DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Nissan Cube steering problems
moderate 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 23 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Nissan Cube, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2009 cube® VEHICLE NO START DUE TO ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) Service Campaign ID # P1225 is no longer active. ï· Repair orders opened after this bulletinâs published date are no longer eligible for reimbursement under Campaign ID # P1225. ï· Discard all previous versions of NTB11-057.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. - Specifically, Tire Pressure Monitor transmitters (TPMS sensors) can be damaged when improperly dismounting and mounting tires. - TPMS sensors becoming damaged during mounting or dismounting tires are not covered under warranty. - To avoid such damage, ensure that the tire changer being used and the operator of the tire changer is capable of servicing run flat and low profile tires. - Operator?s manuals for such tire changers must be followed. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Cube's electronic steering column lock (ESCL) is the dominant complaint in this cluster. Owners report the part fails without warning while the vehicle is parked, rendering it unable to start and locking the steering wheel in place. No engine response, no response to jump-start, lights work fine—the car is simply dead.
Nissan issued voluntary service campaign bulletin NTB11-057 in June 2011 acknowledging the defect. Some owners had the part replaced under that campaign; one was covered at 22,912 miles in November 2011. But the replaced parts fail again. Owners report paying $814 to $1,363 out of pocket for replacement, plus towing. Nissan denies warranty coverage on repeat failures, calling them "normal wear and tear." The manufacturer extended the warranty on this same part for the 2009 Altima but not the Cube. Some owners' VINs weren't flagged as eligible for the campaign despite matching the criteria.
A secondary complaint pattern involves intermittent stalling and complete lockup—steering wheel, brakes, ignition all frozen—during highway driving. These episodes last about a minute, then the car starts on its own. Dealers have been unable to diagnose the cause. Owners attribute it to ESCL malfunction but find no technical support.
Failures occur across the mileage spectrum, from 20,700 to 150,000 miles.
Same Nissan Cube steering reports on nearby years: 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) Failure
The electronic steering column lock mechanism fails, preventing the vehicle from starting and locking the steering wheel. This is a known manufacturing defect that Nissan acknowledged in voluntary service campaign bulletin NTB11-057 issued June 23, 2011. Owners report the part failing once, then failing again after replacement—sometimes multiple times—leaving them stranded.
When: Failures reported at mileages ranging from 20,700 to 150,000 miles; some occur within days of a short cold-weather drive and 30-minute park, others after normal operation and parking
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start when key is turned or intelligent key/keyless entry is used; Steering wheel locks in place; Security indicator light and key light illuminated on dash; No engine cranking or response to jump-start attempts; Intelligent key system warning light remains on (yellow) while engine running and stopped; Part fails repeatedly after replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Part D8700-1FA0C (steering lock unit); repair costs $814–$1,363 in parts and labor; additional towing fees $140–$460; some owners report Nissan reimbursed part cost only after warranty denial
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued voluntary service campaign bulletin NTB11-057 (June 23, 2011); extended warranty on part for 2009 Altima but not Cube; some owners eligible under campaign and had part replaced under warranty at 22,912 miles (November 2011); most out-of-warranty failures refused; Nissan stated repeated failures are 'normal wear and tear' and denied recall coverage; some owners' VINs not flagged for campaign eligibility despite meeting criteria
Intermittent Steering Lock and Stalling
Vehicle experiences intermittent episodes where it shuts off or stalls, accompanied by steering wheel lock and brake pedal seizure. When this occurs, the vehicle will not start and everything locks up for approximately one minute before restarting on its own. Episodes happen during rush-hour highway driving and in parking lots.
When: Intermittent; occurs after short drives and parking
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls or shuts off without warning; Steering wheel locks; Brake pedal becomes rigid and unresponsive; Vehicle will not start temporarily; Vehicle restarts on its own after approximately one minute; Described as 'locking up completely'
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic produced no findings; only charged diagnostic fees; no repair completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan has not addressed this issue; owners attribute it to ESCL malfunction but Nissan service could not replicate or identify root cause
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Car will not start. Sitting on a residential street. Electronic steering control lock defect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan cube. The contact stated his daughter was stranded when the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the steering lock module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 20,700. Updated 01/23/14
The steering lock column in my 2009 Nissan cube failed, disabling the car from starting, and putting me in a safety risk as I was stuck in a location away from my home, and unable to start my vehicle. It was not a battery issue- the lights worked, I could unlock and lock the vehicle, but I could not start the car using my intelligent key. It was towed to a Nissan dealership where I am being…
I bought a 2009 Nissan cube brand new in june 2010 that has been nothing but problems. To date the vehicle has had the following problems: 1. Steering lock mechanism has failed twice 2. Rotors had to be resurfaced 3 months after purchase 3. Throttle chamber failed and had to be replaced 4. Fan doesn't work during winter months rendering the heater useless 5. Fuel filler tube replaced…
The intelligent key system warning light illuminated yellow and remained on while the engine was running and while the engine was stopped. I took my cube to the local Nissan dealership where it was diagnosed that the electrical steering lock system was malfunctioning. This same dealership repaired my cube 9/19/2011 for a recall on this same part. Part d8700-1fa0c lock steering was…
There is an issue with the electrical steering control lock (escl) that prevents the car from being able to start.
Escl (electric steering column lock) needs to repaired on my '09 cube. I shut my car off after driving it for 10 minutes and it would not start again.
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Nissan Cube?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Nissan Cube?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 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?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 51,000 and 98,000 miles, with the median around 79,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 98,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Nissan/Cube.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.