2009 Nissan Altima Complaint Log

LEAVING WORK TO GO TO LUNCH AND MY ALTIMA WONT START. PUSH BUTTON START NOT RESPONDING AND WILL NOT MOVE FROM LOCK POSITION. CHANGED THE BATTERY TO MY CAR ALONG WITH BATTERY FOR KEY. STILL NOTHING. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT MY PROBLEM IS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL. MY BROTHER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND HELD IN THE START BUTTON, AND THE BREAK AND AT THE SAME TIME HE TAPPED ON THE MODULE AND MY CAR STARTED. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME THANKFULLY WITHOUT CALLING A TOW TRUCK. 100% WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND IT WILL NEED REPLACED. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR ANYWHERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET STRANDED SOMEWHERE. I STARTED MY CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND IT DID START, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL LAST UNTIL THE PART FAILS AGAIN. I WILL NEED THIS REPLACED BUT REALLY FEEL AS THROUGH NISSAN SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WALKED OUT OF WORK AND THE KEY INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER REPLACING THE KEY FOB BATTERY, CHECKING THE ACTUAL CAR BATTERY, AND TRYING MY SPARE KEY FOB, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR THIS MODEL (CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, WEAR AND TEAR ETC) AND A CASUAL GOOGLE SEARCH RETURNS COUNTLESS ISSUES OF THE VERY SAME THING. IF NISSAN CARES ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS, A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR

MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO START THE CARS IN THE MORNING BEFORE WORK. THE NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. THE BRAKE WAS FIRMLY PUSHED AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. WE HAVE REPLACED THE KEY FOB BATTERIES AND THE FUSE FOR THE ENGINE STARTER. THE KEY FOB LOCKS AND UNLOCKS THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE DESK SHOWS A SMALL YELLOW KEY SYMBOL IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER. WE HAVE CONTACTED A MECHANIC ABOUT HAVING THE CAR TOWED. IT SEEMS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND NISSAN IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN. *TR

I JUST WANTED TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE NEW STEERING LOCK MECHANISM THAT IS PLACED IN YOUR CAR WILL NOT MALFUNCTION. I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING THE PART REPAIRED AT THE COST OF 1055.00 NOT INCLUDING TOWING AND WASN'T EVEN HOME 40 MINUTES BEFORE THE SAME THING OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. I'M NOW FINDING OUT THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOT A NEWLY MANUFACTURED PART WITHOUT THE DEFECT MAKING THE PROBABILITY OF HAVING TO DEAL WITH SITUATION AGAIN VERY HIGH AND OF COURSE THE NISSAN CORP. IS STILL ACTING LIKE THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. PLEASE PEOPLE CALL YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL NEWS STATIONS AND WHOEVER YOU THINK WILL LISTEN BECAUSE THE MORE WAVES WE MAKE FORCES NISSAN TO RECALL THIS PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY LESS ENTRY REMOTE BUTTON SEIZED IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA TO THE GROWING LIST OF OWNERS WHO'VE EXPERIENCED THE ILLUMINATED KEY OF DEATH. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 4 1/2 MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE HAD 34,900 MILES ON IT. NOTICED THE ILLUMINATED KEY ON FRIDAY, RESEARCHED IT AND SAW IT SAID CALL THE DEALER IN THE MANUAL. SATURDAY THE LIGHT WAS OFF SO I FIGURED I WAS GOOD. HAD A MAJOR SNOWSTORM SATURDAY. SUNDAY, WENT TO THE SHOPPING CENTER, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE. CAME OUT AN IT WAS DEAD. I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS FROM READING THE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON IT. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER ON MONDAY. HE HAD THE PARTS AND BACK ON THE ROAD LATER THAT EVENING. ONLY $950 POORER AND AGGRAVATED THAT I ONLY PURCHASED THIS "RELIABLE" VEHICLE 4 MONTHS EARLIER. THIS IS DEFINITELY MY FIRST AND LAST NISSAN. WHEN YOU SEE THAT KEY, OR EVEN IF YOU DON'T, ITS NOT A MATTER OF IF YOU'LL BREAK DOWN, BUT WHEN AND WHERE. NISSAN, YOU SUCK! STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND AT THE VERY LEAST, COVER THE REPAIRS AND TOWING. I KNOW YOU DON'T GIVE A RAT'S [XXX] ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS BUT DO THE RIGHT THING. A NISSAN WILL NEVER BE IN MY DRIVEWAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON SATURDAY MORNING, MY WIFE TOOK MY SON TO THE LIBRARY, THE CAR STARTED WITH NO ISSUES, WHEN THEY LEFT THE LIBRARY SHE COULD NOT START THE CAR. SHE CALLED ME TO COME HELP HER, WE CHANGED THE BATTERIES IN THE KEY FOB, I TRIED TO JUMP-START THE CAR, I CHECKED THE FUSES, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I MADE SURE THE FOB WAS STILL COMMUNICATING WITH THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BUTTONS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. FINALLY, AFTER TRYING EVERYTHING I COULD, WE CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAD US TOW THE CAR TO THEM, AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT GET TO IT UNTIL MONDAY. WELL MONDAY MORNING COMES AND THEY CALLED MY WIFE TO TELL HER THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED, AND IT WOULD COST ~$1000 TO REPLACE. OF COURSE I AM TICKED SO I DECIDE TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE AND REALIZE IT IS VERY COMMON IN THE 2009 ALTIMA?S, WHICH MAKES ME EVEN MORE TICKED, BECAUSE NISSAN DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE IF THEY LEAVE MY WIFE AND SON STRANDED BECAUSE THEY BUILT THEIR CAR USING GARBAGE PARTS. AND YES THEY KNOW BECAUSE, MORE TIMES THAN NOT, THIS PART IS OUT OF STOCK AND THE NEWER CARS DON'T USE IT. SO THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY NASTY SCAM BY NISSAN. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO MY STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, AND THIS DATABASE...WE NEED A RECALL. STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT! *TR

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOME LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID WITH NO APPARENT LEAKS. SUSPECT MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTO VACUUM BOOSTER, JUST AS MANY OTHER ALTIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO BUY ANOTHER MASTER CYLINDER OUT-OF-POCKET FROM NISSAN SINCE I HAVE READ ON THE NET WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD REPLACEMENT UNIT FAILURES (SUCH AS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE11020). WHAT AM I TO DO? NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR A PERMANENT REPAIR FOR THIS OBVIOUS PRODUCT DEFECT! *TR

AS WITH DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA (WHICH HAD BEEN SITTING WITH ITS ENGINE OFF FOR NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES), THE KEY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE STEERING AND BRAKES FELT UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. LATE, COLD, AND RAINY THE NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED STEERING LOCK UNIT--A RESULT THAT IS UNSURPRISING TO ANYONE WHO TYPES THOSE SYMPTOMS INTO A GOOGLE SEARCH. FOR THE SMALL FEE OF $900, MY CAR WAS BACK ON THE ROAD TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. GIVEN THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THIS APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING TO OTHER OWNERS, THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY SHOULD THE CAR NOT START IN A REMOTE AREA OR IN THE PATH OF TRAFFIC. *TR

MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT CRANK. IT WAS FINE WHEN I DROVE IT TO WORK. WHEN I WENT TO GO HOME, IT WOULD NOT CRANK AND A YELLOW LIGHT WITH A KEY CAME ON. I HAVE TO GET MY CAR TOWED TOMORROW BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING LOCK WENT OUT. I'VE NOTICED THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I'VE READ OVER 50 INCIDENTS JUST LIKE MINE THIS MONTH ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BRAKES ALSO BECAME STIFF. THE KEY SYMBOL ON THE DASHBOARD ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY MAY ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A FINAL DECISION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

ON A REGULAR DAY, I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IN THE MORNING. AND IT WAS PARKED AT MY WORKPLACE PARKING LOT (LUCKILY). IN THE EVENING, MY KEYLESS ENTRY GOT ME INSIDE THE CAR. BUT THE BRAKES WOULDN'T ENGAGE AND OFCOURSE, THE PUSH BUTTON WOULDN'T START THE CAR. THERE IS AN AMBER LIGHT WITH A KEY SIGN INSIDE IT FLASHING ON MY DASH SCREEN. LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON SO I WAS CONVINCED IT MUST NOT BE THE BATTERY. WHEN I LOOKED IT UP IN THE CAR MANUAL, IT'S SUPPOSEDLY AN INTELLIGENT KEY SIGN. SINCE IT WAS AROUND 7:30PM, I COULDN'T GET IT TOWED IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER WORKSHOP SINCE THEY WERE CLOSED. THE NEXT MORNING, I GOT IT TOWED AND THE DEALER WORKSHOP DIAGNOSED IT AS "STEERING WHEEL LOCK UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED" AND IT WOULD COST A WHOPPING $850 (NOT INCLUDING TOWING). NOT JUST THAT, THE PART IS BACK-ORDERED! SO MY CAR IS IN THE WORKSHOP INDEFINITELY AS OF NOW! I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED DEALER JUST SIX MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE THE SEVEN YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY ON IT TOO. THE WORKSHOP SAID THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING MY WARRANTY CAN COVER! MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS 26000. AND NISSAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE? THIS PROBLEM IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE BROUGHT TO MY CAR AND WHEN I RESEARCHED IT ON THIS VERY WEBSITE, HUNDREDS OF OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA USERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I TRULY HOPE NISSAN ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM ASAP AND REIMBURSE OUR HARD EARNED MONEY. *TR

I PARKED THE CAR AND LOCKED IT WITH INTELLIGENT KEY. CAME BACK, WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, USED THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. WHILE INSIDE, THE DASHBOARD HAD TWO WARNING LIGHTS ON: KEY LIGHT(YELLOW) TO THE FAR LEFT CORNER AND FLASHING SECURITY LIGHT(RED) TO THE FAR RIGHT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IGNITION BUTTON IS ON LOCK AND THE STEERING IS STIFF UNABLE TO TURN. ENGINE SEEMS TO BE LOCKED, NO OTHER LIGHTS ARE ON. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND NOTHING WORKS. I CALLED THE DEALERS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND QUOTED ME $600 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, PARTS WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF DAYS, NO GUARANTEE PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. FOR A RECENT BOUGHT VEHICLE, THERE ARE MANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR'S INTELLIGENT KEY AND IN THIS CASE I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. TOWING CHARGES AND EVERYTHING WILL MAKE AMOUNT CLOSE TO $1000. *TR

I LEFT WORK ON FEBRUARY 6TH AND WENT TO DRIVE HOME, BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT START. MY CAR IS PUSH BUTTON START AND IT DID DETECT MY KEY AS I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK MY CAR. WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE TO START MY CAR IT WAS VERY HARD TO PUSH. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AND A KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP CAME TO MY WORK AND HAD TO DISENGAGE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL UNIT IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT BACK TO THEIR SHOP. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, EXCEPT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A FAILED STEERING LOCK. THIS IS AN ANTI THEFT COMPONENT OF THE CAR. MY ESTIMATE WAS $662.00. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AT THAT TIME AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE IN. NISSAN DID NOT OFFER ME A RENTAL CAR AND I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR A WEEK. THE PART CAME IN A WEEK LATER AND THE CAR WAS FIXED THAT DAY. MY BILL WAS $662.03. THIS STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN EITHER. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT NISSAN CHANGED THIS PART OF THE ALTIMA WHEN MAKING THE 2010 MODELS. I NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AFTER RESEARCHING. THIS MALFUNCTION SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER BY NISSAN AND IN MY OPINION IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHEN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUES HAPPEN TO YOUR CAR, BUT AN ISSUE LIKE THIS IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE PAID FOR BY NISSAN. MY CAR IS OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS TIME. BELOW IS A WEBSITE THAT I CAME ACROSS WHEN DOING RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/NISSAN/ALTIMA/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAD NO PROBLEMS DRIVING INTO WORK IN THE MORNING. END OF WORK DAY, RETURN TO THE CAR TO FIND OUT THAT IT WOULDN'T START. THE AMBER LIGHT WITH "INTELLIGENT KEY" LOGO HAD TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILIZED. CHECKED THE BATTERY OF THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND IT WAS PERFECTLY OPERATIONAL. CHECK BATTER OF THE CAR, AND IT WAS WORKING FINE AS WELL. SINCE THE CAR WOULDN'T START, NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO CALL FOR TOWING SERVICE. SPENT HOURS IN THE COLD WAITING FOR THE TRUCK. THE FOLLOWING DAY NISSAN SERVICE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND DETERMINED THERE WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT TRIGGERED THE VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER AND NEEDED STEERING LOCK UNIT REPLACEMENT. PARTS AND LABOR AND TOW COST OVER $900. THE NISSAN MECHANIC HINTED AT THE PROBLEM BEING A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT REFUSED TO SAY IT DIRECTLY AS IT PUTS NISSAN LIABLE. PART IS STRATEGICALLY NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. FOUND OUT FROM THE NISSAN FOLKS THAT NUMEROUS CARS CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. GOT ONTO THE INTERNET AND FOUND SO MANY MORE NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THE PART AND FIX IT FOR ALL AFFECTED USERS OF THE CAR. I AM HAPPY THAT THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WERE TO HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING. I REQUEST NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM ASAP AND HELP TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR SEVERAL HUNDREDS (MAYBE THOUSANDS) OF USER AFFECTED. NOBODY WANTS TO LOSE THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY FOR NO FAULT OF THEIRS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

DROVE MY CAR TO AN APPT AND WHEN I CAME OUT IT WOULDN'T START. TRIED JUMPING BATTERY, DID NOT WORK. CHANGED THE BATTERY IN KEY FOB AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. I BROUGHT MY BACK-UP KEY OVER TO THE CAR AND THAT ONE DID NOT WORK EITHER. HAD IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM AND THE PART WAS ON A 7-10 DAY BACK ORDER. I PAID AN ADDITIONAL $50 TO EXPEDITE THE PART. IT TOOK 7 DAYS TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED. I CONTACTED NISSAN USA, DESCRIBED THE SITUATION AND SENT THEM A HYPERLINK THAT HAD ANECDOTES OF STEERING ISSUES FROM OTHER 09 ALTIMA OWNERS AND REQUESTED THAT THEY COVER THE REPAIR. SOMEONE FROM NISSAN CALLED ME AND I RETURNED HIS CALL 2 TIMES WITHOUT A RETURN CALL. ON THE THIRD MESSAGE I AND TOLD HIM I WOULD ESCALATE THE CALL IF I DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM HIM. THAT PROMPTED HIM TO RETURN MY CALL AND HE STATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST BECAUSE I DON'T TAKE MY CAR TO NISSAN FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE. I TOLD HIM I WAS NOT GOING TO REST UNTIL I GET NISSAN TO COVER THIS AND HE BASICALLY TOLD ME HE HAD THE FINAL SAY. I AM CONTACTING MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND MY STATE AG FOR RESOLUTION. PLEASE DO THE SAME! I AM OUT $960 FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

LAST MONDAY FEB 4 I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AN GO TO WORK . NOTHING HAPPENED. IT DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE MY KEYFOB. THE KEY LIGHT WAS LIT UP ON DASH. I HAD MY BATTERY IN MY CAR REPLACED AND MY KEYFOB BATTERY REPLACED. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT ITS THE STEERING CONTROL LOCK THAT WAS FAILING. I CALLED MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IN OWENSBORO KY AND THEY SAID THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND DIDN'T KNOW WHEN IT WOULD BE IN? I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR OVER A WEEK . [XXX] AT NISSAN IN OWESBORO SAID NO RENTAL CARS WHERE AVAILABLE. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND I WORK SO I NEED MY VEHICLE IN WORKING ORDER. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SHE SAID I WOULD ONLY BE REFUNDED IF THE PART WAS RECALLED WHICH IT ISN'T. SO I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE PART, LABOR, AND $90 TO HAVE IT TOWED 22 MILES TO OWENSBORO TO BE FIXED. IM SORRY BUT IN MY OPINION ITS NOT MY FAULT IT FAILED. I PAID OVER $12,000 FOR THE CAR NOW I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $800.00 TO BE FIXED? THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WOKE UP FOR WORK AND WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START, I NOTICED THERE WAS A RED KEY LIGHT ON SO I WENT TO CHANGE THE BATTERY FOR THE KEY AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. I LOOKED THROUGH MY OWNERS MANUAL TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I WAS MISSING AND NO LUCK! I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THEY WOULD RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT MY STEERING LOCK MODULE HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO WORK. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH TAX THE BILL WOULD BE $834. I WAS IN UTTER SHOCK AND WAS GIVEN NO EXPLANATION EXCEPT FOR I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH OTHER NISSANS AND ITS TO BE EXPECTED! I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY CARS WORKS 1 DAY THEN NOT THE NEXT. IT SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN WITH THIS CAR AND I AM ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM! A RECALL IS NEEDED! *TR

CAR WAS FOUND TO NOT START. BATTERY HAD POWER, NO OTHER OBVIOUS ISSUES. CAR WAS INOPERABLE FOR THE WEEKEND. TOWED VEHICLE TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. BATTERY TESTED LOW AND WAS LATER REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE STEERING LOCK WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BATTERY REPLACEMENT IS UNDERSTANDABLE BEING THAT THE CAR IS MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD. LOCK STEERING MECHANISM HOWEVER RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING INOPERABLE. PARTS FOR THE LOCK STEERING MECHANISM TOTALED $534.19 PLUS LABOR WHICH TOTALED $282.88. TOTAL BILL WITH NEW BATTERY WAS $1,037.64. CONSIDERING ALL FAILURES LISTED ON THIS PAGE OF THIS SAME PART, A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. NISSAN APPARENTLY HAS RECALLED OTHER STEERING LOCKS SIMILAR TO THIS ON GTR MODELS. *TR

I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE FREEZING RAIN/SLEET THIS PAST SATURDAY. AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS OF TRYING EVERYTHING, MY CAR WAS PLACED ON A ROLL BACK AND TOOK TO A LOCAL GARAGE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT AND WOULD BE BETWEEN $600-$800 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE PART WAS NOT IN STOCK,SO MY MECHANIC WILL HAVE TO CALL DAILY TO CHECK ON IT. I'M FURIOUS AT NISSAN. THIS IS ACTUALLY MY 5TH NISSAN TO OWN. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE THAT THE PUSH-TO-START WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 03/27/13*LJ UPDATED 3/28/13 *CN UPDATED 04/19/2013*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUAL START BUTTON ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,316.

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE DASHBOARD BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IS TURNING ON. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY. I CHECKED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FLUID LEVEL WAS IOW SO I ADDED DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID. THIS CAR IS REGULARLY SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES AND THE DEALER AT MOSSY NISSAN OCEANSIDE, CA, DID NOT MENTION THE ISSUE AT 55000 MILES. I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER VIA APPOINTMENT YESTERDAY, NO REPLY AS OF THIS MORNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,126 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,400. UPDATED 03/04/13

THE LIGHTS,LOCKS, TRUNK AND BATTERY WORKED FINE BUT THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED IN TO ACCESS THE PROBLEM. AMAZINGLY THEY CALLED ME 10 MINUTES AFTER IT ARRIVED AND TOLD ME THE ISSUE WAS MY STEERING LOCK WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND COULD NO LONGER COMMUNICATE WITH THE "INTELLIGENT KEY". I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $841.00 AND ADVISED IT WAS ON BACK ORDER AND COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ESTIMATED TIME OF WHEN IT WOULD BE REPLACED. I WENT BY THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE 1500 OF THE PARTS I NEEDED ON BACK ORDER. THEY STILL COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ESTIMATED ARRIVAL DATE. SAID IT COULD BE DAYS, WEEKS OR MONTHS. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL TO ME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NISSAN NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CAR HAD ME STRANDED IN COLD WINTER WEATHER AND I AM JUST LUCKY THAT SOMEONE WAS ABLE TO GIVE ME A RIDE HOME. THIS CAR IS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. IF NISSAN DOES NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE I CAN HONESTLY SAY I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE AGAIN. *TR

STEERING LOCK MECHANISM $1200 BUCKS NISSAN BETTER DO SOMETHING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 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 29,000.

I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FROM HOME TO THE GAS STATION APPROX. 5 MILES FROM HOME. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, FILLED THE CAR WITH GAS AND UPON STARTING THE CAR TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. A RED KEY LIGHT CAME ON IN DASH.CAR USED TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. IT WAS THERE THAT IT WAS FOUND TO BE A STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION. THAT COST ME A TOTAL OF 1000.61. 402.50 IN LABOR AND 538.81 IN PARTS PLUS TAX AND MISC. THE PATS WAS ON BACK ORDER. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK AFTER A WEEK BECAUSE THE PART WAS OVERNIGHTED. OTHERWISE THEY ESTIMATED ME GETTING MY CAR BACK AFTER THE 8TH OF FEB. WHEN ASKED ABOUT A RECALL I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNKNOWN BUT ALSO THAT THIS PART WAS UNUSUAL FOR BACKORDER. *TR

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED PREVENTING THE CAR FROM POWERING ON OR STARTING. IT TOOK ALMOST TWO WEEKS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PART. FROM MY RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PART FAILURE. THE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY AND WAS ALMOST $900 TO GET REPAIRED. NISSAN RECOMMENDED WE REPORT THE ISSUE FOR A POSSIBLE FUTURE RECALL. *TR

ATTEMPTED TO START CAR WITH "PUSH TO START" IGNITION. CAR SENSED KEY, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO START IGNITION ALTHOUGH I STEPPED ON BRAKE WHILE PRESSING BUTTON. LIGHTS WORK IN CAR. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. CAR STARTS WITH AUTOSTART USING FOB KEY, BUT WHEN TRIES TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE IT SHUTS OFF. ATTEMPTED TO PUT KEY IN SLOT AND PUSH "START" BUTTON, BUT THAT ATTEMPT WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. PREVIOUSLY CAR WAS WORKING FINE. *TR

I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND CAME OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SO THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. SENT IT TO THE DEALER AND $1100. THIS IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM SO WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED? I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE IN 13 DEGREE WEATHER WITH MY INFANT SON AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS ABOUT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. *TR

LAST SUNDAY MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START WITH THE FOB KEY. HAD CAR TOWED TO NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. WAS TOLD THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND WILL RECEIVED IN APPROX 3 WKS. ALSO, THE COST WOULD BE $930 BEFORE TAX. MY CAR IS 38,000 MILES AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. BECAUSE MY WINDOWS WERE ACCIDENTALLY LOWERED DUE TO SOMEONE HOLDING DOWN UNLOCK BUTTON ON FOB AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO CLOSE MY WINDOWS SINCE MY CAR FAILED TO START, THEY ARE ALSO SAYING I HAVE TO PAY A DAILY STORAGE FEE SINCE THEY ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE MY CAR OUTSIDE DUE TO ALL THE WINDOWS BEING DOWN. *TR

STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED LEAVING CAR STRANDED. *TR

CAR WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE KEY IN IT, BUT COULD UNLOCK DOORS AND TRUNK, AND WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN AND THEY FOUND THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH IKEY READER. TECH INSTALLED NEW IKEY READER AND CLEARED THEFT CODES. *TR

MY DAUGHTER AND 2 YEAR OLD WERE TRYING TO GET HOME UNDER AN ICE STORM WARNING. THE PUSH BUTTON START DID NOT OPERATE. THEY WERE STRANDED IN THE COLD UNDER A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING. NISSAN SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROLLER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND START BUTTON. THERE IS NOT A METHOD TO OVERRIDE THE PUSH BUTTON WITH A MECHANICAL KEY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA. MY ALTIMA HAS ONLY 37,500 MILES BUT IS PAST THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR WAS $803. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE EXPECTS A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THEY SEE THIS FAULTY MODULE. THE PART WAS CHANGED IN 2010 BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BAD ONES IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS. *TR

I STOPPED FOR LUNCH AT A FAST FOOD ESTABLISHMENT AND AT THIS POINT EVERYTHING WITH THE CAR WAS FINE. AFTER I ORDERED AND GOT BACK INTO MY CAR, I TRIED TO START IT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE KEY LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH. AFTER CALLING THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE BATTERY IN THE KEYFOB. I DID REPLACE BATTERY AND PLACED THE KEYFOB IN THE ALTERNATIVE START PORT. THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT START. AFTER TRYING TO JUMP THE CAR BATTERY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MECHANISM. THIS MALFUNCTIONING PART LEFT ME STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT DURING A SNOW STORM. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT NISSAN HAS ISSUED RECALLS ON THIS PART IN OTHER VEHICLES AND HAVE STOPPED USING THIS PART IN NEW VEHICLES. THERE ARE ALSO HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS PART FAILING IN MY MODEL AND YEAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL OF IMMOBILIZING A CAR DURING SEVERE WEATHER, LEAVING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS STRANDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE KEY WARNING ICON WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,291.

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

DROVE TO LUNCH IN CAR. CAME OUT 30 MINUTES LATER CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN LOCK SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED. REPAIR COST WITH TOW ~ $850. *TR

THE NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WE WERE UNABLE TO START THE CAR. A NEW BATTERY WAS PLACED IN THE CAR LAST FALL AND THE KEY FOB BATTERIES WERE REPLACED JULY 2012. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME SITUATION. THE PROBLEM REPORTED WAS A FAILED STEERING LOCK UNIT. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY INDICATED WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THEIR SHOP. THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE DID IN FACT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY MENTIONED THEY HAVE HAD AT LEAST 15 INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AT THEIR SHOP ALONE SINCE THE WEATHER TURNED COLD THIS WINTER. WE SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2009 SO THAT OUR TEENS WOULD HAVE A DEPENDABLE CAR TO DRIVE. WE DID NOT WANT THEM STUCK SOMEWHERE UNABLE TO GET HOME, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS STEERING LOCK. THE DEALERSHIP INSTRUCTED ME TO HOLD ONTO OUR REPAIR RECENT SHOULD IT BECOME A RECALL. *TR

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. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,996 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A REPEAT OCCURRENCE. THE COMPUTER WAS PREVIOUSLY RESET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

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

WIFE'S 2009 ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, THE LITTLE KEY LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR DEALER, AND THEY TOLD US THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL HAD FAILED. HAVING NO CHOICE, WE THEN ORDERED THE PART, ONLY THEN TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY COULD NOT ESTIMATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR BILL WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT $750. WHEN I GOT HOME THAT EVENING, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY CASES EXACTLY LIKE OURS ARE OCCURRING. THE NEXT MORNING, I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA. THEY HAVE PUT ALL OWNERS OF 2009'S IN JEOPARDY AND OBVIOUSLY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AS THE PART WAS CHANGED OUT IN LATE YEAR 2010 CARS BUILT. OUR FINAL RESULTS ARE BETTER THAN MOST OF THE OTHERS WE HAVE READ ABOUT. BETWEEN NISSAN AND OUR DEALER, THEY COVERED THE REPAIR WHICH WAS DONE AS THE PART DID ARRIVE, AS WELL AS OUR CAR RENTAL WHILE THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE. MY ADVISE IS TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT LIKE WE DID AND TO BE PERSISTENT. AN ATTORNEY I KNOW SAID WE SHOULD CONTACT THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND/OR THE LOCAL TV STATIONS TROUBLE SHOOTERS, BECAUSE PUBLICITY AND LEGAL ACTION ARE EXACTLY WHAT NISSAN DOESN'T WANT. *TR