11 problems related to anti-theft controller have been reported for the 2009 Nissan Altima. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2009 Nissan Altima based on all problems reported for the 2009 Altima.
The steering lock malfunctions on this car, and other years and models. This causes the driver to be stranded when the car will not turn on due to the car being in an anti theft mode. Nissan is well aware that this is an issue and is profiting from it. The customer will have to tow the car to Nissan (since they are the only ones that can fix it), and it will cost $1000 to fix. Nissan states that due to it not being a safety concern, they do not have to recall this. This has affected countless customers however and it is unethical. This is not even something the person themselves or another mechanic can fix since it is electrical. I do not feel that Nissan should be profiting from a part that they know is defective.
My 2009 Nissan Altima 2. 5 sl started without a problem. Stopped at the store, was in there for 10 minutes. Came out, my car wouldn't start. It would lock and unlock, lights worked, but wouldn't start. Attempted fixing for 2 days by driving up to the parking spot with a bunch of tips and tricks online but ended up towing my vehicle to Nissan dealership and spent $800+ to get it fixed. . Read more...
The anti-theft light is on and the car is not recognizing the key. Now I can't start the car and it was parked somewhere not as safe as should be. There are plenty of complaints on this issue with no recall. The problem lies in the steering lock control unit. They are charging me over a thousand dollars to fix!.
I tried to crank my car this morning (push start) my anti-theft light on my dashboard came on and it would not crank. The lights came on in my car but the car would not crank at all. Tried everything I could do and made calls but it will not crank.
The car will not start. All electrics work, car and key fob batteries are new, but when you press the start button the car won't start. This 'gimmick' of a key-free vehicle is fundamentally defective and an internet review shows thousands of Nissan Altima owners having the same problem. Common wisdom says that the anti-theft steering lock is engaging when it should not and the repair cost is @ $1,000. Nissan should be required to fix this on recall as they did so on other vehicles and made changes to newer Altima models to address the problem. The effect is that I can't use my car at all even though it is in excellent condition in every other way.
2009 Altima sedan would not recognize my key this morning and the steering wheel was locked up. The anti-theft immobilizer system was engaged and the car was rendered useless. After contact with the dealer, there are many people with similar issues, the part is on back order and "they will contact me the part becomes available and when Nissan corporate determines how they are going to handle this problem". Meanwhile the consumer is without a vehicle. I purchased this vehicle new and it has been excellent up until this point with no mechanical issues but this is something Nissan should take care of immediately. Huge inconvenience!.
Tl - the contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while attempting to turn the vehicle on the anti-theft system engaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the steering lock mechanism was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 90,000. Pm.
Car would not start. Yellow key light and flashing red key light on panel. Seemed like a security anti-theft problem but it turned out to be a faulty steering lock mechanism. A $700 repair. And, what's worse is, there was no recall for this item even with many complaints reported. This was recalled on other Nissan models (cube, 390, etc) but no on the Altima. Not happy.
When I entered my car I noticed that the push brake light wasn't on like it normally is for the intelligent key start. I pushed down on the brake and it felt very stiff. A yellow key light kept flashing and everytime I would try and start the car it would stay in lock and wouldn't even try to start. I didn't hear the ignition, nothing. I tried to check the battery, I used a different key, I put the key in the slot and nothing worked. I was stranded. The car was working fine and had no previous indicators that something could go wrong. As I searched online for a fix I found many people who had the same problem and had to pay a huge amount of money to get it fixed. Nissan promotes how safe, reliable and economical their cars are, but the anti-theft system of the steering wheel lock can disable the vehicle leaving a driver stranded with only one option, which is, to be towed to a dealer. This a serious safety flaw in the 2009 Nissan Altima. Nissan was supposed to be a reputable company. However, with these types of malfunctions, and no support for their customers, I feel very unsatisfied and unsafe with my purchase. Nissan needs to provide a recall and fix these sensor issues.
My car it would not start. There was absolutely no activation of the ignition system. After following all trouble shooting advice in the car's manual, I towed the car to dealer where they stated an open circuit in steering control unit is not telling the control unit that the steering wheel is unlocked and ready to start. The steering lock control unit (part# 487009n00b) needed to be replaced. This is all part of the vehicle anti-theft immobilizer system. The cost to replace this unit was $1,062. 90. I feel this is a serious safety flaw in the 2009 Nissan Altima. 1. This was a fully functioning car (except for anti-theft glitch) that left me and my daughter stranded in a very remote area. 2. Nissan promotes how safe, reliable and economical their cars are, but the anti-theft system can disable the vehicle leaving driver stranded with only one option, which is, to be towed to a dealer because of ant-theft system glitches. 3. The car, being economical, should not require an over $1,000 repair because of an anti-theft device circuit malfunction. 4. There are several conditions that can occur that will result in the Nissan Altima becoming immobilized stranding drivers. I am stating only one. This is particularly dangerous especially to female drivers. 5. I feel that Nissan should come up with an override code or device that will allow a driver to escape from potentially dangerous situations that were created by Nissan's vehicle immobilizer system. Especially when the car is fully functional except for an anti-theft immobilizing circuit falsely telling that the vehicle is not ready to start. I believe this is a serious safety flaw in their vehicle security system.
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle began to jerk and exhibit trouble moving forward. Also, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed of a failure within the electrical system. The system was repaired. Approximately five months later, the vehicle would not start and was towed to an authorized dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed (contact could not recall the diagnosis); an unknown repair was performed. Approximately four months later, the vehicle experienced the same failure and the vehicle would not start. The during the failure, the anti-theft light began illuminated and after repeated attempts, the contact was able to get the vehicle started. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the ipdm failed; the vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage is approximately 21,000. Updated 03/02/11 updated 03/08/jb.