ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WAS MALFUNCTIONING, AS DIAGNOSED BY A NISSAN DEALER. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE, AND IT WOULD NOT START, NO ENGINE, OR INTO ACC MODE BECAUSE THE ESCL DID NOT SENSE THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PRESSED OR THE WHEEL IN AN UNLOCKED POSITION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF, AND ENGINE START BUTTON DID NOT WORK. A SOLID AMBER KEY ICON ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD C…
2010 Nissan Cube steering problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) WAS MALFUNCTIONING, AS DIAGNOSED BY A NISSAN DEALER. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND IT WOULD NOT START, NO ENGINE, OR INTO ACC MODE BECAUSE THE ESCL DID NOT SENSE THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PRESSED OR THE WHEEL IN LOCKED POSITION. PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TOO START THE CAR DID NOTHING, AND ENGINE START BUTTON DID NOT WORK BUT A SOLID AMBER KEY ICON…
MY CAR STARTS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I'VE BEEN STRANDED AT THE STORE AFTER DROPPING OFF A CHILD AT SPORTS PRACTICE, STRANDED IN MY OWN GARAGE UNABLE TO TAKE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL OR GET TO WORK. IT APPEARS TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM ISSUE THAT ABOUNDS IN THE 2010 CUBE. SOMETIMES IT STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I NOW HAVE TO PHONE A FRIEND AND TELL THEM I'M LEAVING AND WHERE I'M GOING IN CA…
I RECENTLY HAD MY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM GO OUT ON MY 2010 NISSAN CUBE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NO LONGER START THINKING IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. =$$ NO OTHER DEALERSHIPS WOULD LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT WAS WHAT SEEMED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, I HAD TO TAKE IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED $950 FOR IT TO GET FIXED. UPON DOING RESEARCH I RE…
POWER STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE HAPPENED TO BE STATIONARY AT THE TIME, LOCKS THE CAR FROM STARTING USING THE START BUTTON, CAR WONT EVEN TURN OVER, DEALER STATES PART MUST BE REPLACED. THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY A NTSB RECALL FOR 2009 - 2010 ALTIMAS AND ONE OTHER MODEL BUT NOT THE CUBE KROM
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2010 Nissan Cube?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 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.
Some links on this page are affiliate links.