NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
859 reportsClear category filter86,599 miles · Jan 9, 2016
Steering
MY CAR STARTED JUST FINE WHEN LEAVING MY HOUSE, I DROVE IT TO A GAS STATION, PARKED AT THE PUMP, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND FILLED UP MY TANK. UPON RESTARTING MY VEHICLE, THE ENGINE NEVER TURNED OVER, CAR WILL NOT START, OR RECOGNIZE KEY FOB. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE RED CAR ICON WITH A KEY INSIDE OF IT WAS BLINKING "SECUR…
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MY CAR STARTED JUST FINE WHEN LEAVING MY HOUSE, I DROVE IT TO A GAS STATION, PARKED AT THE PUMP, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND FILLED UP MY TANK. UPON RESTARTING MY VEHICLE, THE ENGINE NEVER TURNED OVER, CAR WILL NOT START, OR RECOGNIZE KEY FOB. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE RED CAR ICON WITH A KEY INSIDE OF IT WAS BLINKING "SECURITY DEVICE ICON" AS WELL AS THE ORANGE "NO KEY" WARNING LIT UP ON CONSOLE. EVEN AFTER DEPRESSING MY BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. I HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW MY CAR, AS IT STILL WILL NOT START.
NHTSA ODI #10819135
61,000 miles · Jan 8, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other
WENT TO GET GAS VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. CALLED DEALER AND CONCLUDED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER SINCE CAR OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD TO PAY $933 TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON AND HAD IT FIXED IN A SHORT TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. HERBA NIS…
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WENT TO GET GAS VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. CALLED DEALER AND CONCLUDED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER SINCE CAR OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD TO PAY $933 TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON AND HAD IT FIXED IN A SHORT TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. HERBA NISSAN OF JOHNSTOWN NY COMPLETED REPAIR.
NHTSA ODI #10819098
152,000 miles · Jan 6, 2016
Steering
WHILE AT MY LOCATION, I TURNED MY 2008 ALTIMA OFF. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT ONLY DISPACED THE KEY SYMBOL. AND HAD THE WORD LOCK ON THE PUSH START PART. I UNDID THE BATTERY AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. STILL NOTHING. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1100 PL…
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WHILE AT MY LOCATION, I TURNED MY 2008 ALTIMA OFF. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IT ONLY DISPACED THE KEY SYMBOL. AND HAD THE WORD LOCK ON THE PUSH START PART. I UNDID THE BATTERY AND LET IT SIT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. STILL NOTHING. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1100 PLUS TOWING EXPENSES. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR SINCE THE END OF 2013. ITS NOW PARKED WHERE I LEFT IT IN MY MOTHER'S YARD DUE TO IT NOT WANTING TO BUDGE OR START.
NHTSA ODI #10818452
62,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016
Steering
I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. LUCKILY IT WAS IN MY PARKING SPOT. IT KEPT SHOWING A YELLOW BOX WITH A KEY INSIDE OF IT. THE PUSH START BUTTON KEPT SHOWING THE WORD LOCK. I THOUGHT IT WOULDN'T START BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE SO I WENT BACK IN THE HOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TRIED TO START IT BACK UP. I…
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I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. LUCKILY IT WAS IN MY PARKING SPOT. IT KEPT SHOWING A YELLOW BOX WITH A KEY INSIDE OF IT. THE PUSH START BUTTON KEPT SHOWING THE WORD LOCK. I THOUGHT IT WOULDN'T START BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY COLD OUTSIDE SO I WENT BACK IN THE HOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND TRIED TO START IT BACK UP. IT STILL DIDN'T START UP. I GOT THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ONE OF THE GUYS THERE TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $950 PLUS TAX. IT IS REALLY UPSETTING THAT NISSAN ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10818264
81,487 miles · Jan 5, 2016
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,487.
NHTSA ODI #10818236
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2016
Steering
ON JAN 2 2016 I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN MY 2009 ALTIMA FAILED TO TURN BACK ON. MY FOB BATTERY WAS CHANGED AND STILL NO LUCK. I TOWED IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS TOLD MY STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED $1450 AND I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY RECALLS OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THIS IS EXTREMELY U…
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ON JAN 2 2016 I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN MY 2009 ALTIMA FAILED TO TURN BACK ON. MY FOB BATTERY WAS CHANGED AND STILL NO LUCK. I TOWED IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS TOLD MY STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED $1450 AND I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY RECALLS OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING AND TIMING SUCKS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.
NHTSA ODI #10818173
122,000 miles · Jan 2, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering
WHILE DRIVING BACK TO WORK FROM A LUNCH BREAK, I NOTICED THE"KEY WARNING" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN I ARRIVED L PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THEN SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE CAR THEN TO LOCK THE CAR. NOTHING HAPPENED. TRIED AGAIN AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. ELECTRONIC KE…
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WHILE DRIVING BACK TO WORK FROM A LUNCH BREAK, I NOTICED THE"KEY WARNING" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN I ARRIVED L PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THEN SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE CAR THEN TO LOCK THE CAR. NOTHING HAPPENED. TRIED AGAIN AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. ELECTRONIC KEY WITH A NEW BATTERY DID NOT WORK. ALL ELECTRONIC MECHANISMS DID NOT WORK.
NHTSA ODI #10817400
40,691 miles · Jan 1, 2016
Steering
NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL MORNING OF DECEMBER 31 2015, MY CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO START. IT WAS NOT ABLE TO GO TO ACC OR ON MODE EVEN WHEN THE KEYLESS ENTRY WAS RECOGNIZED. I CALLED TRIPLE A FOR A JUMP START BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO JUMP START THE EITHER. SO I GOT IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR AN DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. WHILE I WA…
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NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL MORNING OF DECEMBER 31 2015, MY CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO START. IT WAS NOT ABLE TO GO TO ACC OR ON MODE EVEN WHEN THE KEYLESS ENTRY WAS RECOGNIZED. I CALLED TRIPLE A FOR A JUMP START BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO JUMP START THE EITHER. SO I GOT IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR AN DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. WHILE I WAS WAITING I DID SOME RESEARCH ON MY PHONE LOOKING FOR WHAT MIGHT THE PROBLEMS MAY BE. I KEPT SEEING "STEERING WHEEL LOCK CONTROL MODULE FAILURE", WHICH REPAIR COST AVERAGED AROUND $1000 TO 1300. HOPING THIS WAS NOT THE ISSUE, AFTER RECEIVING THE DIAGNOSES, IT WAS THAT... I ASKED IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS STILL VALID BUT THEY SAID THE WARRANTY ENDED ON JULY OF 2015... I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. NOT JUST BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENDED BUT SINCE MY COMMUTE TO SCHOOL AND WORK IS VERY SHORT, MY MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS LESS THAN 45000 MILES ON A 2009 CAR AND ON A LOW MILEAGE CAR LIKE THIS AND HAVING TO DO A EXPENSIVE REPAIR LIKE THIS ON A SMALL MODULE THAT DOES NOTHING COMPARED TO ITS COST. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY FAMILY IN SAN DIEGO FOR NEW YEARS AND STUCK WITH LONG WAITS, EXPENSIVE REPAIR, AND TRAFFIC THAT DAY. I HOPE NISSAN NOTICES THIS COMMON ISSUE ON THE CAR AND RECALLS THE ALL POTENTIAL CARS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. HOPEFULLY I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK WITH THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10817332
80,000 miles · Dec 31, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10817170
74,000 miles · Dec 30, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER WAS CONTACT AND INFORMED HER THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS REGARDING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF, THE BRAKES…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER WAS CONTACT AND INFORMED HER THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WAS REGARDING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF, THE BRAKES AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
NHTSA ODI #10817119
Official recalls
4Sep 10, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Sep 16, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).
Jan 9, 2009
NISSAN IS RECALLING 225 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION WELD ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIPS AND REMEDIED AT THE FACTORY. NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RETAILED.
Sep 15, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 3,403 MY 2009 ALTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH ALLOY WHEELS. SOME THESE WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD CAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE LUG NUTS ATTACHING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LUG NUTS BECOME LOOSE, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS EQUIPPED WITH ONE OF THE AFFECTED WHEELS. IF IT IS, THE WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES THAT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗