NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
466 reportsClear category filter42,000 miles · Dec 9, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other
MY FAMILY AND I WERE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT LAST WEEK FOR SEVERAL HOURS FOR MY CAR TO BE TOWED CAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND JUMP START THE BATTERY DID NOT WORK. AFTER TOWED IT HOME AND RESEARCH / DIAGNOSTIC, FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A WELL KNOW THAT THE STEERING LOCK BOX IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, CALLING NISSAN …
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MY FAMILY AND I WERE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT LAST WEEK FOR SEVERAL HOURS FOR MY CAR TO BE TOWED CAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND JUMP START THE BATTERY DID NOT WORK. AFTER TOWED IT HOME AND RESEARCH / DIAGNOSTIC, FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A WELL KNOW THAT THE STEERING LOCK BOX IS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, CALLING NISSAN DEALER ABOUT IT AND WILL NOT MAKE THE RECALL ON THE PART. MY CAR JUST DIE AFTER 5 YEARS. 3 MONTHS AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY DEALER WILL NOT FIX IT AND NISSAN WILL NOT ASSIST TO GET IT FIX EITHER. THEY KEEP WANTING ME TO BRING IT TO THE DEAL FOR DIAGNOSTIC, WHEN IN-FACT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE STEERING LOCK BOCK IS DISABLED THE CAR FROM STARTING. I BROUGHT IT IN, AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME NO RECALL AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT (ALMOST $1,000), YET RECOMMENDING ME TO FIX OTHER ISSUES SAYING IT COULD HAVE BEEN TUNE UP NEEDED THAT WHY MY CAR WOULD NOT START.. UGH!!!
NHTSA ODI #10809326
99,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015
Electrical System
WIFE WENT TO DRIVE TO WORK IN MORNING CAR WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. TURN OVER OR SENSE THE KEY. SHE TRIED OTHER KEY AND SAME THING NOTHING. GOOGLED ISSUE AND NISSAN ADMITTED THERE IS A ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN. INSTEAD OF FIXING ISSUE THEY JUST EXTENDED WARRANTY IN HOPES THAT WHEN NOT IF IT WENT OUT WARRANTY WOULD…
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WIFE WENT TO DRIVE TO WORK IN MORNING CAR WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. TURN OVER OR SENSE THE KEY. SHE TRIED OTHER KEY AND SAME THING NOTHING. GOOGLED ISSUE AND NISSAN ADMITTED THERE IS A ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN. INSTEAD OF FIXING ISSUE THEY JUST EXTENDED WARRANTY IN HOPES THAT WHEN NOT IF IT WENT OUT WARRANTY WOULD BE UP. CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEY TOLD ME CAR IS OVER WARRANTY BUT IF I TAKE IT AND GET IT DIAGNOSED AND THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS THEY MAY HELP COVER REPAIR COST. DID JUST WHAT THEY SAID LOCAL DEALER CONFIRMED IT WAS MY ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCKING UNIT. CALLED NISSAN BACK THEY CALLED DEALERSHIP AND CONFIRMED. THEY THEN CALLED ME BACK AND SAID WE CANT DO ANYTHING ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHY MAKE ME PAY MORE THEN SAY OH NO WE CANT HELP YOU. SO I HAD TO WAIT FOR NISASAN TO TELL ME EITHER YES OR NO THEY WOULD HELP AFTER THEY SAID NO I CALLED DEALERSHIP TO GO AHEAD WITH WORK THEY NO LONGER HAD PART ANOTHER 2009 CAME IN WITH SAME PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS COAST NISSAN OF SAN LUIS OBISPO. CAR GAVE NO WARNING ESCL WAS GOING OUT AND ONCE IT GOES OUT YOUR STRANDED THIS IS A ISSUE NISSAN SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED BUT WOULD RATHER SAVE MONEY AND NOT FIX DEFECTIVE ISSUES.
NHTSA ODI #10809124
153,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015
Electrical System
CAR WAS PARKED IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. CAR WOULD NOT START. DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATED KEY ICON. HAD CAR TOWED 50 MILES TO NISSAN CAR DEALERSHIP. ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK UNIT (ESLU) REPLACED. TOTAL COST: $1006 AND ONE SLEEPLESS NIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #10809111
100,000 miles · Dec 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…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10808921
81,000 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
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 DETA…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10808258
40,100 miles · Dec 2, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
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 …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10807954
54,000 miles · Dec 1, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
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
NHTSA ODI #10807793
61,000 miles · Nov 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, …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10807477
74,000 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
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 REPLAC…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10807473
70,000 miles · Nov 18, 2015
Electrical System
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2009. ON 11/18/2015, MY WIFE BECAME STRANDED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. WHEN THE MECHANISM FAILS, IT GENERATES A FAULT IN THE COMPUTER THAT DISABLES THE VEHICL…
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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2009. ON 11/18/2015, MY WIFE BECAME STRANDED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. WHEN THE MECHANISM FAILS, IT GENERATES A FAULT IN THE COMPUTER THAT DISABLES THE VEHICLE. NISSAN HAS KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THE FAILED PART IS 48700-JF00A. LET ME STRESS THAT NISSAN HAS KNOWN OF THIS PART DEFECTIVENESS FOR YEARS, BUT HAS NOT BEEN PROACTIVE TO AVOID OWNERS FROM BEING STRANDED. THE VEHICLE WAS OBVIOUSLY STATIONARY WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS REALIZED.
NHTSA ODI #10794759