Nissan Altima Complaints (2009)

1,601 consumer complaints on file.

#10495298January 30, 2013
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 TO THEIR SHOP. THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE DID IN FACT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY MENTIONED THEY HAVE HAD AT LEAST 15 INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AT THEIR SHOP ALONE SINCE THE WEATHER TURNED COLD THIS WINTER. WE SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2009 SO THAT OUR TEENS WOULD HAVE A DEPENDABLE CAR TO DRIVE. WE DID NOT WANT THEM STUCK SOMEWHERE UNABLE TO GET HOME, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS STEERING LOCK. THE DEALERSHIP INSTRUCTED ME TO HOLD ONTO OUR REPAIR RECENT SHOULD IT BECOME A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495029January 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, ENGINE
CAR WOULD NOT START / COMPUTER LOCK / CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495145January 29, 2013
STEERING
STEERING LOCK MECHANISM $1200 BUCKS NISSAN BETTER DO SOMETHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495151January 29, 2013
STEERING
THE LIGHTS,LOCKS, TRUNK AND BATTERY WORKED FINE BUT THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED IN TO ACCESS THE PROBLEM. AMAZINGLY THEY CALLED ME 10 MINUTES AFTER IT ARRIVED AND TOLD ME THE ISSUE WAS MY STEERING LOCK WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND COULD NO LONGER COMMUNICATE WITH THE "INTELLIGENT KEY". I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $841.00 AND ADVISED IT WAS ON BACK ORDER AND COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ESTIMATED TIME OF WHEN IT WOULD BE REPLACED. I WENT BY THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE 1500 OF THE PARTS I NEEDED ON BACK ORDER. THEY STILL COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ESTIMATED ARRIVAL DATE. SAID IT COULD BE DAYS, WEEKS OR MONTHS. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL TO ME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NISSAN NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CAR HAD ME STRANDED IN COLD WINTER WEATHER AND I AM JUST LUCKY THAT SOMEONE WAS ABLE TO GIVE ME A RIDE HOME. THIS CAR IS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. IF NISSAN DOES NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE I CAN HONESTLY SAY I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494891January 28, 2013
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494919January 28, 2013
STEERING
STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED LEAVING CAR STRANDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494934January 28, 2013
STEERING
I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND CAME OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SO THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. SENT IT TO THE DEALER AND $1100. THIS IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM SO WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED? I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE IN 13 DEGREE WEATHER WITH MY INFANT SON AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS ABOUT TO TRADE IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494962January 28, 2013
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 FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA. MY ALTIMA HAS ONLY 37,500 MILES BUT IS PAST THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR WAS $803. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE EXPECTS A RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THEY SEE THIS FAULTY MODULE. THE PART WAS CHANGED IN 2010 BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE BAD ONES IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494878January 27, 2013
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494659January 25, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494678January 25, 2013
STEERING
DROVE TO LUNCH IN CAR. CAME OUT 30 MINUTES LATER CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN LOCK SENSOR WAS DIAGNOSED. REPAIR COST WITH TOW ~ $850. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494693January 25, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,400. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494725January 25, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A REPEAT OCCURRENCE. THE COMPUTER WAS PREVIOUSLY RESET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494743January 25, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494768January 25, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 DEFECT OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THIS DID OCCUR ON A VERY COLD DAY, ABOUT 10 DEGREES AT THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494563January 24, 2013
STEERING
I PARKED MY VEHICLE AT MY SON'S SCHOOL TO RUN IN AND PICK HIM UP FROM THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. CAME BACK OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE START BUTTON AND BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF, LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD OR NO SOUND WAS MADE FROM THE CAR DOORS BEING OPENED. MY MECHANIC CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PART AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL JANUARY 29TH. REPAIR COST IS AROUND $800. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494409January 23, 2013
STEERING
WENT OUT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEYLESS START FOB. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILS. THIS IS A TIME BOMB BECAUSE IT CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE CAR DO NOT MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494432January 23, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494459January 23, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START WHEN ENGAGING THE PUSH-TO-START SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,887 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494476January 23, 2013
STEERING
DROVE CAR A FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE FOR APROX 15 MINS. CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START. NO KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON DASH BUT KEY FOB WAS IN CAR. GOT THE SPARE AS WELL AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. PLUGGED IN FOB, DISCONNECTED CAR BATTERY. ALL WOULD NOT WORK. STUCK IN THE COLD WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER! HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP ($100) AND PART WAS STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. PART WAS ON BACK ORDER! NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THIS! IT'S RIDICULOUS. THEY NO LONGER USE THIS PART ON THEIR CARS YET REFUSE TO RECALL COSTING US A LOT OF MONEY! REPAIR BILL AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WAS $753.09 PLUS $100 TOW SO $853.09!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. LUCKILY DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO GET NISSAN TO COVER MY RENTAL CAR SINCE I WENT A WEEK WITHOUT A CAR. UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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