL A LOT WITH MY 3 MONTH OLD, AND WHAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A RANDOM GAS STATION FAR AWAY FROM FAMILY. I DO NOT FEEL THE WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES IN MAKING THIS VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS NOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CONTACT TOM MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ENGAGED ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,050. *TR
PART 2 - CONFIRMATION NUMBER 10500119 PART 1 --- I WANTED TO ADD THAT I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2009. THIS WILL COST ME OUT OF POCKET $685 AND OF COURSE LIKE A SAID PREVIOUSLY THE WARRANTY OF 3/36,000 BEING THE YEARS THAT EXPIRED FIRST. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 3 1/2 YEARS YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH A CAR THIS EARLY. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG RED FLAG TO THE NISSAN COMPANY!. *TR
FIRST PROBLEM STARTED WITH A FUNNY SOUND WHEN THE CAR WOULD START AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START THE FIRST TIME WITH PUSHING THE AUTO START. THIS WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I GOT THE VISUAL ON THE COLUMN THAT THE SMARTKEY WAS LOW AND HAD THEM REPLACE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND REPROGRAMMED IN BOTH KEYS. THIS IS WHEN ALL THE PROBLEMS STARTED DELAYED START NOT STARTING THEN I LEFT HOME AND ARRIVED AT WORK FINE THE MORNING OF 02/25/13 AND HAD TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER SITE AND TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO START. I HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND COME LOOK AT IT AND THEN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LOW KEY AND THE NO KEY SHOWED UP BUT STILL WOULD NOT START. WE TOOK SMARTKEY OUT TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED AGAIN TRIED THIS AND IT DIDN'T START. WE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND CALLED DEALERSHIP BACK AND THEY SAID WE COULD PUT THE SMARTKEY IN THE SLOT TO START CAR THIS DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S A STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AND ELECTRIC PROBLEMS. I'VE HAD THIS CAR ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS OTHER NISSANS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY ARE USING THE SAME PART TO FIX MY CAR AND IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. WHAT SCARES ME AND COULD PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER IS THE STEERING COULD GO OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING AND COULD KILL ME. I HAVE TOLD MY FAMILY IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT TO TEST MY STEERING AND IF THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT OR MY DEATH THEY ARE TO SUE NISSAN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FIXED WITH DEPENDABLE PARTS AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY SHOULD REPLACE WITH NO COST TO THE CONSUMER PARTS OR LABOR. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BECAUSE OF THE 3 YR. ALWAYS THE CASE. I WANT FULL REIMBURSEMENT FROM NISSAN BECAUSE THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!!!!!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RIDING WITH MY WIFE, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIT MEANING I WAS NOT PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND I WEIGH 180 LBS. I DON'T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT I AM GOING TO CALL DEALER MONDAY AND CHECK ON THIS. MY SON HAS ALSO REPORTED THIS TO ME AS WELL AND HE WEIGHS ABOUT 160 LBS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH-TO-START WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE MOMENTARILY AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF UPDATED 05/21/2013 *JS
PARKED CAN IN FRONT OF STORE AND ATTMPTED TO START IT BUT IT WOULD NOT START. YELLOW "KEY MISSING" LIGHT COMES ON BUT IT WON'T START. KEY BATTERY IS NEW, CAR BATTERY IS NEW, WON'T JUMP START. CAR IS DEAD. TURNS OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. ONLY 57, 000 MILES AND THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY ISSUES WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. NEW BATTERY (2) NEW BRAKE SWITCH NEW ALTERNATOR NEW A/C PUMP NEW FRONT ROTOR. *TR
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD - CAR WILL NOT START AND IS ILLUMINATING THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS AROUND $500 AND WITH LABOR THE TOTAL IS $724. I WAS TOLD THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND COULD TAKE UP TO 3 WEEKS TO COME IN. I WAS TOLD IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THIS MODEL AND MILEAGE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS. I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AND INQUIRED ABOUT RECALLS. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING ISSUES WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN DONE. WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. REALLY UPSET AND FRUSTRATED. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START AND IS ILLUMINATING THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS AROUND $500 AND WITH LABOR THE TOTAL IS $950. FURTHERMORE, THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THEY INDICATED POSSIBLY TWO WEEKS. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS PART AND THAT I SHOULD CALL NISSAN TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AT 800-NISSAN1. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE, SO IF YOU ARE AS WELL, PLEASE LOG YOUR INCIDENT/COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AT THE NUMBER ABOVE AS WELL ENTERING IT ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR
ON FEBRUARY 21, 2015, WHILE TRAVELING 300+ MILES OUT OF TOWN MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FAILED DUE TO THE BROADLY KNOWN ISSUE OF "STEERING COLUMN LOCKOUT," IN WHICH THE CAR WILL NOT START AND REQUIRES A TOW TO THE DEALER FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I AM REQUESTING THE NHTSA LAUNCH OR EXPAND AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND PROVIDE A PUBLIC WARNING TO DRIVERS OF NISSAN VEHICLES. THE CAR HAD REGULAR SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 10, 2015, AT MOSSY NISSAN OCEANSIDE, CA AND I WAS TOLD "SAFE TO DRIVE" FOR MY TRIP OUT OF STATE. IT WASN'T, THE DEALER DOESN'T CHECK FOR THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUE DURING SERVICE. NISSAN REFUSES TO ISSUE A FULL RECALL, INSTEAD EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 1,000,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. IN THIS WAY NISSAN PROFITS FROM REPAIRS OF CARS FAILING AFTER 5 YEARS YET BEFORE OR AFTER 1,000,000 MILES WHEN THE CAR STRANDS DRIVERS, AND BECAUSE NOT A FULL RECALL THERE IS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOR AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION. NISSAN DOES NOT HAVE THE CONTROLS TO KNOW WHICH VEHICLES WILL FAIL, AS EVIDENCED BY MY AND MULTIPLE PAGES OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA. I AND MY FAMILY DO NOT ACCEPT THE MULTIPLE APOLOGIES FROM NISSAN, AND THERE IS NO WAY FOR NISSAN TO MAKE UP FOR ME MISSING MY DAUGHTER'S EVENT. NISSAN'S ACTIONS INDICATE THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PASSENGER SAFETY. THIS NISSAN HAS STRANDED ME 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2009 FROM MOSSY NISSAN OCEANSIDE, AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALER. REGARDING PASSENGER SAFETY, ALSO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO TURN ON TO PROTECT PASSENGERS. ON AIRBAG FAILURE, NISSAN TESTED THE AIRBAG ON MY VEHICLE WITH A MALE PASSENGER AND STATED THEY DIDN'T SEE AN ISSUE, MISLEADING MYSELF, CUSTOMERS, AND THE NHTSA BY TESTING WITH A MALE PASSENGER OVER 120 POUNDS YET PUBLISHING RESULTS AS APPLYING TO BOTH GENDERS - A FEMALE PASSENGER WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE OVER 150 POUNDS TO BE PROTECTED BY THE NISSAN PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD - CAR WILL NOT START AND IS ILLUMINATING THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS AROUND $500 AND WITH LABOR THE TOTAL IS $779. WAS TOLD IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THIS MODEL AND MILEAGE. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE INSIST ON THEM RECALLING THIS ISSUE AND REIMBURSING THE FULL AMOUNT TO ME. IF NOT, THIS WILL BE MY LAST NISSAN. *TR
HAD STOPPED TO GET BREAKFAST. LOCKED MY CAR AND UPON RETURNING UNLOCKED THE CAR AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM MY CAR. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED I THEN LEARNED THAT THE BRAKES WERE STIFF AND STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WANT TO TURN. WE HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER. AFTER LEAVING IT THERE I DID SOME INVESTIGATING ONLINE ABOUT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME PRESENTLY AND PAST. APPARENTLY, SEVERAL PEOPLE FOUND THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH GETTING NO HELP FROM NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. I HAD YET TO HEAR IF THIS WAS MY PROBLEM BUT WAS GIVEN THE SAD/EXPENSIVE NEWS A DAY LATER THAT INDEED I WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE GROWING NUMBER OF NISSAN OWNERS WHO WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FAULTY PART REPLACED. BUT THE FUN DIDN'T STOP THERE. THE PART IS ON BACKORDER (BECAUSE SO MANY ARE NEEDED) UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND THERE ARE RECALLS ON MY CAR THAT NO ONE BOTHERED TO TELL ME ABOUT. I CALLED NISSAN AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO WAS GOING TO FORWARD MY CONCERN ONTO A REGIONAL CONCERN SPECIALIST. WHEN SHE CALLED ME BACK TWO DAYS LATER SHE INFORMED ME THAT IT IS NOT NISSANS JOB TO LET THEIR OWNERS/DRIVERS KNOW ABOUT RECALLS BUT THE DEALERS JOB. IN ADDITION, SHE'S PRETTY SURE THAT NO HELP WILL BE GIVEN TO REPLACE THE PART THAT WILL COST ME 700 DOLLARS. BUT SHE WOULD ASK AND CALL ME BACK THREE DAYS LATER. SHE IS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME TOMORROW WITH THE ANSWER. SHOCKED IS THE ONLY WORD THAT COMES TO MIND ABOUT MY SITUATION. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS PART HAS CAUSED SO MANY PEOPLE SO MANY PROBLEMS BUT IT IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST SOMEWHERE. IS THERE NOTHING TO BE DONE FOR IT? EVEN THE SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL. MY CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT QUIT RESPONDING BUT SOMEONE COULD BE DRIVING. HELP! *TR
I PURCHASED THIS USED 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM A DEALER IN MY LOCAL TOWN. WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD AROUND 36-38,000 MILES ON IT (CAN'T REMEMBER AT THIS TIME). HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE APPROX 100 MILES A WEEK, AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK THE OTHER DAY THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T TURN ON. THE INTELLIGENCE KEY BATTERY WAS CHARGED, THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR WAS CHARGE, I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND RESET IT, STILL NOTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO GET IT TO TURN ON. I TOWED IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS THE, "STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT" WHICH WOULD COST $717 FOR PART AND LABOR ALONG WITH A $70 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T STRANDED IN A BAD AREA OR WITHOUT A WAY TO REACH SOMEONE. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PART, TOO MANY INCIDENTS WITH THIS PART IN NISSAN VEHICLES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED UPON THE ARRIVAL OF THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
I PURCHASED THIS USED 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM A DEALER IN MY LOCAL TOWN. WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD AROUND 36-38,000 MILES ON IT (CAN'T REMEMBER AT THIS TIME). HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE APPROX 100 MILES A WEEK, AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK THE OTHER DAY THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T TURN ON. THE INTELLIGENCE KEY BATTERY WAS CHARGED, THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR WAS CHARGE, I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND RESET IT, STILL NOTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO GET IT TO TURN ON. I TOWED IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS THE, "STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT" WHICH WOULD COST $717 FOR PART AND LABOR ALONG WITH A $70 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T STRANDED IN A BAD AREA OR WITHOUT A WAY TO REACH SOMEONE. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PART, TOO MANY INCIDENTS WITH THIS PART IN NISSAN VEHICLES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE START BUTTON FOR THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING LOCK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER RESPONDED AS IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,915. UPDATED 3/28/13 *CN UPDATED 05/10/2013 *JS
DASHBOARD IS MELTING. CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE PART IF I PAID THE LABOR. STATED IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT WOULD NOT GIVE ME A LETTER EXPLAINING SAME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE, PARKED AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE FOR 2 HOURS AND THEN GOT IN IT TO LEAVE AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATED THAT THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN THE IGNITION HOLE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE TECHNICIAN, IT IS THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY ISSUE IS THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL, IT WAS BELOW 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY CHILDREN HOME. WERE I NOT AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED SOMEWHERE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO SIGNALS TO INDICATE TO ME THAT SOMETHING NEEDING REPLACING OR FIXING. AND IT'S AN $800 DOLLAR FIX WITH PARTS AND LABOR... THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, THIS IS RIDICULOUS. APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS AFTER ABOUT 2-3 YEARS IN THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, A WARNING ERRONEOUSLY APPEARED STATING THAT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 117,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER WENT OUT TO START THE VEHICLE,THE SECURITY SYSTEM FOR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK/UNLOCK WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED DUE TO IT SAYING THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED WHEN IT ACTUALLY WASN'T.THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL OF THE 2008-2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS.IT HAS BEEN AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR 5 DAYS NOW,AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL BE ANOTHER 5 DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN GET THE PART NEEDED DUE TO IT BEING ON BACKORDER.THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY NISSAN BEFORE SOMEONE GETS STRANDED.THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE WHEN THIS RELAY QUITS IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSET DEALERSHIP.THIS REPAIR COSTS AROUND 1000.00 (LABOR,PARTS,TOWING),AND THAT IS IF AND WHEN THEY CAN GET THE PART. *TR
DROVE TO A STORE ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED (CAR WENT INTO LOCK MODE AND IT COULD NOT BE RESET). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT IS BEING REPLACED AND THE COST IS $918. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,100. *TR
STARTED THE CAR ONE COLD MORNING AND IT RAN FINE. STOPPED FOR COFFEE AT STARBUCKS CAME OUT AND THE CAR DID NOT START, DID NOT CLICK, DID NOTHING. TURNS OUT, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER WHICH COST $85.00, THEN EVALUATED $120.00, THEN REPAIRED FOR A BROKE STEERING MECHANISM LOCK $940.00. I RETURNED TO REVIEW THIS PROBLEM ON LINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME CONDITION. I AM ALSO TOLD THIS WAS CORRECTED FOR THE 2010 MODELS. WHY IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS CONDITION? I PLAN TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP TO RECOVER MY MONEY... *TR
THE KEY WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH; REPLACED BATTERIES IN BOTH OF THE KEYS AND THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARED. ONE WEEK LATER, WITH NO ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS OR WARNING, I PARKED THE CAR TO GO TO A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I RETURNED LESS THAN 1 HOUR LATER, I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKE WOULD NOT DEPRESS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR WILL NOT GO INTO ACCESSORY MODE EITHER NOR DOES THE OTHER KEY START THE CAR. *TR