My car would not start and I was forced to sit in my car for hours as the stores had closed and it took over a hour to have my car towed. This left me in a situation in which I could have been harmed as a young woman in vulnerable situation. Nissan states that this is a manufacturer irregularity which means this is something that shouldn't be happening and is a manufacture issue. After getting it diagnosed by a certified nissan dealer, I was told it was my escl. Nissan should honor their word and fix the issue at no cost since it's a manufacture malfunctioning issue in which the customer has no control over.
2009 Nissan Altima electrical complaints
Page 5 of 17: complaints 101 to 130 of 466, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Luckily the car was parked and wouldn't start for this incident. After having it towed they needed to replace the steering lock mechanism. We're glad it wasn't being driven on the highway at the time it failed and possibly locked up the steering column. That could have been deadly. The replacement cost of this part is outrageous and should have been covered or replaced by nissan. They've had a history of issues with this and should refund us the $1000 it cost just for the repair bill. It's ridiculous that people keep getting taken for something like this. Something needs to be done to remedy this situation.
Car won't start do to a defective escl electronic steering column lock. The car left me stranded after work at midnight. The car is useless it does not start. I was never informed by the dealership of any problems with the escl.
I was driving on highway when "intelligent key" warning light flashed on dashboard. I continued to my work place. When I attempted to leave my place of employment, the steering wheel locked, ignition self start would not work and I had to contact aaa to bring car to dealer. I was told that when this warning light is on, the car may lock up at anytime. I was told that I ought be driving since the steering wheel would lock up in the middle of traffic. One of the representatives at the dealer indicated that many people with this car had similar problems, in fact that day there were three 2009 altimas in the same area going to the same dealer with the "smart key" locking the car. Nissan is going to reimburse $800.00+ dollars because I believe they know this is a problem, yet they have not announced an official recall. This is very concerning for all of those people driving this vehicle with the risk of having the car lock while in motion.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated consistently without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensor failed on the passenger side of the vehicle. The seat bottom assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.
My daughter was stranded in a not so great area when her car would not start due to a well known issue with nissan altima's electronic steering column lock (escl). Nissan did not issue a recall on this dangerous issue, but instead offered an extended warranty if the part failed, without notifying consumers. This is shameful on nissan's part to allow people to be stranded in possibly dangerous situations. The repair will now cost her between $1000 and $1200
Vehicle would not crank after steering mechanism malfunction.
Steering lock controler is broken and its a common problem on all altima and nissan doesn't take risponsibility
Car stalled twice both parked in a parking lot. Battery works and key fob works with doors. But engine wont start with push button start. Electronic steering column lock defect.
The electronic steering lock has malfunctioned. The car would not start, leaving myself and two children stranded.
Electronic steering column lock failure. Leaves car disabled where ever you are. Car will not start. Must be towed. Nissan had an earlier recall but never published it to 2009 altima owners.
Escl replaced after failing to allow push button start and failed again a few months later.
The electronic steering column lock (escl) has broken without any warning and my car has become a giant brick and I can't even place the car in neutral to move it. I walked out to start my car for work one day and I found out my car was dead.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, it failed to start and the steering wheel locked up without warning. The contact received an email that informed her of the failure; however, the VIN was excluded from the recall. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel locked. The push to start button failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The federal safety agency campaign number was unknown. The failure mileage was 91,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, both with the push to start button and the emergency key slot. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.
Parked in garage, wouldn't start, steering lock system was not working so the engine didn't recognize the push button start, had to have it towed to auto mechanic to have the part replaced for $1,000 plus towing! Nissan stopped using this part in 2010 so they must know it was a bad part. I could have been anywhere when this happened and been stranded.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. While in park, the vehicle failed to start and "key fob" was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there was an extended warranty for the electronic steering column lock (escl); however, the warranty was expired. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Today the steering wheel control lock went out. After doing some research I found that this is a common problem and there is not a recall to cover this defective part. Clearly nissan has acknowledged this is a problem as they have had recalls that expired. This is not a maintenance issue that an owner should have to pay for. This is strictly a defect in electronics system. What would happen if my wife and 4 year old were stranded on days where the heat in memphis can reach indexes of 115 and it can get as cold as 10 degrees?
Electric steering column lock (escl) failed and left me stranded at work. Had to wait 2 hours for someone to come get me.
The push button start will not recognize the key "fob". I can still unlock and lock my doors with the fob, pop open my trunk, but the system that is supposed to recognize my key and unlock my steering wheel is faulty. Reading up this has been a problem for many '09 altimas and nissan even extended a warranty on this part, unfortunately that warranty is expired and my car now has the problem.
The electrical steering column lock (escl) failure which wouldn't allow the car to start is the most stupid thing I've ever heard. And that nissan wouldn't recall it is a big shame on the manufacturer. On top of that, they charge ridiculously expensive to have the part replaced ($600+labor)??!! This is super unsafe for drivers in the northeast as we may get stuck in a cold winter freezing to death for what? There is even no mechanic problem with the car. Just a little wedge-like thing that wouldn't drop to where it's supposed to be???? Ridiculous!!
We are currently experiencing what so many nissan owners have noted online... The steering lock mechanism has malfunctioned. (the key light is on, the steering wheel won't lock, doors still lock/ unlock). This is a widespread problem in the electrical system, and many people have expressed frustration online. It is electrical, so all our proper maintenance performed means nothing. Our situation was the 90 year old grandfather stranded at the grocery store parking lot for 2.5 hours. Once he returned to the car, it would not crank. The car is just now to 90,000 miles, and now we learn that nissan was aware and extended the warranty for a time, and now it has expired. There was no notice sent out nor was there an official recall. Our $1000 repair bill for a common problem spanning several years and several models is not acceptable. Please force them to do a recall!!! It's a widespread, known issue that they are already aware of.
Ecsl went out and my high school daughter was driving the car at the time as we were out of town, this could really be a hazard and definitely was costly as far as towing, thank god we have an extra vehicle but she had to find transportation, had the stress being 17 and not really knowing what to do, the car sat until we got home to have to towed to dealership, missed some of school. This part definitely should be recalled and put back out there indefinitely to be warrantied. I had heard nothing prior but good things about this vehicle and then after reading about the same year and model of vehicle I am praying after the fix this will be the only time it happens!
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. When the contact parked the vehicle and locked it with the fob, it failed to start upon her return. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ESC needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000. Updated 12/23/16*lj updated 02/07/17.
While I was at work and done with my shift I went out to my car and press the break and push the push start button it did not start it turns out that the electronic steering control lock is defective I could've been hurt or killed or put it in a dangerous situation if I had no one around me to help me out. My life was put at risk with a car that would not start. The car was stationary when this happened and it happened in a rule area of california which is the searne valley which is almost all desert. I was able to have the car towed to the valleyhigh nissan in victorville california and they are quoting me $947 to have this part replaced.
Nissan has refused to recall their faulty electronic steering lock unit that is needed to turn the vehicle on. If it does not lock the wheel in place it will not allow the push start ignition to start the vehicle, thus leaving their occupants stranded with no option other than to have their vehicles towed to a nissan dealership and forced to pay upwards of $1200 for the replacement of a defective factory part. They offered a extended warranty to address this issue, but neglected to inform consumers of this. They are clearly trying to get out of paying for their mistakes and are passing the cost on to their unsuspecting customers.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the key fobs were defective and needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
I have a 2009 nissan altima that I purchased as a pre owned in 2012. Since that time I have brought the car to the dealer for oil changes and repairs on many occasions. At no times while the car was getting serviced was I informed that there was a potential problem with the steering wheel lock sensor and the car would ot start and because of that nissan had extended the warranty to cover the repair or replacement of the part, earlier this week my car would not start and I had to have it towed 35 miles to my mechanic who diagnosed the problem as a steering lock sensor failure. The cost to repair the car was 725.00. I conducted some research the problem and found several articles on line concerning the problem and that nissan had extended the warranty. Again, I was never notified in person while the car was being serviced or by mail by the dealer or nissan. Based on my research I believe that the dealer or nissan had the obligation to notify me of the potential problem. At the time that the sensor failed I was approximately 35 miles from home and had to have the car towed. At times I have my grandchildren with me and this could have been a more serious situation if they were with me.
Car will not start. Steering lock mechanism malfunction. Car parked on street in front of our house. At least I'm not on a trip. Nissan won't fix under a recall. They had an extended warranty to cover this problem, but it expired. Owners of pre-owned cars were never notified.
Notice a key indicator light on dash... Vehicle wouldn't start! I was in a very dark area by myself and didn't know what to do! I was scared for my life because I was alone and didn't know what would happen!!
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