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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

Visibility/wiper complaints

7 reports
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234,000 miles · Oct 29, 2019
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD MELTING IS CAUSING EXTREME GLARE ON THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING THE DAY OUT OF WINDSHIELD SO IT'S AFFECTING MY DRIVING ABILITY. AND EVERYTHING IS STICKING TO IT AND IT'S DESTROYING THE OTHER PARTS IN MY VEHICLE IT IS MELTING ON TOO. I HAVE SUN VISOR ON EVERYTIME OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT STICKINE…

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THE DASHBOARD MELTING IS CAUSING EXTREME GLARE ON THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING THE DAY OUT OF WINDSHIELD SO IT'S AFFECTING MY DRIVING ABILITY. AND EVERYTHING IS STICKING TO IT AND IT'S DESTROYING THE OTHER PARTS IN MY VEHICLE IT IS MELTING ON TOO. I HAVE SUN VISOR ON EVERYTIME OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT STICKINESS IS ALWAYS THERE AND CONTINUES TO MELT REGARDLESS.

NHTSA ODI #11271781

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED CAUSING SEVERE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS DEFECT MAKES IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR OUR SON AND AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A NEW DASHBOARD OR AS WE HAVE IT TODAY, COVERED WITH A TOWEL. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AT LEAST 3-5 TIMES HOW…

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THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED CAUSING SEVERE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS DEFECT MAKES IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR OUR SON AND AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A NEW DASHBOARD OR AS WE HAVE IT TODAY, COVERED WITH A TOWEL. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AT LEAST 3-5 TIMES HOWEVER THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN TO DO TO ASSIST. I DID TELL THEM THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO ONLY COVER CARS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEY SHOULD BE LOYAL TO ALL CUSTOMERS REGARDLESS OF THE STATE.

NHTSA ODI #11266585

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2017
Visibility/wiper

DASH DEFECT. THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKS LIKE MELTED TAR CREATING A GLARE WHILE DRIVING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN'S 2008 & 2009 ALTIMAS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN USA (CASE # 2716855) THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD OFFER TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR…

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DASH DEFECT. THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKS LIKE MELTED TAR CREATING A GLARE WHILE DRIVING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN'S 2008 & 2009 ALTIMAS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN USA (CASE # 2716855) THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD OFFER TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR WHICH WOULD STILL BE $1000 OUT OF POCKET. MY QUESTION IS; ARE THEY WAITING FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY OFFER A CAMPAIGN FOR RECALL? YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ODI #11001736

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A CRACKED AND MELTING DASHBOARD. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT THE SUNLIGHT CAUSES AN EXTREME GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES VISIBILITY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ON SUNNY DAYS. A BIKER OR PEDESTRIAN COULD BE CROSSING THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME AND I WOULD NOT KNOW IT DUE TO ONLY SEEING THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIE…

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MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A CRACKED AND MELTING DASHBOARD. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT THE SUNLIGHT CAUSES AN EXTREME GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES VISIBILITY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ON SUNNY DAYS. A BIKER OR PEDESTRIAN COULD BE CROSSING THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME AND I WOULD NOT KNOW IT DUE TO ONLY SEEING THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT THIS AND THEY WERE NOTHING BUT RUDE THE ENTIRE TIME. THEY SAID THERE ARE NO KNOWN DEFECTS WITH IT AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE. I TOLD THEM THAT I CANNOT SEE AND IT IS AN EXTREMELY BIG ISSUE AND THEY DISAGREE. I EVEN OFFERED TO PAY TOWARDS THE COST OF A NEW DASHBOARD AND THEY SAID THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO AT THIS POINT AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS DUE TO THE BLINDING REFLECTION FROM THE DASH.

NHTSA ODI #10965958

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

INABILITY TO CLEARLY SEE ROAD IN CERTAIN SUNNY CONDITIONS FROM A MELTING DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSES GLARE IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI #10875448

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2014
Visibility/wiper

I'VE OWNED MY NISSAN SENSE 2009 AND OVER THE LAST YEAR THE DASH HAS BEEN MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE RIGHT IN THE DRIVER VISION OF VIEW. I'M HOPING THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS IT IS CAUSING ME TO DO LESS DRIVING ON SUNNY DAYS DUE TO GLARE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629215

78,000 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION HEARD FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION HEARD FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10533036

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.