Page 11 of 31 · complaints 501–550 of 1,547

2009 Nissan Altima complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2009 record →

Steering
Filed Nov 11, 201688,888 milesCA

"TAKATA RECALL" THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN MY ALTIMA AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE ROAD! THE BATTERY WASN'T DEAD, THE CONTROL KEY WASN'T BAD EITHER. THE DEALER SAYS IS A $1,300 REPAIR JOB! IT'S THE STEERINGG WHEEL LOCK THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND I HAVE SEEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 09' ALTIMAS!! WHY DID YOU TAKE THE MANUFACTURE REPLACEMENT IN 2015!? THIS IS SO HORRIBLE! I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE WHEELS, ENGINE OIL AND OTHER WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS, BUT HOW IN THE WORLD CAN A PART THAT IS INSIDE MY STEERING WHEEL HAVE PROBLEMS!? I DON'T EVENT HAVE A KEY! I USE "KEYLESS CONTROL". THIS IS SO UPSETTING! PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND HAVE IT FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURES EXPENSE!!!

Steering
Filed Nov 10, 2016131,000 milesIN

STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. WAS HAVING A SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACK AT THE TIME AND WAS IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. THANKFULLY OTHERS WERE AROUND THAT COULD TAKE ME TO THE ER. THIS PART WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AS EVIDENCED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART BUT NO CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION WAS EVER ISSUED TO ME. I WAS LUCKY! TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE PANICKED AND NOT THINKING CLEARLY AND TRYING TO GET HELP ONLY TO BE HELD HOSTAGE BY A KNOWN FAULTY PART THAT WOULD NOT LET MY CAR START IS INFURIATING.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 10, 2016135,000 milesMA

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.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 7, 2016136,000 milesSC

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.

Steering
Filed Nov 7, 201690,000 milesOK

TAKATA RECALL MY DAUGHTERS 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS RUNNING FINE, SHE PARKED IT AND RAN INSIDE TO GRAB HER SCHOOL LANYARD AND RIGHT BACK OUT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN IT WOULDNT START. THE KEY FOB WAS IN THE CAR, AND IT WAS AS IF THE CAR DIDNT RECOGNIZE IT. WE SEARCHED ONLINE AND DID OUR OWN TROUBLE SHOOTING AND REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH AND KEY FOB BATTERIES WHICH DIDNT HELP. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND IT IS THE STEERING LOCK AT THE TUNE OF $1,005 . THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY ISSUE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO OTHER THAN HAVE IT TESTED AND PAY .AFTER LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN PAGE AND SEEING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY DAUGHTER COULDVE BEEN STRANDED ANYPLACE AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE NO WAY TO START THIS VEHICLE .NOW..DO WE PLAY THE WAITIN GAME TO SEE IF AND WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN? THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE FOR THE NISSANS AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. OUR FAMILY CANNOT AFFORD THIS ,AS I'M SURE NOBODYS FAMILY CAN.

Steering
Filed Nov 7, 201675,000 milesWA

WHEN PARKING IN REVERSE, CAR DOES NOT START AFTER 2 MINUTES. THE ELECTRONIS STEERING COLUMN LOCK UNIT (ESCL) MALFUNCTIONS AND SHOWS ERROR SYMBOL ON DASHBOARD SHOWING THAT IMMOBILIZER IS ACTIVATED AND STEERING IS LOCKED. IT IS UNSAFE, DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION. I HAVE FAMILY, WITH LITTLE KIDS IN THE CAR AND STRANDED ON SIDE OF A ROAD, WITH CAR PARKED WHILE THE TRAFFIC IS FLYING BY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE CENTER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY AND NO RECALL. THE COST OF REPLACING STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM IS $1250.00. THIS CAN NOT DONE BY ANY OTHER REPAIR SHOPS AS ALL THE PARTS MUST COME FROM NISSAN. IT IS A NISSAN MONOPOLY AND RANSOM TO GET THIS REPAIRED.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 7, 2016120,000 milesKS

ESCL REPLACED AFTER FAILING TO ALLOW PUSH BUTTON START AND FAILED AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER.

Steering
Filed Nov 6, 2016VA

THE KEY ICON DISPLAYS AND THE CAR DOES NOT START WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY. DEALER SAID STEERING LOCK UNIT (NISSAN PART #: 48700-9N00B) IS SHORT CIRCUITED. NISSAN DEALER IS ASKING FOR $1,100 TO FIX IT.

Steering
Filed Nov 3, 201692,000 milesNY

I WAS AT A FRIENDS HOUSE IN DOWNTOWN ALBANY DOING SOME WORK, BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO LEAVE I GOT IN MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED ON THE STREET AND MY CAR JUST WOULDN'T START. I TOWED IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR IS THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NEITHER MY PARENTS OR I WERE NOTIFIED BY NISSAN THAT THE CAR WAS HAVING THIS ISSUE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT . THE EXTENSION ENDED LAST YEAR AND NOW I'M HERE HAVING TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM OUT OF MY POCKET. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS CLEARLY THEIR MANUFACTURERS FAULT. THE PART IS NOT CHEAP AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Nov 2, 201646,000 milesPA

THE CAR WILL NOT START WHEN I PUSH ON THE BRAKE AND PUSH THE BUTTON FOR IT TO START. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE. IT WAS IN A STATIONARY POSITION BUT WE WERE STRANDED AND HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED.

Steering
Filed Nov 2, 201642,000 milesFL

I HAVE NISSAN ALTIMA 2009. MY CAR WAS PARKED AT HOME AND JUST WOULD NOT START. ABLE TO OPEN DOORS WITH KEY FOB BUT NOT START WITH THE PUSH BUTTON. FOUND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS THE PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. COST ME $1100 TO FIX IT. NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 6 YEARS, WITHOUT INFORMING THE CUSTOMERS. I REALIZED THIS WHEN THE PART HAD A PROBLEM IN THE 7TH YEAR AND NISSAN DENIED TO COVER THE COSTS. THANK FULLY THIS HAPPENED AT MY HOME. WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF I WAS TRAVELLING WITH MY FAMILY HAD THE PROBLEM AT AN ISOLATED PLACE.

Steering
Filed Nov 1, 201681,000 milesTX

STEERING COLUMN LOCK

Steering
Filed Nov 1, 201691,000 milesNJ

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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 31, 2016AL

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.

Steering
Filed Oct 31, 2016CA

STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK THERE FOR IM NOT ABLE TO TURN ON MY CAR

Steering
Filed Oct 31, 2016111,000 milesOH

MY STATIONARY CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I INSERTED THE KEY. I WAS STRANDED. NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY 1000 FOR MY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK TO BE REPLACED. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT THE COMPANY IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 29, 2016124,000 milesOR

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.

Steering
Filed Oct 28, 2016105,000 milesNJ

CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONIS STEERING COLUMN LOCK UNIT (ESCL) THIS IS VERY UNSAFE I COULD HAVE BEEN WITH MY CHILDREN AT A UNSAFE AREA FOR NISSAN TO TELL ME WARRANTY IS NOT AVAIABLE ANYMORE. THE PRICE TO GET THIS FIX IS 1200 THIS IS SO UNFAIR IF ITS A NISSAN ISSUE

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 28, 2016125,000 milesTX

STICKY AND MELTING DASHBOARD IN MY NISSAN ALTIMA . I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE DURING SUNNY DAYS AND ABOUT TO GET INTO ACCIDENT COUPLE OF TIMES THIS SUMMER.

Steering
Filed Oct 27, 201650,000 milesNY

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.

Engine
Filed Oct 27, 201685,000 milesIL

MY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK HAS MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS MALFUNCTION DOES NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB, PREVENTING IGNITION. I WAS STRANDED IN A REMOTE PART OF A FOREST PRESERVE AND BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START I HAD TO HIKE OUT 6 MILES UNTIL I GOT CELL PHONE COVERAGE AND COULD CALL FOR HELP. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO ME PREVIOUSLY IN 2011. AT THAT POINT NISSAN HAD COVERED THIS REPAIR AS PART OF A LIFETIME EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK, BUT THEY DECIDED IN JANUARY 2016 TO CANCEL THIS WARRANTY.

Steering
Filed Oct 26, 2016CA

CAR WONT START BECAUSE OF BAD STEERING LOCK. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2009 ALTIMA AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND COVERED BY NISSAN. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM NISSAN OF FAULTY PART.

Steering
Filed Oct 25, 2016122,000 milesIL

WHILE OUT SHOPPING, I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. IT WAS DARK OUT, AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE STORE PARKING LOT, IN ADDITION TO IT NOT STARTING. WHEN TOWED TO DEALER, THEY SAID THE STEERING LOCK UNIT WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I NOTICED THAT NISSAN KNEW THE STEERING LOCK UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER 2014. MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY FIXED FOR HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS FOR FREE, BUT SINCE MINE HAPPENED LATER THAT 11/2014, THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. NOW, I AM OUT ALMOST $1300 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. DEFECTIVE IS DEFECTIVE, REGARDLESS OF WHEN IT HAPPENED. THEY KNEW IT WAS DEFECTIVE, OR THEY WOULDN'T HAVE EXTENDED THAT WARRANTY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Steering
Filed Oct 24, 2016105,000 milesLA

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK DISABLED THE STARTER SO THAT I COULD NOT MOVE MY CAR. I WAS IN A WAL MART PHARMACY PARKING LOT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY WIFE IS UNDERGOING CHEMO-THERAPY FOR BREAST CANCER AND WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE WE COULD GET A RIDE HOME. THE WAIT MADE MY WIFE FEEL WORSE CONSIDERING HER CONDITION.

Steering
Filed Oct 24, 2016CA

WITHIN THE LAST MONTH I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK 3 TIMES AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRASTING. WHEN I BOUGHT AT THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A VERY RELIABLE CAR. THIS PAST SATURDAY I HAD TO GET IT TOWED BECAUSE IT FAILED TO TURN ON WHILE I WAS GROCERY SHOPPING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN I WANT TO START THE CAR.

Engine
Filed Oct 21, 201625,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE, WHICH FLATTENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A SPARE WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, THE NOISE GREW LOUDER. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE ALLOY WHEEL, REAR DRIVER SIDE ALLOY WHEEL, LK2 ENGINE CRADLE 2.5, BOTH TOP CONTROL ARMS AND KNUCKLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Steering
Filed Oct 19, 2016128,000 milesTX

STEERING LOCK SWITCH FAILED, WHICH PREVENTED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LOCKING WHEN PARKED, AND THE CAR FROM STARTING. BATTERY IS IN GOOD CONDITION. REQUIRED TOWING FOR REPAIR. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE STEERING LOCK ISSUE, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ALTHOUGH THIS SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT PART FAILURE.

Steering
Filed Oct 19, 201672,000 milesIL

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND NOW IT WILL NOT START...... I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 ALTIMA AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COEVER UNDER WARRANTY

Steering
Filed Oct 18, 2016OH

"THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE "STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES OWNERS TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK REPLACED. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED AT ALL. THUS, OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CONTINUOUSLY FIND THEMSELVES STUCK IN VERY INCONVENIANT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THEIR CAR. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS WHO ARE IN REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREAS." THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA ON OCT 10, 2016. I WAS FURTHER DISAPPOINTED TO RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM NISSAN TO THE EFFECT THAT THEY KNEW THIS BUT THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST YEAR AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN COVER THE COST FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT IMPOSES GREAT DANGER.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 16, 2016149,500 milesTN

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?

Steering
Filed Oct 15, 201657,000 milesMD

CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO ESCL ISSUES HEADLIGHT TURN ON DOOR LOCKS AND UNLOCK , RED AND YELLOW KEY ICON FLASHES

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 14, 2016LA

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SL IN LOUISIANA. THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR HAS BECOME VERY STICKY AND SHINY AS IF IT IS MELTING. ON A SUNNY DAY THE REFLECTION ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN.

Steering
Filed Oct 13, 201650,000 milesPA

NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK ISSUE I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE ON MONDAY (OCT.9) AND EXPLAIN THAT MY CAR DID NOT START. I ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE IS, SINCE IT IS WRITTEN IN NISSAN BOOKLET(THE SYMBOL THAT ON DASHBOARD) THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO NISSAN SHOP, AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN GO TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. SO I WAS THINKING THEY WILL COVER OR PARTIALLY COVER THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ON THURSDAY(OCT.13) I AM GETTING PHONE CALL FROM CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY GIVE ME THE WHOLE SPEECH. SO BASICALLY THEY TOLD ME, YOU NEED TO FIX IT YOURSELF. THE GUY NAME ROD GIVE ME EXCUSE THAT I AM NOT LOYAL CUSTOMER, SINCE LAST TIME I WENT TO NISSAN SERVICE WAS 2 YEARS. BUT I TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT I HAVE MY OWN MECHANIC IN DIFFERENT BODY SHOP AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO CALL HIM AND GET MY HISTORY OF TAKING CARE OF MY CAR. PLUS PEP BOYS CAN PULL MY HISTORY AS WELL. BUT I WAS NOT SURE WHAT LOYAL TO NISSAN HAS TO DO WITH DEFECTIVE PART. SO BOTTOM LINE I NEED TO PAY $1007 OR I AM WITHOUT CAR. ROD TOLD ME IF YOU WOULD GO MORE OFTEN TO NISSAN SERVICE, THEY WOULD CATCH THE PROBLEM EARLIER, NOT SURE HOW. I TOLD HIM THERE ARE AT LEAST 3 WAYS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AND MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS BY PHONE, EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE, AND MAILING ADDRESS. NO ONE LETTER CAME, SO HOW ANY OF US WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD KNOW ABOUT STEERING LOCK RECALLED. SO WE ARE LITTLE PEOPLE, CAN'T REALLY FIGHT WITH SUCH A BIG CORPORATION LIKE NISSAN, UNLESS GOVERNMENT CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NISSAN FAULT

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 11, 201645,000 milesTX

DASH BOARD HAS MELTED AND GOTTEN STICKY. BECAUSE OF THE MELTING IT HAS GOTTEN VERY SHINY AND CAUSES TERRIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THUS RESTRICTING VIEW AND MAKING DRIVING DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISION ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO VERY MESSY IF YOU TOUCH OR LAY ANYTHING ON THE DASH. I WOULD SUSPECT IT TO BE UNHEALTHY ALSO SINCE THE CHEMISTRY IN THE MATERIAL HAS CHANGED. I LIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND MY CAR IS OUT IN THE SUN AND WEATHER MOST OF THE TIME. WE DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE FOR MOST OF OUR TRANSPORTATION. THIS PROBLEM IS ALWAYS THERE, BUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE IN HOT/SUNSHINY WEATHER. IT LOOKS LIKE PUDDLE ON THE DASH AND ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE DASH IS ABOUT TO DRIP OFF. IT IS EVEN STICKY AND SHINY AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN A GRADUAL THIN THAT STARTED ABOUT 2012 AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 6, 2016AL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN AND CLEANING PRODUCTS CREATED A GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Steering
Filed Oct 5, 2016142,822 milesTX

MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WON'T START. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1,000!! I SOON FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN ALTIMAS AND THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENSION FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY FOR CARS UNDER 120,000 MILES. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT A 2009 CAR WILL HAVE LESS THAN 120,000 MILES; NOT VERY LIKELY! AT ONE POINT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING IN GOOD FAITH UNTIL YOU REALIZE WAIT THIS DOESN'T EVEN APPLY! I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER TO NISSAN AND HAVE REALLY LOVED MY ALTIMA UP TO THIS POINT BUT THIS IS REALLY TURNING ME INTO A CRITIC MORE SO THAN AN ENTHUSIAST VERY QUICKLY. I WOULD AT LEAST APPRECIATE NISSAN AT LEAST PAYING FOR THE PART IN GOOD FAITH AND SHOWING SOME SYMPATHY. HAD I NOT BEEN TAKING CARE OF MY CAR WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I COULD UNDERSTAND BUT THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FOR ALL PEOPLE AFFECTED NOT JUST A CERTAIN MILEAGE GROUP OF PEOPLE. APPARENTLY NISSAN REMOVED THIS PART FROM THE 2010 ALTIMA. I ASSUME THERE WAS SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE PARTS FAILURE (APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PART IN THE NISSAN 370ZS).

Steering
Filed Oct 5, 2016VA

AFTER LEAVING A DOCTOR'S APT ON 4 OCT, I GET TO MY CAR AND IT WANT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING IS LIT UP O THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WHEN I HIT THE PUSH START BUTTON, THE LOCK LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND I CANNOT PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. THE STEERING COLUMN IS COMPLETELY LOCKED. I RECALLED GETTING A LETTER FROM NISSAN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE ESCL FRO 6YRS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE. NEVERTHELESS, I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND AS OF TODAY THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN I GOT THE LETTER A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH PAYING $900-1200 TO GET THIS FIXED. NISSAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND SHOULD DO A RECALL. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN NISSANS RESPONSE AND SERVICE AND I WAS LOOKING AT BUYING A NEW CAR AT THE END OF THE YEAR FROM THEM. BUT THEY WILL NOT GET MY BUSINESS.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 4, 201667,000 milesND

ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED AT WORK. HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET ME.

Steering
Filed Oct 4, 2016136,175 milesMA

I TRIED TO START MY CAR ON A RAINY COLD NIGHT& IT WAS DARK OUT. MY CAR WOULD NOT START SO I CALLED TRIPE A & WAITED AN HOUR & THEY COULD NOT START IT. IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. I WAITED FOR A RIDE & WAITED ANOTHER HOUR AFTER THEY LEFT. I WAS 45 MINS AWAY FROM HOME. I GOT A RIDE BACK THE NEXT DAY & PAID FOR A TOW. THEY TOWED IT TO THE CLOSEST NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON SUNDAY. I SPENT MOST OF MY DAY WAITING & HAD TO WAIT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO UNLOAD CARS BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK COULD PUT THE CAR THERE.THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT WOULD BE 119.95 TO DIAGNOSE THEN THAT WOULD BE PUT TOWARDS THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROLLER. I CALLED BACK AN HOUR LATER & THE PRICE WAS MORE. 1120.85. I PICKED UP THE CAR IN TEARS. I QUESTIONED THE INVOICE & THEN QUESTIONED THE DEALSHIP & THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I FEEL LIKE THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME. ALSO I ASKED WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT THE DIAGNOSE CHARGE OF 119.95 TOWARDS THE REPAIR ? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HELP ME .

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Oct 3, 201696,000 milesNY

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!!

Steering
Filed Oct 3, 2016VA

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAIL. COMMON WITH 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S

Electrical System
Filed Oct 3, 201612 milesKS

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.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 3, 201650,000 milesFL

DASHBOARD HAS A STICKY RESIDUE THAT CONTINUES TO WORSEN. THE GLARE FROM THE STICKY RESIDUE REDUCES VISIBILITY.

Power Train
Filed Sep 30, 201675,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Steering
Filed Sep 27, 2016FL

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND DIAGNOSED AS, ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE. *SMD

Electrical System
Filed Sep 27, 201690,000 milesGA

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.

Steering
Filed Sep 21, 2016135,000 milesMD

THE STEERING LOCK HAS NOW BECOME COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT, DID MY RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2009, 2010 MODELS. YET FOR SOME REASON I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THAT. ALSO, NOW FINDING OUT THAT THE RECALL EXTENSION WAS CUTOFF IN JANUARY OF 2016. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE ISSUE.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 21, 2016MT

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!

Steering
Filed Sep 20, 2016TX

A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT WORK, HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A YELLOW KEY APPEARED ON DASH BOARD AS IF THE CAR WAS NOT SENSING THE KEY FOB EVIDENT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TURNS OUT TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART HOWEVER I PURCHASED THE CAR USED, AND WAS NEVER SENT A RECALL NOTICE. I CALLED NISSAN CORPORATION BUT WAS NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. I NEED THE VEHICLE FIX AND THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I AM EVER STRANDED IN A REMOTE AREA.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 20, 201618,000 milesFL

MELTING DASHBOARD. MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ALSO THE CRACKING AND PEELING MAY BE EFFECTING THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONS.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2009 Nissan Altima → · Every Altima year → · How the figures are calculated →