2009 Nissan Altima Steering Problems
- 807
- 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 807 stored complaint records:
- 4 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- steering lock · 45 records
- steering wheel · 43 records
- steering column · 19 records
- wheel lock · 19 records
- electronic steering · 14 records
- column lock · 14 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 309 |
| 100–150k mi | 164 |
| 30–60k mi | 149 |
| 1–30k mi | 29 |
| 150–400k mi | 24 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
Car will not start due to the steering column lock, it was stationary at the time.
ODI 11076852
Steering
STEERING WHEEL LOCK WON'T ALLOW ME TO TURN CAR ON.
ODI 11080801
Steering
STEERING LOCK MECHAINISM. CAR WONT START
ODI 11072304
Steering
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED.
ODI 11065971
Electrical System · Steering
My car wouldn't start. The escl box locked up for 3 days! Now i have to pay $150 to have it fixed per my warranty company. I haven't had the car 60 whole days, and it's been in the shop 4 times with very little success and a lot of frustration and time lost! Please call me. Will you pay for the $150 warranty fee? I had it towed to carmax norcross monday morning. It's wednesday. I've been without a car for 5 days…
ODI 11066018
Steering
Nissan was a car i really trust, but from now my opinion changed. I bought my new nissan in 2009 from a nissan dealer. After four years of use (2013) the nissan release an extended warranty for a en electronic piece that should never fail (the famous escl). My car stop working due to this issue, it couldn't turn on because was locked by the faulty electronic piece. I use the extended warranty to fix the problem, ok…
ODI 11073399
Steering
The car steering locks up and you can't start the car
ODI 11066824
Steering
I have a 2009 nissan altima that now sits in my garage. I went to leave to run errands and my car wouldn't start. My husband found the problem to be the escl - electronic steering column lock. After much research, i found quite a bit of information about the escl. For one, it's too expensive to have repaired.
ODI 11061022
Steering
The key fob for the 2009 nissan altima works to lock and unlock the car doors, but it the dashboard lights up with the key symbol indicating an error. I went to go start my vehicle maybe an hour after i had just used it to get home and the vehicle will not start at all. When the push to start button is pushed, nothing happens. It is essentially like the car does not sense the key. The problem has to do with the…
ODI 11057835
Steering
Escl has gone out twice now. First time nissan repair at their cost. This time they won't replace at their expense. This is very dangerous and nissan knows that this is a defect on their part. I had to pay towing charge and replace escl for the second time!! $1000 fix.
ODI 11056774
Electrical System · Steering
Won't start eslc steering wheel lock defective. Purchased car then stopped at gas station turned off car won't start again. Showed yellow key flashings light on dash.
ODI 11063594
Steering
I can't get my car to start because it won't recognize my key. Nissan has a campaign and extended the warranty to help some of the thousands of owners whose vehicle won't start due to a faulty electronic steering column locks. However, these recalls are vin specific and even though my vehicle has the identical problem, they denied my claim. I appealed and they denied again. Now i get to pay $1,000 to pay for a part…
ODI 11053464
Steering
Took vehichle hunting. When i returned to car found that vehicle would not start. No cell phone coverage. Had to flag down a car to find a ride back to where i could get cell coverage and call wife for a ride home. After much research i found that the steering colum lock was the culprit. Also found out that i was not alone with this problem. How could this be a secret, if that many people have been affected and…
ODI 11045863
Steering
Electronic steering lock control has failed twice. Nissan has replaced at no charge once, and has a service campaign for all 2009. However, the 3 year old replacement failed with no warning and left me stranded and had to have car towed.
ODI 11046615
Steering · Unknown Or Other
Car will not start and key lock is on as well as the red light with the car flashing inside of the car. I looked the problem up and it stated something about it being a steering mechanism. I was parked in a restaurant got out to get my food and came back to the car and car wouldn't start.
ODI 11032287
Anti-Theft Device · Steering
Vehicle would not start after being shut down in parking lot. Dash display showed a key light but information console did not state the problem. Occupants in vehicle were mother and 3 year old daughter in 90+ degree heat. Could not operate air conditioning and had to have car towed to residence. Upon inspection, found steering wheel lock malfunctioned. Solution: disable malfunctioning unit compromising security…
ODI 11030263
Anti-Theft Device · Steering
The steering wheel lock mechanism. I was fixed once by dealership under extended warrenty they say. They told me recalled. Now only "certain 2009 nissan altima" are recalled again. Mine is broke again and cost is approx $900. They said i get no assistance even paying for it because of the miles on my car. It is still their mistake and faulty part. Car is nit driveable
ODI 11023983
Steering
My car left me stranded as i went to pick up my daughters from daycare. I had to pay to get my car towed to the dealership, my key fob would allow me to lock my doors and turn on the alarm but my car would not start. I have been looking in the complaints commentary and the majority of your complaints are for this same problem. Nissan should take responsibility for this failure. It is obvious that it has something to…
ODI 11015621
Steering · Unknown Or Other
I purchased a nissan altima 09 and haven't had any issues until 8/03/17. As i went to turn the car on a light came up on the dash board indicating that there was an issue with the steering lock. I figured it was a quick fix so i called my local dealership and they told me it's a faulty steering lock and asked for me to bring my car in. I had to call out of work to try and resolve this ongoing issue. I looked on…
ODI 11012600
Steering
The won't start due to the steering wheel won't lock so the car won't start
ODI 11011428
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
The car will not start. The dash lights and radio come on and the "on" indicator is lit where the push button is. However, the engine does not start.
ODI 11005108
Steering
Steering wheel lock unit failure. My car was all of the sudden dead at home depot the other day and this was the second times it happened. First time it happened but i was abled to start my car the next day so i thought it was ok. Until couple days ago it happened again and this time i had to tow my car to the shop to have it check. The shop checked it and told me it was the steering wheel lock box problem. I have…
ODI 11002070
Steering
Takata recall on thursday, may 11th, 2017, i left for an appointment. After the appointment, i tried starting the car and it would not start. I noticed the steering wheel was a bit stiff. I tried the battery, but no relief. I called my insurance company and they sent a tow truck to have it towed. After much reading, i realized this is an ongoing problem with nissan.
ODI 10985524
Steering
STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED
ODI 10985477
Electrical System · Steering
Vehicle was stationary and the steering column went out. Vehicle will not start, seems there are thousands of people with this same problem, do not understand why a recall has not happened.
ODI 10984804