Nissan Altima Complaints (2009)

1,601 consumer complaints on file.

#10500711February 27, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
HAD STOPPED TO GET BREAKFAST. LOCKED MY CAR AND UPON RETURNING UNLOCKED THE CAR AND TRIED TO START VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM MY CAR. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED I THEN LEARNED THAT THE BRAKES WERE STIFF AND STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WANT TO TURN. WE HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER. AFTER LEAVING IT THERE I DID SOME INVESTIGATING ONLINE ABOUT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME PRESENTLY AND PAST. APPARENTLY, SEVERAL PEOPLE FOUND THEMSELVES IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH GETTING NO HELP FROM NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. I HAD YET TO HEAR IF THIS WAS MY PROBLEM BUT WAS GIVEN THE SAD/EXPENSIVE NEWS A DAY LATER THAT INDEED I WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE GROWING NUMBER OF NISSAN OWNERS WHO WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FAULTY PART REPLACED. BUT THE FUN DIDN'T STOP THERE. THE PART IS ON BACKORDER (BECAUSE SO MANY ARE NEEDED) UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND THERE ARE RECALLS ON MY CAR THAT NO ONE BOTHERED TO TELL ME ABOUT. I CALLED NISSAN AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO WAS GOING TO FORWARD MY CONCERN ONTO A REGIONAL CONCERN SPECIALIST. WHEN SHE CALLED ME BACK TWO DAYS LATER SHE INFORMED ME THAT IT IS NOT NISSANS JOB TO LET THEIR OWNERS/DRIVERS KNOW ABOUT RECALLS BUT THE DEALERS JOB. IN ADDITION, SHE'S PRETTY SURE THAT NO HELP WILL BE GIVEN TO REPLACE THE PART THAT WILL COST ME 700 DOLLARS. BUT SHE WOULD ASK AND CALL ME BACK THREE DAYS LATER. SHE IS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME TOMORROW WITH THE ANSWER. SHOCKED IS THE ONLY WORD THAT COMES TO MIND ABOUT MY SITUATION. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS PART HAS CAUSED SO MANY PEOPLE SO MANY PROBLEMS BUT IT IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST SOMEWHERE. IS THERE NOTHING TO BE DONE FOR IT? EVEN THE SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL. MY CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT QUIT RESPONDING BUT SOMEONE COULD BE DRIVING. HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500498February 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE COMPUTERIZED CHIP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500524February 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY WIFE WENT TO START HER 2009 ALTIMA HYBRID WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM. NOTHING HAPPENED, THE KEY INDICATOR ON THE LEFT OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS LIT. SHE TRIED THE KEY IN THE IN DASH SLOT AND STILL NOTHING. BATTERIES WERE GOOD IN BOTH KEY FOB'S WE TRIED, CAR BATTERY WAS GOOD ALSO. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MOTOR AND SWITCH. YOU COULD HEAR THE STEERING LOCK WORK BUT EVIDENTLY IT NEVER CONTACTED THE SWITCH TO SHOW IT WAS UNLOCKED SO THE CAR WOULD NOT START OR EVEN GO INTO ACCESSORY MODE. PARTS AND LABOR WERE $923 ($550 FOR THE PART, THE REST LABOR) TOWING WAS ANOTHER $100. NISSAN WOULD NOT HELP OUT EVEN THOUGH I READ IN NISSAN FORUMS THAT IT'S BEEN A RECALL ITEM ON A DIFFERENT MODEL AND THAT THEY DIDN'T USE THE SAME SYSTEM IN NEWER CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500528February 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE IGNITION WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500103February 26, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH-TO-START WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE MOMENTARILY AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF UPDATED 05/21/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500119February 26, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
FIRST PROBLEM STARTED WITH A FUNNY SOUND WHEN THE CAR WOULD START AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START THE FIRST TIME WITH PUSHING THE AUTO START. THIS WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I GOT THE VISUAL ON THE COLUMN THAT THE SMARTKEY WAS LOW AND HAD THEM REPLACE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND REPROGRAMMED IN BOTH KEYS. THIS IS WHEN ALL THE PROBLEMS STARTED DELAYED START NOT STARTING THEN I LEFT HOME AND ARRIVED AT WORK FINE THE MORNING OF 02/25/13 AND HAD TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER SITE AND TRIED TO START CAR AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO START. I HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND COME LOOK AT IT AND THEN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LOW KEY AND THE NO KEY SHOWED UP BUT STILL WOULD NOT START. WE TOOK SMARTKEY OUT TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED AGAIN TRIED THIS AND IT DIDN'T START. WE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND CALLED DEALERSHIP BACK AND THEY SAID WE COULD PUT THE SMARTKEY IN THE SLOT TO START CAR THIS DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I FINALLY HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S A STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AND ELECTRIC PROBLEMS. I'VE HAD THIS CAR ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS OTHER NISSANS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY ARE USING THE SAME PART TO FIX MY CAR AND IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. WHAT SCARES ME AND COULD PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER IS THE STEERING COULD GO OUT WHILE I'M DRIVING AND COULD KILL ME. I HAVE TOLD MY FAMILY IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT TO TEST MY STEERING AND IF THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE ACCIDENT OR MY DEATH THEY ARE TO SUE NISSAN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND FIXED WITH DEPENDABLE PARTS AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY SHOULD REPLACE WITH NO COST TO THE CONSUMER PARTS OR LABOR. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BECAUSE OF THE 3 YR. ALWAYS THE CASE. I WANT FULL REIMBURSEMENT FROM NISSAN BECAUSE THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500125February 26, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
PART 2 - CONFIRMATION NUMBER 10500119 PART 1 --- I WANTED TO ADD THAT I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2009. THIS WILL COST ME OUT OF POCKET $685 AND OF COURSE LIKE A SAID PREVIOUSLY THE WARRANTY OF 3/36,000 BEING THE YEARS THAT EXPIRED FIRST. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR 3 1/2 YEARS YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH A CAR THIS EARLY. THIS SHOULD BE A BIG RED FLAG TO THE NISSAN COMPANY!. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499918February 25, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE THAT THE PUSH-TO-START WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 03/27/13*LJ UPDATED 3/28/13 *CN UPDATED 04/19/2013*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499945February 25, 2013
STEERING
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD - CAR WILL NOT START AND IS ILLUMINATING THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS AROUND $500 AND WITH LABOR THE TOTAL IS $724. I WAS TOLD THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND COULD TAKE UP TO 3 WEEKS TO COME IN. I WAS TOLD IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THIS MODEL AND MILEAGE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS. I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AND INQUIRED ABOUT RECALLS. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING ISSUES WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN DONE. WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. REALLY UPSET AND FRUSTRATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499748February 23, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
WHEN MY DAUGHTER WENT OUT TO START THE VEHICLE,THE SECURITY SYSTEM FOR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK/UNLOCK WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STARTED DUE TO IT SAYING THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED WHEN IT ACTUALLY WASN'T.THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL OF THE 2008-2009 NISSAN ALTIMAS.IT HAS BEEN AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR 5 DAYS NOW,AND THEY ARE TELLING ME IT WILL BE ANOTHER 5 DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN GET THE PART NEEDED DUE TO IT BEING ON BACKORDER.THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY NISSAN BEFORE SOMEONE GETS STRANDED.THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE WHEN THIS RELAY QUITS IS TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSET DEALERSHIP.THIS REPAIR COSTS AROUND 1000.00 (LABOR,PARTS,TOWING),AND THAT IS IF AND WHEN THEY CAN GET THE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499751February 23, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD - CAR WILL NOT START AND IS ILLUMINATING THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS AROUND $500 AND WITH LABOR THE TOTAL IS $779. WAS TOLD IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THIS MODEL AND MILEAGE. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE INSIST ON THEM RECALLING THIS ISSUE AND REIMBURSING THE FULL AMOUNT TO ME. IF NOT, THIS WILL BE MY LAST NISSAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499777February 23, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PARKED CAN IN FRONT OF STORE AND ATTMPTED TO START IT BUT IT WOULD NOT START. YELLOW "KEY MISSING" LIGHT COMES ON BUT IT WON'T START. KEY BATTERY IS NEW, CAR BATTERY IS NEW, WON'T JUMP START. CAR IS DEAD. TURNS OUT TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. ONLY 57, 000 MILES AND THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY ISSUES WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. NEW BATTERY (2) NEW BRAKE SWITCH NEW ALTERNATOR NEW A/C PUMP NEW FRONT ROTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499797February 23, 2013
STEERING
I PURCHASED THIS USED 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM A DEALER IN MY LOCAL TOWN. WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD AROUND 36-38,000 MILES ON IT (CAN'T REMEMBER AT THIS TIME). HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE APPROX 100 MILES A WEEK, AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK THE OTHER DAY THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T TURN ON. THE INTELLIGENCE KEY BATTERY WAS CHARGED, THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR WAS CHARGE, I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND RESET IT, STILL NOTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO GET IT TO TURN ON. I TOWED IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS THE, "STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT" WHICH WOULD COST $717 FOR PART AND LABOR ALONG WITH A $70 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T STRANDED IN A BAD AREA OR WITHOUT A WAY TO REACH SOMEONE. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PART, TOO MANY INCIDENTS WITH THIS PART IN NISSAN VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499720February 22, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START AND IS ILLUMINATING THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILING ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL BOARD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PART IS AROUND $500 AND WITH LABOR THE TOTAL IS $950. FURTHERMORE, THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THEY INDICATED POSSIBLY TWO WEEKS. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS PART AND THAT I SHOULD CALL NISSAN TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AT 800-NISSAN1. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE, SO IF YOU ARE AS WELL, PLEASE LOG YOUR INCIDENT/COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AT THE NUMBER ABOVE AS WELL ENTERING IT ON THIS WEBSITE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499370February 20, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, A WARNING ERRONEOUSLY APPEARED STATING THAT THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 117,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499383February 20, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED UPON THE ARRIVAL OF THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499420February 20, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE KEY WARNING ICON WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,291.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499432February 20, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499491February 20, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I PURCHASED THIS USED 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM A DEALER IN MY LOCAL TOWN. WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD AROUND 36-38,000 MILES ON IT (CAN'T REMEMBER AT THIS TIME). HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE APPROX 100 MILES A WEEK, AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK THE OTHER DAY THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T TURN ON. THE INTELLIGENCE KEY BATTERY WAS CHARGED, THE BATTERY FOR THE CAR WAS CHARGE, I UNHOOKED THE BATTERY AND RESET IT, STILL NOTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO GET IT TO TURN ON. I TOWED IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS THE, "STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT" WHICH WOULD COST $717 FOR PART AND LABOR ALONG WITH A $70 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T STRANDED IN A BAD AREA OR WITHOUT A WAY TO REACH SOMEONE. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PART, TOO MANY INCIDENTS WITH THIS PART IN NISSAN VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499218February 19, 2013
STEERING
DROVE TO A STORE ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED (CAR WENT INTO LOCK MODE AND IT COULD NOT BE RESET). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT IS BEING REPLACED AND THE COST IS $918. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,100. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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