Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The steering lock assembly seized up while the car was parked, so the engine starter was prevented from turning on and the steering and transmission remained locked. This happened in the dead of winter and at near-zero temperatures, requiring a tow to a dealer and a $1200 repair, which Nissan later reduced to $450. I accepted this on condition it would not constitute a settlement. This is a defect that turns up in all altimas built during several months in 2008, which they have acknowledged. They offered a 72-month warranty after manufacture (not a recall, though customers clamored for it) just for this item, but unfortunately the defect tends to surface after this period. My car missed the window by 22 days. Many similar cases have been reported since, and none have been covered. …
In 2013, I was stranded at work late at night due to a faulty steering wheel lock. I got into my car and went to start it and the key light was lit on the dash and my car wouldn't start. The car had to be towed to the nearest dealership the next day to replace the steering wheel lock. Thankfully, I was stranded in a safe place especially since I'm a single female. It's now 2017, and I find myself in the same situation. Thankfully, I noticed the issue early while it's still daytime. I'm now waiting for my car to be towed to a dealership to address a faulty steering wheel lock. I'm concerned that the steering wheel lock only has a life span of 4 years since this is the second time I have to address this issue. Is it normal for a part to just malfunction after only 4 years? Will I have to worry about being stranded again 4 years from now for the third time? …
2009 altimas appeared to have a known issue regarding the steering lock column. Nissan did not issue a recall, but instead offered to replace the steering lock only once the vehicle broke down, with this offer expiring jan 1st 2016 apparently. My car has only 55,000 miles on it, and in March 2016 started experiencing this issue. Car would just be unable to start at all. I have spent money having to get the car towed to the dealership, and now it will cost me $1325.00 to replace the steering lock. Since this was a known issue that Nissan knew about, the replacement coverage period should be extended indefinitely, or a recall needs to be issued.
Takata recal the car was at a gas station when I returned to it, it would not start. It sarts with a fob. Inserted the fob at key location and would not start. Mechanic try starting through the battery. Would not start. The steering column was the issue. The warrenty for this part was for 6 years. I never recieved notification for the warrenty. Nissan America said it was my responsiblity to look it up on line. The repair cost me $1263.58. I was only asking for the part price which was $898.63. Why would a part be on warrenty for 6 years and then break down 9 months later and they are not responsible for the part failure.
Electronic steering column lock is a known defective part that is not treated as safety issue since it seems to occur only before starting sequence. However, if car stalls or attempt to restart in traffic situation there is potential danger. Nissan modified warranty to 72 months on this part but did not notify owners of issue. We should have been notified and part replaced.... In our case it happened while getting serviced -- and even replacement failed and had to be replaced....
I was 50 miles away from home, when I go to start my car it will not start at all! My key would lock and unlock my car but it wouldn't turn on. Initially I thought it was the key, I had my sister drop off my spare to see if that was the case, it wasn't. Come to find out the escl seems to be faulty and is preventing the car from starting up. Right now I'm waiting on the dealer to tell me what's going on, beware Nissan knows all about this but is refusing to do a recall!
For some unknown reason my car would not start on thanksgiving. It only showed a key. I went to Nissan the next day to get a new battery for my key fob. And had to get it towed. They said it was a steering column lock and it was over $900. Never heard of such a thing and at such a ridiculous expense. Apparently this is common for this model and I'm hoping for reimbursement as I didn't know about it before 1/1/16. I'm glad we weren't on an out of town trip that day.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock control module failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000.
On the morning of 11-28-2013 I entered my vehicle to leave work and proceeded to turn it on, however it would not start. There was an amber colored light on the dash of a car and key and the vehicle stayed in lock mode. After several attempts to start the vehicle, jumping the battery to make sure it was charged and changing the fob battery it still wouldn't work. After some research and speaking with the dealership about the problem it was determined that the steering lock assembly had malfunctioned and would need to be replaced. My car at this point is completely useless. After researching this issue I found that this is a very common problem with the 2008-2010 Nissan Altima's and the part was actually removed from the vehicle specifications in 2010. This is a safety concern because there is no way to move the vehicle once it malfunctions other than towing it. …
My 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid refused to recognize the wireless key, leaving me stranded. It was seven degrees in chicago and the windchill was below zero, but I was able to return home taking public transportation. Who knows what might have happened if this had occurred in the middle of the road. I towed the car to a dealer, who told me that the "steering lock assembly" had failed, but they could fix it for $1170 plus tax. I found that there used to be a special warranty if this part failed, but Nissan had put a time limit on it so that cars where the defect showed up were being denied coverage as early as October of 2014. Nissan insists that: (1) this defect affects few cars, so they issued a special warranty rather than a recall, (2) the defect does not have safety implications, and (3) customers are adequately covered by the warranty. …
Steering complaints in other Altima Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the steering of the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid, 48% of the model year's 54 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.