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
The steering lock mechanism failed suddenly. I drove to the grocery store and parked in the parking lot. When i got back in my car to leave, the car didn't start. It didn't recognize the key fob and did not allow me to use the override system. The steering lock warning light came on. I had it towed to the nissan dealership service center. The nissan dealership service team informed me the steering lock mechanism had…
ODI 10940415
Electrical System · Steering
Steering wheel lock /ignition , car not able to start using key fob , total steering and brake lock . Got off work and could not start car , was running fine prior to work 7am
ODI 10936214
Electrical System
My car will not start this is the 3rd time this has happens in 2012 they changed my car battery and in 2013 it wouldn't start after work and i towed it to the dealership and they changed the steering and break lock mechanism and now 2016 my car won't start and it is the electronic steering column lock and now there is no warranty, so it is costing me about $900 to 1,000 to fix a problem that should not be happening…
ODI 10935052
Electrical System
Instrument panel does not light up and car will not start, it doesn't crank, not even a click form the starter, the steering wheel does not lock. Seems to be the electronic steering column lock (escl) as i googled for similar complaints of other owners. Nissan extended the warranty to 6 years on this issue, however cause they know this is a safety issue with this car. They should extend the warranty for a well known…
ODI 10935007
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. While attempting to start the vehicle, the intelligent key malfunction indicator illuminated and the engine would not start. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
ODI 10934607
Electrical System · Steering
I drove to work everything was fine went out on break to start my car and can't do anything windows are lowered and it started to rain the steering lock has went out and leaves you know way of doing anything with the car now i have to miss work to get vehicle put in to a dealership i see many others with the same problems
ODI 10934605
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the steering wheel locked. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column had to be replaced and reprogrammed. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
ODI 10935248
Electrical System
Went to work car, will not start when i went to leave work. Standard for a couple of hours. No warning it was going bad.
ODI 10934425
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start and the intelligent key warning sensor illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ignition lock/smart key lock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact that the extended warranty expired. The failure mileage was 60,000.
ODI 10935657
Electrical System
The date was 12/7/2016. My 2009 nissan altima failed to start at the end of my shift at work. After some research i found that what i had was a faulty escl. I found that this is a very common problem for this model car. The car fails to even turn on the to the acc mode. Nissan knows that this is a problem and extended the warranty for only 72 months and has refused to make a recall since it involves a parked car.…
ODI 10933767
Electrical System
The escl died today, at night here in maine. Searching the for this problem, it seems that this is a known issue with nissan, which did nothing to prevent my teenager from being stranded, at night. I see the part is on amazon for only $400, and takes about 30 minutes to install. Why does a dealer want $1000 for a repair of this sort? This is crazy - considering that nissan even extended the warranty on this part to…
ODI 10930313
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the push to start feature failed to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock mechanism failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000. ..updated 03/29/17 *bf updated 08/03/2017*js
ODI 10933887
Electrical System
When leaving to go home from an event for my kids, the car would not and could not start. The key lock symbol (red) and lock symbol (yellow) were lit on the dashboard. I did some research and found that the it was the steering column lock which many has been complaining about. This should be considered a recall with all the problems. *tr
ODI 10933954
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
I got in my car the other day to run to the store and the cars push button ignition would not start the car, the llght on the dash suggests that the steering wheel is not locked, but it is locked. Vehicle is parked in my driveway
ODI 10930036
Electrical System · Steering
Electronic steering column lock (escl) failed and was sticks and stranded. I am a full time student as well as working full time. Had to get my 09 altima towed to the dealship and lost out on work and made my daily life a financial hardship. It is going to cost me $1100 just for the part and labor. This is a known issue with 2009 altima's and needs to be recalled until nissan fixes the issue. This is very dangerous…
ODI 10928750
Electrical System · Steering
My car would not start and i was forced to sit in my car for hours as the stores had closed and it took over a hour to have my car towed. This left me in a situation in which i could have been harmed as a young woman in vulnerable situation. Nissan states that this is a manufacturer irregularity which means this is something that shouldn't be happening and is a manufacture issue. After getting it diagnosed by a…
ODI 10928662
Electrical System · Steering · Wheels
Luckily the car was parked and wouldn't start for this incident. After having it towed they needed to replace the steering lock mechanism. We're glad it wasn't being driven on the highway at the time it failed and possibly locked up the steering column. That could have been deadly. The replacement cost of this part is outrageous and should have been covered or replaced by nissan. They've had a history of issues with…
ODI 10928417
Electrical System · Steering
The car doesnt start because the car's starting system is faulty. It is called electronic steering column lock (escl) failure. Only nissan dealers can fix this issue and they charge exorbitant amount of money for replacing a small part and for labor. This is not caused by a user error but because of a defect with this model itself. There are many such complains online and happens to people randomly. This is a severe…
ODI 10933923
Electrical System
Car won't start do to a defective escl electronic steering column lock. The car left me stranded after work at midnight. The car is useless it does not start. I was never informed by the dealership of any problems with the escl.
Crash reported
ODI 10928172
Electrical System · Steering
Electronic steering control lock failed, leaving me stranded on the side of the road, apparently a common problem with 09 nissan, contacted nissan and opened a case, they called back and refused to help, with anything. What a joke nissan is turning out to be. There are literally thousands of posts on this problem, and nissan gives an unlimited mileage replacement that ended in 2014, i offered to pay for the labor if…
ODI 10928933
Electrical System · Steering
My wife was driving her 2009 nissan altima and parked. When leaving to go home, the car would not and could not start. The key lock symbol (red) and lock symbol (yellow) were lit on the dashboard. I did some research and found that the it was the steering column lock which many has been complaining about. I took it to the nissan dealer and the part would be $600.00. Attached is the printout of the warranty. This had…
ODI 10929949
Electrical System
My daughter was stranded in a not so great area when her car would not start due to a well known issue with nissan altima's electronic steering column lock (escl). Nissan did not issue a recall on this dangerous issue, but instead offered an extended warranty if the part failed, without notifying consumers. This is shameful on nissan's part to allow people to be stranded in possibly dangerous situations. The repair…
ODI 10927062
Electrical System · Steering
Vehicle would not crank after steering mechanism malfunction.
ODI 10926467
Electrical System
I was driving on highway when "intelligent key" warning light flashed on dashboard. I continued to my work place. When i attempted to leave my place of employment, the steering wheel locked, ignition self start would not work and i had to contact aaa to bring car to dealer. I was told that when this warning light is on, the car may lock up at anytime. I was told that i ought be driving since the steering wheel would…
ODI 10927582
Electrical System
Steering lock controler is broken and its a common problem on all altima and nissan doesn't take risponsibility
ODI 10926084