NHTSA Complaint #10807485 — 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID

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. HAD THE UNIT FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE FAILED TO LOCK UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, LEADING TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. BEING IN THE COLD FOR HOURS WAS HAZARDOUS ON ITS OWN, ANYWAY, BUT I SURVIVED IT.