Steering Anti-theft Device problems of the 2010 Nissan Maxima

My 2010 Nissan Maxima experienced the steering lock failure. It leaves people stranded when the steering lock anti-theft mechanism fails. The steering wheel is not locked but the vehicle will not start. The steering lock device fails to fully disengage so the Smart key system does not recognize the key. This may not cause accident, but it can strand a person anywhere at any time leaving them with the towing fee and anywhere from 700-1000$ in dealership fees. I drove my car to work and back and forth for lunch. At the end of the day it failed to start due to what I later found out was the steering lock device failure.

Got into my vehicle to leave for work, brake was hard to push, steering wheel locked in position that it was in, push button start would not work. Tried both keyfobs with no change in status. Light on the dash that I hadn't seen before (a key with a rectangular box around it) changed batteries in both fobs with still no change. Was late for work and had to have my vehicle towed out of my own garage. After researching found that the steering wheel lock would not disengage, which in turn triggered the anti-theft security system and my car would not recognize my own keyfobs. There's no other way to start the vehicle, no general override switch or button of any kind. I had a vehicle that I could not use.

I had driven my car to church, everything was fine. After chruch, I got in my car and it wouldn't start. Nothing would work. The keyless remote would unlock the doors but when pushing the start button nothing happened. The auxiliary didn't even work. I had to have the car towed to a mechanic. After running diagnostics on the car, I was told the car had to go to the Nissan dealership due to Nissan doesn't release all coding. Another tow bill to have the car taken to local Nissan dealership. Diagnostics ran on the car and it was the "electronic steerling wheel lock". This is part of the security/anti-theft mechanism that is located in the steering column. It had to be replaced at owner's expense. This is known defect in 2009-2010 Nissan altima, Maxima and 370z. The owners have no warning before this happens. You are total stranded at that spot. After googling this problem, I have found multiple complaints and that Nissan is not accepting responsibility. This part is now been "redesigned" so that this isn't happening.

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 flagged an issue with the steering lock control unit (part# 487009n00b) and it needed to be replaced. This is all part of the vehicle anti-theft immobilizer system. The cost to replace this unit was $703. 43. I feel this is a serious safety flaw in the 2010 Nissan Maxima. 1. This was a fully functioning car (except for anti-theft circuit glitch) that left my pregnant wife stranded in freezing temps in an empty school parking lot late in the evening. 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 such an expensive repair because of an anti-theft device circuit malfunction. 4. There are several conditions that can occur that will result in the Nissan Maxima 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 when it is. I believe this is a serious safety flaw in their vehicle security system.