NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
859 reportsClear category filter49,230 miles · Feb 23, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering
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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10499751
117,000 miles · Feb 23, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering
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 DEALERSH…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10499748
85,000 miles · Feb 22, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering
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 W…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10499720
44,000 miles · Feb 20, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering
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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10499491
81,000 miles · Feb 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 CURR…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10499432
27,000 miles · Feb 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…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10499420
50,000 miles · Feb 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 ARRIVA…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10499383
117,000 miles · Feb 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 VEH…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10499370
36,000 miles · Feb 19, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
NHTSA ODI #10499296
56,000 miles · Feb 19, 2013
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10499276
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 ↗