Nissan Altima Complaints (2009)

1,601 consumer complaints on file.

#10809144December 8, 2015
STEERING
HE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS A DEFECTIVE "STEERING LOCK" WHICH CAUSES OWNERS TO BE UNABLE TO START THEIR VEHICLES. THIS DEFECT CAN AFFECT OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CAUSE. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE FAULTY STEERING LOCK REPLACED. THE CAR CANNOT BE STARTED AT ALL. THUS, OWNERS OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA CONTINUOUSLY FIND THEMSELVES STUCK IN VERY INCONVENIANT CIRCUMSTANCES WITH NO ABILITY TO DRIVE THEIR CAR. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS WHO ARE IN REMOTE OR DANGEROUS AREAS. NISSAN IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY OF THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK TO 6 YEARS WITH INFINITE MILES. THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED MAY 2015. NISSAN SAYS THEY MAILED NOTICES, BUT CANNOT PRODUCE A COPY FOR ME TO SEE, NOR CAN THEY PROVIDE THE DATE IT TO ME OR PROOF THAT THEY INDEED DID MAIL IT. DUE TO THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND DEFECT, I WAS STRANDED, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALER, PAID $1167 FOR THE REPAIR, AND NISSAN WONT REIMBURSE ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808709December 7, 2015
STEERING
STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILED. CAR WILL NOT START OR EVEN TURN OVER. NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE UNIT, BUT I AND ALOT OF OTHERS FEEL IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THEY DIDN'T NOTIFY ME OF THIS PROBLEM AND I HAD CAR IN FOR RECALL FOR A DIFFERENT ISSUE WHEN THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH THESE UNITS AND WARRANTY ON THIS WAS STILL IN EFFECT. LUCKILY I WAS AT HOME AND NOT STRANDED SOMEWHERE. BY TAPPING ON UNIT WITH A HAMMER IT STARTED TO WORK I JUST HOPE IT DOESNT FAIL DURING DRIVING AND LOCK THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808753December 7, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND PREVENTED THE KEYLESS IGNITION FROM STARTING THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808764December 7, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808786December 7, 2015
ENGINE, STEERING
OUR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID DIED WITHOUT WARNING. WE WERE UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR ON, NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP EXCEPT A YELLOW KEY SYMBOL. THE LIGHTS, LOCKS, AND KEY FOB CONTINUED TO WORK, HOWEVER. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WE WERE HAVING AND DISCOVERED A NUMBER OF CONSUMERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR NISSANS. IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WITH THE STEERING LOCK WHICH RENDERS THE CAR INOPERABLE, APPARENTLY. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OUR CAR GAVE NO INDICATION OF SOMETHING BEING WRONG. IT HAS ONLY ABOUT 64,000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAVE HAD NO MAJOR ISSUES PREVIOUSLY, AND NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG PRIOR TO IT DYING. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN OF MARLBORO, MA, THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE WITH DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM OVER THE PHONE. HE SAID HE WAS 99% CERTAIN IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK. THIS WAS CONFIRMED ONCE WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. FOR HIM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ACCURATELY OVER THE PHONE, THEY MUST SEE THIS ISSUE OFTEN ENOUGH. ONLY FURTHER SOLIDIFYING THAT NISSAN IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I WAS TOLD HOWEVER, THAT DESPITE NISSAN BEING AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WE HAD MISSED THE DEADLINE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH ENDED IN JUNE 2015. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. OUR CAR WAS IN PERFECTLY GOOD CONDITION UNTIL THE MOMENT IT SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, I WAS ALSO MADE AWARE THAT THE REASON WE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THEY HAD THE PREVIOUS OWNER, MICHAEL SOMETHING, LISTED RATHER THAN US. SO THE MAILING MAY HAVE GONE TO HIM, NOT US. WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM NISSAN OF WOBURN AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. BY THE TIME I SPOKE WITH THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL FROM NISSAN, OUR INFORMATION WAS UPDATED AND SHE CLAIMED NISSAN CAN NOT GUARANTEE THAT RECALL INFORMATION IS MAILED TO THE CORRECT OWNER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808859December 7, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OUR 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA SL EXPERIENCED A STEERING LOCK FAILURE LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON OR EVEN SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. REPAIR COSTS WERE NEARLY $1000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808921December 7, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK (ECSL), IS WELL-KNOWN DEFECT THAT IS KNOWN ACROSS ALL 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA, MAXIMA, AND EARLY 2010 350Z. I WAS FILLING UP AT A GAS STATION WHEN MY CAR DID NOT START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT A LOCATION THAT WAS UNSAFE LOCATION DUE TO THIS DEFECT. THIS LOCK WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO START MY VEHICLE NOR GO ON ACCESSORY MODE, THUS I WAS NOT ABLE TO ROLL UP MY WINDOWS. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS DEFECT OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST MONTH. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA REJECTED MY CLAIM TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808639December 6, 2015
STEERING
TAKATA RECA MY CAR IS NOT THAT OLD AND NOT THAT MANY MILES ON IT TO BRAKE DOWN. GOT STOP LATE AT NIGHT AT A PARKING LOT AND CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD. AAA COULDN'T FIX IT SO HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO COULD FIX THE PROBLEM OF A ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808581December 5, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTION. PARKED VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY, CAME OUT AN HOUR LATER AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. A YELLOW KEY LIGHT AND A RED VEHICLE LIGHT WITH A KEY SYMBOL INSIDE ARE THE ONLY THINGS ON THE DASH THAT WILL APPEAR. BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD AND THE PUSH TO START WILL NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808588December 5, 2015
STEERING
"STEER LOCK" MY CAR HAD THE STEER LOCK FAILURE. CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE KEY. CAR WOULD NOT START. NISSAN CREATED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE ONE SPECIFIC ITEM FOR 6 YEARS UNLIMITED MILEAGE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED 161 DAYS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. NISSAN OR DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808602December 5, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PUSH TO START CARS ARE NOT STARTING. IT MUST BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE REPLACED A FAULTY BREAK SWITCH AND NOW HAVE TO REPLACE ITELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM. IN BOTH CASES THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER AND MUST BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN REPAIR THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808203December 3, 2015
STEERING
I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S ON APRIL 14, 2009. ON NOVEMBER 30, 2015 I WAS STRANDED AFTER DINING IN AT A RESTAURANT TO FIND THAT MY CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. I READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONICAL STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE SERVICED AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN PINE BLUFF, AR AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $961.01. I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO SEE IF THEY COULD ASSIST ME WITH THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN APRIL 14, 2015. THE WARRANTY WAS ORIGINALLY 3 YRS/36,000 MILES THEN WAS EXTENDED TO 6YRS/UNLIMITED MILES. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL ON IT. THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THAT IS, ALTIMA OWNERS WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN IN FACT NISSAN KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FROM 3 TO 6 YEARS. HOW WOULD AN OWNER KNOW THERE WAS EVER AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK UNTIL THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IT? SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808258December 3, 2015
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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ UPDATED 5/20/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807950December 2, 2015
STEERING
I PARKED MY CAR WENT INTO THE STORE EVERYTHING WORKED JUST FINE BEFORE I GOT OUT, BUT WHEN I CAME OUT MY CAR WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING! I WAS STRANDED, AFTER READING THE OWNERS MANUAL I FOUND IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK UNIT! IF I HAD BEEN ON THE (WRONG SIDE OF TOWN) IT COULD'VE BEEN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS THAN IT ALREADY WAS! I CALLED THE THIS SIMPLE PART IS $764 PLUS LABOR! AFTER READING MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AS IT WAS ON THE 350Z
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807954December 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM DIDN'T ENGAGE ON MY 2009 ALTIMA. THIS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART BUT MINE EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 2015. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU COULD BE STRANDED AT ANYTIME ANWHERE WITH THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. THERE WAS A BAD SNOW STORM IN DENVER ON SUNDAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND IF IT HAD HAPPENED UP IN THE MOUNTAINS CROSS COUNTRY SKIING I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AS THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. HOWEVER THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME STATING IT WOULD BE COVERED AND HAD I KNOW I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN BEFORE IT LEFT ME STRANDED WITHOUT A CAR FOR 4 DAYS. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT WORKED ON. THIS ISSUE IS SO BAD THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART AND WON'T GET IT IN UNTIL 2 DAYS AFTER I HAD BROUGHT IT IN TO GET FIXED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING HURT OR WORSE STRANDED AND DIE SOMEWHERE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807788December 1, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807793December 1, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
THE STEERING LOCK FAILED, AND I COULD NOT START MY CAR. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE TOPEKA NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. IT COST $973.00
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807477November 30, 2015
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 THING WAS HAPPENING. $1200 LATER, MY CAR IS FIXED JUST BECAUSE OF A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN LOCK, WHICH EVEN THE PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED WAS A BIG PROBLEM, ADDING THAT NISSAN RESPONDED BY CHANGING THE LOCK ON THE 2010 AND UP MODELS, HOWEVER NOT COMPENSATING ANY CURRENT OWNERS. MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THAT THE PART IS SO FAULTY THAT IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN IN TIME. IM TAKING CAR BACK TO DEALER THE CAR HAD 50K ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANT I CANT AFFORD 1200 BUCKS IF NOT FIXED IM NOT PAYING FOR A LEMON CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807485November 30, 2015
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY SEIZED UP WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, SO THE ENGINE STARTER WAS PREVENTED FROM TURNING ON AND THE STEERING AND TRANSMISSION REMAINED LOCKED. THIS HAPPENED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER AND AT NEAR-ZERO TEMPERATURES, REQUIRING A TOW TO A DEALER AND A $1200 REPAIR, WHICH NISSAN LATER REDUCED TO $450. I ACCEPTED THIS ON CONDITION IT WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A SETTLEMENT. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT TURNS UP IN ALL ALTIMAS BUILT DURING SEVERAL MONTHS IN 2008, WHICH THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED. THEY OFFERED A 72-MONTH WARRANTY AFTER MANUFACTURE (NOT A RECALL, THOUGH CUSTOMERS CLAMORED FOR IT) JUST FOR THIS ITEM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE DEFECT TENDS TO SURFACE AFTER THIS PERIOD. MY CAR MISSED THE WINDOW BY 22 DAYS. MANY SIMILAR CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED SINCE, AND NONE HAVE BEEN COVERED. HAD THE UNIT FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE FAILED TO LOCK UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, LEADING TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. BEING IN THE COLD FOR HOURS WAS HAZARDOUS ON ITS OWN, ANYWAY, BUT I SURVIVED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807473November 30, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DISPLAYED A MESSAGE. THE CONTACT WAS STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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