I never really payed attention to it before but now it bothering me because I'm listening for it! It is easiest to hear when starting the car or turning on the accessories.

Sorry Chris - Did not mean to add to your irritation. I also started to notice it now when I START the car. It must be dis-engaging. Well at least we all now know it is normal and not some defect or anomaly.

I have a battery operated motorized door lock on the back door to my house and the motor that actuates sounds very similar!

No problem, I'll go back to ignoring it soon enough. Probably is a door lock under there :)

I KNOW that it's the steering lock. My '09 Infiniti FX does the same thing. It's louder than my 370's window-seal feature. They have the same steering lock motors. Both sound exactly the same. Keyed cars have mechanical systems, and our keyless work with our door/keyfob combos. This is what it is. (I know the windows make noise, but the steering lock is much louder.)

I know it's the steering lock too, just making a joke that they probably used cheap battery powered door locks as a steering lock :)

Nothing like Nissan being subtile, huh? Ha ha! I don't care how much noise it makes... Just work! And it does!