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2009 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Maxima years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

272 reports with mileage · 67 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 168 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Steering complaints

168 reports
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32,200 miles · Apr 12, 2012
Steering

PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE OCCURRENCE RATE OF MY COMPLAINT!!! THE AUTOMATIC TILT STEERING MOTOR BECAME INOPERABLE AND LOCKED IN THE LOWEST DOWN POSITION UPON STARTING THE IGNITION. THE CAR IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOWEST POSITION EVEN WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE SET TO THE LOWEST POS…

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PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE OCCURRENCE RATE OF MY COMPLAINT!!! THE AUTOMATIC TILT STEERING MOTOR BECAME INOPERABLE AND LOCKED IN THE LOWEST DOWN POSITION UPON STARTING THE IGNITION. THE CAR IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOWEST POSITION EVEN WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SEAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE SET TO THE LOWEST POSITION. I DO NOT HAVE FULL VIEW OF THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS. NISSAN HAS A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THE ISSUE AND THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE IN THE MAXIMA AND MURANO MODELS. MY MAXIMA IS JUST 29 DAYS PAST THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION DATE. NISSAN MUST RECALL VEHICLE MODEL YEAR 2009 (NISSAN MAXIMA) TO REPAIR THE TILT STEERING MOTOR AT THEIR COST. THE REPAIR COSTS TO THE CONSUMER IS OVER $600. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN IMPROPER STEERING BY THE DRIVER RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY/DEATH. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455015

16,123 miles · Mar 28, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AT 75 MPH AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND I ACTED QUICKLY TO TURN ON THE HAZARDS AND GET OFF THE HIGHWAY ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS CAR ONLY HAS ~16000 MILES AS WELL …

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MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AT 75 MPH AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND I ACTED QUICKLY TO TURN ON THE HAZARDS AND GET OFF THE HIGHWAY ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS CAR ONLY HAS ~16000 MILES AS WELL AS ALL OF ITS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED US THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT AS THEY FOUND A LEAF IN THE SENSOR. WE HAVE NO WAY TO VERIFY THAT THERE WAS A LEAF IN THE SENSOR AND THE CAR IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND/OR DRIVEWAY NOWHERE NEAR A TREE. WE WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT SO THAT IF MORE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS OCCUR MAYBE A RECALL IS WARRANTED AS NISSAN'S ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLES COULD BE AT FAULT. HOW COULD A LEAF IN GET IN THERE? IF A LEAF DOES GET IN WHY WOULD THAT CORRODE THE PART? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453400

40,000 miles · Dec 27, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE IN A FEW WEEKS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10441300

52,000 miles · Sep 23, 2011
Air BagsSteeringVisibility

TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME UP POSITION WHEN DRIVERS DOOR WAS OPENED AT APPROX 2 YEARS/52,000 MILES. TILT STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE LOWERED UNTIL DISASSEMBLED BY THE DEALER. DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS SERIOUSLY OBSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. POTENTIAL AIR BAG EFFECTIVENESS WAS ALSO SERIOUSLY DEGRADED…

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TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME UP POSITION WHEN DRIVERS DOOR WAS OPENED AT APPROX 2 YEARS/52,000 MILES. TILT STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE LOWERED UNTIL DISASSEMBLED BY THE DEALER. DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS SERIOUSLY OBSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. POTENTIAL AIR BAG EFFECTIVENESS WAS ALSO SERIOUSLY DEGRADED. NISSAN IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT MOTORS (TILT OR TELESCOPE) IN SERVICE BULLETIN NTB09094. HOWEVER, NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THIS FIRST-TIME NISSAN OWNER FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT. THERE IS NO CERTAINTY OF WHETHER REPLACEMENT NISSAN STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT MOTORS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT AND WILL NOT FAIL SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLATION. THE TELESCOPE ADJUSTMENT MOTOR FAILED AT APPROX 1 YEAR/38,000 MILES. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR FOR BOTH ADJUSTMENT MOTORS WAS APPROXIMATELY $400+. I REQUEST NISSAN AND NHTSA ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426881

22,500 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL TILT AND TELESCOPE MOTOR STOP WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I WAS ONE MONTH OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS A BULLETIN DATED IN 2009, AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOWING THERE…

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THE STEERING WHEEL TILT AND TELESCOPE MOTOR STOP WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I WAS ONE MONTH OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SHOWED ME THAT IT WAS A BULLETIN DATED IN 2009, AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOWING THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TILT AND TELESCOPE MOTOR. I'M OUT OF WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO PAY OUT ALMOST 1,500 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPAIRED. ITS NOT FAIR TO CONSUMERS WHEN PAYING ALMOST 40,000 DOLLARS FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAS ISSUES. IT'S NOT FAIR WHEN THE DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF PROBLEMS AND NOT INFORMING THE OWNERS UNTIL IT'S DISCOVERED AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE OR AT LEAST NOTIFIED THE OWNER TO HAVE DONE AT THEIR LEISURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424012

82,000 miles · Aug 17, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

THE COLLAR WILL MOVE UP AND DOWN SLOW ... REPORT THE MOTOR IS BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350011

2,585 miles · May 5, 2010
Power TrainSteering

IN NOV. 2009, APPROX 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING NEW CAR, IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY HAVING HEAVIER VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SINCE THEN, THERE IS A CONSTANT MINOR PULSING/VIBRATION, WITH INTERMITTENT VIBRATION THAT HAS MORE INTENSITY. WHEN I HAVE MORE INSTANCES OF THE "HEAVIER" VIBRATION DURING MY COMMUTE IT CAUSES MY HAN…

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IN NOV. 2009, APPROX 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING NEW CAR, IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY HAVING HEAVIER VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SINCE THEN, THERE IS A CONSTANT MINOR PULSING/VIBRATION, WITH INTERMITTENT VIBRATION THAT HAS MORE INTENSITY. WHEN I HAVE MORE INSTANCES OF THE "HEAVIER" VIBRATION DURING MY COMMUTE IT CAUSES MY HANDS TO TINGLE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT - THE LAST TIME WITH A REGIONAL REP PRESENT. TO DATE, THE DEALER AND NISSAN CORPORATE CONSUMER ASSISTANCE HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY SOLUTION NOR ANY OTHER COMPENSATION. I FEEL THERE IS A DEFECT OR DESIGN FLAW THAT IS PRODUCING THE VIBRATION, WHICH I CAN ONLY ASSUME WILL GET WORSE OVER TIME. I AM AFRAID IT WILL EVENTUALLY PUT MY HANDS TO SLEEP ON A LONGER TRIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328974

6,500 miles · May 21, 2009
Interior LightingSeatsSteering

IN JANUARY 2009 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IN APRIL MY INTERIOR LIGHTS, STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT AND THE HEAT ON MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED IT. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THIN…

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IN JANUARY 2009 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IN APRIL MY INTERIOR LIGHTS, STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT AND THE HEAT ON MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED IT. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WENT TO GEORGIA, WHEN I GOT BACK TO MARYLAND I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIRS AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. ON MAY 19TH MY STEERING WHEEL STUCK IN THE HIGHEST UPWARD POSITION AGAIN AND ALSO MY SEAT WAS NOT WORKING, AND THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE MY CAR WAS TURNED ON BUT NOT BEING DRIVEN, ON MAY 20TH I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS AGAIN, THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE NISSAN DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND ALSO NOTICED THE PROBLEM ( MY STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL STUCK IN THE UPWARD POSITION AND THE SEAT WAS NOT WORKING), AFTER HE PLAYED AROUND WITH SEVERAL BUTTONS HE TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE DOING FINE AND HE DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY COULD DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD LEAVE MY CAR FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG STILL WITH MY CAR. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG, SO WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE. THIS HAS BEEN THREE TIMES THAT THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX MY CAR AND I AM GETTING NOWHERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269571

Official recalls

1

09V358000 · Suspension

Sep 16, 2009

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.