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
We purchased this vehicle brand new in 2009. On 11/18/2015, my wife became stranded in a shopping center parking lot because the vehicle would not start. After research online, we discovered that the problem is the steering lock mechanism. When the mechanism fails, it generates a fault in the computer that disables the vehicle. Nissan has known of the problem for some time and extended the warranty, but did not…
ODI 10794759
Electrical System
Vehicle was parked, stationary when i went to start it. Nothing happened when start button was pressed. The car was recognizing the key fob, due to the fact that when i didn't have it, it was saying no key. However would not start even when fob was present. Contacted nissan service department, they said it was a common problem, after googling the issue i was surprised at how many sheer numbers of the same exact…
ODI 10807477
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the push to start button failed to function. The contact had to make numerous attempts to maneuver the push button start and after multiple attempts, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering wheel lock mechanism failed and needed to be replaced. The vin was not available. The manufacturer…
ODI 10794445
Electrical System
Car won't start due to failure of the electronic steering column lock.
ODI 10816878
Electrical System · Steering
Car wouldn't start, left me stranded i was stationary at the time in the snow with my kids.
ODI 10794339
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to push the vehicle over to the side of the road with other consumers who stopped to help the contact. The vehicle was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
ODI 10788784
Electrical System
Car won't start at all. Tried two different key fobs with working batteries, and also tried plugging them into the key fob port, but no luck. After searching online i realized the "ignition steering wheel lock failure" is extremely common with 2009-2010 nissan vehicles. I'm waiting for a tow truck at the office because i can drive home from work!
ODI 10788436
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The failure occurred without warning. The electronic steering key light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
ODI 10789312
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the push to start feature failed to start the engine without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
ODI 10787628
Electrical System · Steering · Unknown Or Other
2009 nissan altima would not start. Dealer said that it was an issue with the steering lock mechanism being stuck. Went to nissan usa's website and saw that a lot of people were having this issue, and it has been talked about all over the internet. So many complaints about this very issue that it looks like nissan extended a warranty covering the cost to fix the problem if this happened to your vehicle. The caveat,…
ODI 10788077
Electrical System · Steering · Unknown Or Other
Car deesn't start, it is because of faulty steering lock system. Nissan extended warranty on this part but didn't do recall. It has happend to many people and yesterday i was stranded and my car wouldn't start. The repair is costly and nissan is not paying for it.
ODI 10785278
Electrical System · Steering · Unknown Or Other
There was a malfunction with the electronic steering column lock. I went to start my car and it would not start. The electronic steering column lock needed to be replaced.
ODI 10788017
Electrical System · Steering · Unknown Or Other
The electronic steering column lock issue is prevalent in nissan altima model year 2009-2010 and nissan has failed to take responsibility for this known issue. I experienced the issue conveniently outside of nissan's "extended warranty claim period" and as a result i am stuck with a $1000 repair that i have taken full financial burden from. This was a known issue that should have been fixed by nissan under a recall…
ODI 10787981
Electrical System
Drove car to blaney elementary school in elgin sc. After leaving school got in car pushed brake and pushed start button and got nothing! Yellow key light was on. Had vehicle towed to nissan dealership. Was told today that the electronic steering column lock needs to be replaced and the cost is $1208!!!! Googled the problem and see that thousands of other nissan owners are having the same problem! Nissan needs to…
ODI 10783783
Electrical System
Escl locked up with no warning. Car would not attempt to start after getting gas because the system thought the escl was engaged. Stranded at a gas station pump for 3 hours until a tow could be done to a dealer.
ODI 10788960
Electrical System · Steering
My 2009 nissan altima 2.5 sl started without a problem. Stopped at the store, was in there for 10 minutes. Came out, my car wouldn't start. It would lock and unlock, lights worked, but wouldn't start. Attempted fixing for 2 days by driving up to the parking spot with a bunch of tips and tricks online but ended up towing my vehicle to nissan dealership and spent $800+ to get it fixed. Refer below links for similar…
ODI 10785124
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the keyless ignition failed to operate. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the steering wheel lock was replaced. After the vehicle was serviced, the intelligent key failed to start the ignition. The vehicle was not repaired for the second time but the details were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate…
ODI 10808258
Electrical System
Turned off my car to get gas when i went to restart it wouldn't turn on. Had the car towed to dealership to get diagnostics completed as recommend from nissan. I see this as a major safety issue as i'm a single woman stranded in a bad part of the city waiting helplessly for a tow truck. Then had to ride along with a stranger (tow truck driver) to the dealership. Results came back as steering lock unit needed to be…
ODI 10782447
Electrical System
Beware to anybody who drives a 2009 or 2010 nissan altima. For no reason whatsoever, it will decide to not start and strand you - severe issue. It's escl (electronic steering column lock: your car acts like it was broken into and / or stolen), which is clearly a manufacturing problem which they refuse to put on the recall list, even though it's listed on nhtsa's service bulletin (national highway traffic safety…
ODI 10781559
Electrical System · Steering
Tried to start my car one day and it would not start. The car was located in front of my children's school . After getting a diagnosis from the dealer i was told it was the electronic steering column lock. I was later told that it was an extended warranty issued for the part because tons of people are having the problem but the warranty ran out june 29, 2015. How would i know that the part was defective if they do t…
ODI 10781629
Electrical System · Steering
Car was parked for 8 hours, went to start and nothing would happen, key light on dash was light. Steering wheel was not locked. Battery ok, fob working opening door locks.
ODI 10780012
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Without warning the vehicle would not start after being driven an hour prior to the malfunction. The key fob indicator light comes on but the car will not start or respond to the start button. The key fob unlocks/locks the car. Upon researching the issue online, i discovered that the issue is with the electronic steering control lock that keeps the car from being stolen or started without the key fob. This is, from…
ODI 10780008
Electrical System · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 nissan altima. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and the key warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
ODI 10783004
Electrical System
My 2009 nissan altima had a defective electronic steering lock unit that rendered the vehicle unsafe and unreliable for my wife as driver and her passengers. She had to get stranded and have it towed before the third dealer we saw about the problem could diagnose the root cause. She was in an unsafe location three hours from where i was located when the part malfunctioned and feared for her safety. The service…
ODI 10805810
Body · Electrical System
Dashboard is melting, sticky and is discoloring inside windshield. The sun reflects off sticky dash. Brown sticky substance won't clean off. Electrical display behind the steering wheel goes off and on. Mostly is off.
ODI 11123932