← New search

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 →

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.

7 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

Steering complaints

158 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2022
EngineService BrakesSteering

While driving to work car stalled going 20MPH, no power brakes, no power steering, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car pressed start car restarted. Five days later, going to store, driving 35 mph, car stalled while running, no power steering, no power brakes, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car…

Read full complaint

While driving to work car stalled going 20MPH, no power brakes, no power steering, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car pressed start car restarted. Five days later, going to store, driving 35 mph, car stalled while running, no power steering, no power brakes, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car restarted. This is an on going safety problem. My father in law had this same vehicle and he was afraid to drive it because of the same issues.

NHTSA ODI #11485332

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2021
SteeringUnknown Or Other

MY POWER STEERING PUMP HAS A SLOW LEAK IN IT.

NHTSA ODI #11389708

13,500 miles · Jan 5, 2021
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

FOR WHILE THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE WHEN HITTING EVEN THE SLIDE IS BUMP CAUSING INSTABILITY IN NOT ONLY STEERING NOISES CLICKING BUT ONCE WE SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE FIX FINALLY FINDING OUT IT WAS THE INSULATOR FOR THE STRUT THIS PART OF THE SAME RECALL WHICH STATED THIS INSULATOR WAS A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER THEREFORE NOT A…

Read full complaint

FOR WHILE THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE WHEN HITTING EVEN THE SLIDE IS BUMP CAUSING INSTABILITY IN NOT ONLY STEERING NOISES CLICKING BUT ONCE WE SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR THE FIX FINALLY FINDING OUT IT WAS THE INSULATOR FOR THE STRUT THIS PART OF THE SAME RECALL WHICH STATED THIS INSULATOR WAS A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER THEREFORE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS RECALL

NHTSA ODI #11386560

21,523 miles · Apr 1, 2020
EngineSteeringSuspension

MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN MAKING A WINNING NOISE, THEN IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS DONE. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. I GAVE A CVT TRANSMISSION. ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH STRUTS.HAD NOISE SINCE 2019.

NHTSA ODI #11319941

130,000 miles · Oct 17, 2019
Steering

I WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER RETURNING TO MY PARKED CAR DURING A LATE NIGHT DRIVE TO VISIT A FRIEND. WHEN I TRIED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE FROM PAST LOCK. I NOTICED A NEW LIGHT INDICATOR FOR MY "INTELLIGENT KEY" I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE, I FOUND THAT THESE SYMPTOMS WERE LINKED …

Read full complaint

I WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER RETURNING TO MY PARKED CAR DURING A LATE NIGHT DRIVE TO VISIT A FRIEND. WHEN I TRIED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE FROM PAST LOCK. I NOTICED A NEW LIGHT INDICATOR FOR MY "INTELLIGENT KEY" I HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE, I FOUND THAT THESE SYMPTOMS WERE LINKED TO A ELECTRONIC STEERING CONTROL LOCK DEFECT THAT HAD BEEN KNOW FOR YEARS. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN I WAS TOLD THAT ARE INDEED HAVE A SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA HOWEVER FOR I AM FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT AS MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN "SERVICE CAMPAIGN". BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT I WAS STRANDED MILES FROM HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND FORCED TO PAY OVER 800$ OUT OF POCKET IN EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO REPLACE A PART THAT MAY VERY WELL FAIL AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ODI #11269190

173,247 miles · Aug 26, 2019
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK UP. ALSO, THE KEY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE OFF THE PANELING AND TAP THE STEERING COLUMN BOX TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN TO UNLOCK FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE MANUFACTURER…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK UP. ALSO, THE KEY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO TAKE OFF THE PANELING AND TAP THE STEERING COLUMN BOX TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN TO UNLOCK FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,247. *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11246502

102,578 miles · Nov 13, 2018
SteeringSuspension

BOUGHT MY 2010 MAXIMA ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. AFTER DRIVING IT HOME I HEARD A HORRIBLE RATTLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND A CLATTERING IN THE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIP HAD GIVEN ME A 3 MONTH WARRANTY SO I CONTACTED THEM THE SAME DAY I GOT THE CAR TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP 3 TO 4 TIMES A WEEK FOR 5 MONTHS, …

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #11151176

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2017
SteeringSuspension

I BEEN HAVING VIBRATIONS AND CLUNK NOISES SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR IN 2013 THE CAR SHAKES AND VIBRATES AT 55 MPH SINCE THEN I REPLACE SHOCKS STRUTS BALL JOINTS CONTROL ARMS AND TIRES BUT THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI #11047845

790,000 miles · Jun 19, 2017
Air BagsSteeringSuspension

STEERING- WHEN TURNING THE COLUM IT SQUEEKS; RIGHT OR LEFT AS I AM SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE THE TURN. SUSPENSION- STRUT INSLUATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED; THIS WAS MENTIONED YEARS BACK IN A RECALL AND MINE ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, I AM NOT ORIGIONAL OWNER. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT- CONSTANTLY ON LOWER CONTROL ARMS- REPLACED DRIVE…

Read full complaint

STEERING- WHEN TURNING THE COLUM IT SQUEEKS; RIGHT OR LEFT AS I AM SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE THE TURN. SUSPENSION- STRUT INSLUATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED; THIS WAS MENTIONED YEARS BACK IN A RECALL AND MINE ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, I AM NOT ORIGIONAL OWNER. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT- CONSTANTLY ON LOWER CONTROL ARMS- REPLACED DRIVERS SIDE BUT NEEDS PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED AS WELL

NHTSA ODI #10995830

94,000 miles · Feb 21, 2017
Steering

STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. THE STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. HAD TO GET IT TOWED AND COST NEARLY $1,500 TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED. FOR A WELL MAINTAINED 2010 MAXIMA, THATS A LARGE UNEXPECTED BILL. SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO LOTS OF NISSAN MODELS. NISSAN NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10956176

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.