2009 Nissan Altima Electrical System Problems
- 433
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 433 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- steering lock · 35 records
- steering column · 28 records
- steering wheel · 27 records
- electronic steering · 25 records
- column lock · 24 records
- extended warranty · 17 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 180 |
| 30–60k mi | 86 |
| 100–150k mi | 78 |
| 1–30k mi | 21 |
| 150–400k mi | 8 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10499303
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10497787
Electrical System · Steering
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,…
ODI 10502023
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10498047
Electrical System · Steering
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.…
ODI 10497735
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10502789
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10503515
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Steering
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…
ODI 10496818
Electrical System · Service Brakes · Steering
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…
ODI 10496805
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10496853
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10500940
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10496763
Electrical System · Steering
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.…
ODI 10496370
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10501050
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10496604
Electrical System · Engine
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.…
ODI 10494878
Electrical System · Steering
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
ODI 10494891
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10495292
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10494962
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10495298
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10494768
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10494743
Electrical System · Steering
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
ODI 10494501
Electrical System · Steering
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…
ODI 10497595
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Car would not start / computer lock / car had to be towed. *tr
ODI 10495029