Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
890–25K
17025–50K
30750–75K
29375–100K
306100–150K
74150K+
1,239 reports with mileage · 308 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 859 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 466 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 107 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
36 crash reports8 fire reports19 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,547 reports
86,000 miles · Feb 6, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
I STARTED MY CAR AS USUAL TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. IT STARTED FINE. I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS FREEZING COLD. MY CAR WAS BLOCKING THE GAS PUMP AND IT COULD NOT BE MOVED. I RULED OUT THE KEY FOB BECAUSE IT STILL UNLOCKED THE DOORS. I INSERTED THE KEY FOB IN THE EMERGENCY SOCKET…
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I STARTED MY CAR AS USUAL TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. IT STARTED FINE. I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION AND SHUT OFF THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS FREEZING COLD. MY CAR WAS BLOCKING THE GAS PUMP AND IT COULD NOT BE MOVED. I RULED OUT THE KEY FOB BECAUSE IT STILL UNLOCKED THE DOORS. I INSERTED THE KEY FOB IN THE EMERGENCY SOCKET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO START THE CAR IN CASE THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB DIES. STILL NOTHING. I HAD MY BROTHER BRING ME A NEW BATTERY FOR THE KEY FOB. STILL NOTHING. HE TOOK ME HOME. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE. AFTER SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, MANY MANY OTHERS WITH NISSANS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THE CULPRIT IS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE. IT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL AND YOU CANNOT START THE CAR WHEN IT IS LOCKED. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR TORE THE PANEL APART AND LOCATED THE STEERING LOCK. THE RESEARCH I DID SAID THAT SOMETIMES YOU COULD GET IT TO RELEASE THE LOCK PIN IF YOU TAP ON IT WITH HAMMER. SO I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE WHILE HOLDING IN THE START BUTTON AND TAPPING ON THE STEERING LOCK MODULE. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF BANGING ON THE MODULE IT DISENGAGED ENOUGH TO START THE CAR. I DROVE IT HOME AND SHUT IT OFF. IT WON'T START AGAIN. NISSAN SAYS THE WARRANTY RAN OUT JAN. 1ST, 2016. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $679.51 JUST FOR THE PART NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THAT IS RIDICULOUS! WHAT IF I WERE SOMEWHERE REMOTE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START? I COULD HAVE FROZE TO DEATH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED TO 1000S OF PEOPLE.
NHTSA ODI #10949878
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2017
Steering
STEERING LOCK REPAIR.
NHTSA ODI #10949749
49,000 miles · Feb 6, 2017
Steering
VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND VEHICLE WAS IN A VERY RISKY AREA. WE WERE AFRAID FOR OUR SAFETY AND AFRAID THAT OUR VEHICLE MIGHT BE DAMAGED BY VANDALS IN THAT AREA.
NHTSA ODI #10949718
103,000 miles · Feb 4, 2017
Steering
THE STEERING LOCK FAILED WITHOUT WARNING,LEAVING ME STRANDED.THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO HAVE THE CAR TOED TO A DEALER. THE PRICE OF THE PART WAS VERY HIGH AND THE LABOR WAS VERY HIGH ALSO.NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT SEND A NOTIFICATION TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AND ALSO LEFT ME WITH THE BIL…
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THE STEERING LOCK FAILED WITHOUT WARNING,LEAVING ME STRANDED.THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO HAVE THE CAR TOED TO A DEALER. THE PRICE OF THE PART WAS VERY HIGH AND THE LABOR WAS VERY HIGH ALSO.NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT SEND A NOTIFICATION TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AND ALSO LEFT ME WITH THE BILL. NISSAN REPLACED THE PART FOR FREE FOR AWHILE BUT STOPPED BEFORE MY CAR BROKE. I WORRY IF THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME ABOUT.
NHTSA ODI #10949563
135,000 miles · Feb 4, 2017
EngineUnknown Or Other
ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2017 APPROXIMATELY 5:45 PM, I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF ON KIRKWOOD HIGHWAY IN NEWARK, DE WHICH IS 3 LANES. THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND HESITATE TO TAKE OFF. WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD MY 3 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT AT THE TIM…
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ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2017 APPROXIMATELY 5:45 PM, I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF ON KIRKWOOD HIGHWAY IN NEWARK, DE WHICH IS 3 LANES. THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND HESITATE TO TAKE OFF. WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD MY 3 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT AT THE TIME. AN PASSERBY FINALLY PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND HELPED ME PUSH MY CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY TO THE LEFT TURN LANE SO THAT I WASN'T BLOCKING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS, A TOW TRUCK FINALLY CAME AND TOWED THE CAR TO BENCHMARK TRANSMISSION IN NEWARK, DE. THE MECHANIC NAMED DANTE ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD DIED. HE ALSO NOTIFIED ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN RECALL ISSUED BY NISSAN SEVERAL YEARS BACK WHICH MY TRANSMISSION WAS NOW OUT OF RECALL DUE TO THE MILEAGE. MY CAR WAS IN THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER 2012 TO FIX THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK THAT ALSO TURNED INTO A RECALL. AT THAT TIME NISSAN HAD MY UPDATED ADDRESS AS WELL AS IT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED WITH THE DELAWARE DMV AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. THERE WAS ALSO NO INDICATION THAT ANY ISSUE WAS OCCURRING WITH THE TRANSMISSION (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I WANT NISSAN TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE IN UPWARDS OF $4,000.00
NHTSA ODI #10949542
127,000 miles · Feb 4, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
MY STEERING INTERLOCK IN MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WENT OUT ON ME. I GOT STRANDED FOR 3 HOURS IN 20 DEGREES WEATHER WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD SON UNTIL MY TOW TRUCK FINALLY GOT THERE. CAR WOULD START SO I COULDN'T EVEN TURN HEAT ON TO KEEP MY SON WARM. NISSAN IS STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THESE AND WON'T COVER THE EXSPENSES IT SHOULD BE A RE…
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MY STEERING INTERLOCK IN MY 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA WENT OUT ON ME. I GOT STRANDED FOR 3 HOURS IN 20 DEGREES WEATHER WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD SON UNTIL MY TOW TRUCK FINALLY GOT THERE. CAR WOULD START SO I COULDN'T EVEN TURN HEAT ON TO KEEP MY SON WARM. NISSAN IS STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THESE AND WON'T COVER THE EXSPENSES IT SHOULD BE A RECAL IT'S A SAFETY HAZZARD I
NHTSA ODI #10949537
92,000 miles · Feb 3, 2017
Engine
STEERING LOCK FAIL. MANUFACTURE DEFECTIVE PART. CAR WON'T START AND NISSA WON'T PAY FOR IT.
NHTSA ODI #10949203
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2017
Steering
WHEN LEAVING WORK CAR WOULD NOT START USING THE PUSH START. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK AND IT WAS ONLY COVERED FOR AN EXTENDED 6 YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE. I FEEL THAT IF THEY KNEW THAT THIS PART WAS FAULTY THEY SHOULD HAVE OFFERED A RECALL. A $1000 DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO PA…
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WHEN LEAVING WORK CAR WOULD NOT START USING THE PUSH START. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK AND IT WAS ONLY COVERED FOR AN EXTENDED 6 YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL PURCHASE. I FEEL THAT IF THEY KNEW THAT THIS PART WAS FAULTY THEY SHOULD HAVE OFFERED A RECALL. A $1000 DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY OR REPAIRS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY KNOW THIS PART WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10949167
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine
THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE....IT STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SHIFTS SO HARD MY PASSENGERS THINK I'M SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AND NOW THE STEERING LOCK MODULE HAS FAILED. AFTER READING 100S OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I AM APPALLED TO FIN…
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THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE....IT STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SHIFTS SO HARD MY PASSENGERS THINK I'M SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AND NOW THE STEERING LOCK MODULE HAS FAILED. AFTER READING 100S OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I AM APPALLED TO FIND THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN NOR WILL ANYONE THAT KNOWS ME AS THEY'VE WITNESSED ALL ISSUES OCCUR WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY ON NISSAN'S ACCOUNT.
NHTSA ODI #10948832
105,000 miles · Jan 31, 2017
EngineUnknown Or OtherFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DID NOT START AGAIN. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE BATTERY DIED AND WENT TO GET JUMPER CABLES. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTRO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DID NOT START AGAIN. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE BATTERY DIED AND WENT TO GET JUMPER CABLES. WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
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.
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).
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.
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 ↗