Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
4625–50K
6450–75K
5275–100K
54100–150K
21150K+
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
What owners actually said
339 reports
54,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS UNTIL IT WAS CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS UNTIL IT WAS CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA ODI #10789911
52,000 miles · Nov 10, 2015
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WAS VERY STICKY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10789510
58,000 miles · Oct 31, 2015
Steering
UNABLE TO START VEHICLE, STEERING COLUMN WON'T UNLOCK. OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED. SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM UNABLE TO PROPERLY SIGNAL THE BCM. STRANDING THE DRIVER.
NHTSA ODI #10787404
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2015
Steering
I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO PAY THE TAXES AND THE STEERING LOCKS. WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS IS A MESS OVER $1100 TO REPAIR. I WAS GOING TO GET MY AUNT PICTURE COPIED FOR HER WEDDING SHE IS DECEASED. I DIDN'T GET THE PICTURE AND I MISSED THE WEDDING WAITING ON THE TOW TRUCK. REALLY 😡 UPSET WITH NISSAN I DON'T…
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I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO PAY THE TAXES AND THE STEERING LOCKS. WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS IS A MESS OVER $1100 TO REPAIR. I WAS GOING TO GET MY AUNT PICTURE COPIED FOR HER WEDDING SHE IS DECEASED. I DIDN'T GET THE PICTURE AND I MISSED THE WEDDING WAITING ON THE TOW TRUCK. REALLY 😡 UPSET WITH NISSAN I DON'T THINK I WILL BE BUYING ANOTHER ONE EVER. MANY PEOPLE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE YET NISSAN WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE. VERY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER
NHTSA ODI #10786517
69,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Suspension
STRUT MOUNTS ARE CRACKED AND DISINTEGRATING POSING A DANGER OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT NISSAN CLAIMS THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10782381
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2015
SuspensionWheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE STRUT BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE RIM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED DUE TO A FAULTY STRUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A RECALL FOR THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE STRUT BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE RIM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED DUE TO A FAULTY STRUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A RECALL FOR THE STRUT WAS ISSUED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V358000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10781111
100,000 miles · Oct 6, 2015
Steering
I GOT IN MY CAR TRIED TURNING IT ON AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. I KNEW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY BECAUSE ALL LIGHTS WERE ON AND FOB STILL WORKED. WHEN I PUT THE ACTUAL KEY IN SLOT IT GAVE THE MISSING KEY LIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO NISSAN WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 1100 TO FIX THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. AFTER RESEARCHI…
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I GOT IN MY CAR TRIED TURNING IT ON AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. I KNEW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY BECAUSE ALL LIGHTS WERE ON AND FOB STILL WORKED. WHEN I PUT THE ACTUAL KEY IN SLOT IT GAVE THE MISSING KEY LIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO NISSAN WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 1100 TO FIX THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I SAW A LOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS, AND THAT NISSAN HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER CALLING NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 4 MONTHS AGO BUT THAT THEY WOULD ESCALATE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER A PORTION. AFTER BEING STRUNG FOR THREE DAYS, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COST. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME PRIOR THAT NORMAL PROTOCOL WAS FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS WHICH THEY NEVER DID FOR, I JUST GOT AN AUTOMATIC NO!
NHTSA ODI #10780235
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2015
Electrical System
THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCK AND THE CAR WON'T START USING THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM. THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH MANY CAR OWNERS AND NISSAN ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH ALLOWED FOR OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR CAR REPAIRED IF THIS ISSUE HAPPENED WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED AND DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM U…
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THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCK AND THE CAR WON'T START USING THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM. THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH MANY CAR OWNERS AND NISSAN ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH ALLOWED FOR OWNERS TO HAVE THEIR CAR REPAIRED IF THIS ISSUE HAPPENED WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED AND DIDN'T EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. I FEEL NISSAN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL CARS OF THIS MODEL TO CORRECT A PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING. THE RECALL WOULD HAVE COSTED MORE MONEY, BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
NHTSA ODI #10779724
104,000 miles · Sep 10, 2015
Unknown Or Other
CHANGED MY BATTERY NOW MY CAR WILL NOT START AND I AM UNABLE TO PRESS DOWN THE BRAKES OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA ODI #10762879
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2015
Steering
2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. *SMD
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.
2009 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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