Anti-theft Controller Problems of Nissan Altima

Just filed complaint # 11000784. Found additional information on internet dated March 7, 2017 - "Nissan Altima and maxima steering lock problem will be fixed for free after the automaker announced a 'service campaign' for 243,000 model year 2009-2010 Nissan Altima, Altima coupe, Altima hybrid and maxima cars. Although not a recall, the service campaign will fix steering locks (ecls) that lock the steering wheel when the Altima and maxima cars are parked and turned off. However, those steering locks have serious problems and can leave owners and their cars sitting in parking lots or driveways. " "Nissan has agreed to replace the steering lock with an electronic steering column box at no charge for parts and labor, a job that should take an authorized Nissan dealer about an hour to complete. " "the electronic steering column box will replace the escl assembly but will no longer lock the steering wheel when the car is parked and turned off. The automaker says the steering wheel locking function is not necessary because the Altima and maxima are equipped with anti-theft immobilizers to help prevent theft. " "if you have already paid for repairs to the steering column lock, Nissan will reimburse what you spent as long as you can show proof of repairs. If those repairs were above $1,000. , you'll need to show proof of ownership of the car. " please add this to complaint #11000784 filed a few moments before this one.

See all problems of the 2010 Nissan 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.

See all problems of the 2009 Nissan Altima 🔎.

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.

I recently purchased a 2008 Nissan Altima coupe. To turn the car on/off it utilizes a push button rather than an actual key. The other morning I drove to work and parked in the public garage @ 8:00 am. I must have forgotten to push the off button because when I returned to the vehicle that evening 4:30 pm it was running and had burned 1/4 of a tank of gas. Besides feeling real stupid, I thought about how dangerous this could have been. Because the engine was running the doors did not lock, therefore the car was running and unlocked all day. The vehicle could have been ransacked, stolen or worse, if this had taken place in someone's home garage, or driveway or on a street, a child could have gotten into the vehicle, engaged it in drive and caused damage or injury to someone or personal property. Vehicles with this "Smart key" technology should have a built in safety/anti-theft system that would automatically shut the engine off after 15 minutes of idle. It should not have run 8-1/2 hours. Please advise.

See all problems of the 2008 Nissan Altima 🔎.

Car will not start at times, car will start and not idle past 1500 rpm's or drive over 5 miles an hour. Service engine soon light stays on. First I was told the anti theft in the cars computer system was causing the problem, next I was told the computer did not re-learn the setup. Next I was told it is a throttle position sensor. Tired of the same problem being blamed on different things and then re-occurring. This problem do to the speed of the car can cause serious hazards by not having the power to maintain the speed limits !.

See all problems of the 2003 Nissan Altima 🔎.

Now, when I picked it up from that dealer, my car would not start. I cranked it 4 times and it would not turn over. Nissan tech who worked on my car, raised his hands up and said "I just fixed the molding". And walked away. My car never had that issue before. Just when I picked it up that from the dealer. Another more helpful tech came and immediately told me he needed to reprogram my keys?!?! he did it and said bring in all the rest next week and I'll reprogram. I went home and none of my keys worked. I had to tow it into my local dealer "my Nissan" in salinas CA and they told me they could reprogram all my keys for only $50. 2 hours later they said they couldn't figure the program as my car wasn't recognizing any codes they were using. So 5 days later, its' still at the dealers and they had to order a new eom and internal antennae. First they wanted me to pay for it. I have extended warranty and have followed all maintenance requirements so I refused. After 3 days, they agreed to cover the unit but not the antennae and finally approved for a rental car. I have yet to hear from them on my car. They offer no explanation on how or why it happened.

See all problems of the 2005 Nissan Altima 🔎.