NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1,547 reports74,728 miles · Dec 14, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER A SCHOOL MEETING ON EVENING OF 12/1/14. LOCKS WORKED FINE AND REMOTE START WOULD STILL START VEHICLE, BUT WOULD KILL AGAIN AFTER HITTING START BUTTON. TRIED JUMPING CAR BATTERY AND CHANGING BATTERIES IN KEY FOBS WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP NEXT MORNING ON 12/2 FOR REVIEW. AFTER LOOKING …
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CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER A SCHOOL MEETING ON EVENING OF 12/1/14. LOCKS WORKED FINE AND REMOTE START WOULD STILL START VEHICLE, BUT WOULD KILL AGAIN AFTER HITTING START BUTTON. TRIED JUMPING CAR BATTERY AND CHANGING BATTERIES IN KEY FOBS WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP NEXT MORNING ON 12/2 FOR REVIEW. AFTER LOOKING AT CAR ON 12/3, LOCAL SHOP ADVISED THE ISSUE TO BE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK. AFTER REVIEWING THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE, SO COMMON NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS MODEL FOR THIS PART TO 6 YRS UNLIMITED MILES (MY CAR HAS JUST UNDER 75,000 MILES). CALLED MY DEALER (WHO I PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE ALL REGULAR OIL/SERVICE MAINTENANCE DONE THERE) AND ASKED ABOUT IT. MY 6 YRS EXPIRED ON 11/22 (9 DAYS PRIOR TO ISSUE) SO WOULD HAVE TO CALL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR ANY CHANCE OF COVERING UNDER WARRANTY. NISSAN STATED THEY WOULD NO'T LISTEN TO ME UNTIL I HAD A DEALER REVIEW THE ISSUE. HAD TO PAY LOCAL SHOP FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND INCURRED ANOTHER TOWING EXPENSE TO GET TO MY DEALER (WHICH IS THE CLOSEST) 30 MILES AWAY. DEALER CONFIRMED ISSUE AND IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR BACK AS I NEEDED TO USE, I AUTHORIZED REPAIRS (OVER $1200 FOR JUST THE REPAIR). SUBMITTED MY CLAIM THEN TO NISSAN FOR ALL MY INCURRED EXPENSES (WHICH WAS $1500) BUT WAS FULLY DENIED. WAS TOLD 9 DAYS IS THE SAME AS 3 YEARS OVER THE WARRANTY IN THEIR EYES AND THEY CAN NO'T DO ANYTHING, INCLUDING EVEN COVERING THE ADDITIONAL TOWING AND DIAGNOSIS FEES INCURRED TO MEET THEIR REQUIREMENT OF THE DEALER TO REVIEW. SEEING THE LARGE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS HERE AND NISSAN'S OWN ADMISSION OF KNOWN ISSUE BY EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND PART, SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664134
49,000 miles · Dec 13, 2014
StructureVisibility/wiper
LAST YEAR RIGHT BEFORE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS PAID OFF, THE DASH BECAME VERY STICKY. THIS PROBLEM BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN THE HEAT OF THE MISSISSIPPI SUN. DUST , BUGS, FLORA, PAPER BECOME EMBEDDED IN THE GOO. IT NEVER DRIES. IT JUST STAYS STICKY AND MAKES A DANGEROUS GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD. I MISTAKENLY THOUGHT MY …
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LAST YEAR RIGHT BEFORE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS PAID OFF, THE DASH BECAME VERY STICKY. THIS PROBLEM BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN THE HEAT OF THE MISSISSIPPI SUN. DUST , BUGS, FLORA, PAPER BECOME EMBEDDED IN THE GOO. IT NEVER DRIES. IT JUST STAYS STICKY AND MAKES A DANGEROUS GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD. I MISTAKENLY THOUGHT MY HUSBAND OR I HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG BY CLEANING THE DASH, BUT WATER WOULD NOT CAUSE THIS MESS. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND GAVE ME A $2000 ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE DASH. REALLY? MY CAR DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 60,000 MILES ON IT NOW SO NISSAN HAS STUCK US! I EXPECTED BETTER FROM THEM. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE 100'S OF 2009 MELTING DASHES WHEN I GOOGLED THE SUBJECT. WE HAVE OWNED 2 SENTRAS, 1 FRONTIER TRUCK, 1 STANZA, AND A MAXIMA. I WE ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL STRESS OVER THIS RIDICULOUS SITUATION! NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE MELTING DASH VEHICLES. WHERE IS THE MORALITY???? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664108
81,000 miles · Dec 11, 2014
Electrical System
THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND A DASH LIGHT INDICATED A SMALL KEY. WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF NISSAN SPECIFICALLY (2009 NISSAN ALTIMA). AS A…
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THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND A DASH LIGHT INDICATED A SMALL KEY. WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON NOTHING HAPPENED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF NISSAN SPECIFICALLY (2009 NISSAN ALTIMA). AS A RESULT OF THIS KNOWLEDGE, NISSAN PLACED THAT PART UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THAT HOWEVER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ENOUGH, SINCE MANY OF THE ISSUES DON'T BEGIN UNTIL AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS UP, AS IN OUR CASE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1,100.00. I CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND NISSAN DIRECTLY FOR ASSISTANCE, ASKING THAT THEY COVER THE PART, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED IN AUGUST. OF COURSE, THEY CHOSE NOT TO HELP IN ANYWAY. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THIS PART FAILS IT DOES NOT GIVE MUCH IF ANY WARNING. YOU SIMPLY COME OUT TO START YOUR CAR ONE DAY AND IT DOES NOT START OR ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. NISSAN CHOOSING TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON A PART WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HAVING ISSUES, DOES US NO GOOD. A RECALL HOWEVER WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE, I FEEL, IN THIS SITUATION. MANY DRIVERS ARE HAVING THE ISSUES AFTER ALL WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED AND THE COST IS THEIRS TO COVER. WHEN IT'S A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART, THAT DOES NOT SEEM FAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10663555
75,657 miles · Dec 9, 2014
StructureWheelsCrash
I WAS DRIVING ON THE SOUTH CONDUIT BY EXIT 23A NEAR THE BELT PARKWAY. THERE WERE SEVERAL POT HOLES ON THE LEFT LANE. I HIT THE POT HOLES AT NORMAL SPEED AND MY RIM BROKE AND MY TIRE CAME OFF. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND WAIT FOR MECHANIC TO HELP ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10663094
Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
I DROVE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S TO WORK ON 11/27 AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE AS USUAL. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK FOR THE DAY THE CAR DID NOT START. THE KEYLESS REMOTE WILL ALLOW ME TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR, BUT WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR, IT WILL NOT REGISTER MY KEYLESS REMOTE. AN ERROR CODE SHOWS THAT THE ELECTRONI…
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I DROVE MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S TO WORK ON 11/27 AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE AS USUAL. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE WORK FOR THE DAY THE CAR DID NOT START. THE KEYLESS REMOTE WILL ALLOW ME TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR, BUT WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR, IT WILL NOT REGISTER MY KEYLESS REMOTE. AN ERROR CODE SHOWS THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) MECHANISM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ALSO, THERE IS A YELLOW KEY ICON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH THAT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES NO KEY. THE IGNITION IS INDICATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED ALTHOUGH I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE ARE OR WERE NO PRIOR WARNING THAT THE PART WAS ABOUT TO FAIL INCLUDING ANYLIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND WAS STRANDED FOR SOMETIME TRYING TO FIND A WAY HOME. MY CAR IS STILL SITTING IN THE GARAGE AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE ISSUE I HAVE COME TO SEE THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. A VERY DISTURBING FACTOR SINCE NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND FOR SOME CUSTOMERS HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH EITHER ISSUING A RECALL OR REMOVING THE PART FROM THE LATER MANUFACTURED MODELS TO AVOID THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. HOPEFULLY, MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WINDOW AS NISSAN IS NOT ASSISTING WITH THE REPAIRS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10662919
83,669 miles · Dec 8, 2014
Steering
CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO FAILURE OF STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. CONTACTED NISSAN DEALERSHIP, THEY WERE AWARE OF ISSUE AND INDICATED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. REPAIR AND TOW COST $1383.21. NISSAN NISSAN DEALERSHIP STATED NISSAN WAS AWARE OF DEFECTIVE PART (STEERING LOCK #48700-1NC1A) AND TO CALL 1-800-NIS…
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CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO FAILURE OF STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. CONTACTED NISSAN DEALERSHIP, THEY WERE AWARE OF ISSUE AND INDICATED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. REPAIR AND TOW COST $1383.21. NISSAN NISSAN DEALERSHIP STATED NISSAN WAS AWARE OF DEFECTIVE PART (STEERING LOCK #48700-1NC1A) AND TO CALL 1-800-NISSAN1 FOR REIMBURSEMENT. NISSAN IS INDICATING THE MY VEHICLE IS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY ARE OFFERING TO PAY 50% OF THE TOTAL BILL. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO BEING STRANDED, AND POTENTIAL FOR PART TO FAIL WHILE THE I IN MOTION. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART IN THEIR VEHICLE, NISSAN SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. IF THEY HAD WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED IN ADVANCE OF FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10662869
122,000 miles · Dec 1, 2014
Electrical System
MY KEYLESS REMOTE WILL ALLOW ME TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR BUT WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR, MY CAR WILL NOT REGISTER MY KEYLESS REMOTE. IT IS NOT THE BATTERY OF MY CAR OR THE REMOTE OR ANY BLOWN FUSES; THOSE WERE ALL CHECKED AS WELL. APPARENTLY MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS AN EXTENDED W…
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MY KEYLESS REMOTE WILL ALLOW ME TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR BUT WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR, MY CAR WILL NOT REGISTER MY KEYLESS REMOTE. IT IS NOT THE BATTERY OF MY CAR OR THE REMOTE OR ANY BLOWN FUSES; THOSE WERE ALL CHECKED AS WELL. APPARENTLY MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY FOR SO LONG. THIS ISSUE HAS LEFT A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WITHOUT A VEHICLE OR SOMETIMES STRANDED. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10661464
99,000 miles · Nov 30, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
WHEN TRYING TO START MY SON'S 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE COUPE, IT WILL NOT START AND DISPLAYS A YELLOW KEY ICON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH. WE REVIEWED THE CAR'S MANUAL, WHICH STATES THE LIGHT IS AN INTELLIGENT KEY MALFUNCTION. WE CHANGED THE KEY FAUB BATTERY AND TRIED REMOVING AND REINSTALLING THE BATTERY, AS SOME OTHERS SUG…
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WHEN TRYING TO START MY SON'S 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SE COUPE, IT WILL NOT START AND DISPLAYS A YELLOW KEY ICON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH. WE REVIEWED THE CAR'S MANUAL, WHICH STATES THE LIGHT IS AN INTELLIGENT KEY MALFUNCTION. WE CHANGED THE KEY FAUB BATTERY AND TRIED REMOVING AND REINSTALLING THE BATTERY, AS SOME OTHERS SUGGESTED, BUT STILL NOTHING. AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEB SITES, I SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH 2009 NISSANS/ALTIMAS. FROM READING DIFFERENT OWNER'S COMMENTS AND COMPLAINTS, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK AND WILL HAVE TOWED TO NISSAN TOMORROW. I AM SURPRISED WITH SO MANY COMMENTS OVER THE SAME ISSUE, THERE IS NOT A CAMPAIGN TO FIX? I'VE BEEN A FAITHFUL TOYOTA PATRON ALL OF MY LIFE AND THIS IS MY FIRST NISSAN. NOT GOOD A FIRST IMPRESSION!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10661341
92,000 miles · Nov 23, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
MY WIFE PARKED HER 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S AND TURNED OFF HER ENGINE ON 11/15/14.THE NEXT DAY WHEN SHE WENT TO START HER CAR, IT REFUSED TO START, GIVING HER AN ERROR CODE THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) MECHANISM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET AROUND THE PROBLEM AND WE EVENTUALLY HAD TO TOW THE CAR…
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MY WIFE PARKED HER 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S AND TURNED OFF HER ENGINE ON 11/15/14.THE NEXT DAY WHEN SHE WENT TO START HER CAR, IT REFUSED TO START, GIVING HER AN ERROR CODE THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) MECHANISM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET AROUND THE PROBLEM AND WE EVENTUALLY HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED. MY WIFE WAS LUCKY, IN THAT SHE WAS SOMEWHERE SAFE WHEN SHE WAS STRANDED. BUT, SINCE SHE HAD NO PRIOR WARNING THAT THE PART WAS ABOUT TO FAIL, SHE VERY EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED SOMEWHERE MUCH LESS SAFE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA, WHILE ISSUING A RECALL FOR ALL OTHER MODELS WITH THIS PART. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR VEHICLE FELL OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WINDOW AND NISSAN WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIR. I FIND IT VERY DISCONCERTING THAT NISSAN WOULD PREFER TO HAVE ITS CUSTOMERS FIGURE OUT THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BY GETTING STRANDED IN POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAN ISSUE A RECALL TO ENSURE THAT THE PROBLEM NEVER HAPPENS IN THE FIRST PLACE. I AM ASKING THAT THE NHTSA MAKES NISSAN ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SO THAT OTHERS ARE NOT PUT IN POTENTIAL DANGER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10660317
45,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Visibility/wiper
I DRIVE A 2009 NISSAN ULTIMA OVER A YEAR AGO I NOTICED SOMETHING STICKY ON MY DASHBOARD. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I FINALLY REALIZED "MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING" I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN BUT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS UP THEY WOULD NOT FIX MY $2,000 DASHBOARD IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS TO HAPPEN I WOULD HAVE NEVER…
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I DRIVE A 2009 NISSAN ULTIMA OVER A YEAR AGO I NOTICED SOMETHING STICKY ON MY DASHBOARD. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I FINALLY REALIZED "MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING" I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN BUT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS UP THEY WOULD NOT FIX MY $2,000 DASHBOARD IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS TO HAPPEN I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10659826