KEY LOCK WILL NOT ALLOW CAR TO START OR TURN IGNITION.
2010 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Maxima years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
238 reports with mileage · 37 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 158 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 →
- Suspension. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
79 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KEY WITH A LOCK WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KEY WITH A LOCK WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
UNEXPECTEDLY THE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULDN'T START. I THEN CHECK THIS WEBSITE, AND FIND A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE! THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL! I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN ISN'T HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAULTY PART. I PAID ALMOST $40,000 FOR A CAR THAT WON'T START. THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. …
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UNEXPECTEDLY THE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULDN'T START. I THEN CHECK THIS WEBSITE, AND FIND A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE! THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL! I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN ISN'T HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAULTY PART. I PAID ALMOST $40,000 FOR A CAR THAT WON'T START. THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. MY ISSUE OCCURED WITH MY 4 MONTH OLD SON IN THE VEHICLE WHILE EVERYONE ELSE I KNEW WAS AT WORK. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE! THIS SAME PART NUMBER WAS RECALLED IN PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THE MAXIMA! THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER STOPPING AT THE BANK TO MAKE A DEPOSIT. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HOLD NISSAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ONGOING ISSUE!
UNEXPECTEDLY, AFTER DRIVING ONE KID TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, VEHICLE (STATIONARY) WOULD NOT START TO DRIVE MY OTHER KID TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF TO HELP PREVENT THEFT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM RECOGNIZI…
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UNEXPECTEDLY, AFTER DRIVING ONE KID TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, VEHICLE (STATIONARY) WOULD NOT START TO DRIVE MY OTHER KID TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF TO HELP PREVENT THEFT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM RECOGNIZING MY KEY (FOB), NO REGULAR KEY IS ISSUED, JUST BUTTON START. IN MY VEHICLE THE ESCL MAY MALFUNCTION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED AND COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. STILL WAITING TO HEAR THE DREADFUL CALL FROM THE DEALER (HAVE TO BE TOWED AND I AM NOT EVEN DONE MAKING PAYMENTS FOR MY 2010 MAXIMA) TO SEE WHAT THE DAMAGE WILL BE OR IF COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, MEANS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU ARE STRANDED WITH A NON RELIABLE CAR, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUNTAINS OR THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT, NO WAY TO START A CAR IF NO MECHANIC KEY IS ISSUED AND THE ONLY OPTION, THE FOB, IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY YOUR OWN CAR.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM WORKS WITH FAB TURNING ON VEHICLE DISENGAGED AND THE WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CULPRIT AND WITHOUT THE REPAIR OF $950 THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING JUST FINE 1 HOUR PRIOR TO LOCKING ME OUT AND CAUSING MANY OF HOURS WITH AAA DIAGNOSTICS, THEN TOWING TO 2 SEPARATE LOCATIONS AND…
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STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM WORKS WITH FAB TURNING ON VEHICLE DISENGAGED AND THE WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CULPRIT AND WITHOUT THE REPAIR OF $950 THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING JUST FINE 1 HOUR PRIOR TO LOCKING ME OUT AND CAUSING MANY OF HOURS WITH AAA DIAGNOSTICS, THEN TOWING TO 2 SEPARATE LOCATIONS AND I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS IS A ROUTINE ISSUE IT SEEMS EXTREME AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING IF IT HAPPENED WHEN ON THE ROAD AND NOT IN MY GARAGE TO QUOTE THEIR RESPONSE WAS NO IT WOULDN'T OF DONE IT WHILE DRIVING BUT IT COULD OF DESERTED YOU IN A LOCATION OTHER THAN YOUR HOME CAUSING YOU EVEN FURTHER INCONVENIENCE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, I MAINTAIN IT BY OPERATORS MANUAL, I CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW UPSETTING IT IS TO HAVE A VEHICLE WITH THE "AUTO THEFT" SELLING POINT BE A FAULTY MANUFACTURING OF THE ABILITY FOR OWNERS TO START THEIR VEHICLE. THE RANDOM STOP WORKING IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT MOVE. ITS DEFINITELY A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS SITUATION.
I DROVE TO A FRIENDS WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT ONE HOUR.THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED STILL. I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T START. I CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND GOT A TOW TO NISSAN DEALER. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY $115.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY STEERING LOCK UNIT AND IT WOULD COST ME $1109.09.
TRIED TURNING ON MY VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. CANNOT START MY VEHICLE, THE BRAKE IS NOT WORKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED.
I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND AN ORANGE LIGHT THAT READ "KEY" POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. ON MY IGNITION BUTTON THE "LOCK" WORD WAS LUMINATED. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, NOR TURN ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. I WAS STRANDED FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER, WHICH CAUSED CHAOS AND UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE. …
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I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND AN ORANGE LIGHT THAT READ "KEY" POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. ON MY IGNITION BUTTON THE "LOCK" WORD WAS LUMINATED. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, NOR TURN ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. I WAS STRANDED FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER, WHICH CAUSED CHAOS AND UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, PARKED AFTER ONLY 2 HOURS AFTER LAST USE. SCHOOLS CAN CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IF YOU DO NOT PICK UP YOUR KID BY A CERTAIN TIME. THAT PROVES THAT IF I DIDN'T FIND A WAY TO GET MY DAUGHTER PICKED UP IN A TIMELY MANNER SHE WOULD'VE BEEN IN DANGER. THANK GOD I WAS IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULD'VE BEEN IN A HOSTILE NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THE COLD, WITH NO HEAT. THE PIECE IN QUESTION THAT WAS THE PROBLEM... QUOTED BY NISSAN IS THE "STEERING LOCK." THIS PIECE HAS BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN IN THE EARLIER MODELS, BUT APPARENTLY NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. (WHICH IS THE YEAR AFTER THE ONE THAT IS RECALLED) APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T FIX THIS ISSUE. WHAT IF I WAS SOMEONE WHO NEEDED TO BE HOME TO TAKE MEDICINE AT A CERTAIN TIME, OR I DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE TO TELL THE SCHOOL WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS WAITING FOR ME THE ISSUE, OR MY WIFE WAS IN LABOR? THIS PIECE IS AN UNNECESSARY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA EXPERIENCED THE STEERING LOCK FAILURE AND COULD NOT START THE CAR. THIS, AS I HAVE BEEN READING, IS COMMON AND IT'S GOING TO COST OVER $700.00 TO FIX. THIS IS BS NISSAN!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PUSH TO START FEATURE WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE KEY WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PUSH TO START FEATURE WOULD NOT START THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE KEY WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Official recalls
109V358000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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