NHTSA Complaint #10503065 — 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA

ON 3/13/2013 I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 8:55AM AND PARKED EVERYTHING IN CAR WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. AT 6:30PM I APPROACHED MY VEHICLE UNLOCKED THE DOOR USING MY KEY FOB, ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO PRESS THE IGNITION BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENS. AFTER SWITCHING ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND NOTICING NO POWER ISSUES I NOTICED A FLASHING INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE DASH THAT SAID NO KEY PRESENT. AFTER BEING THE ONLY CAR LEFT IN THE DARK SECLUDED PARKING LOT I STARTED OFF ON A JOURNEY TO PURCHASE A BATTERY FOR THE KEY FOB AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PHENOMENON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH IS ABOUT 60 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. THE DEALER AFTER INVESTIGATING FOR A MATTER OF MINUTES WERE QUICKLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS A STEERING LOCK MODULE THAT WAS VERY COSTLY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF ALTIMA'S AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLE THAT ARE INFECTED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK DEVICES THAT CAUSES YOU TO RANDOMLY BE STRANDED IN SECLUDED AREAS WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THIS I FIND HIGHLY UNETHICAL FOR NISSAN TO BE TOTALLY AWARE OF SUCH DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND NOT HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR THE WELFARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS NOR THEIR CHILDREN. IM HOPING THAT THE NHTSA CAN PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM BULLIES LIKE NISSAN AND HELP US GET THE RECALL WE DESERVE. ALL WE WANT IS A RELIABLE PRODUCT THAT CAN PERFORM THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED TO PERFORM. SO LET'S DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HOLD NISSAN UP TO THE AMERICAN STANDARD OF PUTTING OUT QUALITY RELIABLE PRODUCTS AND NOT RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS. *TR