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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

What owners actually said

275 reports
150,000 miles · Dec 9, 2015
Unknown Or Other

DROVE THE MAXIMA 2010 TO COUSINS HOUSE WAS THERE FOR APPROX 4 HOURS WENT OUT TO COME HOME TRIED TO START THE CAR NOTHING. CHANGED BATTERY'S IN KEY POD AND CHECKED FUSES ALL OK. IT IS SHOWING A KEY IN THE ODOMETER BLINKING AND ONE IN THE RPM GAUGE. READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED A STEERING LOCK MECH COULD BE FAULTY AND TO TAKE TO …

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DROVE THE MAXIMA 2010 TO COUSINS HOUSE WAS THERE FOR APPROX 4 HOURS WENT OUT TO COME HOME TRIED TO START THE CAR NOTHING. CHANGED BATTERY'S IN KEY POD AND CHECKED FUSES ALL OK. IT IS SHOWING A KEY IN THE ODOMETER BLINKING AND ONE IN THE RPM GAUGE. READ THE MANUAL AND IT STATED A STEERING LOCK MECH COULD BE FAULTY AND TO TAKE TO A NISSAN DEALER. I HAVE NOTICED THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NISSAN HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO RECALL THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY THANK GOD, AND I WAS ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME. BUT WHAT IF IT WAS IN A AREA THAT WE DRIVE TO ON OCCASION TO PAY BILLS THAT ARE NOT AS SAFE. SCARY THOUGHT.

NHTSA ODI #10809198

85,880 miles · Dec 1, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #10807883

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #10807352

54,053 miles · Nov 19, 2015
SteeringSuspensionWheels

IT IS SHAME!NISSAN NEED TO RECALL THEIR MAX 2010 TODAY IT IS COST ME 1073.40$ MY CAR 54,053 MILEAGE ,I WENT TO WORK WHIT MY CAR AND OFF TO DAY MY FRIEND PICK ME UP BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO TURN CAR ON LOCK STEERING LOCK MY CAR.NEXT DAY TOW TRUCK PICK UP THE CAR.PLUS YEARS A GO SUSPENSION AND WHEELS GIVE ME PROBLEMS TO.I AM NOT GOI…

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IT IS SHAME!NISSAN NEED TO RECALL THEIR MAX 2010 TODAY IT IS COST ME 1073.40$ MY CAR 54,053 MILEAGE ,I WENT TO WORK WHIT MY CAR AND OFF TO DAY MY FRIEND PICK ME UP BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO TURN CAR ON LOCK STEERING LOCK MY CAR.NEXT DAY TOW TRUCK PICK UP THE CAR.PLUS YEARS A GO SUSPENSION AND WHEELS GIVE ME PROBLEMS TO.I AM NOT GOING TO BUY A NISSAN AGING THEY'RE LOSING CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA ODI #10794967

63,000 miles · Nov 11, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #10789790

83,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

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!

NHTSA ODI #10782493

136,000 miles · Oct 6, 2015
Steering

TRIED TO START CAR KEY LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKES WERE HARD TO PRESS ANG IGNTION WOULD NOT START ONLY LOCK WOULD SHOWUP ON THE PUSH TO START BUTTON NOW CAR IS SITTING AND HAVE TO GET TOWED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO WORK AFTER STOPPING AT A SCHOOL.

NHTSA ODI #10780014

68,000 miles · Sep 30, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or Other

THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED ON MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. BASED ON SHORT RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. NISSAN SHOULD BE RECALLING THIS PART.

NHTSA ODI #10778857

70,000 miles · Sep 30, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUT INSULATOR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUT INSULATOR WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V358000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10778655

80,000 miles · Sep 16, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN A PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN A PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10764231

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.