NHTSA Complaint #10923755 — 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA

ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WARRANTY EXTENSION. I AM A RECENTLY DIVORCED SINGLE MOTHER TRYING TO SURVIVE IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMY. I PARK MY VEHICLE AT WORK, AND I WORK NEAR AN AIRFIELD, AT FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHILE ON LUNCH BREAK, I PUSH TO START MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING HAPPENS. I WAS STRANDED. MANY OF MY MALE COLLEAGUES ATTEMPTED TO HELP ME, THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY, OR A POSSIBLE FUSE, BUT NOTHING THEY DID COULD START MY VEHICLE. ONE SUGGESTED I CONTACTED NISSAN SERVICE TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS GOING ON...AND BEFORE I COULD FINISH MY SENTENCE OF WHAT LIGHTS WERE ON MY DASHBOARD, THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE KNEW IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK COLUMN. I ENDED UP GETTING MY VEHICLE TOWED (ABOUT $70) TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND HAD TO PAY LATE FEES BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO PICK UP MY TODDLER FROM DAYCARE BEFORE THEY CLOSED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND WITHIN 40 MINUTES THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP OPENING, THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW MY CAR WAS NOW FIXED AND IT WOULD COST ME $1200!!! I'M SURE IT TOOK LESS THAN THE 40 MINUTES TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND I WAS PAYING OVER $400 FOR LABOR. I NEVER HEARD OF THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE CONCERNING MY VEHICLE BUT AFTER RESEARCHING, I AM NOW SEEING THE PLETHORA OF COMPLAINTS AND I AM SUPER DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN OVER THE FACT THAT THIS WAS NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL. I SHUDDER AT THE THOUGHT OF BEING STRANDED WITH MY SON IN AN INCONVENIENT OR DANGEROUS LOCATION. THEN TO FIND OUT THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO RECOUP MY EXPENSE. I HAD TO OPEN A TRADE LINE TO COVER THE EXPENSE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND THE CASH I HAVE AT THIS TIME. THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT FAIR, NOT TO ME OR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND PUSH THE RECALL TO INDEFINITE.