NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
158 reportsClear category filter49,000 miles · Feb 17, 2015
Steering
I WENT TO TURN ON MY HUSBAND'S 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA THIS MORNING, AND IT DIDN'T TURN ON. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PUSH, AND THE START BUTTON DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT ILLUMINATE THE "LOCK" LIGHT ABOVE THE START BUTTON. I PULLED OUT THE OWNERS MANUAL TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND ONCE I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE IN THE…
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I WENT TO TURN ON MY HUSBAND'S 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA THIS MORNING, AND IT DIDN'T TURN ON. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PUSH, AND THE START BUTTON DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT ILLUMINATE THE "LOCK" LIGHT ABOVE THE START BUTTON. I PULLED OUT THE OWNERS MANUAL TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND ONCE I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL, NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT ASSISTED ME SAID THAT IS WOULD BE COVERED BY THE "NISSAN EXTENDED WARRANTY" THAT THEY HAD FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE (STEERING WHEEL LOCK) BUT THEN WHEN I CALLED LATER TO GET AN UPDATE, SHE ADVISED ME THAT UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR DID NOT MEET THE WARRANTY CRITERIA, WHATEVER THAT MEANS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE NOTICED MANY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA'S HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, SO AS TO WHY THEY ONLY COVER THE 2009'S IS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT I HOPE NISSAN CAN CORRECT FOR THE 2010 MAXIMA OWNERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683866
50,000 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED ON MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. NISSAN WANTS OVER $900 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE PART ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM IN MANY DIFFERENT MODELS AND YEARS OF NISSAN VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME PART. THERE IS NO RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM IN PLACE AS THIS TIME. THERE IS FOR T…
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THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) FAILED ON MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. NISSAN WANTS OVER $900 OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE PART ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM IN MANY DIFFERENT MODELS AND YEARS OF NISSAN VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME PART. THERE IS NO RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM IN PLACE AS THIS TIME. THERE IS FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA BUT NOT THE 2010 MODELS EVEN THOUGH THEY USE THE SAME PART. MY CAR FUNCTIONS COMPLETELY FINE BUT WITHOUT THIS PART BEING REPLACED I CANNOT START MY CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS IMMEDIATELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683636
67,000 miles · Feb 16, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
I HAVE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA SV . STOPPED BY FOR GAS AND THE START BUTTON DID NOT RESPOND. READ ONLINE AND FOUND POTENTIAL STEERING LOCK ISSUE. CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICE BEFORE CONTACTING DEALER. SAY HAVE TO BRING TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. NISSAN CONSUMER TOTALLY USELESS. CONFIRM AND DID NOT HELP. SAY THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN …
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I HAVE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA SV . STOPPED BY FOR GAS AND THE START BUTTON DID NOT RESPOND. READ ONLINE AND FOUND POTENTIAL STEERING LOCK ISSUE. CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICE BEFORE CONTACTING DEALER. SAY HAVE TO BRING TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. NISSAN CONSUMER TOTALLY USELESS. CONFIRM AND DID NOT HELP. SAY THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR RECALL ON STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE BUT DOES NOT APPLIES TO MY VEHICLE. I ASKED AT LEAST HELP ON THE COST OR DISCOUNT ON PARTS SINCE IT'S MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THEY SAY NO. HAVE NO CHOICE. PAID 110 TO TOW TO DEALER AND 900 BUCKS FOR PART AND LABOR TO FIX OUT OF POCKET. NOT HAPPY CONSUMER. HOPEFULLY IF WE GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS IN.. NISSAN WILL DO MANDATORY RECALL IF WE GET GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT. PLEASE EVERY ONE WITH SIMILAR ISSUES FILE THE COMPLAINT REPORTS.!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683631
77,000 miles · Feb 14, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
MY WIFE WENT SHOPPING BEFORE THE BLIZZARD, CAME OUT CAR WOULDN'T START, I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON ON THIS YEAR OF CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683444
39,000 miles · Feb 13, 2015
EngineSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 04/06/15*LJ UPDATED 9/21/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10683171
31,905 miles · Feb 5, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
MY CAR WOULD NOT START WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THE CAR BUT COULD NOT START THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN SERVICE STATION WAS TOLD THE STEERING LOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR INTERNAL FAILURE AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. $899.67 DOLLARS LATER AND AS I'M LEAVING THE SERVICE STATION I'M TOLD MY WARRANTY WAS UP BY A …
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MY CAR WOULD NOT START WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO THE CAR BUT COULD NOT START THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN SERVICE STATION WAS TOLD THE STEERING LOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR INTERNAL FAILURE AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. $899.67 DOLLARS LATER AND AS I'M LEAVING THE SERVICE STATION I'M TOLD MY WARRANTY WAS UP BY A FEW DAYS AND ALSO NISSAN HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 2009 MODELS BUT NOT 2010 MODELS THIS IS A COPY TAKEN FROM NISSANASSIST.COM RELEASED IN 2013 (Q1.WHAT IS THE REASON FOR WARRANTY EXTENSION? A. TO ENSURE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. MODEL YEAR 2009 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN 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. NISSAN HAS DETERMINED THAT ON A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITY THAT HAS SINCE BEEN CORRECTED, THE ESCL MAY MALFUNCTION AFTER THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED AND COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING.WHAT WILL BE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION? A. NISSAN WILL EXTEND ITS NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE AFFECTED PART NUMBERS FROM ITS ORIGINAL DURATION OF 36 MONTHS/ 36,000 MILES TO 72 MONTHS/UNLIMITED MILES ) I INVESTIGATED ON LINE AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS WITH 2010 MODELS THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM NISSAN ADMITS TO A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM HOW CAN THEY NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING IT FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL 2010 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10681625
70,000 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Steering
COULD NOT START MY CAR THE MORNING ON 1/14/15. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS A KNOWN NISSAN ISSUE. HOWEVER, MY YEAR AND MODEL WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS SOME 2009 MODELS WERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. CALLED NISSAN AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER TH…
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COULD NOT START MY CAR THE MORNING ON 1/14/15. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS A KNOWN NISSAN ISSUE. HOWEVER, MY YEAR AND MODEL WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS SOME 2009 MODELS WERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. CALLED NISSAN AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT UNLESS THIS BECAME A KNOWN ISSUE ON 2010S AS WELL, AND A RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10680665
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2015
Steering
MY BOYFRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING. WE PARKED THE CAR TO GET OUT AND WE TURNED THE CAR OFF. WE FORGOT TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF AND WENT TO CRANK THE CAR BACK UP TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF BUT IT WOULD NOT START. WE HAD NO CLUE AT FIRST WHAT WAS WRONG. WE CALLED NISSAN. THEY TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM. BUT STATED IT COULD …
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MY BOYFRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING. WE PARKED THE CAR TO GET OUT AND WE TURNED THE CAR OFF. WE FORGOT TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF AND WENT TO CRANK THE CAR BACK UP TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF BUT IT WOULD NOT START. WE HAD NO CLUE AT FIRST WHAT WAS WRONG. WE CALLED NISSAN. THEY TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR TO THEM. BUT STATED IT COULD BE THE BATTERY IN THE CAR OR THE BATTERY IN THE KEYS. AND ALSO IT COULD BE THE KEY LOST PROGRAMMING WITH THE CAR. SO WE WENT AND BOUGHT BATTERIES FOR THE KEYS AND ALSO SENT AND BOUGHT A BATTERY FOR THE CAR. AND STILL NO LUCK. THEN WE CALLED THE LOCKSMITH OUT TO REPROGRAM THE KEYS. STILL NO LUCK. LOTS OF MONEY ALREADY LOST. WE THEN BEGAN TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. CAME ACROSS SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT TO NISSAN TALKED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT . I WAS TOLD I HAD NO RECALLS IN MY CAR. THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOOK IT UP TO A MACHINE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WHUCHNIS 105 DOLLARS AND STILL I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR GETTING IT FIXED. IN WAS VERY UPSET. I TOLD THEM MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. MY BOYFRIEND ALSO CALLED NISSAN AFFAIRS. WE WERE TOLD THE SAME THING AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT IF A CHILD N MOTHER BREAK DOWN OVER THIS AND GET ROBBED OR EVEN KILLED CAUSE THERE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK OVER NISSAN IGNORING THERE CUSTOMER ISSUES. THIS IS THERE PROBLEM. AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN IN I ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES FOR A RECALL NOT TO BE PLACED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE. YOU CARE MORE ABOUT THERE MONEY THAN THERE CUSTOMERS AND THEIR SAFETY. I ALSO WAS TOLD THEY NO LONGER USE THIS PART MODEL BECAUSE IT IS DEFECTIVE. I WILL NEVER BY FROM NISSAN AGAIN. I WILL GO TO THE NEWS PAPER AND THE NEWS ABOUT. NISSAN AND HOW THEY WILL NOT HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS ON A PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10680264
48,000 miles · Jan 29, 2015
Steering
STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALER STATES NO RECALL BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH MINE EXPIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!!!! THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE ON ALL 2009-2010 MODELS AND SHOULD HAVE THEM ALL FIXED CONSIDERING THEY NO LONGER USE THE SAME STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. CAR WILL NOT STA…
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STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALER STATES NO RECALL BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH MINE EXPIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!!!!! THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE ON ALL 2009-2010 MODELS AND SHOULD HAVE THEM ALL FIXED CONSIDERING THEY NO LONGER USE THE SAME STEERING LOCK MECHANISM. CAR WILL NOT START UNTIL PIECE IS FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10679658
37,000 miles · Jan 28, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A FAULTY PART ISSUE. THEY ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2009 MAXIMAS. THEY CHANGED THE PART OUT IN LATE 2010 MODELS. HOWEVER, THOSE OF US WITH EARLY 2010 MODELS ARE OUT OF LUCK. WE DO NOT FALL INSIDE RECALL AND WE DID NOT GET THE NEW PART SO ALL OF US WITH FAILUR…
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THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. NISSAN KNOWS THIS IS A FAULTY PART ISSUE. THEY ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2009 MAXIMAS. THEY CHANGED THE PART OUT IN LATE 2010 MODELS. HOWEVER, THOSE OF US WITH EARLY 2010 MODELS ARE OUT OF LUCK. WE DO NOT FALL INSIDE RECALL AND WE DID NOT GET THE NEW PART SO ALL OF US WITH FAILURE HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE VEHICLES TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND PAY $1,000 ($700.00 PARTS & $300.00 LABOR) FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE LITERALLY WILL NOT EVEN START. YOU CANNOT EVEN GET IT INTO NEUTRAL SO NOT SURE HOW IT CAN BE TOWED. I AM SECOND OWNER AND HAVE LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON CAR. I LOVE THE CAR AND WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING A SECOND ONE FOR WIFE TO DRIVE. WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN NOR RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE ELSE DO SO IF THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT THE CONSUMER! I WANT THIS FAULTY PART FIXED FREE OF CHARGE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10679546