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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2014
Steering

ON NOVEMBER 11TH, AFTER WORK AT 3:10PM. I WENT TO MY CAR TO START IT. UNABLE TO START IT I CHANGED THE CAR BATTERY, CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE KEYLESS REMOTE, BUT THE CAR STILL WAS UNABLE TO START. I CALLED NISSAN KOPPEL AND THEY SENT A MECHANIC TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC, THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED, AND I …

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ON NOVEMBER 11TH, AFTER WORK AT 3:10PM. I WENT TO MY CAR TO START IT. UNABLE TO START IT I CHANGED THE CAR BATTERY, CHANGED THE BATTERY IN THE KEYLESS REMOTE, BUT THE CAR STILL WAS UNABLE TO START. I CALLED NISSAN KOPPEL AND THEY SENT A MECHANIC TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC, THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONED, AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW PART. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN I AM SUPPOSE TO BE UNDER THE WARRANTY DUE THE FACT THAT MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED ON 09/09. IT COST ME $928.46 TO RECTIFY MY PROBLEM. I CALLED NISSAN AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME DUE THE FACT THAT MY MODEL IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. 8 HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 05/12/14. IT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND UNFAIR!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654255

75,000 miles · Nov 10, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE PUSHED TO START BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN ONLINE BLOG TO PULL THE PLASTIC PANEL UNDER THE STEER…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE PUSHED TO START BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN ONLINE BLOG TO PULL THE PLASTIC PANEL UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN, AND TAP THE LOCK IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10654018

89,300 miles · Nov 10, 2014
Steering

I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE PUSH START INDICATED THAT IT WAS LOCKED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS QUOTING A PRICE OF $1186 OF WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE. THIS IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS AND I…

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I TRIED TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE PUSH START INDICATED THAT IT WAS LOCKED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS QUOTING A PRICE OF $1186 OF WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME TYPE VEHICLE. THIS IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS AND I AM VERY DISPLEASED TO SAY THE LEAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653966

48,000 miles · Nov 2, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

OUR 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULD NOT START. THIS PRESENTED AN UNSAFE SITUATION IN WHICH MY WIFE WAS VIRTUALLY STRANDED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT START THE CAR WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. WE ATTEMPTED TO USE TWO SEPARATE KEY FOBS FOR OUR CAR BUT NEITHER WORKED…

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OUR 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULD NOT START. THIS PRESENTED AN UNSAFE SITUATION IN WHICH MY WIFE WAS VIRTUALLY STRANDED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT START THE CAR WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. WE ATTEMPTED TO USE TWO SEPARATE KEY FOBS FOR OUR CAR BUT NEITHER WORKED. WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT HAD A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT START. THE PARTS NEEDED AND PART NUMBERS ARE SHOWN BELOW: ** STEERING LOCK (SOME REFERENCED PARTS SOURCES ONLINE ALSO REFER TO IT AS AN IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY) (1 EA) PART #: 48700-9N00B ** LOCK BOLT/SCREW (4 EA) PART # 48703-06F0A WE WERE QUOTED AN ASTRONOMICAL PRICE OF $1,650 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. IT JUST SEEMS OUTRAGEOUS AND UNBELIEVABLE! I READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ONLINE FOR OWNERS OF THIS SAME TYPE OF NISSAN VEHICLE. MANY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ARISE AT ROUGHLY THE SAME RECORDED MILEAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF ABSOLUTELY NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM CONSTITUTES AN INHERENT MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEERING AND IGNITION SYSTEM WHICH PRESENTS A HAZARD FOR OWNERS/OPERATORS, AN UNREALISTIC COST FOR AN ISSUE THAT ACTUALLY SHOULD NOT OCCUR, AND LEAVES OWNERS/OPERATORS STRANDED AND BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WON'T OPERATE AND TURN ON THE VEHICLE. I SEE IT AS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE EXAMINED CLOSELY FOR AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE ACTION WITH NISSAN TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651922

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

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.