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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

Seats complaints

15 reports
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117,000 miles · Jan 24, 2020
Seats

DRIVER SEAT LOOSE AND ROCKS FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING

NHTSA ODI #11301707

88,000 miles · Jul 3, 2018
Seats

NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WAS ROCKING FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN BREAKING AND ACCELERATING. READ ON REPAIR PAL THAT NISSAN MURANO'S WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. HTTPS://REPAIRPAL.COM/DAMAGED-SEAT-ADJUSTER-ASSEMBLY-MAY-CAUSE-NOISEROCKING-MOVEMENT-780. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS SEAT MAY COME LOOSE.

NHTSA ODI #11105304

61,000 miles · Dec 13, 2017
Seats

AIRBAG SENSOR BLINKING. SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. READ OTHERS COMPLAIN OF SAME. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL COST $1700 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE IT IS A RECURRING COMPLAINT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL ITEM.

NHTSA ODI #11054538

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2017
Air BagsSeats

PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS FAILED. TO REPLACE YOU MUST REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT BOTTOM WHICH IS OVER $1500. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #11035499

55,000 miles · Sep 15, 2014
Seats

I HAD THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2011, SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE SEAT BACK TILT FAILED, THEN SHORTLY THERE AFTER, THE SEAT FORWARD, BACK, UP, AND DOWN FAILED. A BIT LATER THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME IS AGAIN JUST AS BAD AS WHEN IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633387

4,440 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Seats

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 2009 NEW. APPROX 1 YEAR LATER THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO ROCK. NISSAN REPLACED THE DRIVERS TRACK WHICH THEY SAID WAS DEFECTIVE. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN TO ROCK AGAIN AND WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN, THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE SEAT CONTINUED TO ROCK AND INCREASINGLY GOT WORSE. JANUARY 2014 THE V…

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THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 2009 NEW. APPROX 1 YEAR LATER THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO ROCK. NISSAN REPLACED THE DRIVERS TRACK WHICH THEY SAID WAS DEFECTIVE. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN TO ROCK AGAIN AND WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN, THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE SEAT CONTINUED TO ROCK AND INCREASINGLY GOT WORSE. JANUARY 2014 THE VEHICLE IS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUSLY ROCKING BACK AND FOURTH WHEN YOU ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATES HE IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NISSAN REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS BECAUSE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FINDS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ATTEMPT TO GO THREW NISSAN TO OWN UP TO THEIR PROBLEM. I GET UP TO THE VP OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVE A PHONE CALL STATING THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT KEEP MY RECEIPT IN CASE THERE IS A RECALL AND I MAY GET MY MONEY BACK IF THERE'S A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563757

55,000 miles · Jan 29, 2014
Electrical SystemSeatsSteering

WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AFTER 5 YEARS. FEW MONTHS LATER, THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES AND WILL NOT TELESCOPE BACK AND FORTH UNLESS I MANUALLY PUSH OR PULL HARD. GOT QUOTED $850 FOR A REPAIR, BUT I REFUSED TO PAY THAT MUCH TO GET IT FIXED AS IT IS NOT MY FAULT. I SEE MANY 2009 NISSANS HAVING THIS PR…

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WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AFTER 5 YEARS. FEW MONTHS LATER, THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES AND WILL NOT TELESCOPE BACK AND FORTH UNLESS I MANUALLY PUSH OR PULL HARD. GOT QUOTED $850 FOR A REPAIR, BUT I REFUSED TO PAY THAT MUCH TO GET IT FIXED AS IT IS NOT MY FAULT. I SEE MANY 2009 NISSANS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT RECALL THIS! THIS MIGHT BE MY LAST NISSAN AS I ALREADY HAD 3 NISSAN BATTERIES, MY ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND MY DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME REPLACED! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MY CAR LOAN IS PAID OFF! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561956

1,000 miles · Apr 19, 2013
Seats

DRIVERS SEAT BASE OR TRACK IS LOOSE AND SEAT ROCKS UPON ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND TAKEN BACK TO TWO DEALERSHIPS WITH BOTH DECLINING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MOVEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508776

20,768 miles · Jan 4, 2013
SeatsSteering

I PARKED MY CAR, TO PICK UP SOMETHING FROM THE STORE, AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO START MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. I CHECKED ON FORUMS.MAXIMA.ORG AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED, BECAUSE I WAS STRANDED, AND NOW WAITING FOR THE DIAGNOSIS FOR THE ISSUE, FROM NISSAN …

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I PARKED MY CAR, TO PICK UP SOMETHING FROM THE STORE, AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO START MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. I CHECKED ON FORUMS.MAXIMA.ORG AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED, BECAUSE I WAS STRANDED, AND NOW WAITING FOR THE DIAGNOSIS FOR THE ISSUE, FROM NISSAN REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490989

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

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.