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2009 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Maxima years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

272 reports with mileage · 67 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 168 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 →
  • Air Bags. Review the 43 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 reports5 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

43 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2010
Air BagsSeats

WE OWN A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TURNS OF THE AIRBAG. MY WIFE IS 5'5" AND 125LBS, WELL WITHIN NORMAL ADULT SIZE. UPON DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC 4 TIMES …

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WE OWN A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TURNS OF THE AIRBAG. MY WIFE IS 5'5" AND 125LBS, WELL WITHIN NORMAL ADULT SIZE. UPON DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC 4 TIMES OVER THE LAST 11 MONTHS WITH EVERY TIME OTHER THAN THE INITIAL VISIT LASTING ALMOST A WEEK EACH TIME. THE LAST TIME WE TOOK IT IN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF OUR VEHICLE BEING IN THERE SHOP EVER. UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE FINAL TRIP TO THE SHOP WE DISCUSSED THE ISSUES AT LENGTH WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND WE REPLICATED THE ISSUE IN BOTH THE 2010 AND 2011 MODEL MAXIMA'S. WE HAVE SINCE CALLED NISSAN LOOKING TO HAVE OUR CAR PURCHASED BACK OR HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED SO THAT THE AIRBAG WILL WORK WITH HER IN THE CAR. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT NISSAN'S AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL FACTORS AND MAKE A DECISION AT THAT TIME. AS OF AUGUST 20TH 2010 WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR CAR AND THAT THE AIRBAG IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. LET IT BE NOTED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM DOCUMENTED ACROSS THE WEB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350825

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2010
Air Bags

PURCHASE CAR IN 4/2009, TOOK CAR INTO DEALER FOR AIR BAG LIGHT ON 12/30/09 AGAIN 1/18/10, 6/7/2010, AND 7/8/10 FOR AIR THE BAG LIGHT THAT COMES ON WHEN MY 150LB DAUGHTER SIT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, AND THE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON TELLING ME THE AIRBAG IS OFF. SHE IS 26 YEARS OLD, AND SHE HAS TO SIT IN THE BACK. I HAD TO TAKE I…

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PURCHASE CAR IN 4/2009, TOOK CAR INTO DEALER FOR AIR BAG LIGHT ON 12/30/09 AGAIN 1/18/10, 6/7/2010, AND 7/8/10 FOR AIR THE BAG LIGHT THAT COMES ON WHEN MY 150LB DAUGHTER SIT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, AND THE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON TELLING ME THE AIRBAG IS OFF. SHE IS 26 YEARS OLD, AND SHE HAS TO SIT IN THE BACK. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. TWO TIMES WAS TO SHOW THEM WITH THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON SIGNALING THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THE MANAGER HAD MY GRAND'S GET IN AND OUT. YEAR AND MONTHS. THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THE 2008 ALTIMA, WHY CAN I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT'S A RECALL AND THEY DON'T WANT ACKNOWLEDGED IT NOW. I WENT ONLINE LOOKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING. THE NISSAN FORUM SAID THEY TOLD HIM THE SAME THING, AND THIS PERSON COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS WIFE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE SAME THING WITH THERE 2009 NISSAN. THIS IS MY 4TH NISSAN, MY SECOND FROM THE SAME DEALER. THEY TOOK MY CAR AND GAVE ME A FREE RENTAL, MY DAUGHTER GOT IN AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN IN THE 2010 AS SOON AS SHE SAT IN. I HAD HER GET OUT, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FIX THE SEAT BELT. THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT FIXING IT. IT IS MY DAUGHTER. I SAID FOR 1 YEAR IN A HALF SHE DIDN'T SIT RIGHT IN THAT SEAT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER 2 TIMES FOR THEM TO WITNESS MY DAUGHTER IN THE SEAT. ONE TIME WAS THE SERVICE MANAGER; HE SAW THE LIGHT ON WITH HER IN THE SEAT. I CALL THE HEADQUARTER TO FILE A COMPLAINT, THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT IT IS MY DAUGHTER. THIS LIGHT CAME ON FOR MY HUSBAND, ME, BUT MORE SO MY DAUGHTER WHO WEIGHTS 156 LBS 5'6'. I GUESS ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE NOT CALLED, THEY ARE ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342895

150 miles · Feb 5, 2009
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT WORK WHENEVER A PASSENGER UTILIZED THE BACK REST. THE DEALER STATED T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT WORK WHENEVER A PASSENGER UTILIZED THE BACK REST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WORK WITH A BACK REST AND THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 750 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150. UPDATED 03/12/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/13/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10257581

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.