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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
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45,000 miles · Nov 2, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

THE ANTI THEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCK SWITCH FAILED. THE CAR WILL NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIR. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE SAME DEFECT IN MODEL YEAR 2009 MAXIMAS AND ALTIMAS. BUT THEY SAY THE PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST IN 2010 MODELS. OBVIOUSLY IT DOES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651902

61,000 miles · Oct 31, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE CONTACT MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN OVER INTO THE ON POSITION PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE CONTACT MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10651695

118,400 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Steering

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART F…

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THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE NEW PART WILL COST ME $965 OUT OF POCKET. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE ALMOST 100 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649471

118,412 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Electrical SystemSteeringWheels

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART F…

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THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE NEW PART WILL COST ME $965 OUT OF POCKET. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE ALMOST 100 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649470

50,600 miles · Oct 22, 2014
Steering

STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS OCCURRED ON MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA; CAUSING THE ENGINE TO NOT START. MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT IS $1000+. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649269

82,000 miles · Oct 21, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I DROVE MY 2010 NISSAN MAX TO CHURCH...THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PERFECTLY AND WE HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD IT SERVICED. WHEN I GOT IN VEHICLE TO LEAVE CHURCH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE KEY FOB WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD COME ON. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE DASH SHOWING A KEY BUT NOTHING ELSE WORKED. I H…

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I DROVE MY 2010 NISSAN MAX TO CHURCH...THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PERFECTLY AND WE HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD IT SERVICED. WHEN I GOT IN VEHICLE TO LEAVE CHURCH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE KEY FOB WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD COME ON. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE DASH SHOWING A KEY BUT NOTHING ELSE WORKED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THE ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN LOCK SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR WOULD COST $1100. I WAS INFORMED NO RECALLS FOR 2010 BUT 2009 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA HAD SAME ISSUES AND RECALL WAS DONE FOR THAT YEAR ONLY. I AM SO UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN ESPECIALLY AFTER READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AS WELL. WE HAVE ALWAYS OWNED NISSANS BUT I AM TOTALLY RECONSIDERING MY NEXT VEHICLE PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649196

69,821 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

THE CAR AFTER BEING DRIVEN TO WORK AND PARKED IN GARAGE STOPPED WORKING. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR FOR A FEW HOURS, WHILE AT WORK, I REALIZED THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND LIKE OTHERS THE CAR LOCK SIGN WAS ON. READING FURTHER ABOUT IT, IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN'S ELECTRICAL STEERING CONTROL LOCK AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY M…

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THE CAR AFTER BEING DRIVEN TO WORK AND PARKED IN GARAGE STOPPED WORKING. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR FOR A FEW HOURS, WHILE AT WORK, I REALIZED THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND LIKE OTHERS THE CAR LOCK SIGN WAS ON. READING FURTHER ABOUT IT, IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN'S ELECTRICAL STEERING CONTROL LOCK AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHERS. AFTER TOWING THE CAR, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THE SAME BUT NISSAN DOESN'T COVER THIS MODEL. IT COVERS 2009 MAXIMA AND ALTIMA, EVEN SOME OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THIS ONE. IT IS COSTING ME OVER 1200 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR, THAT INCLUDE 650 DOLLARS FOR THE PART, 400 DOLLARS FOR LABOR AS THIS IS EXTENSIVE, AND THEN TAXES AND CHANGE. NISSAN NEEDS TO REIMBURSE ITS CUSTOMERS FOR SUCH FAULTY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648387

30,705 miles · Oct 15, 2014
Steering

CAME TO WORK AND COULDN'T GET CAR STARTED. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK AND GET DELIVERED TO MOSSY NISSAN DEALERSHIP. WITH ONLY 30,705.00 MILES ON MY CAR THOUGHT THIS WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR SUCH A MAJOR PART TO GO OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644923

77,000 miles · Oct 13, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR WOULDN'T START, SO I CALLED AAA AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND DETERMINED THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE ISSUE. NO SOUND, NO POWER AND THE KEY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, CLEARLY NOT RECOGNIZING MY KEY FOB. I GOT A RIDE HOME 30 MILES AWAY AND RETURNED WITH MY ALTERNATE KEY FOB THINKING IT COULD BE A KEY FOB BATTERY ISSUE. THE AL…

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MY CAR WOULDN'T START, SO I CALLED AAA AND THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND DETERMINED THE BATTERY WAS NOT THE ISSUE. NO SOUND, NO POWER AND THE KEY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, CLEARLY NOT RECOGNIZING MY KEY FOB. I GOT A RIDE HOME 30 MILES AWAY AND RETURNED WITH MY ALTERNATE KEY FOB THINKING IT COULD BE A KEY FOB BATTERY ISSUE. THE ALTERNATE KEY FOB ALSO DID NOT WORK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK, NOT RELEASING, AND THE REPLACEMENT PART IS $895.00 AND NOT IN STOCK. MANY OF THE NISSAN FORUMS I LOOKED UP ON LINE ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM, TOO. HELLO IS ANYONE LISTENING OR TAKING NOTE? SHOULDN'T THIS MANY COMPLAINTS EQUATE TO A PARTS RECALL?? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644302

76,804 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Steering

I WENT TO THE STORE TO BUY SOME GROCERIES BEFORE WORK. WHEN I RETURNED TO CAR MY INTELLIGENT KEY WOULDN'T WORK. I WAS STRANDED IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAD MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK FAILED. IT COST ME $876.00 TO GET IT REPLACED. I CONTAC…

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I WENT TO THE STORE TO BUY SOME GROCERIES BEFORE WORK. WHEN I RETURNED TO CAR MY INTELLIGENT KEY WOULDN'T WORK. I WAS STRANDED IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAD MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK FAILED. IT COST ME $876.00 TO GET IT REPLACED. I CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. I TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR WAS BUILT IN SEPT 09 AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THE RECALL OF THE 2009 ALTIMA. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. FAULTY ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK. THEY RESEARCH MY VEHICLE AND COULDN'T FIND ANY OPEN RECALLS FOR MY MODEL YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638128

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.