2011 Nissan Altima Electrical System Problems

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Engine Control Module (ECM) is malfunctioning, triggering persistent P0101 codes related to the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. This specific issue is addressed in Nissan Technical Service Bulletin DE97AA, which recommends an ECM reprogramming. The component is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. ⸻ • How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When the vehicle is at a complete stop and I attempt to accelerate, it becomes jumpy and unresponsive, refusing to accelerate properly. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially when trying to merge into traffic or cross intersections, as I am unable to match the speed of other vehicles. This increases the risk of being rear-ended or causing an accident due to unexpectedly slow acceleration. ⸻ • Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. An independent mechanic diagnosed the issue and confirmed the code P0101. After reviewing Nissan’s official TSB DE97AA, they advised me to go to a Nissan dealership to have the ECM reprogrammed as outlined in the bulletin. ⸻ • Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, but not yet by the manufacturer. The dealership is aware of the issue but has refused to perform the repair without payment. ⸻ • Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. The Check Engine Light is consistently triggered by code P0101, and the traction control warning light also comes on when the issue is active. The symptoms appeared recently and continue to recur even after the code is reset.

I am sending this email concerning a recall that is affecting my vehicle. I dropped the car off as scheduled on 10-10-22. The initial adviser I spoke with in scheduling the appointment at the Darcars Nissan dealership on Indianola drive in Rockville confirmed the recall repair would be done in a day. However, after dropping the vehicle off, I was informed the repairs would be done in more than a day. Even though they intend to provide the loaner vehicle for a day. Since the repairs will be more than a day, I, as the victim/customer, will be responsible for paying for any extra day of rental for the vehicle while the vehicle is being on recall repaired. I then rejected the assumptive proposal of being responsible for paying for rentals if the repairs take more than a day, which was different from what I was initially told. I drove my vehicle to Nissan to have the repairs done, and the initial discussion upon arrival was a request for me to pay for the diagnosis; I inquired why will I be paying for the diagnosis when my recall was determined to be an electronic issue. However, I told them okay, I will pay for the diagnosis if your diagnosis results indicate the keys are not reading the car system or, as you claim, are not related to the recall. Unfortunately, Darcars could not provide an accurate diagnosis report; instead, they wrote a summary of what they claimed to have done with the vehicle repair process. They also claimed the car could not start, and the repair was done in auto mode. After approximately a week that I had driven my vehicle to Nissan for a recall, I got a call from Nissan, saying the car could not start, and we needed you to authorize us to change the battery. You must also pay for the diagnosis, parts, labor, and key programming. These are the charges; Labor----------------------------------- 149.99 Shop supplies --------------------------- 26.25 DRC document retention charge--------- 1.99 EPA Compliance charge -------------------- 32.

THERE IS AN ELECTRIC SYSTEM ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I HAVE HAD THE ISSUE 4 YEARS. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. IN ORDER TO START THE CAR THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED FIRST AND THEN PLUG BACK IN AND THEN IT WILL START BACK UP.IN THE PAST I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NEVER FOUND ANY ISSUES ON THE DIAGNOSTICS.

ALL 4 LOCKS SOMETIMES WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK, CREATING A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN YOU NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.

THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING PAST 2ND GEAR BEING TOLD IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL MISFIRE AND CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK UNTIL IT WAS ABLE TO HIT 2ND. THAT WAS REPAIRED BY OUR LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY MELTING AWAY AND HAS BECOME SLIMY AND STICKY. IT IS WORKING IT'S WAY DOWN TO THE STEERING WHEEL AREA AND AIR VENTS. I'M SURE THAT IS SOME SORT OF HAZARD.

YOU HAVE A NTB 13-088 REGARDING A TPMS ISSUE , SIMILAIR ISSUE I AM HAVING MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO TIRE PRESSURE ISSUE. HOWEVER MY VIN # ISN'T COVERED IN THE RECALL. WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NTB - 13-088 RECALL AND IF THAT IS WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING IS THERE A WAY TO GET MY VIN # ADDED

LOCKS/ LATCHES ARE NON RESPONSIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE PUSH TO START BUTTON FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I AM CURRENTLY IN THE ARMY. I AM CONDUCTING TRAINING AT FORT SILL, OK AND MY WIFE IS IN NORTH CAROLINA WHERE I ACTUALLY WORK. MY WIFE DROPPED THE KIDS OFF AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND WENT TO THE STORE WHERE THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND WAS HAVING NO ISSUES. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE CAR TO START IT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, BRAKES WERE LOCKED, DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ONE, HAD THE RED BLINKING CAR WITH KEY SYMBOL AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SAYING LOCKED, SHE WAS STUCK IN TOWN, NO WAY TO PICK UP OUR KIDS, AND NO WAY TO GET BACK HOME. ENDED UP PAYING TOW TRUCK TO TAKE CAR TO THE HOUSE, CHANGED BATTERIES IN KEY FOB. CHECKED THE BATTERY, AND NOTHING HAS FIXED IT. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW, I WOULD BE A LOT MORE FURIOUS IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY WIFE ALONG WITH BOTH OF MY SONS THAT ARE 4 AND 2. THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK THERE IN THE COLD WITH NO WAY HOME AT THAT TIME. NISSAN NEEDS TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR CAR DEFECTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND POTENTIALLY BE A HAZARD IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PUSH TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT. DO A SEARCH ON 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING AND NOT STARTING YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT ALL THESE COMPLAINTS.NOW MY WIFE HAS TO WAIT UNTIL I GET BACK FROM TRAINING TO GET THE CAR FIXED. GETTING IT FIXED HERSELF IS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO MY 4 YEAR OLD BE AUTISTIC. I AM BEGGING FOR YOUR HELP AND TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY. *TR

MY ALTIMA FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE START BUTTON AND EXHIBITED ALL ALARMS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD (INCLUDING ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS OF OPEN DOORS.) AAA SERVICE WAS FORBIDDEN BY AAA TO PROVIDE ANY SERVICE BEYOND BATTERY AND TOWING. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A TIRE SHOP, I BEGGED THE MECHANICS TO DETACH THE GROUND WIRE IN ORDER TO REBOOT THE COMPUTER. THIS WORKED! AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS CONDITION AND FIX WAS IDENTICAL TO ONES DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NTB12-041. MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP (NISSAN BRIDGEWATER NJ) WHO FAILED TO APPLY THIS SOFTWARE PATCH WHEN IT FIRST APPEARED IN APRIL 2012 DESPITE MANY RETURNS I MADE TO THEM FOR ROUTINE WARRANTY SERVICE. THE OCCURRENCE OF THIS FAILURE AND CITATION OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL USERS IN NISSAN USER FORUMS. THIS IMPLIES THAT OTHER DEALERS ARE SIMILARLY NEGLIGENT IN KEEPING CARS CURRENT WITH SERVICE BULLETINS APPLICABLE TO THEIR VEHICLE. *TR

AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING DURING NORMAL USE. THE COIL TO THE COMPRESSOR IS FRIED AND WILL NOT TURN ON THE A/C EVEN THOUGH IT HAS WORKING AMOUNTS OF FREON AND ALL OTHER EQUIPMENT IN A/C SYSTEM IS GOOD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE PUSH START WAS PRESSED, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THERE WAS NO ENGINE POWER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,998. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ *CN

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED, THE LIGHTS OF THE PANEL LOWER THE DENSITY. NOW STARTS THE LIGHT OF THE AIR BAG OF THE PASSENGER, RIGHT SIDE.

THIS IS AN INCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, MOST RECENTLY ON 2/23/15. CAR WOULD NOT START IN COLDER WEATHER. REPLACED BATTERY IN JANUARY OF 2014 FINE FOR AWHILE. HAPPENED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2014. GOT JUMP START AND TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. STARTED FINE FOR SHOP. JANUARY 2015, INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHERE CAR WOULD NOT START. BROUGHT BACK TO REPAIR SHOP, SAID I HAD A FAULTY BATTERY. BATTERY REPLACED. FEBRUARY 2015, LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AFTER NEW BATTERY PUT IN, CAR STARTS FINE. STOPPED FOR GAS NOT EVEN 2 MINUTES LATER. TRYING TO START CAR AFTER FILLING UP, CAR WILL NOT START. STEERING WHEEL IS IN LOCKED POSITION, BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP, RED LIGHT FLASHING AS ON DASH AS IF THERE IS NO KEY IN THE CAR. LOCKS WERE NOT RESPONSIVE TO EITHER MANUAL BUTTON ON DOOR NOR WITH KEY FOB. IGNITION WOULD NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO TURNING OVER. NO LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON. CAR WAS JUST DEAD. HAD TO TOW TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE MECHANIC SAID BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. IT WAS BRAND NEW 3 WEEKS AGO!!!! STILL DON'T KNOW THE REAL ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT. HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER POSTS WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS AND IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN FIXING THE BCM IS THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO WORK IN THE LONG RUN. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO DO!!!! CAR IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. RIDICULOUS! NISSAN NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THEIR FAULTY "NO KEY" IGNITION SYSTEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER AND PARK THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE LATER COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF USING THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO T REPROGRAMMED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED OVER 20 TIMES THIS PAST YEAR FROM NOT STARTING ( I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A YEAR). ALL THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT WHEN I PUSH THE START BUTTON IT WON'T DO ANYTHING. IT WILL JUMP OFF AND MIGHT RUN FOR WEEKS BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL FAIL ME AGAIN. I HAVE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF TIMES(WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALSO TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE SEVERAL TIMES (AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED) TO FIND OUT THERE WASN'T A BATTERY ISSUE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHERS DOING THE SAME THING WITH MOST OF THEM SAYING ITS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH START IGNITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE UPON ENGAGING THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BCM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,327.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE AT TIMES. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO KEY. DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK FROM KEY. DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK FROM INTERIOR SWITCH. TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN. PUSH TO START SWITCH STUCK "ON" POSITION. INTERIOR LIGHTS STUCK ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED VEHICLE AFTER TWO DAYS OF TESTING. INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS KEY NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. AFTER MORE DIAGNOSTIC --CONCLUDED BCM NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. BCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *TR

WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS AND HEADLAMPS & RUNNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND VEHICLE BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE, STRANDING DRIVER & RUNNING DOWN BATTERY DUE TO INABILITY TO TURN ANY LIGHTS OFF OR TURN VEHICLE OFF. NO CONTROLS RELATED TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WERE CONTROLLABLE. SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE: 1. POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCHES DID NOT FUNCTION (NO EFFECT FROM PRESSING). 2. POWER WINDOW SWITCHES DID NOT FUNCTION (NO EFFECT FROM PRESSING). 3. PRESSING THE VEHICLE POWER / IGNITION BUTTON (MODERN EQUIVALENT OF STARTING KEY SWITCH) DID NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT, WHETHER SHORT OR LONG DURATION PRESSES WERE USED, AND REGARDLESS OF DELAY BETWEEN KEY PRESSES. 4. HEADLIGHTS & RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ON REGARDLESS OF THE SWITCH POSITION OF THE HEADLIGHT CONTROL SWITCH. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING STRANDED. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S LIGHTING WOULD NOT TURN OFF, THE BATTERY RAN DOWN, DISABLING THE VEHICLE FURTHER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER. NISSAN SERVICEMAN INITIALLY REFUSED TO WRITE THE CUSTOMER PROBLEM DESCRIPTION AS PER THE CUSTOMER DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM. LATER, CUSTOMER CALLED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REQUEST THE CUSTOMER DESCRIPTION INCLUDE SPECIFIC AND CORRECT INFORMATION ALREADY PROVIDED BY THE CUSTOMER SUCH AS VEHICLE WAS "COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE WHILE ALL THE WARNING LIGHT CAME [REMAINED TURNED] ON THE VEHICLE. DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK.", THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND TSB NTB12-041. DEALER RECORD READS: "REPROGRAMMED [SIC] BCM UPDATE AS PER TSB. VEHICLE IS NOW OPERATING AS DESIGNED [SIC] AFTER UPDATE." VEHICLE HAS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY SINCE. *TR