← New search

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
60,000 miles · Aug 21, 2014
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ESCL STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ESCL STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10627076

44,000 miles · May 12, 2014
Power Train

CVT NISSAN 2010 MAXIMA PROBLEMS & ISSUES ----THESE ARE RECORDED PROBLEMS WITH NISSAN'S NEW CVT TRANSMISSION ON NISSAN MAXIMA 2010. THE CVT EXHIBITS LOST OF POWER, HIGH RPM, LOUD WHINING NOISE, AND CVT GETS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR (WON'T DOWN SHIFT) IN MANUAL AND DRIVE MODE. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND GIVES A P1778 …

Read full complaint

CVT NISSAN 2010 MAXIMA PROBLEMS & ISSUES ----THESE ARE RECORDED PROBLEMS WITH NISSAN'S NEW CVT TRANSMISSION ON NISSAN MAXIMA 2010. THE CVT EXHIBITS LOST OF POWER, HIGH RPM, LOUD WHINING NOISE, AND CVT GETS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR (WON'T DOWN SHIFT) IN MANUAL AND DRIVE MODE. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND GIVES A P1778 CODE (OTHER CODES AS WELL). . THIS CVT TRANSMISSION SUCKS. I TOOK IT TO FOUR DEALERSHIPS. I WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. THE CAR WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED WITH "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON". THE ERROR CODE 1778 &. FOUR OTHER CODES WERE PULLED IN TOTAL. THE OVERALL DIAGNOSIS IS "COMPLETE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE"I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE CODE OCCURRED AT 44K, 65K, 85K MILES, AND 94K MILES, AND EACH TIME IT WAS UNDIAGNOSABLE SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THIS DIAGNOSED WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT 124,000 MILES. AT NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS I SPOKE WITH MEGAN, JUANITA AND THEN CALLIA FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH (SO SHE SAYS - SHE WAS A TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVE). ALL OF THESE NISSAN REPS HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF NISSAN ENGINES OR CVT'S. CONSUMER AFFAIRS REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS, EVEN DESPITE THE TSB'S, WARRANTY EXTENSION, NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, AND MY NUMEROUS CALLS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. ALL IN ALL THEY DID NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE CVT. THESE NISSAN DEALERS, NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, AND NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ARE CROOKS --- I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE TO NOT BUY NISSAN CARS. IF YOU DO HAVE TO BUY A NISSAN BEWARE THAT THEY WILL TRY TO RIP YOU OFF AT EVERY DIAGNOSIS AND DECISION POINT ON THEIR PART. I AM VERY SORRY TO SAY. I USED TO THINK NISSAN WAS A GOOD COMPANY. HTTP://YOUTU.BE/PD9ZDCU9EYM HTTP://YOUTU.BE/8V9LHH8KROS HTTP://YOUTU.BE/BTKFBFWJLSG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587829

62,285 miles · Mar 31, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,285. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10575902

40,123 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

ON DECEMBER 27, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH. IN THE MIDST OF PASSING A VEHICLE, THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW ME TO GET IN FRONT OF IT BECAUSE BY NOW AN ONCOMING CAR WAS APPROACHING. I PULLED OVER. I TALKED TO MY TRUSTED CAR REPAIR PERSONS AND ONE MECHANIC. IT WAS THOUGHT…

Read full complaint

ON DECEMBER 27, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH. IN THE MIDST OF PASSING A VEHICLE, THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW ME TO GET IN FRONT OF IT BECAUSE BY NOW AN ONCOMING CAR WAS APPROACHING. I PULLED OVER. I TALKED TO MY TRUSTED CAR REPAIR PERSONS AND ONE MECHANIC. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE BAD GAS. AFTER PUTTING A GAS TREATMENT IN THE CAR, IT RAN TWO MONTHS JUST FINE. WELL, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS BEGINNING ON MARCH 8, 2014, MY DAUGHTER WAS TAKING MY VEHICLE TO GET AN OIL CHANGE TO NISSAN IN BOSSIER, LA (CLOSEST DEALERSHIP TO MY SMALL HOMETOWN). SHE DROVE ABOUT 13 MILES AND IN THE MIDST OF PASSING A VEHICLE THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AGAIN. SHE PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL BUT TO NO AVAIL. ONLY THIS TIME, NOT ONLY DID IT DECELERATE BUT IT QUIT ALTOGETHER. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO CLEAR THE HIGHWAY COMPLETELY, IT HAD TO BE PUSHED. THE CAR WOULD CRANK BUT GO DEAD IMMEDIATELY. AFTER 5 TRIES, IT WOULD NOT START. AGAIN, I ADDED A GAS TREATMENT AND AFTER 5 TO 10 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED. I TOOK IT TO NISSAN TO GET AN OIL CHANGE. ON THE WAY HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO BOSSIER TO NISSAN. I GOT MY TIRES ROTATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INVESTIGATED. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WHEN THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND TO BRING IT BACK IF THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. WELL ON FRIDAY, I TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NISSAN TECHNICIANS CHECK THE CAR AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WELL, ON SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2014, I WAS ON MY CAR HOME. WHEN ENTERING ONTO I-220, THE CAR DROVE FINE FOR A FEW MILES THEN IT BEGAN TO LOSE ACCELERATION. AT THIS VERY MOMENT MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT MY LIFE OR ANYONE ELSE''S LIFE ALTERED OR LOST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572961

62,000 miles · Mar 12, 2014
Steering

MY STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT WITH THE CAR HAVING 62,000 MILES THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2009 BUT NOT THE 2010. TO FIX THIS ISSUE IT WAS 900.00 AND NISSAN REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE AND ITS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THE CAR JUST STOPPED WORKING OUT OF NO WHERE AND WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568852

42,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BECAME FAULTY AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE SAME PART NUMBER OF STEERING WHEEL LOCK WAS PUT INTO THE NISSAN MAXIMA, NISSAN GT-R, AND NISSAN 370Z. THE PART WAS RECALLED IN THE GT-R, HOWEVER IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED IN THE MAXIMA OR 370Z. THE TOTAL WORK FOR THE REPAIR IS $1300. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE…

Read full complaint

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BECAME FAULTY AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE SAME PART NUMBER OF STEERING WHEEL LOCK WAS PUT INTO THE NISSAN MAXIMA, NISSAN GT-R, AND NISSAN 370Z. THE PART WAS RECALLED IN THE GT-R, HOWEVER IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED IN THE MAXIMA OR 370Z. THE TOTAL WORK FOR THE REPAIR IS $1300. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF THE REPAIR DUE TO A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL LOCK. NISSAN RECENTLY CAME OUT WITH A REVISION TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BECAUSE THE PART WAS FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568118

59,950 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Unknown Or Other

WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WONT EVEN TURN ON, THE KEY FOB BATTER WAS REPLACED AND SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ORANGE KEY LIGHT TURNED ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK, APPARENTLY IT IS…

Read full complaint

WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WONT EVEN TURN ON, THE KEY FOB BATTER WAS REPLACED AND SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ORANGE KEY LIGHT TURNED ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK, APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10567301

39,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILURE. UNABLE TO START VEHICLE, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 2010 MODEL YEAR, SAME PART FAILED IN 2009 MODEL YEAR, WARRANTY EXTENDED FOR 2009 ONLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566985

112,000 miles · Mar 3, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BROKE NOT ALLOWING CAR TO START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566910

102,000 miles · Mar 3, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ACTIVATION OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER FOLLOWING ALL TROUBLE SHOOTING ADVICE IN THE CAR'S MANUAL, I TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY FLAGGED AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART# 487009N00B) AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ALL PART OF THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. THE …

Read full complaint

THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ACTIVATION OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER FOLLOWING ALL TROUBLE SHOOTING ADVICE IN THE CAR'S MANUAL, I TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY FLAGGED AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART# 487009N00B) AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ALL PART OF THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT WAS $703.43. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. 1. THIS WAS A FULLY FUNCTIONING CAR (EXCEPT FOR ANTI-THEFT CIRCUIT GLITCH) THAT LEFT MY PREGNANT WIFE STRANDED IN FREEZING TEMPS IN AN EMPTY SCHOOL PARKING LOT LATE IN THE EVENING. 2. NISSAN PROMOTES HOW SAFE, RELIABLE AND ECONOMICAL THEIR CARS ARE, BUT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM CAN DISABLE THE VEHICLE LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED WITH ONLY ONE OPTION, WHICH IS, TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER BECAUSE OF ANT-THEFT SYSTEM GLITCHES. 3. THE CAR, BEING ECONOMICAL, SHOULD NOT REQUIRE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR BECAUSE OF AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. 4. THERE ARE SEVERAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN OCCUR THAT WILL RESULT IN THE NISSAN MAXIMA BECOMING IMMOBILIZED STRANDING DRIVERS. I AM STATING ONLY ONE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY TO FEMALE DRIVERS. 5. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD COME UP WITH AN OVERRIDE CODE OR DEVICE THAT WILL ALLOW A DRIVER TO ESCAPE FROM POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT WERE CREATED BY NISSAN'S VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY FUNCTIONAL EXCEPT FOR AN ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZING CIRCUIT FALSELY TELLING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT READY TO START WHEN IT IS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW IN THEIR VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566740

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.