2009 Nissan Altima Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
SOME TIMES DONT START THE KEY SIBOL APPESRS ALTIMA 2009 COUPE I LIVED IN PURTO RICO
I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM GOING OUT WITH FRIENDS AND I GOT IN MY CAR TO LEAVE WHICH I DROVE TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE A FEW HOURS BEFORE RETURNING. SHE LIVES IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX SO I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID KEY(IT'S YELLOW) . I COULD BARELY PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND I WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED MY FRIEND WHO HAS THE EXACT SAME MAKE , MODEL AND YEAR NISSAN AS ME AND HE SAID HE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH HIS CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO. THANK GOD I WASN'T AT AN UNKNOWN PLACE OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET HOME. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.
STEERING COLUMN ACTUATOR LOCKED
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BASED ON REPLACING THE BRAKE SWITCH, KEY FOB, AND BATTERY THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINT FALLS WITH THE ESCL FAILING TO ENGAGE AND REPORT IT'S STATUS. SINCE THIS IS A PUSH BUTTON START AND THERE IS NO MANUAL BACKUP, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START WITHOUT THIS PROPERLY REPORTING. CURRENTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT MY CAR WILL START ON ANY GIVEN DAY AND I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE IT IN PARKING LOTS AND GET RIDES WHEN IT FAILS TO START IN THE PAST.
WILL NOT START STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE LEFT ME STRANDED
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) I WAS IN A REMOTE PARKING LOT AT NIGHT ALONE WHERN THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. IT WAS A POORLY LIT PARKING LOT AND I WAS A WOMAN BY MYSELF AT NIGHT AND SCARED. I WAS IN A PARKED STATE.
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED THIS AS A USED CAR.WE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS WITH IT WORKING JUST FINE UP UNTIL LAST THURSDAY WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK AND STOPPED FOR GAS.HE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN HE WENT TO TURN IT BACK ON, THE CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE.WE TRIED TO JUMP IT AND GOT NOTHING. WE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND GOT NOTHING.LOOKED ON YOUTUBE TO SEE WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE.CAME ACROSS A VIDEO TALKING ABOUT THE STEERING LOCK ON 2009 NISSANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR GOING OUT AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING. HE TRIED TO FIX IT AND CHECK THE FUSES UNDER THE STEERING AND GOT IT TO START. WE WERE SO HAPPY AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE UNTIL HE TRIED DRIVING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. HE LEFT THE HOUSE, STARTED JUST FINE AND WENT TO HIS DESTINATION. ONCE HE WAS DONE AND TRIED TO LEAVE. THERE IT WAS AGAIN. CAR DID NOT START. THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. STUCK.TURNS OUT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT ENDED IN MAY OF 2020 OF THIS EXACT ISSUE.I CALL NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICE TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THEM TO REPLACE IT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MANUFACTURED ISSUE AND THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED AND THE ISSUES THAT I'M READING A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL HAVING WITH THIS IS NO LONGER VALID.AND WE WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.THIS IS NOT RIGHT.BEING THAT'S IT'S NOT OUR ISSUE.I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS SOMETHING WE CAUSED BUT WE DIDN'T, THE PREVIOUS OWNER NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL. AND NOW WE HAVE IT AND IT FALLS ON US BECAUSE NISSAN DECIDES TO EXPIRE A KNOWN RECALL THAT IS STILL HAPPENING. THIS IS SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN. WE HAVE CHILDREN AND LIKE TO GO ON ROAD TRIPS. WHAT IF WE GET STRANDED WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE, NO FOOD NO DRINKS NO NOTHING AND SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED BECAUSE NISSAN REFUSED TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT WAS THEIR FAULT. LET ME TELL YOU. HUGE LAW SUIT. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL SOMEONE GETS THIS ISSUES RESOLVED.
MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WON'T STOP LOCKING EVERY SO OFTEN. LOTS OF NISSAN 09 ALTIMAS HAVE HAD RECALLS FOR THAT PART BUT MINE DOES NOT.
MY CAR WAS PARKED NEAR MY OFFICE AND IT REFUSED TO START ON 2/7/2020 EVENING. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO NEAREST LOCAL SERVICE CENTER IT WAS DETECTED IT HAS PROBLEM WITH ESCL AND IT WAS FIXED ON 2/11/2020.DUE TO URGENT NEED I COULDN'T TAKE TO NISSAN DEALER. LATER I DISCOVERED NISSAN IS RUNNING ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ESCL IN 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA AND ALSO THERE IS OPTION FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT IT WAS REJECTED STATING MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT QUALIFIED IN SERVICE CAMPAIGN. MY CAR EXACTLY SAME PROBLEM WHAT WAS DISCLOSED IN HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2017/MC-10119195-9999.PDF. BUT NISSAN REFUSED ACCEPT THE PROBLEM AND THE REIMBURSEMENT CHARGES OF $775. I REQUEST YOU TO CHECK THIS AND INSTRUCT NISSAN TO HONOR THE REIMBURSEMENT MY CAR IS EXCLUDED FROM CAMPAIGN EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS WILL HELP SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND GETTING REFUSED BY NISSAN WITH UN-SATISFACTORY REASONS . THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS STOPPED IN STREET AND REFUSE TO START. NISSAN CASE #39570583
A FAULTY STEERING LOCK ON THE ALTIMA PREVENTED ME FROM STARTING MY CAR. I WAS STRANDED IN A REMOTE AREA FOR 7.5 HOURS AT NEAR FREEZING WEATHER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT INDICATOR AND KEY ICON ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MITCHELL NISSAN (1640 E PARK AVE, ENTERPRISE, AL 36330, (334) 347-9567) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A COST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
I AM HAVING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE ON MY 2009 NISSAN. THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR OTHER 2009 NISSAN ( NOT SURE WHY) WHICH MAKES NO SENSE. THE CAR DID NOT START WHAT SO EVER AND STUCK WITH A TODDLER IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING NISSAN MADE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF.
MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WILL NOT START AND IS BLINKING KEY ON DASH BOARD, CHANGED BATTERY IN REMOTE CONTROL, STILL WON'T START. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUM LOCK IS DEFECTIVE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER CHANGING BATTERY AND FUSES DISCONNECTING BATTERY AND CHANGING A RELAY FUSE.
MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. AS SOON AS I WOKE UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING MY CAR WOULDN'T START UP AND A YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS LIT UP. I'VE CHANGED MY KEY FOB BATTERIES, MY CAR BATTERY, AND OTHER THINGS I COULD DO. HOWEVER I COULDN'T GET BYPASSED AROUND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK WHICH I BELIEVE COULD POSIBLY BE DEFECTIVE. SEEING HOW MY CAR WON'T EVEN ENTER ACCESSORY MODE AT ALL AND NONE OF THE ELECTROCIAL COMPONENTS WORK APART FROM THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS.
I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK AFTER HAVING NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING AND IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. I AM THE ONLY ONE WORKING IN THE HOME AND IT IS APPROACHING CHRISTMAS. I NOW HAVE NO CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK DUE TO THE STEERING LOCK BEING FAULTY. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I SEEN THAT SEVERAL OTHER NISSAN MODELS FOR 2009 WERE RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER. HOW WERE ALL MODELS THAT HAVE THIS PART NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL???
ON THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, AFTER WALKING OUT OF TARGET, I UNLOCKED MY CAR AND FOUND MY CAR WOULD NOT START WITH THE KEY FOB. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS A FEMALE STRANDED ALONE IN A TARGET PARKING LOT. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF TRYING TO GET MY CAR TO START, A WOMAN WITH LITERALLY A BABY ON HER HIP OFFERED TO USE JUMPER CABLES. THEN A MAN CAME TO HELP WHEN HE SAW HER HELPING ME. IT WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE, SO THE JUMPER CABLES DID NOT HELP. I WENT INTO THE STORE AND REPLACED MY KEY FOB BATTERY JUST IN CASE. IT WAS NOT A KEY FOB ISSUE. TWO HOURS LATER, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND CONFIRMED IT WAS A STEERING LOCK ISSUE. MEANWHILE, I'M RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND RECURRING ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS. HOWEVER, SINCE MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL, IT WAS NOT COVERED. IT IS THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, MY ONLY FAMILY IS OUT OF TOWN, AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE OVER $400 FOR A KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING RECALLED OR TAKEN CARE OF. I AM FORCED TO PAY OR I DON'T HAVE A DRIVABLE CAR OR A WAY TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAY. I WAS PUT UNDER IMMENSE FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STRESS DUE TO THIS SITUATION.
THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WILL COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT APPEARS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SAFE. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED ON, BUT WOULD NOT START.
MY CAR WOULD NOT START AT LUNCH TODAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. FAULTY STEERING LOCK. THE CAR WON'T START/DRIVE AT ALL DUE TO THIS. IT COSTS A SMALL FORTUNE TO HAVE REPLACED. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS BUT THERE SHOULD BE. DEALERSHIP SEES THIS A LOT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE RUSTY WALLACE NISSAN (865-687-6111, LOCATED AT 4515 CLINTON HWY, KNOXVILLE, TN 37912). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RECALL ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME PART WAS REPLACED IN 2014 AND AGAIN IN 2019 BY THE SAME DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *PM*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOCH NISSAN (525 BOSTON PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062, 781-619-7200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
HAD THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK REPLACED JANUARY OF 2019 FOR THE SECOND TIME. REPLACE IN 2013 ALSO. SERVUCE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT TOLD NOT MY SPECIFIC MODEL ALTIMA. ALL MODES USE THE SAME PART. CAR WONT START WHEN IT FAILS AND CAN OCCUR ANY TIME. WORRIED IT WILL FAIL IN A DANGEROUS PART OF TOWN. WHEN PART FAILED I WAS OUT OF STATE AND LUCKILY IN A PARKING LOT. WHY IS TIS PART COVERED BY A SERVICE CAMPAIGN BUT ONLY CERTAIN MODELS THAT USE THE SAME PART?
"STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES ME TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE.
STEERING LOCK MECHAINISM. CAR WONT START
NISSAN WEBSITE AT HTTPS://NISSANASSIST.WPENGINE.COM/CAMPAIGNS/ELECTRONIC-STEERING-COLUMN-LOCK-ESCL-SERVICE-CAMPAIGN/ STATED THAT NISSAN IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON SPECIFIC MY2009-10 NISSAN ALTIMA, ALTIMA COUPE, ALTIMA HYBRID, AND MAXIMA VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WITH AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN BOX (ESCB). MY 2009 ALTIMA IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THIS DEFECTIVE ESCL THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM OF LOCKING UP THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN'T START AFTER PARKED. THE NISSAN DEALERS IN CERRITOS AND SIGNAL HILL CALIFORNIA WILL CHARGE ME TO FIX IT FOR MORE $1220 BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST. I TOLD THE DEALERS THAT IT IS NOT A RECALL AS IT STATED ON THE NISSAN WEBSITE, AND IS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN. SO FAR, I COULDN'T START MY CAR AFTER PARKED FOR FOUR TIMES FROM MID OCTOBER TO THIS NOVEMBER 2018. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, AAA TOW TRUCK DRIVERS HAD TO REMOVE THE PANEL UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET TO ESCL AND PUSH A MIDDLE PIECE OF METAL INSIDE THE ESCL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF ITS BOX, THEN THEY COULD START THE CAR. NOW I HAVE DO THE SAME THINGS AS AAA TOW TRUCK DRIVERS DID IT. I WAS SO SCARED TWO DAYS AGO IN 7 ELEVEN PARKING LOT AT AROUND 11:30 PM, WHEN ONE PERSON APPROACHED ME AND TALKING TO ME, AND ANOTHER OPEN MY CAR'S DOOR AT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND TOOK MY ITEMS THAT I JUST BOUGHT FROM WALMART AND BOTH RAN AWAY. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, AND TAKING PUBLIC BUSES TO WORK IN THE DAY TIME AND AFRAID NOT TO GO ANY WHERE AT NIGHT TIME. A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FOR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) THAT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION IN A WIDE RANGE OF NISSAN AND INFINITI VEHICLES.
CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF STEERING LOCK SYSTEM WILL NOT COME UNLOCK NO WARNING NOTHING
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Quick Summary
The 2009 Nissan Altima has 542 Steering complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.