THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE / PROBLEM WITH 2009 AND EARLY 2010 NISSAN 370Z'S. THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM, WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING TURNED ON IN ANY FORM (POWER OR ENGINE) BECAUSE THE MECHANISM FAILS MECHANICALLY AND PREVENTS AN ELECTRICAL RESPONSE FROM BEING SENT. IT IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT WOULD AFFECT SAFETY WHILE DRIVING, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY ISSUE B…
2009 Nissan 370Z steering problems
moderate 88 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
88
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 14 most recent
DROVE 370Z TO WORK WITH NO PROBLEM. ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE FOR APPOINTMENT LATER IN THE DAY AND CAR WILL NOT START. THE CAR WILL DO NOTHING, NO POWER, NO RADIO, CAN'T ROLL THE WINDOWS UP, ETC. THE WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
STEERING WHEEL /IGNITION SYSTEM ELECTRONICS SWITCH FAILURE ,CAUSING VEHICLE AND ALL ELECTRIC ACCESSORY SYSTEMS ON VEHICLE TO NOT FUNCTION. *TR
STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE (INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM WARNING). WAS AT A GAS STATION AND CAR WOULD NOT START. "YELLOW" KEY LIGHT SHOWED UP BUT CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS PART HAS FAILED ON MANY NISSAN MODELS WITH THIS TYPE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND ANYONE WHO HAS PAID TO HAV…
2009 NISSAN 370Z WORKED PERFECTLY THEN WOULDN'T START. FOUND MANY OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ISSUE IS A BROKEN STEERING WHEEL LOCK WHICH WON'T UNLOCK. ALTHOUGH THE SAME PART IS KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES IN MANY NISSAN CARS, THERE IS NO RECALL SO OWNER PAYS FOR AN EXPENSIVE PART AND LABOR. *TR
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan 370Z. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the steering wheel locked up, and the contact was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where a mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with steering module failure. The contact called the dealer to schedule an appointment, and the dealer informed the contact that the ve…
THE STEERING LOCK WOULD NOT ENGAGE AFTER TURNING OFF OR LOCKING THE CAR. IF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT WORK THEN THE CAR WILL NOT START LEAVING ME STRANDED. *TR
CAR WILL NOT START. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEMWITH 09 370Z'S. STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. *TR
THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM HAS FAILED BAD. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE PART, BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED ON THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN 370Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WENT TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED…
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Nissan 370Z?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 88 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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