RoadVitals

2009 Nissan Sentra Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Nov 14, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
20%
of 55 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBody & structureSteering
Filed Nov 14, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT

NHTSA ID
11046001
Incident
Jul 14, 2014
Mileage
97,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureSteering
Filed Nov 14, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE AIRBAG EXPLODED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, KNOCKED BE UNCONSCIOUS FOR A FEW MINUTES, WHEN I CAME TOO THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT A IRON POLE IN FRONT OF WAL-GREEN'S. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME.THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, IN WHICH THEY PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT AWAY.

NHTSA ID
11045993
Incident
Jul 14, 2014
Mileage
97,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lightingSteering
Filed Aug 24, 2017

BOMBILLA QUE INDICA BOLSAS DE AIRE PARPADEA EN EL PANEL DE CONTROL Y DICE AIR BAG OFF

NHTSA ID
11019282
Incident
Jun 23, 2016
Mileage
59,966 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 23, 2016

THIS IS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA PURCHASED NEW FROM REED NISSAN IN 2009. IN JANUARY 2016 THE HORN FAILED COMPLETELY. FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THAT THE HORN WAS WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY, AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS BEFORE THAT THE CAR WOULD MAKE A CLACKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. ON JANUARY 28, 2016 WE BROUGHT IT IN TO REED NISSAN TO INVESTIGATE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE CONDITION AS "TECHNICIAN FINDS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY CAUSING NOISE AND BINDING." WE WERE CONCERNED THAT SINCE THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC COLUMN NOT REPLACING IT MIGHT LEAD TO STEERING FAILURE, AND THE LACK OF A HORN MADE THE CAR UNSAFE. REED NISSAN INDICATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS SERVICE WAS: PARTS$1,956.48 LABOR$ 289.88 FREIGHT $ 80.00(TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN).

NHTSA ID
10861085
Incident
Jan 28, 2016
Mileage
145,694 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 26, 2014

WHILE CROSSING THE STREET FROM ONE PARKING LOT TO ANOTHER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON MY 09 NISSAN SENTRA. WAS GOING LESS THAT 5MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED AT ALL. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WAS IN DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 30 OR 40 SECONDS ATTEMPTING TO TURN STEERING WHEEL EITHER WAY IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL . DROVE CAR ABOUT 50 MILES BACK HOME WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.. TOOK CAR TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND AFTER LOOKING AT IT MOST OF THE DAY THE SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANY DISTANCE OR SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639474
Incident
Sep 25, 2014
Mileage
55,500 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 12, 2014

BRAKES MAKE LOUD SQUEALING AND GRINDING NOISE STARTING AS LITTLE AS 8 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES EVEN WHEN PADS AND ROTORS ARE FINE. THE STEERING COLUMN POPS AND JOLTS SLIGHTLY WHEN TURNING STARTING AT 27 THOUSAND MILES. THE CAR MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TAKING MODERATE TO HARD RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS AT ANY SPEED. ONE TIRE SENSOR HAS ALREADY GONE BAD AT 20 THOUSAND MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597829
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Mileage
12,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 1, 2014

SEVERAL MONTHS OF INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS AND STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN HAPPENS. FINALLY LOST STEERING ON 2-21-14 AND DID NOT COME BACK AFTER TURNING CAR ON AND OFF. NEEDED TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN PART NO 48810-ZT50A PART COST $1,944.83 LABOR $439.75. TOOK TO GARAGE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE UNTIL STEERING WAS FINALLY LOST FOR GOOD. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO AN ACCIDENT IF HAPPENED DURING TURNS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566614
Incident
Feb 21, 2014
Mileage
64,599 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 5, 2013

MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING ARE, 2009 NISSAN SENTRA AT ABOUT 40 MPH , SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN,THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN , SO SHE HAD TO GO STRAIGHT ,AND TRY TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE PROBLEM IS THE ELECTRIC MOTOR (SERVO) SHORTING OUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN . TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE HOLE STEERING COLUMN . THE SERVO AND POWER STEERING COMPUTER ARE ATTACHED. FACTORY PART COST 1600.00$ &600.00$ LABOR TO INSTALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10491524
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
33,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 15, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 2 MPH MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, A CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,620.

NHTSA ID
10470731
Incident
Jul 6, 2012
Mileage
16,800 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 19, 2010

MY CAR SWERVES TOO MUCH ON THE FREEWAY. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2009, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR. EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, I AM STILL SCARED I AM GOING TO DIE DUE TO THE CAR. THE SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS I AM TAKEN THE CAR TO HAVE CLAIMED THERE IS NO PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT TOO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10356313
Incident
Sep 3, 2010
Mileage
9,500 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 19, 2010

WHEN STARTING THE CAR YOU HEAR RELAY CLICKING IN AND OUT AND POWER STEERING FAIL SHOWS UP. HAD TO RESTART CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO GET POWER STEERING TO WORK. CAR WAS PUT IN THE SHOP AND DEALER TOLD ME HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUNM. CONTACT NISSAN TO FILE A COMPLAINT. FILE # 6901381 TO SEE IF THEY WHERE GOING TO PAY FOR IT, CAR HAS 47395 MILES AND NOT EVEN 1 1/2 YEAR OLD YET. I SEE NO RECALL ON CAR AS OF YET BUT HAD TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP $880.02 TO GET CAR REPAIR. STILL HAVEN'T HEAR FROM NISSAN WHAT IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING. I CAR IN MY MIND HAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING LOST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350485
Incident
Aug 7, 2010
Mileage
47,350 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .