2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Dec 29, 2016 · Steering · 83,909 miles · MA

My daughter stopped at a local coffee shop before going to work one morning. When she returned to her 2009 nissan altima hybrid she opened the door remotely with the key fob and tried to start the car and the engine did not respond. The steering column had locked and a yellow key lock light had come on the display. Reading the owners manual, she thought the problem might be with the key fob battery. Luckily, I was still at home and was able to bring a spare fob to her. Using the spare,though,had the same result: no ignition. We called aaa and had the car towed to the dealer. The dealership "confirmed, checked and found the steering lock is faulty, removed and replaced. Cleared all codes and reprogrammed both keys". Parts replaced were 1 48700-jf00d lock steering and 2 48703-06f0a screw-steering lock, lightening my wallet by $948.33. Three days later we were able to pick up a drivable vehicle with a functioning steering column. During the time we were without this car we were able to do some internet research on this issue and found out that it is a known problem with 2007-2011 altimas with average mileage around 80,000, ( this one had 83,909) that nissan acknowledges does exist,and yet they will not issue a recall. From our searches of many web sites (including we were able to determine that this problem has been frequently reported, yet still there have been no steps taken toward rectifying the problem. As an altima owner I am left wondering what needs to happen in order for nissan to finally acknowledge that this is a legitimate safety issue that could happen at any time and any place.

Filed Nov 26, 2016 · Steering · 90,150 miles · OR

For some unknown reason my car would not start on thanksgiving. It only showed a key. I went to nissan the next day to get a new battery for my key fob. And had to get it towed. They said it was a steering column lock and it was over $900. Never heard of such a thing and at such a ridiculous expense. Apparently this is common for this model and I'm hoping for reimbursement as I didn't know about it before 1/1/16. I'm glad we weren't on an out of town trip that day.

Filed Nov 3, 2016 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · CT

My car was parked and off, and had been working fine when I parked it about 8 hours earlier. It was parked indoors in a garage on a warm fall day, so extreme temperatures and weather were not present. The parking spot and location were unremarkable (I was parked at work, which is safe and no one would have tampered with the car). After 7 years with no problem with the push button ignition switch, it suddenly refused to acknowledge the remote key fob. They key continued to work with the doors and trunk, and the car battery was fine. It would not accept the key when placed into the emergency ignition slot, either. The dealer determined that the lock steering unit needed to be replaced for a parts cost of $678 and labor of $303. I looked online, and found that there are many other nissan owners with cars made around this time frame with identical issue and fix. It sounds like a serial defect to me, and I believe nissan should bear the cost.

Filed Feb 9, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 44,489 miles · NJ

Starting system does not recognize the key fob. I can lock and unlock the car with the fob but can not start it. Inserting the fob into the accessory key port makes no difference. Research concludes this is a common malfunction that leaves motorists stranded and that the solution is resolved with the replacement of the steering lock mechanism. Again, this appears to be a common, known issue.

Filed Feb 26, 2013 · Electrical · 44,000 miles · WA

My wife went to start her 2009 altima hybrid with the intelligent key system. Nothing happened, the key indicator on the left of the instrument panel was lit. She tried the key in the in dash slot and still nothing. Batteries were good in both key fob's we tried, car battery was good also. It turned out to be the steering lock motor and switch. You could hear the steering lock work but evidently it never contacted the switch to show it was unlocked so the car would not start or even go into accessory mode. Parts and labor were $923 ($550 for the part, the rest labor) towing was another $100. Nissan would not help out even though I read in nissan forums that it's been a recall item on a different model and that they didn't use the same system in newer cars.

Filed Jan 23, 2013 · Electrical, Steering · 60,400 miles · CA

Intellikey light blinking started on january 14th. I replaced the battery in the key fob. I went to get into my car after work on saturday and was able to unlock my doors. I attempted to start my car, and the intellikey light was blinking again, but I did not have any dash lights come one. The car did not respond to the bypass option either. There was no power or ability to turn the car on. I had the vehicle towed to the nearest nissan dealer and have been told that the electronic steering lock malfunctioned and needs to be replaced. There is no eta as there is a back order nationwide for the part.

Filed Jan 18, 2013 · Steering · 63,000 miles · CA

The key fob unlocked the car but the car would not start when I tried to start it. The yellow key light indicator was on the dash. The push-start button stayed in the lock position. I had the car towed to the nissan dealer. They told me that the steering lock unit malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The car will not start up until it is replaced. The part is not under warranty. My final quote was $775 from the dealer. My story is similar to other steering lock unit complaints nissan should recall this defective part.