Nissan 370Z key fob problems

Filed May 2, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 51,000 miles · MI

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. The escl's primary job is to keep the steering wheel locked until you bring your key fob in range of the vehicle. It's meant to prevent theft. However, when the escl malfunctions (even with the fob present and working) the escl won't detect it and, therefore, won't release the wheel. When you press the start/stop button to start the car, nothing happens. However, the "intelligent key warning light" symbol comes on, indicating you have a problem. Nissan has been aware of this issue fo years and has issued a voluntary service campaign for various models. However, they have not done so for the 370z, even though this model is experiencing the exact problem as the models included in the voluntary service campaign. This malfunction has nothing to do with general "wear & tear". This malfunction is due to a defective part and poor engineering. I am asking the federal safety agency to encourage nissan to conduct a voluntary or mandatory recall to address and correct this issue at no cost to vehicle owners.

Filed Aug 15, 2017 · 69,004 miles · OK

My push button start does not start the car. It goes to aac and the ignition but the car just sites there. It will not turn the engine. I was stranded one time and had to get towed home.

Filed Apr 30, 2016 · Electrical, Steering · 33,387 miles · CA

Had to go get emergency cough medication for spouse at 2:30am. After leaving walgreen, was unable to start my car. The key fob has enough battery power but the engine ignition stayed on "lock" and could not detect key fob. After trying to an hour to "google" and "youtube" and tried everything I could find to fix the issue but with no luck. Had to contact spouse to pick me up at 3:00am. Towed to a mechanic because after contacting 3 different nissan dealers and calling the nissan consumer affairs, learned that there was no recall on this case. However, been reading plenty of forum on the same thing for other nissan 370zs on this very same incident. The mechanic diagnosed the steering module was malfunctioning and replaced the unit after $1,431.46. + $28 towing fee. I was fortunate that I was in a safe neighborhood although it was in the middle of the night. But I feel that this steering lock malfunction is too common to nissan dealers and their consumer affairs to not look in to. Mileage on vehicle is 33,387.

Filed Jan 11, 2016 · Steering · 32,000 miles · TN

Recently purchased a 2010 370z. Went to start my car and no ignition. Key fob light was on. Had towed to personal shop (not nissan dealership due to horrible customer service.) tech called today and said it was the steering lock unit which the nissan corp should cover. Called to file claim- refuses to even consider helping me until I tow at my expense to their dealership and pay another $87 to run the diagnostics. Nissan corp told me the werent sure after all that if they would even pay for repair. Unacceptable!!!!!

Filed Jun 25, 2015 · Steering · 34,888 miles · FL

The steering wheel lock has issues on the z's. Many other individuals have had the same problem occur to them when a key fob light comes on the dashboard to the left of the gas tank meter. Then the car won't start on anymore and has to be towed to the dealership. The dealer charges $600-$1200 for a replacement steering wheel lock ( which can potentially break again) for something that isn't our fault!!! The car has 34,xxx miles on it and shouldn't have any problems like this. There has to be a recall about this because it's a faulty unit from their manufacture and many of the z owners are starting to get this problem. Thank you, a fellow 370z owner

Filed Oct 25, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 50,000 miles · MO

Attempted to start my 370z this morning, key light would come on, and the lock light came on the push button start. But no response. After some research, it appears that the steering wheel lock mechanism is stuck halfway so the steering wheel turns but nothing is indicating to the ecu that it is unlocked. Nissan had issued a recall for the same part on 2009 gt-r's (ntb10-025 p0309) but not on 370z's. It became such an issue that in 2011/2012 nissan stopped installing the device on the 370z model. More and more 370z owners are becoming stranded because of this defect and it should be recalled and replaced.

Filed Mar 4, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 33,000 miles · WA

My 2009 nissan 370z failed to start on feb 21st without any warning. The intelligent key light was on while trying to start the car by pushing the 'start' button. Tried inserting the key fob into the fob slot but the car still failed to start. After reading numerous threads related to this problem on www.the370z.com, I discovered that this is a common problem to the 370z. I was able to start the car one more time by hitting the steering lock unit. I immediately drove to the dealership where they confirmed that my steering lock unit had to be replaced. The cost was $1335.70 total for parts and labor.

Filed Feb 2, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 21,002 miles · DE

I had the infamous "steering lock failure." it has yet to become a recall and recognized as a fault by nissan, yet the fix is $700+. I got in my car and attempted to turn my car on only to get 0 response, whatsoever. After running through the manual and seeing there were only two options if the "key light" stayed on, I changed the battery in the key fob. That wasn't the issue, which then meant the only option was the steering lock failure. I now have to get my car towed and cough up $700+ at random (since it chooses when it's going to die). This is absolutely ridiculous. Mind you, I was under the mileage warranty (21k, not 35) but I get screwed because the year. This will be the last nissan I ever buy.

Filed Jan 25, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 29,000 miles · LA

After I drove car for 5 minutes, I parked the car for 40 minutes. When I tried to start the car, nothing happened. The car has a push button start and when I pressed it, nothing happened. No sound, no starter noise. Nothing. I tried putting the key in the dash. Still nothing. I got the car towed to the nissan dealer and was told the locking system had failed. $1300 to fix it. I was told that when the system fails, the car will not start. This is an extremely dangerous car. It will leave your stranded anywhere and at any time. Many 350z & 370z owners have complained about this safety issue but nothing has been done to fix it. A recall should be forced on nissan!

Filed Jan 25, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 45,100 miles · PA

Parked car while getting lunch, tried to restart car afterwards and ignition wouldn't cycle (wont go to acc or on, stays at lock). Indicator light implied keyfob needed to be inserted into the slot. After doing so, still would not start. Replaced keyfob battery, jumped the car; none worked. Eventually had to be towed to local dealer. Steering lock unit was determined to have failed. Unlike most reported failures, this one failed with the steering wheel unlocked (mechanism never engaged), however it would still not start. Parts came in at $719 and labor at $259. Had I been made aware of these costs before the work was done, as I requested in a voicemail left for the dealer, I would never have agreed and would have done it myself. Although this event may not occur while the vehicle is in motion, posing an immediate and apparent safety issue, it did result in being stranded in 10degree winter weather. Fortunately, this occurred in the middle of the day with people in the vicinity to help and a cell phone charged. Had it happened 12hrs later and with a dead cellphone, it would pose a considerable safety issue in sub10 degree weather. This is a well known issue, known by nissan, and seems to have been addressed for the gt-r's under ntb10-025 issued 3/18/10. Yet, for some reason, it has not yet been corrected for the 370z. According to service department at dealership where this work was performed, there were too many instances of this occurrence in their system to begin counting them all when I requested that information for reporting purposes. For others information, exact part number on the sticker of the replaced unit is as follows: 48700 9n00a-b1-01 t 4601101c e08 m01 31.03.09.