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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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77,206 miles · Jan 26, 2015
Steering

MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START IT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK INDICATOR LIGHT ON. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO ME SINCE I HAD NO OTHER OPTION BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NEEDED TO MANUALLY PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN A CONVENIENT LOCAT…

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MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DISABLED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START IT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK INDICATOR LIGHT ON. HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO ME SINCE I HAD NO OTHER OPTION BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NEEDED TO MANUALLY PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN A CONVENIENT LOCATION TO GET IT ON THE TRUCK. NOT SURE WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE IF I HAD PARALLEL PARKED IT AT WORK SINCE CLEARLY THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY TURN IT ON AND MOVE IT. SINCE MY CAR IS A 2010, NISSAN CUSTOMER CLAIMS REP. REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING SINCE IT WASN'T A 2009 MODEL WHICH HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT PART. APPARENTLY THEY USED A "DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER" EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS BUILT IN THE YEAR 2009. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A FAULT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS PART SINCE NOT ONLY ONE MANUFACTURER BUT TWO ARE CAUSING THIS ISSUE IN 2009 AND 2010 MODELS. APPARENTLY THEY DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE DESPITE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE CLOSET DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH CHARGED ME $967.50 TO GET IT FIXED WITH THE HOPES THAT NISSAN WOULD OWN UP TO THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I COULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO WOULD HAVE DONE IT CHEAPER, HOWEVER THIS IS CLEARLY NOT SOMETHING I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING. I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS THAT NISSAN HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SINCE THEY CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND HAVE REIMBURSED THE 2009 MODEL YEAR OWNERS. I WILL NOT BE RECOMMENDING ANYONE BUY THEIR CARS UNTIL THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. EVERY TIME I GET IN MY CAR, I WILL BE BITTER ABOUT DRIVING IT AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. IN FACT I HAD ALMOST TALKED A FRIEND TO SWAPPING THEIR 98' MAXIMA TO A NEWER ONE BY TALKING ABOUT ALL THE GREAT FEATURES SUCH AS HEATED STEERING WHEEL, NAVIGATION, BACK UP CAMERA ETC. NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678880

55,000 miles · Jan 10, 2015
Steering

I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE KEY FOB WORKED AND LIGHTS INSIDE CAR WOULD TURN ON. WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKE AND START BUTTON, NOTHING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THE EXACT SAME PART ON 2009 MODELS HAD A RE…

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I WENT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE KEY FOB WORKED AND LIGHTS INSIDE CAR WOULD TURN ON. WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKE AND START BUTTON, NOTHING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THE EXACT SAME PART ON 2009 MODELS HAD A RECALL, BUT NOT 2010 MODELS. IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THE UNITS THEMSELVES ARE FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS DEFECTIVE SINCE I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671607

70,000 miles · Jan 6, 2015
Electrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobilitySteering

ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK - (ESCL) FAILED. CAR WILL NOT START. KEY FOB IS OPERATIONAL. KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2009-2010 NISSANS. UNITS ARE DEFECTIVE, NISSAN NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR 2010 PARTS. FAILURE WILL HAPPEN INSTANTLY, AND WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED ANYTIME ANYPLACE. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FO…

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ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK - (ESCL) FAILED. CAR WILL NOT START. KEY FOB IS OPERATIONAL. KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2009-2010 NISSANS. UNITS ARE DEFECTIVE, NISSAN NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR 2010 PARTS. FAILURE WILL HAPPEN INSTANTLY, AND WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED ANYTIME ANYPLACE. VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. REPAIR COST IS >$1,000.00

NHTSA ODI #10670493

72,000 miles · Jan 5, 2015
Electrical SystemEquipment Adaptive/mobilitySteering

I TRIED TO START MY CAR THIS MORNING BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS YELLOW LIGHT THAT SAID KEY AND WHEN I TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE 2009 MAXIMAS FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE THAT I HAVE - ITS DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. NO EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS GIVEN FOR …

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I TRIED TO START MY CAR THIS MORNING BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS YELLOW LIGHT THAT SAID KEY AND WHEN I TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE 2009 MAXIMAS FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE THAT I HAVE - ITS DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. NO EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS GIVEN FOR THE 2010'S WHICH IS WRONG BECAUSE CLEARLY THERE STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS NOT FIXED FOR THE 2010 MODELS BUT NISSAN STATED THAT IS WAS INFACT FIXED AND NO WARRANTY/DISCOUNT/ETC WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE 2010S. I WILL HAVE TO PAY OVER $1000 FOR FAULTY DESIGN DUE TO NISSAN. NEVER BUYING ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670139

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

I WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T COME ON BUT HAD A YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE DASH. KEY FOB WOULD WORK TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKE WOULDN'T DEPRESS ,AND COULD NOT SHIFT. LOOKED FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK. WARRANTY ONLY COVERS 2009 NISS…

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I WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T COME ON BUT HAD A YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE DASH. KEY FOB WOULD WORK TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR, BUT THE BRAKE WOULDN'T DEPRESS ,AND COULD NOT SHIFT. LOOKED FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK. WARRANTY ONLY COVERS 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10669950

132,796 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Steering

THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY IN MANY 2009 AND 2010 MAXIMAS, AS WELL AS OTHER NISSANS. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 6 YEARS/ UNLIMITED MILES WAS ISSUED FOR 2009 MAXIMAS ONLY, EVEN THOUGH NISSAN KNOWS THAT THE SAME ISSUE AFFECTS 2010 MAXIMAS. NISSAN HAS WORKED WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSED THEM FOR THE FAULTY PART THEY…

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THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY IN MANY 2009 AND 2010 MAXIMAS, AS WELL AS OTHER NISSANS. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 6 YEARS/ UNLIMITED MILES WAS ISSUED FOR 2009 MAXIMAS ONLY, EVEN THOUGH NISSAN KNOWS THAT THE SAME ISSUE AFFECTS 2010 MAXIMAS. NISSAN HAS WORKED WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSED THEM FOR THE FAULTY PART THEY INSTALLED, BUT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN HELPING ME BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR. HOWEVER, IF THE SAME WARRANTY WAS ISSUED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED SINCE I STILL FALL IN THE 6 YEAR TIMEFRAME. NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY PARTS, OR AT LEAST EXTEND THE SAME COVERAGE TO OTHER NISSANS SINCE THEY KNOW THEY INSTALLED A FAULTY PART. I PAID $869.17 FOR THE PART, $83.00 TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE CAR WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY PART, AND $35.00 FOR A RENTAL FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO FIX. NISSAN SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE THE PART INSTALLED IS FAULTY AND IT IS KNOWN BY NISSAN THAT IT IS FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668767

59,500 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE START BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED AND THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE START BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED AND THE KEY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500. UPDATED 01/2021/15 *BF UPDATED 01/26/15*JB

NHTSA ODI #10667763

71,000 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Steering

I WENT TO PICK MY CHILD UP FROM WORK AT 1130 PM CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULDN'T START. IT REPEAT SAID LOCK.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667661

97,000 miles · Dec 18, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I OWN A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA ON NOVEMBER 21, 2014 AFTER LEAVING WORK. I NOTICE A YELLOW INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD. INITIALLY I THOUGHT MY KEY FOB HAD A WEAK BATTERY, SO I CALLED MY BROTHER TO PICK UP MY EXTRA VALET KEY. HOWEVER THAT DID NOT WORK, I WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSE FOR A…

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I OWN A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA ON NOVEMBER 21, 2014 AFTER LEAVING WORK. I NOTICE A YELLOW INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD. INITIALLY I THOUGHT MY KEY FOB HAD A WEAK BATTERY, SO I CALLED MY BROTHER TO PICK UP MY EXTRA VALET KEY. HOWEVER THAT DID NOT WORK, I WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSE FOR A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL), AS A RESULT OF CONSISTENTLY TRYING TO START THE CAR MY BATTERY FAILED TOO. CONSEQUENTLY, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE ESCL PART AND A NEW BATTERY, I WAS OUT OF POCKET $1286.00 DUE TO THE WARRANTY DO NOT COVER THE ESCL PART IN 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA?S. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS DENIED A REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO BEING OUT OF THE WARRANTY PROTECTION 36 MONTHS/36,000 MILES. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SEVERAL CONSUMERS. I WILL BE DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT THIS MATTER IS MORE THAN JUST IDENTIFY BY NISSAN BUT THAT A REIMBURSEMENT PLUS EXTENDED WARRANTY IS AWARDED TO ALL 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA?S OWNERS THAT CAN PROVIDE PROOF OF THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667125

137,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014
Steering

I HAVE A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. AS I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK LAST WEEK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS A RED KEY LIGHT ON IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH. I CALLED A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY KEY BATTERY WAS MORE THAN LIKELY JUST DEAD. AFTER I REPLACED THE BATTERY…

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I HAVE A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. AS I WAS TRYING TO LEAVE WORK LAST WEEK, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS A RED KEY LIGHT ON IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH. I CALLED A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY KEY BATTERY WAS MORE THAN LIKELY JUST DEAD. AFTER I REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY KEY MAY NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND I WOULD HAVE TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER BEING AT THE DEALER FOR AN HOUR I WAS INFORMED THAT THE KEY WAS FINE, AND THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. THE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST $925.82. I WAS SHOCKED THAT A $5 ISSUE HAD JUMPED TO ALMOST $1000. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, AND WAS ABLE TO FIND A STATEMENT BY NISSAN NORTH AMERICA (WBI/13-009) THAT ADMITTED THE PART IN QUESTION HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE. NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE 2009 MODELS TO 6 YEARS/ UNLIMITED MILES, BUT WHY WOULD THEY NOT DO THE SAME FOR ALL MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE? THE CONSULTANT ADVISED ME TO CALL 1-800-NISSAN1 TO REQUEST COMPENSATION FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE 3 YEAR/ 36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND DID NOT QUALIFY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE SAME PART THAT MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF THEY DECIDED TO DO ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE I WOULD BE CONTACTED LATER. I FIND THIS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE. I DO NOT THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FAIL REPEATEDLY. I HAVE COME ACROSS NUMEROUS FORUMS, WEBSITES, AND VIDEOS THAT DISCUSS THIS SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTIONS TO HELP LOYAL CUSTOMERS RESOLVE THIS RECURRING MALFUNCTION THAT HAS LEFT MANY STRANDED ONSIDE OF THE ROAD. I HOPE THAT I WILL SOON BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS UNEXPECTED AND OUTRAGEOUS EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664854

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.