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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

339Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2009 Nissan Maxima

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 339 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Steering: 168 reports
Electrical System: 79 reports
Air Bags: 43 reports
Suspension: 36 reports
Unknown Or Other: 33 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

09V358000 — Suspension

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Maxima years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering

168Electrical System

79 Air Bags

43 Suspension

36 Unknown Or Other

All reported categories

6 Engine And Engine Cooling

4 Service Brakes

4 Tires

4 Visibility

4 Vehicle Speed Control

3 Electronic Stability Control (esc)

2 Fuel/propulsion System

2 Latches/locks/linkages

2 Service Brakes, Electric

2 Equipment

1 Exterior Lighting

1 Interior Lighting

1 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

2 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2022

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

Read full complaint

Not sure what is goiNg I have spent so Much money replaciNg parts on this car. And it is still not fixed. It’s one thing after Another . I cannot fight out why the engine light is on its like the whole care is malfunctioning. And no one knows what it is. And heavy smoke From tail pipe. While driving it feels Like It Wants to StAll like the gas gets stuck . I was told To buy a control module but it didn’t need that . And I can’t Afford To Keep trying to Fix it. It’s my only Car and I’m A non working single Mom trying my Best to fix it. But this car is Causing So Much depression I don’t know what else to do. Because it’s costing too much and times is already hard.

NHTSA ODI #11451074

5 miles · Aug 3, 2017

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING, REVERTS BACK TO IDLE RPM AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT PROPEL THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED AFTER BEING REPAIRED BY NISSAN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11012538

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.