2009 Nissan Altima: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Jul 24, 2020 · Body · 130,000 miles · NY

Door handles on car break internally preventing door from being unlocked or opened from inside or outside. Dealer has replaced two at my expense and now the other two are broken with the same symptoms. No abuse or accident involved they just alll of the sudden stop working. Concern is in an emergency (fire, accident, etc..) passengers or driver would not be able to exit car easily or at all in a timely basis, possibly causing severe injury or death. I have contacted nissan and they lodged a complaint but nothing more. I have read of multiple instances on the internet with nissan owners having the same problem. Fix is very expensive when done at the dealer and I belive a recall/reimbursement is due.

Filed Jan 8, 2017 · Electrical · 49,150 miles · MN

The intelligent key system failed rendering the car completely inoperable. I drove the car which operated perfectly with no warning lights, turned it off and next time I got into the car to start it and drive away. The intelligent key (pushbutton start) did not recognize that the key was in the car so the car would not start. The steering wheel was locked so could not be steered, could not be pushed due to the car being locked in park. No accessories functioned inside the car. The remote functions on the key fob all worked, door locks, trunk release, panic button, but the ignition system was a complete fail. There is no bypass for the average consumer. While it is certainly inconvenient, it could also be dangerous if the car was to have been shut off in a remote area, in sever cold or beside a busy highway. The vehicle was stationary point of failure, parked on a side street. I was fortunate that I was at a relatives home as the temperature was -3 with a wind chill of -15. Nissan realized that the steering lock mechanism was faulty and originally offered a free replacement for this part which is estimated to cost between $500-$900, but from what I have read they have rescinded that offer as of january of 2016.

Filed Dec 11, 2016 · 60,000 miles · NY

Driver side door will not open. Online research refers to "actuary" needing to be replaced. The door will lock and unlock but door will not open. Fortunately, other doors still function.

Filed Oct 15, 2016 · Steering · 57,000 miles · MD

Car will not start due to escl issues headlight turn on door locks and unlock , red and yellow key icon flashes

Filed Sep 14, 2016 · Engine, Steering · 120,000 miles · FL

After routine drive, car "froze-up" door would not open, car would not start, wheel did not turn, car would not start, car dead. After some research found many complaints about this, it has something to do with "steering / engine locking-up" and can happen anywhere at anytime without any warning. Nissan at one point had extended the warranty on this indefinitely, then arbitrarily ended it in mid 2015. This is incredibly dangerous....can leave you stranded anywhere!!!

Filed Sep 13, 2016 · Steering · 91,000 miles · IL

Escl - electronic steering column lock I went to the store far from home and when I tried starting the car it did not start. The door locks worked but nothing else would come on. I checked online and it stated that it was escl. I put in a used one and it worked. I would like nissan to replace that part with a new part. I was stranded for hours and had to leave my car in the store parking lot for 3 days.

Filed May 13, 2016 · 75,000 miles · CT

The locks have stopped working when the key fob or door button are used. I have replaced 3 out of the four door locks multiple times with the problem recurring. This presents a safety issue for people needing to exit the car or enter the car quickly. Furthermore, all of the locks have locked when the key fob was left in the car (locking me out). The car is not supposed to lock when the fob is in the car. In addition, pressing the lock and unlock button will only unlock 2 doors at this time. This appears to have happened to a number of people. I think a recall is in order so the locks work as designed to prevent safety issues.

Filed Dec 26, 2015 · Steering · 56,000 miles · UT

When driving my car to work, I stopped for a drink; after coming out of the store, my car would not start, either with the remote fob or by placing the fob in the key port. I had aaa tow my car home so I could try jumping the car, replacing the battery in the key fob, then replacing the battery in the car with a brand new one. At that point, I saw the "key ignition" light on the dashboard. Pressing the ignition button does nothing, but the door locks respond to the key fob and the lights work fine. I searched the internet and found myriad complaints about this same issue, that it was related to the steering wheel lock mechanism. It should be noted that my steering wheel has never locked in place when the care is turned off. Concerned about the status of my car, my neighbor told us that a friend had had the same situation, with the same error message, and he was able to get the part and labor serviced at no cost to him.

Filed Oct 6, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 70,300 miles · NY

Car was parked for 8 hours, went to start and nothing would happen, key light on dash was light. Steering wheel was not locked. Battery ok, fob working opening door locks.

Filed Apr 25, 2015 · Electrical, Locks · 41,500 miles · NH

In the september of 2014, the power door locks stopped working (would not open/close with the use of either the remote or the button on the driver door). At first it was the front and rear passenger doors, but then over the next 1-2 weeks both driver side door locks stopped working as well. The vehicle was not in any accident nor exposed to excessive water/fire/etc around this time. When I had it evaluated at the nissan dealership, I was told the door actuators had broken, but given no explanation as to how/why this would happen for all 4 doors at the same time. Due to the high cost of repair (quoted $250 per door), I have not had these fixed. Now, nearly 9-10 months later, the locks remain completely unresponsive to the keyless entry remote and the power lock button on the driver's door, and must be manually locked/unlocked.

Filed Apr 25, 2015 · Electrical · 145,309 miles · NJ

Driver side door lock stop functioning with the remote keyless entry fob. This is the only door that stopped working all the other doors function as intended. I believe it is a malfunction of the lock regulator.

Filed Apr 1, 2014 · Body, Locks · MD

Rear left and right doors, and right front door has failed door lock actuators. The doors will not open and close automatically. Electricity goes through the doors, but the actuators are dysfunctional. The vehicle only had 41,000 miles on date of purchase, but I am not sure if previous owner left doors open or windows wind down, and it caused water damage. The inspection given by the dealership is actually deceptive as well, because this car should have failed inspection. I can not drive with the doors locked because based on the findings at the nissan dealer, the doors may become permanently locked due to the damages of the door lock actuator and lock me inside the car. The inspector should have failed the inspection based on the damages of the vehicle. The cost of repairs is 965.00.