2009 Nissan Altima complaints

AMBER 'INTELLIGENT KEY' LIGHT STARTED APPEARING ON AND OFF. FINALLY VEHICLE REFUSED TO ENGAGE STARTER AND WHIRRING NOISE INDICATING STEERING LOCK IS FUNCTIONAL NO LONGER HAPPENS. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TOWED AND RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 2009 ALTIMAS AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES. REPAIR QUOTES ONLINE APPEAR TO BE IN THE $900 RANGE. NISSAN NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

DROPPED MY SON OFF AT SCHOOL, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THE CAR RECOGNIZED MY KEY WAS PRESENT BUT PUSH BUTTON DID NOTHING. MANUALLY USING THE KEY SLOT WOULD NOT START THE CAR EITHER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND AM BEING TOLD THAT WILL COST $800-1100 TO FIX STEERING LOCK AND THAT PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME DEFECT OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THIS DID OCCUR ON A VERY COLD DAY, ABOUT 10 DEGREES AT THE TIME. *TR

I PARKED MY VEHICLE AT MY SON'S SCHOOL TO RUN IN AND PICK HIM UP FROM THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE START BUTTON AND BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF, LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD OR NO SOUND WAS MADE FROM THE CAR DOORS BEING OPENED. MY MECHANIC CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PART AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL JANUARY 29TH. REPAIR COST IS AROUND $800. *TR

WENT OUT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEYLESS START FOB. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILS. THIS IS A TIME BOMB BECAUSE IT CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE CAR DO NOT MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START WHEN ENGAGING THE PUSH-TO-START SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,887 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500.

DROVE CAR A FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE FOR APROX 15 MINS. CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START. NO KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON DASH BUT KEY FOB WAS IN CAR. GOT THE SPARE AS WELL AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. PLUGGED IN FOB, DISCONNECTED CAR BATTERY. ALL WOULD NOT WORK. STUCK IN THE COLD WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER! HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP ($100) AND PART WAS STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. PART WAS ON BACK ORDER! NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THIS! IT'S RIDICULOUS. THEY NO LONGER USE THIS PART ON THEIR CARS YET REFUSE TO RECALL COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY! REPAIR BILL AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS $753.09 PLUS $100 TOW SO $853.09!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. LUCKILY DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO GET NISSAN TO COVER MY RENTAL CAR SINCE I WENT A WEEK WITHOUT A CAR. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE ON THE MORNING OF 1/14/13. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE THAT AFTERNOON, THE PUSH-START IGNITION REMAINED IN THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED START ATTEMPTS. BREAK LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. CALLED LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. AFTER AN HOUR, THE NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR CONTACTED ME WITH NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAD FAILED AND THEY ESTIMATED THE TOTAL REPAIR COST TO BE AT $900.00. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO WAS ABLE TO COURIER IT OVER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ON 1/23/13 AND THEY REFUSED TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION RELATIVE TO THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPAIR. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AT LEAST A YEAR AGO BASED ON ITS APPARENTLY RAMPANT HISTORY OF FAILURE FOR OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS. *TR

TRYING TO START VEHICLE, YELLOW KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS STRANDED AT LUNCH 15 MINUTES FROM WORK WITH NO WAY TO GET BACK. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THE SAME PART (I'VE HEARD) WAS RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS AND CAN LEAVE ANYONE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

I CAME OFFICE ON 18TH JAN IN MY CAR AND WHEN I WAS HEADING BACK IT DIDN'T STARTED. I TOWED MY CAR TO NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID AFTER DIAGNOSIS THAT CAR'S STEERING LOCK CONTROLLER IS FAULTY AND IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED: FINAL CHARGES : $830, WELL CLEARLY FROM THE POSTS THAT ITS NOT ONE TIME INCIDENT AND NISSAN IS AWARE OF THAT . THEY SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS . ITS JUST 3 YEARS OLD CAR AND I HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HEFTY AMOUNT WHEN I CARED MY CAR LIKE A BABY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, PART NOT IN STOCK. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR AT WORK, AND WHEN I WENT OUT 8 HOURS LATER TO GO HOME IT WOULDN'T START. THEY KEY LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, IT KEPT SAYING LOCK. MY HUSBAND TRIED TESTING THE BATTERY, ETC. THE CAR ENDED UP HAVING TO BE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP 50 MILES AWAY($200). ONCE THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE TOTAL WITH LABOR WOULD BE APPROX $850. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE FACT THAT THE ITEM IS ON BACK ORDER, AND THAT THERE ARE A TON OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE TELLS ME THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART!!! I AM WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM NISSAN REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

TPMS LIGHT BLINKS FOR A WHILE AND THEN STAYS ON. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 33022 MILES AND AGAIN AT 52033. IT APPEARS THAT THE TPMS SENSOR BATTERIES ARE DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO BE UNRELIABLE. *TR

INTELLI KEY INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING TWO DAYS AGO. LAST EVENING AFTER DINNER VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH OUT OF "LOCK" STRANDED IN 15 DEGREE TEMPS WAITING FOR TOW FOR 2 HOURS. NISSAN SERVICE ADVISOR KNEW EXACTLY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. HE CALLED ME LATER TONIGHT TO CONFIRM ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK NEEDED REPLACING. $800.00+. NISSAN SURELY WILL RECALL "FAULTY" DOOR HANDLE SPRINGS AT .50 CENTS A WHACK, BUT GIVE ME A BREAK. IT'S TIME NISSAN OWN UP TO THE NUMEROUS 2009'S THAT ARE HAVING THIS PART FAIL. *TR

PARKED THE VEHICLE , IT WAS NOT PARKED STRAIGHT, GOT RIGHT BACK IN TO PARK STRAIGHT, CAR WOULD NOT STARTED, GOT TOWED TO HALL NISSAN CHESAPEAKE, TOLD I NEEDED A STEERING LOCK CONTROL AND COST WAS 620.00 GOT ON GOOGLE AND READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS, THERE SHOULD BE A DEFAULT, A RECALL, WE MUST STAND TOGETHER , PLEASE HELP! *TR

MY DAUGHTER STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH FUEL AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE CAR THE BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED. *TR

VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, CALLED A MECHANIC FRIEND THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY. HE REALIZED IT WASN'T THE BATTERY, IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK AND HE'D SEEN IT BEFORE IN NISSAN'S. WE FINALLY HAD TO CALL NISSAN AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. IT COST US $800. OUR MECHANIC FRIEND SAYS THAT IN HIS EXPERIENCE NISSAN DOESN'T FIND THIS TO BE A "SAFETY ISSUE" SO THEY WON'T DO A FORMAL RECALL. THIS IS A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND OUR WARRANTY IS ALREADY EXPIRED. OBVIOUSLY FROM THE OTHER POSTS, NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS ISN'T A BRAKE OR BATTERY ISSUE, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS HAPPENING ON A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. WE HAVE TRIED CONTACTING NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD RECONSIDER AND PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID NO, CLEARLY THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS IS JUST WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS. THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS IT'S A PROBLEM TOO, AND TRIED TO WORK WITH US THE BEST THEY COULD. *TR

2009 NISSAN ALTIMA - KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CAR FAILED TO START. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED BY DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR IS $1,100.00. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED DURING BUSINESS HOURS TOMORROW. TOTAL MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS 64,000. *TR

WE DROVE THE CAR TO DR.'S OFFICE. WHEN GOING TO LEAVE, THE PUSH START BUTTON FAILED TO START CAR. ENDED UP HAVING CAR TOWED TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO CALLED UP TO THE CLOSEST NISSAN DEALER AND THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE BRAKE SENSOR, THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THAN WE HAD IT TOWED AGAIN UP TO NISSAN DEALER 45 MILES AWAY, ENDED UP BEING THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY ORDERED THE PART WHICH WAS ON BACK ORDER. FINALLY CAR WAS READY 13 DAYS AFTER INCIDENT. FINAL COST WAS $848. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START WHEN ENGAGING THE PUSH-TO-START SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REQUIRED PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I WENT TO THE VALERO IN CABOT, AR TO GET GAS THIS PAST WEDNESDAY MORNING BEFORE I WAS TO GO TO WORK, AND WHEN I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, AND WOULD NOT START. I COULD NOT PRESS THE BRAKE IT WAS VERY STIFF AND THE START BUTTON WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE LOCK POSITION I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL, CALLED THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK NISSAN DEALER, AND REALIZED THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO EXCEPT HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A 2009 MODEL WITH 55,000 MILES, AND I TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME LATER AND SAID I NEED A NEW STEERING LOCK UNIT. HE SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1200.00 TO REPAIR, AND HE SAID IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO DO. THIS IS FAULTY EQUIPMENT FROM NISSAN AND THIS ISSUE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY ANYTHING I COULD HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE. NOT ONLY DO I NOT HAVE 1200.00, BUT I HAVE 3 KIDS AND A JOB I THAT I NEED TO GET BACK & FORTH TO. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED FOR 3 DAYS NOW, I HAVE MISSED WORK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, MY INSURANCE COVERS NOTHING EXCEPT $75 FOR THE TOW, AND I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS ON MY PHONE WITH NISSAN. I'M WITHOUT CAR, NO WAY TO GET TO WORK TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY, AND DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH GROCERIES TO SURVIVE THE W/E !!! THERE SHOULD ALREADY BE A RECALL ON THIS, AS I HAVE READ & BEEN TOLD BY NISSAN THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 08,09,10 MODELS. THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A FORMAL RECALL

MY WIFE WAS ABOUT TO HEAD HOME FROM WORK IN THE AFTERNOON. THE KEY FOB UNLOCKED THE CAR LIKE USUAL BUT THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE IN HER ATTEMPT TO START IT. THE KEY LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. WE TRIED A NUMBER OF THINGS BUT THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON WOULDN'T CHANGE OUT OF THE 'LOCK' POSITION - EVEN TO GO TO 'ACCESSORY' MODE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WHICH INFORMED US THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO START UP UNTIL IT IS FIXED. THE PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND COSTS CLOSE TO $500. MY FINAL QUOTE WAS $864 FROM THE DEALER. THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO CIRCUMVENT THE DEALER'S COST. NISSAN NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE AND RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INTELLIGENCE KEY MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED HER THE COMPONENT AT A LOWER PRICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,980. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

CAR WOULD NOT START. YELLOW KEY LIGHT AND FLASHING RED KEY LIGHT ON PANEL. SEEMED LIKE A SECURITY ANTI-THEFT PROBLEM BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FAULTY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. A $700 REPAIR. AND, WHAT'S WORSE IS, THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS ITEM EVEN WITH MANY COMPLAINTS REPORTED. THIS WAS RECALLED ON OTHER NISSAN MODELS (CUBE, 390, ETC) BUT NO ON THE ALTIMA. NOT HAPPY. *TR

I WENT TO WORK ON THE 7TH FOR 11-7 SHIFT. WHEN I TRY STARTING MY CAR TO LEAVE ON THE 8TH @ 7:07, IT WOULD NOT START. THE YELLOW WARNING KEY CAME UP ON THE DASH. THE LIGHTS, LOCKING THE CAR WORKS, THE HORN WORKS. I CALL AAA THEY COULD GET IT STARTED. I CALLED NISSAN AFTER I TOOK THE CAR HOME AS I HAVE STUFF IN IT THAT I COULDN'T LEAVE AT A SHOP. THEY SAID I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALER AND LET THEM KNOW THE COST AND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WENT ON LINE AND SEARCH IT UP ONLY TO FIND SO MANY WITH THIS SAME OR VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM. I CALL BACK NISSAN AND LET THEM KNOW IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AM HAVING. THE DEALER KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN LESS THAN 30MIN. IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN NEED TO REPLACE. NOW I SPEND $910 AND NISSAN TELLING ME THEY CAN NOT FINANCE IT AS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE PART. PLEASE, EVERYONE, LET US JOIN TOGETHER AND CLAIM WHAT IS OURS. *TR

CAR FAILED TO START, INTELLIGENT KEY WOULD NOT WORK. AFTERMARKET REMOTE START SYSTEM WAS USED TO START CAR AND DRIVE HOME, PERHAPS 15 MILES. NEXT DAY, REMOTE START SYSTEM WAS USED TO START CAR AND DRIVE TO DEALER, 40 MILES AWAY. AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES, EVERYTHING DIED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. CAR WAS THEN TOWED REMAINDER OF WAY TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK AND REPLACED. DEALER SAID AFTERMARKET REMOTE START SYSTEM PROBABLY TIMED OUT, WHICH IS WHY IT DIED ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE INTELLIGENT KEY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

ON 01/09/2013, I DROVE MY GRANDMOTHER TO AN APPT. AND CAME HOME. FIVE HOURS LATER, I GOT INTO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. I MADE SOME CALLS AND RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM ISN'T WORKING. THE LITTLE YELLOW KEY APPEARS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. I HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REPLACED THE BATTERY IN BOTH THE CAR AND THE KEY FOB. NOTHING HELPED TO START MY CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL ISN'T LOCKED SO IT MOVES FREELY AND THE IGNITION BUTTON ILLUMINATES BUT WILL NOT LEAVE THE LOCK POSITION. I PLACED A PHONE CALL TO THE NUMBER PROVIDED BY CONROE, TX. THE "CONSUMER AFFAIRS SPECIALIST", [XXX], HUNG UP ON ME!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTELLIGENCE KEY MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,501.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INTELLIGENCE KEY MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,320.

WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE THE CAR FAILED TO START. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN INDICATOR IN MY DASH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN. IT WAS A RED INDICATOR THAT I WOULD LATER FIND OUT SHOWED A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE PAST THE "LOCK" STAGE AND I HAD TO PROMPTLY HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THIS REPAIR COST $800.00 BEFORE TAXES. I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR CLAIMS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR MY CASE TO BE KNOWN WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD A SIMILAR POSITION. I HOPE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS ISSUE AS ITS A OBVIOUSLY A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND NOT SOMETHING AN OWNER SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR. *TR

I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO ME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND IT IS NOT A CHEAP COST ($~1000). I CALLED NISSAN (1-800-647-7261) AND MADE A COMPLAINT AND THEY ARE GOING TO REIMBURSE ME 50%. IT SHOULD BE A 100% BUT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CALL THEM AND MAKE A COMPLAINT AND FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR LOCAL BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE. THEY MUST RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART! *TR

[XXX], ATLANTA, GEORGIA MY DAUGHTER'S 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA DID THE SAME THING. SHE CAME OVER FOR A VISIT AND UPON LEAVING HER CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. MY HUSBAND AND I DID ALL OF THE TROUBLESHOOTING ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE WANTED TO SELL HERE ANOTHER ALTIMA, BECAUSE NISSAN KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE, SO THEY STOPPED PUTTING THIS MECHANISM ON THE 2012 MODELS. NISSAN WHO HAS A GOOD STANDING AND HAVE MILLIONS OF CARS ON THE ROAD SHOULD DO RIGHT BY CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASED THEIR VEHICLES AND HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO SEND THIS COMPLAINT SITE TO MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND TRY TO PUT SOME FIRE UNDER NISSAN. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND OTHER CONSUMERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE REPAIR COST OF OUR NISSAN ALTIMA WAS $919.00. I SEE SEVERAL DIFFERENCES IN THE REPAIR COST TOO. WE CANNOT SIT BY AND LET CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO BE CHARGED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR REPAIR COST WHEN NISSAN KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

PARKED CAR TURNED IT OFF THEN WHEN I RETURNED THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER DO ANYTHING. IT IS A PUSH TO START AND IS NOT CONTROLLED WITH A KEY. SO THEREFORE WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE STORE AND RETURNED TO THE CAR IT NO LONGER WORKED. IT IS SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY TO '09 ALTIMA'S YET THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PARTS TO MY CAR. *TR

I GOT INTO MY CAR AFTER WORK(12-27-12) AND NOTICED THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE JUST FINE. THEN THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO START MY CAR (12-30-12) THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. GOT THE CAR PLACED ON A TRAILER AND HAULED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN REPAIR SHOP AND MY STEERING COLUMN LOCK MECHANISM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS AN AWFULLY EXPENSIVE FIX. TO TOP THINGS OFF, THIS PART IS ON BACK ORDER SO I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH ISSUES. *TR

MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR TO HER CLASS AND PARKED IT ON A PARKING LOT. THE CAR COULDN'T BE STARTED (PUSH BUTTON COULDN'T START THE CAR) WHEN SHE WAS DONE WITH THE CLASS AND WANTED TO GET BACK HOME. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT SHOWED ON THE LEFT TOP PANEL AND RED SECURITY LIGHT FLASHED. THE FOB KEY STILL WORKED IN LOCKING/UNLOCKING THE CAR DOORS. THE AAA WAS CALLED AND THEY CAME TO TRY TO JUMP START THE CAR. IT DIDN'T START. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. IT COST $700 TO REPAIR IT. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THE PART HAS NOT BE ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

STEERING LOCK UNIT ON JAN 2, 2012, I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK. I DID NOT NOTICE AT THAT TIME ANY LIGHTS ON HOWEVER 5 HOURS LATER I GO TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS AT THAT TIME I NOTICED THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT. I HAD NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE. I TRIED JUMPING THE BATTERY AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK I WENT AND BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BATTERY. STILL, I GOT NO RESULTS. I TOWED THE CAR TO NISSAN TO FIND OUT THAT MY STEERING LOCK UNIT WENT OUT ON THE CAR. I TOO AM BAFFLED BY THE FACT THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART AS IT HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH A LOT OF CUSTOMERS. THIS IS MY FIRST NISSAN AND I AM EXTREMELY UNHAPPY KNOWING THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY DOCUMENTED ISSUES YET NISSAN HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. *TR

VEH WAS DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN STOPPED TO GET GAS. VEH WOULD NOT START AGAIN. A YELLOW KEY INDICATOR CAME ON THE DASH AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS THE STEERING LOCK MODULE. *TR

DROVE THE CAR INTO WORK JUST FINE. SEVEN HOURS LATER WHEN I WAS LEAVING TO GO HOME CAR WOULD NOT START. KEY LIGHT WAS ON IN DASHBOARD BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. JUMPED THE BATTERY, RESET THE BATTER, EVEN TOOK OUT THE BATTERY TO GET IT TESTED. STILL NOTHING. FINALLY PAID $70 TO GET IT TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP (LESS THAN 3 MILES) AND IT IS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT, WHICH COST $978 TO REPLACE. APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUT. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE EVERYONE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AND YOU BET I'M GOING TO TELL EVERYONE I KNOW!! *TR

I STARTED MY CAR TO LEAVE FOR WORK AROUND 6:30AM AND LEFT TO GET GAS BEFORE CONTINUING TO WORK. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE GAS PUMP AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE AFTER PUMPING GAS THE CAR FAILED TO START. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN INDICATOR IN MY DASH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN. IT WAS A RED INDICATOR THAT I WOULD LATER FIND OUT SHOWED A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE PAST THE "LOCK" STAGE AND I HAD TO PROMPTLY HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD COST ALMOST $800.00 BEFORE TAXES. AFTER RESEARCHING, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR CLAIMS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR MY CASE TO BE KNOWN WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD A SIMILAR POSITION. *TR

COLD DAY 2009 ALTIMA STARTED FINE. WENT TO WORK, BUT AT LUNCH TIME TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. FOB KEY WOULD STILL OPEN LOCKS AND WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BUY CAR AND LIGHTS STILL WORKED SO IT WAS NOT BATTERY OR KEY. BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO WORKED. YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON DASH WAS LIT AND STEERING WHEEL AND GEARS WERE LOCKED. CAR WAS TOWED ON FLATBED TO DEALER. DEALER INITIALLY SAID IT MAY BE JUST FOB KEY REPROGRAMMING. HOWEVER AFTER 4 HOURS THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE STEERING LOCK SWITCH. COST $700 DOLLARS TO REPAIR!! NISSAN RECALL THIS PART NOW AND REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS! *TR

ON A COLD JAN DAY(BELOW FREEZING) A NOTORIOUSLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA OCCURRED. THE STEERING WHEEL ACTUATOR FAILED ADDING TO THE 1000S OF OTHER REPORTED STEERING WHEEL ACTUATORS ALREADY POSTED ON THIS WEB SITE. SEEMS THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS 1-3 YEAR OLD CARS IN COLDER WEATHER. THE CAR WILL NOT START NOR CAN THE STEERING COLUMN BE UNLOCKED WHICH COMPLICATES THE TOWING. THE "PUSH TO START" KEY FOB THAT NISSAN HAS ENGINEERED IS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THERE IS NOT A MECHANICAL STEERING LOCK AS YOU WOULD HAVE IN A NORMAL KEY OPERATED CAR AND THE LOCKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL OCCURS AS A THEFT SECURITY DEVICE. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING THE IMPACT COULD BE DEADLY. THE COMPANY HAS NOT RECALLED THE CAR FOR THIS AND IT WILL TAKE A SERIOUS INJURY LAWSUIT FOR NISSAN TO UNDERSTAND THE PRODUCT THEY PUT ON THE HIGHWAY PUTS ALL AT RISK. DON'T BUY A CAR WITH THIS TYPE KEY START MECHANISM FROM NISSAN. THE COST TO REPAIR IS 1100 DOLLARS............ *TR

THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK MY DOORS BUT COULD NOT START THE CAR. LIGHTS WERE WORKING BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE BRAKE PEDAL OR PUSH THE BUTTON TO START THE CAR. TRIED TO JUMP THE CAR OFF THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT DID NOT WORK. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNING SIGNS ONLY THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ON THE 2009 NISSAN 370 Z. *TR

WENT TO GO START MY CAR AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. COULDN'T START IN NEUTRAL. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. DEALER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE BY STOPPING AND STARTING NUMEROUS TIMES. IT APPEARS THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT WAS FAILING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE DETERMINED THIS IS A COMMON AND COSTLY PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO RE RECALL FOR IT. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ACTUATOR HAD FAILED. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR IS APPX: $800. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM USING A GOOGLE SEARCH, IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD RECENT ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA. THIS PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS TO BE A COLD WEATHER ISSUE. THE ACTUATOR IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD NOT BE FAILING IN A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *TR

9:30AM - STARTED CAR. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE 35 MINUTES. STOPPED CAR, WENT IN THE HOUSE FOR 20 MINUTES. CAME OUT, GOT IN CAR. WILL NOT START. THE FOLLOWING WAS OBSERVED: 1. INTELLIGENT KEY WILL UNLOCK AND LOCK THE DOORS, TRUNK, SOUND ALARM. 2. SMALL "KEY", YELLOW IN COLOR SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. 3. START BUTTON DOES NOTHING, WILL NOT MOVE FROM THE "LOCK" POSITION. FAILURE: STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE (342.99 + TAX CND). TOOK IT APART, RESET THE GEARS, BACK IN ACTION (FOR NOW). CANADIAN CUSTOMER. *TR