Electronic Steering Lock

[iamtybaby]

Hey, yesterday I went into a store, came out to find out my Electronic Steering Lock went up without warning. I've read numerous places that Nissan has Extended the warranty on the 09s but not the 10s? Has anybody had this issue and gotten Nissan to take care of it somehow? Not those with dealership extended warrantys..warrantys that have run out...This is a huge error on Nissan and a big inconvenience. I've already put in a complaint with Nissan (calling me back to tomorrow to discuss)...The dealership says it's 880 to fix and the part is on back order. They don't know when it will be in...what kinda s*** is Nissan doing? For then to say "yea we know about it, but your on your own" is outrageous

[loystock]

The Electronic Steering Lock Revs A and B (and probably C) are known to fail at random. Unless a recall is made, you are out of lock without the Extended Warranty. The newer version ESL, 48700-JF00D (and E) is what you need. As a patch, try unlocking your steering wheel and moving it up/down while starting the car. If you hear the winding noise, the steering is unlocked. You can also try tapping (mallet?) the steering lock assembly while trying to start the car.

Good luck.

[Mandiepandie]

Last month (January 2014) we had the same issue with our 2010 Maxima (Fall 2009 manufactured). I went out for gas, car wouldn't start (in -9 wind chill weather). The key light on the dash was lit and the key could open the doors. Since I researched this problem while waiting and found out that quite a few of the 2010 Nissan Maxima owners have been having the same issue I figured that it was the faulty steering lock mechanism. The was car towed to the Nissan Dealer and the next day they confirmed that it was indeed the steering lock mechanism failure with a total repair estimate of $796 parts and labor. The service mechanic mentioned that the 2009 Altimas and 2009 Maximas had a recall on this part but my VIN # was not one of them since it was a 2010 model. Since the car was out of the Manufacture's warranty time period (with 83,000 miles on the car) we were told that we would have to take up the issue with Nissan Consumer Affairs to see if there was anything Nissan would do. I was told I would hear something back within 48 hours once I contacted them (1-855-619-8190). I received a call from Nissan Consumer Affairs two days later and they said that the car was not under the extended warranty but they would see what they could do since we had been loyal Infiniti and Nissan customers for years. Five days later they called and said that and they could not extend the warranty and pay for the full cost of the repairs/labor as they did for the owners of 2009 Altimas and Maximas. All they would do was give us some customer loyalty $$ towards the repairs and parts. I responded that Nissan should come clean with this problem and do a recall for the early 2010 Maximas that HAVE THE SAME IDENTICAL FAULTY PART as the 20009 models they provided resolution for. They again said that that is all they will do. The Nissan dealer (Sheehy Infiniti of Annapolis) was no better. They wouldn't even pay the towing charge or throw in a future oil change at my request. Plus, they didn't even wash the car and it was dirtier than we left it because of snow and ice on the roads. We got a customer satisfaction call from Sheehy Nissan and My husband explained our dissatisfaction with the customer service representative. She said someone from Sheehy Nissan would call within the week. We never got that call. I guess they don't want to hear from unhappy customers. As a suggestion search the internet for 2010 Nissan Maxima steering lock and see how many unhappy customers have been stranded because Nissan refuses to recall these cars and fix the problem before it happens. Keep records of these as you may need them if you want to complain and prove that it is not an isolated problem. I'll soon be trading this car in for a more reliable car where the manufacturer stands by their products and won't leave their customers stranded. There is only a one-year guarantee on the replacement part and no guarantee that this won't happen again with the new part. Here is a link for some other discussions on this problem: http://www.nissanproblems.com/problems/ ... tart.shtml. Also look on youtube.
If you have had this problem, please join others and report this problem to the different complaint sites in the link above, including the NHTSA so that Nissan is forced to recognize the issue and provide resolution. Good luck.