Nissan Altima Complaints (2009)

1,601 consumer complaints on file.

#10487352December 4, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. I COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. THE CAR RECOGNIZED THE INTELLIGENT KEY WAS INSIDE THE CAR, I COULD LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS AND TRUNK, DOME LIGHTS WORKED. BASICALLY I WAS STRANDED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER I PURCHASED CAR FROM (WHOM ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH NISSAN VEHICLES) AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY HAD ME TROUBLESHOOT. I CALLED LOCK & KEY COMPANY, NOT FAMILIAR WORKING WITH THIS NISSAN PROBLEM. CALLED NISSAN DEALER WHILE WAITING, THEY ADVISED ME A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS YR/MAKE AND I WAS AT THE MERCY OF NISSAN TO REPAIR, HE FORGOT TO TELL ME THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY PROGRAM AND NO RECALL. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT I PURCHASED CAR FROM, THEY TOWED TO LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. NOW THEY WANT $750 FOR REPAIRS ON SOMETHING THAT EVEN NISSAN IS AWARE OF (I CALLED NISSAN NO. AMERICA) AND THEY WILL INVESTIGATE IF PERHAPS SOMETHING ELSE TRIGGERED THE SENSOR TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY CAR WILL STAY AT DEALER UNTIL I GET AN ANSWER AND THE $750. IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ANY TIME, NO WARNING LIGHTS, CAR DIDN'T ACT UP IN ANY WAY. THIS POSES HUGE RISKS, PEOPLE COULD BE STRANDED AT NIGHT OR ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487315December 4, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER WORK MY WIFE'S CAR WOULD NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON BUT THE PUSH BUTTON WAS NON RESPONSIVE EVEN WITH THE FOB IN THE KEY FOB SLOT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT HAD GONE BAD AND IS PREVENTING THE IGNITION SWITH FROM WORKING. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED BY NISSAN SINCE IT PREVENTS STARTING THE CAR LEAVING YOU STRANDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487151December 3, 2012
STEERING
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, UPON RETURN TO VEHICLE TO START ENGINE WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEY, STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE SMART KEY EVEN WHILE INSIDE THE CAR OR WHEN IT WAS INSERTED ON THE SMART KEY PORT. ATTEMPTED TO JUMP VEHICLE BUT IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY, CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP, NOT SELLING DEALERSHIP. PART WAS BACK ORDERED SO NO VEHICLE OR RENTAL OFFER BY WARRANTY AS THE PART ITSELF IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, SO THIS PART AND SERVICE TOTALS APPROXIMATES 1000.00, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE CAR RENTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 300.00 FOR A WEEK, AS I WAIT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE FIXED. CAR INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER ANY PART OF EITHER REPAIRS OR CAR RENTAL AS IT WAS NOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I MAY ADD THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN AN UNSAFE AREA; LUCKILY, TOWING CAME RIGHT AS IT WAS GETTING DARK. PLEASE CONSIDER RECALLING THIS PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486212November 27, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WAS IN PARKING LOT AND WOULD NOT START. THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON DASH. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ADVISED STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART #48700-9N00B) WAS BAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON '09 ALTIMAS AS WELL AS 370Z. DEALER OFFERED 10% DISCOUNT AND ADVISED $600 TOTAL. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND ESCALATED TO REGIONAL OFFICE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN YOU CAN BE STRANDED. NISSAN HAS RECALLED THIS PART ON OTHER MODELS AND DISCONTINUED THIS FEATURE ON SUBSEQUENT MODELS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486221November 27, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WENT OUT TO START CAR IN THE AM TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND CAR WOULDNT START. ALL ELECTRICS HOWEVER STILL DID,. STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED I COULDNT GET IT OUT OF PARK. TRIED TO JUMP IT. THAT DIDNT WORK EITTHER. SO WE REPLACED THE BATTERY. THAT DIDNT WORK. STILL WOULDNT START. DEALER CAME AND TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY. SAID ITS THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY GOING BAD. I NEED IT REPLACED. ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. 723.00 IT WILL COST ME. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH MANY MANY 2009 ALTIMAS.. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALLED PART? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486077November 26, 2012
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
I TURN OFF MY CAR TO GET GAS AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY CAR IT WOULD NOT TURN ON I TRY TO HAVE A JUMP AND THAT DIDN'T WORK SO I HAD MY CAR TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP, I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 1 YEAR. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD NEED A NEW STEERING UNIT THAT WILL COST ME 1300.00. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR THESE NISSAN TO HAVE THIS ISSUE AND I FEEL A RECALL IS NEEDED. I FEEL LIKE I BEEN RIP OFF BY NISSAN AND MY DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485179November 19, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND NO WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485621November 18, 2012
STEERING
STEERING LOCK THAT ENGAGES THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THE MALFUNCTION OCCURED WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS NON RESPONSIVE AND THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN, INCLUDING BRAKES. THIS IS A THREE YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONE OWNER. ALL MANTAINANCE HAS BEEN DONE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484896November 16, 2012
STEERING
I STOPPED AT A STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO MY CAR IT WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED AND THE CAR WAS NO LONGER READING THE INTELLIGENT KEY. THERE WAS NO WAY AT ALL TO START CAR OR EVEN MOVE WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED ON FLATBED TO NISSAN DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED AND THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION. IT COST $850 TO FIX. I THINK NISSAN NEEDS TO BE ORDERED TO RECALL THIS PART. NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS THE NEWER NISSAN MODELS NO LONGER HAVE THIS FEATURE AND CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT FOR ALTIMA OWNERS. TO MAKE THINGS MORE RIDICULOUS, NISSAN ACTUALLY RECALLED THIS PART FOR OTHER NISSAN MODELS BUT CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE ALTIMA CUSTOMERS. THIS IS ALSO A KNOWN MALFUNCTION IN THE NISSAN 370Z AND AGAIN NISSAN IGNORES THESE OWNERS. HOW CAN A COMPANY CONTINUE TO FORCE OWNERS TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT IS A MALFUNCTION AND CAUSED BY NISSAN OWN IMPROPER INSTALLATION AT THE MANUFACTURING SIGHT. COMPLETE LACK OF CONCERN FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE EVEN THOUGH NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS SPECIFIC PART IN QUESTION. THIS IS CRIMINAL TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484660November 14, 2012
STEERING
CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS STEERING LOCK FAULTY. FOR A CAR ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND WELL-MAINTAINED, I WAS NOT EXPECTING A COSTLY REPAIR JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. I WONDERED IF OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND HOW TO GO ABOUT REPORTING AND TRYING TO GET A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484702November 14, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484713November 14, 2012
STEERING
CAR WOULD NOT START. INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS LIT UP, BRAKE VERY STIFF, AND STEERING WHEEL NOT LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO PURCHASED AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. THAT DID NOT WORK. AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET I SELF DIAGNOSED IT AS A MALFUNCTION OF THE STEERING LOCK. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND AS SOON AS THE MECHANIC CAME OUT TO THE CAR HE IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. PART IS NOT IN INVENTORY SO CAR WILL BE AT THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND IT WILL COST ME $800 TO FIX. THIS MECHANIC MUST SEE THIS OFTEN IF HE KNEW WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING TO THE CAR WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. NOT TOO HAPPY THAT I HAVE A CAR I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON AND HAVE TO PAY $800 TO FIX A PART THAT LOOKS LIKE SHOULD PROBABLY BE RECALLED. PROBABLY NO MORE NISSANS IN MY FUTURE. GOING TO STICK TO THE RELIABLE TOYOTAS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484088November 13, 2012
STEERING
I BOUGHT MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA NEW AND HAVE DONE ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. THEN I WENT OUT TO THE CAR TO START IT UP AND NOTHING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FRIED. IT WILL COST ME USD 800.00 TO HAVE FIXED. THE CAR IS THREE YEARS OLD! UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL YET NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR OFFERED TO FIX THE MALFUNCTION WITHOUT COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484078November 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WENT BY THE MALL ON SUNDAY EVENING WITH MY 9 MONTH OLD AND 27 MONTH OLD IN OUR 2 MONTH OLD NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 WHICH ONLY HAD ABOUT 21,000 MILES ON IT WHEN WE GOT, BUT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENCE, IT HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT. BY THE TIME WE CAME OUT OF THE MALL AND DECIDED TO GO HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE BREAKS WOULD NOT DEPRESS. I CALLED EVERYBODY I COULD CALL TO GET A RIDE WITH MY LITTLE ONES HOME BUT THAT TOOK A WHILE. IT GOT DARK ON US BUT WE EVENTUALLY GOT HOME. I CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURER THE NEXT DAY AND REPORTED THE ISSUE (FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH HARNESS) WHICH I FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA'S HAD AND THEY ADVISED I TOWED THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS 3 MILES AWAY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOWED THE CAR FOR $84.50 AND THE FIXING TOTALED $552.34. THIS IS MONEY I DON'T HAVE (NURSING STUDENT, VERY BROKE, AND LITTLE KIDS), SO I CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH FIXING THE CAR BUT AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THEY FINALLY CALLED SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483987November 11, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START. THE IKEY LIGHT AND THE "RED KEY" SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. THE IKEY OPENS THE DOOR LOCKS, TRUNK. HOLDING THE UNLOCK KEY DOWN RESULTED IN THE WINDOWS ROLLING DOWN. COULD NOT GET THE WIDOWS TO GO BACK UP. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY FOR 10 MINUTES, REPLACING THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB, USING EITHER KEY DID NOT WORK. TOWED CAR TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483610November 7, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE STEERING LOCK UNIT (PART NUMBER 48700-9N00B) NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE STEERING LOCK UNIT DID NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. BECAUSE THE UNIT DID NOT ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING GARAGE AT NIGHT AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WAS IN ALEXANDRIA, VA. THEY CHARGED $900 TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 36,000 MILES, IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN VEHICLES AND IS PRESENT ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS. MOST OF THE STEERING LOCK UNIT FAILURES OCCUR AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT BEFORE 60K MILES. THERE IS AN EXISTING SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2009 NISSAN GT-R MODEL FOR THE STEERING LOCK UNIT (CAMPAIGN ID P0309). THIS IS NISSAN'S TOP TIER VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME NISSAN HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS TO INCLUDE THE ALTIMA. ANYONE DRIVING A NISSAN WITH THIS KNOWN ISSUE CAN BE STRANDED AT ANY TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483510November 6, 2012
STEERING
DROVE CAR 35 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS. WHEN READY TO LEAVE LOCATION, CAR WOULDN'T START. INTELLIGENT KEY WOULD OPEN DOORS & TRUNK BUT THE IGNITION WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY NOR THE SPARE. THE BRAKES WERE STIFF, ONLY LIGHT DISPLAYED ON DASH WAS INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. IT TOOK 2 DAYS FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THE LOCK STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED. $600+ FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483521November 6, 2012
STEERING
I WENT TO THE STORE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND REALIZED THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO EXCEPT HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD AND I TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT. BECAUSE IT WAS SUNDAY, THERE WAS NOBODY AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT COULD LOOK AT MY CAR UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID I NEED A NEW STEERING LOCK. HE SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, BUT IT IS TREATED AS A MECHANICAL ISSUE. THAT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THE MECHANICAL WARRANTY RAN OUT 3 MONTHS PRIOR, BUT THE ELECTRICAL WARRANTY IS A 5 YEAR WARRANTY. HE SAID IT ISN'T COVERED, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A COURTESY VEHICLE, AND THAT IT WOULD BE $812+ TO FIX. THIS IS FAULTY EQUIPMENT FROM NISSAN AND THIS ISSUE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY ANYTHING I COULD HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE. NOT ONLY AM I OUT $812+ FOR THE PART AND LABOR, I WAS STRANDED ALONE, I HAVE MISSED WORK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, MY INSURANCE COVERS NOTHING EXCEPT $75 FOR THE TOW (I PAID $115), AND I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS ON MY PHONE WITH NISSAN. I'M OUT TIME, MONEY, DATA (ON MY PHONE PLAN), A PAYCHECK, AND A CAR!!! I WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN! I REALLY DON'T WANT THE ONE I HAVE NOW ANYMORE! THIS FAULTY PART SHOULD BE RECALLED!!! THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO OVERRIDE THIS IF/WHEN IT HAPPENS SO YOU ARE NOT JUST STRANDED. INTELLIGENT KEY??? YEA RIGHT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483535November 6, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483532November 6, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS MORNING WAS VERY COLD. I WARMED MY CAR UP, WENT TO VOTE. WHEN I LEFT THE POLL, I GET TO MY CAR AND IT WON'T START, SAYS THAT THERE IS NO FOB IN THE CAR. THE RED SECURITY LIGHT IS FLASHING. SO I PUT THE FOB IN THE "DOGHOUSE" THAT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AS A BACK UP METHOD.. NOTHING.. STILL WON'T START.. DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, RECONNECTED AND TRIED AGAIN.. NOTHING. DID ALL MY RESEARCH TO FIND MANY MANY PAGE SO COMPLAINS ABOUT IT.. IT'S THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. SEEMS THEY DID AWAY WITH THAT FEATURE IN LATE 2010 MODELS.. GUESS THEY KNOW WHY.. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A $700 BILL FOR AN ISSUE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY CAR WAS THE SECOND 09 OF THE DAY WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. COINCIDENCE?? I THINK NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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