FRONT WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN BY THEMSELVES
COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT
Nissan Altima electrical problems
1,770 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.
Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.
56 crash reports69 fire reports35 injury reports
Reports by model year
YearTopic reportsRecallsInvestigations
20251
2020243
10202310
0020227
01202121
22202045
62201958
72201837
24201727
33201642
43201555
103201471
852013159
125201244
41201131
10201074
302009466
40200890
41200737
32200672
30200597
10200432
10200389
41200277
51200119
10200025
1019994
00199815
00199714
10199611
00199516
32199414
2219937
11Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
2280–25K
20425–50K
27250–75K
21375–100K
216100–150K
61150K+
1,194 reports with mileage · 576 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 owners actually said
1,770 reportsWE HAVE A DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WHICH HAS DISABLE THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION ON NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 SL. IT CAN HAPPENED ANYTIME WHICH PUT A PERSONS LIFE IN DANGER IF YOU GET STUCK ON OR TO F THE ROAD. BASED ON MY RESEARCH I HAVE READ NUMEROUS CASES WHERE VERY SAME SITUATION HAD CAUSED BY FAULTY ELECT…
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WE HAVE A DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WHICH HAS DISABLE THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION ON NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 SL. IT CAN HAPPENED ANYTIME WHICH PUT A PERSONS LIFE IN DANGER IF YOU GET STUCK ON OR TO F THE ROAD. BASED ON MY RESEARCH I HAVE READ NUMEROUS CASES WHERE VERY SAME SITUATION HAD CAUSED BY FAULTY ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL). THE ONLY OPTION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO GET YOUR CAR TOWED TO DEAL SHIP AND PAY WELL OVER $1100. EVEN THOUGH THIS NISSAN FAULT FOR CHOOSING TO USE THE FAULTY PART. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNFAIR ON THEIR PART. PLEASE ADVICE US AS WHAT CAN WE DO TO HAVE NISSAN TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE THIS FAULTY PART REPLACED.
NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 HAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. SUDDENLY THIS EVENING AFTER WORK WHEN I GET BACK TO THE CAR, IT JUST DID NOT START. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ANY REMOTE PLACE AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET BUT NISSA…
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NISSAN ALTIMA 2009 HAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. SUDDENLY THIS EVENING AFTER WORK WHEN I GET BACK TO THE CAR, IT JUST DID NOT START. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ANY REMOTE PLACE AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET BUT NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THIS CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS. THEY SHOULD EITHER REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART OF JUST REPLACE THE CAR.
TAKATA RECALL, DEFECT STEERING LOCK UNIT, UNABLE TO START ENGINE! AFTER PARKED NISSAN 2009 ALTIMA AT A SHOPPING MALL, "NOKEY" LIGHT IS ON, CAR CAN BE LOCK AND UNLOCK THROUGH REMOTE CONTROL KEY, BUT NO DISPLAY INFORMATION VISIBLE AT THE DASH BOARD, WHEEL IS LOCKED AND UNABLE TO SWITCH GEAR. NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO THE CAR!
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL); THIS WAS A COVERED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT UNTIL JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL OR THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN AN ISSUE. I WAS PARKED OUT NEAR A LAKE AND HAD TO CALL MY FRIENDS TO PICK ME UP AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED. THIS IS NOT A SMALL ISSUE, IF SOMEONE WAS UNABLE TO …
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ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL); THIS WAS A COVERED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT UNTIL JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL OR THAT THIS MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN AN ISSUE. I WAS PARKED OUT NEAR A LAKE AND HAD TO CALL MY FRIENDS TO PICK ME UP AND HAVE MY CAR TOWED. THIS IS NOT A SMALL ISSUE, IF SOMEONE WAS UNABLE TO START THEIR CAR IN A FREEZING SITUATION THEY COULD DIE. OR IF I WAS NEEDING TO GET A FAMILY MEMBER TO THE HOSPITAL I WOULD BE UNABLE TO.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK /IGNITION , CAR NOT ABLE TO START USING KEY FOB , TOTAL STEERING AND BRAKE LOCK . GOT OFF WORK AND COULD NOT START CAR , WAS RUNNING FINE PRIOR TO WORK 7AM
THE POWER LOCK STEERING KEEPS ON LOCKING THE START SYSTEM AND CAR CAN`T START .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK/SMART KEY LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK/SMART KEY LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED IN SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) NOT UNLOCKING. EACH TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN STOPPED AND DOES NOT RESTART. HAVING READ MULTIPLE REPORTS NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART AND EVEN REMOVED IT FROM 2010 MODELS HOWEVER I AM OUT OF…
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3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED IN SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) NOT UNLOCKING. EACH TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN STOPPED AND DOES NOT RESTART. HAVING READ MULTIPLE REPORTS NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART AND EVEN REMOVED IT FROM 2010 MODELS HOWEVER I AM OUT OF LUCK SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE PART OF A NATIONAL RECALL AND CONSUMERS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR FIXES AND TOWING COST. CURRENTLY NISSAN WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE UNTIL IT IS OCCURRING WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO BE STRANDED SOME WHERE AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. I AM LUCKY THAT ME AND MY WIFE ARE HANDY AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART THE CARD BY LITERALLY HAMMERING ON THE ESCL UNTIL IT UNLOCKED. IF WE HAD KIDS OR WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EMERGENCY THIS WOULD BE GATHERING NATIONAL NEWS ATTENTION ON HOW NISSAN KNEW ABOUT A DEFECTIVE PIECE AND (EVEN REPLACING IT IN THE NEXT YEARS MODEL). I WOULD APPRECIATE ANYONE'S HELP IF BRINGING AWARENESS OF NISSAN'S NEGLIGENCE. *TR
OVER THE YEARS IVED HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRANKE AND ENGINE OF MY 2010 ALTIMA. THE PANEL LIGHTS UP BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK. PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON ONLY LOCKS THE BRAKE.NO WARNING SIGNALS EITHER THE CAR JUST DIES ON YOU IVED PAID OVER 700 EVERYTIME IT NEEDS REPAIR, IM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY CAR AND WILL NEVE…
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OVER THE YEARS IVED HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRANKE AND ENGINE OF MY 2010 ALTIMA. THE PANEL LIGHTS UP BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK. PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON ONLY LOCKS THE BRAKE.NO WARNING SIGNALS EITHER THE CAR JUST DIES ON YOU IVED PAID OVER 700 EVERYTIME IT NEEDS REPAIR, IM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY CAR AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE.
Related Official recalls
314V138000 · Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System:software
Mar 25, 2014
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Air Bags:frontal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
08V521000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:software
Oct 7, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Air Bags
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
07V599000 · Electrical System:ignition:module
Dec 28, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) REPLACED DURING SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE SOFTWARE. IF THE TPMS IS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT ALERT THE DRIVER TO A DECREASE IN THE TIRE PRESSURE AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TPMS FUNCTION AND REACTIVATE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 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 ↗
Related NHTSA investigations
0No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.