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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

Steering complaints

168 reports
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52,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

TILT AND TELESCOPIC MOTORS BOTH FAILED LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL IN AN AWKWARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION FOR DRIVING. MOTORS CONTINUE TO TRY AND RUN THUS DEPLETING THE BATTERY OF ENERGY WHILE THE CAR'S ENGINE IS OFF. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617463

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2014
SteeringSuspension

THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE THE STRUTS I PURCHASED THE CARE FROM ALANTIC NISSAN SEPTEMBER 2009. I TOOK THE CARE TO GET CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ORIGANAL STRUTS WERE ON THE CARE YET ALANTIC NISSAN SAID THAT THEY PROFORMED THE RECALL DECEMBER 2009. MY SPOUSE AND I DID NOT TAKE THE CARE TO GET THIS DONE BECAUSE WE WE…

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THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE THE STRUTS I PURCHASED THE CARE FROM ALANTIC NISSAN SEPTEMBER 2009. I TOOK THE CARE TO GET CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ORIGANAL STRUTS WERE ON THE CARE YET ALANTIC NISSAN SAID THAT THEY PROFORMED THE RECALL DECEMBER 2009. MY SPOUSE AND I DID NOT TAKE THE CARE TO GET THIS DONE BECAUSE WE WERE NOT AWARE NEVER TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. THE CAMPAIGN #09V358000. I ONLY FOUND THIS OUT BECAUSE AT SERVICE IN NISSAN 112 I WAS TOLD. I WAS TOLD THE NISSAN IS NOT REQUIRED TO TELL CONSMERS ABOUT RECALL NHTSA IS REQUIRDED TO DO SO. IF SO WAS I NOT INFORMED THAT THE TRANMISSON COVERAGE WAS CHANGED TO 120,000 THE STEERING WAS RECALLED AND MOTORS IN THE SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614466

57,285 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Steering

MOTOR IN STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO JERK AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN EVER THE STEERING COLUMN MOVED OR WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED. NISSAN HAD A SERVICE AND TECHNICAL BULLETIN (NTB09-094) ON THIS ITEM DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 2009. SO THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS. I EVE…

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MOTOR IN STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO JERK AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN EVER THE STEERING COLUMN MOVED OR WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED. NISSAN HAD A SERVICE AND TECHNICAL BULLETIN (NTB09-094) ON THIS ITEM DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 2009. SO THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS. I EVEN HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IN MY WARRANTY IT STATES IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY NISSAN AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599221

49,000 miles · Mar 29, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I STOPPED AT A STORE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO LEAVE, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ANTI THEFT AND THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL WAS BLINKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK SO I COULD PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START THE CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS F…

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I STOPPED AT A STORE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO LEAVE, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ANTI THEFT AND THE YELLOW KEY SYMBOL WAS BLINKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK SO I COULD PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START THE CAR. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I AM A FEMALE AND I WAS ALONG. THIS COULD BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I THINK THE 2009 MAXIMA SHOULD BE A PART OF A RECALL THAT IS FOR THE 2009 ALTIMA AS WELL. THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575568

37,000 miles · Feb 7, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I RETURNED TO MY PARKED CAR AFTER COMMUTING ON THE TRAIN HOME FROM WORK AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A BITTER COLD EVENING AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 DEGREES. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE KEY ICON SHOWED UP ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND PUSH BUTTON IG…

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I RETURNED TO MY PARKED CAR AFTER COMMUTING ON THE TRAIN HOME FROM WORK AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A BITTER COLD EVENING AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 DEGREES. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR, THE KEY ICON SHOWED UP ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WAS LOCKED AND PUSH BUTTON IGNITION DID NOT START THE CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND DID NOT "GIVE" WHEN DEPRESSED. ALSO, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT WHEN MY HUSBAND ARRIVED TO SEE IF HE COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT IS A NISSAN PROBLEM AND THE PART IS ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE WELL-KNOWN AND ONGOING ISSUES. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO MY NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT IT AND REPAIR IT. THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO SEARCH FOR ANY RECALLS OR WARRANTY WHEN ENTERING THE VIN NUMBER. I'VE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON ISSUE. EVEN THE TOWING COMPANY DRIVER SAID HE TOWS ABOUT 3-5 NISSANS A WEEK WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND IT'S VERY COMMON, AS IT HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME. I'M HOPING THEY HAVE THIS PART ON RECALL OR HAVE IT LISTED ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIR. MY 2009 MAXIMA HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563401

59,500 miles · Feb 5, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER OR START AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. A SMALL YELLOW KEY APPEARS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT INSTRUMENT DIAL. THE INTELLIGENT KEY DOES NOT ENGAGE. WEB RESEARCH INDICATES PROBABLE STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALER TODAY FEB. 5 WHO CONFIRMED THAT STEERING LOCK HA…

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THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER OR START AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. A SMALL YELLOW KEY APPEARS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT INSTRUMENT DIAL. THE INTELLIGENT KEY DOES NOT ENGAGE. WEB RESEARCH INDICATES PROBABLE STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALER TODAY FEB. 5 WHO CONFIRMED THAT STEERING LOCK HAS FAILED. THE DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL TELLS ME THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ON BACK ORDER, NONE OF THE OTHER DEALERS IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA HAVE ONE. TECHNICALLY IT MAY NOT BE A SAFETY PROBLEM REQUIRING A RECALL BUT IF YOU HAD THIS PROBLEM ON THE SHOULDER OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY OR SITTING ON THE TRACKS AT A RAILROAD CROSSING IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. NOW WE WILL NEED SOME EXPERIENCE IN ORDER TO TRUST THE CAR TO OPERATE CORRECTLY IN A SAFE MANNER. I AM GLAD WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR THAT IS WORKING CORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563171

36,000 miles · Jan 29, 2014
Steering

MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA WILL NOT START. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE LEFT COMES ON BRIEFLY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO A HIGH FAILURE RATE.. THE DEALER, REPAIR SHOP AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALL NOTED THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY. THIS WAS ALSO C…

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MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA WILL NOT START. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE LEFT COMES ON BRIEFLY. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE. PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO A HIGH FAILURE RATE.. THE DEALER, REPAIR SHOP AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALL NOTED THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY. THIS WAS ALSO CONFIRMED BY SOME INTERNET RESEARCH. I THINK A NATIONWIDE RECALL IS IN ORDER. DRIVERS ARE BEING STRANDED WITH NO WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562117

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

66,100 miles · Jan 17, 2014
Steering

STEERING WHEEL MOTOR STARTED GRINDING AND LOCKED IN THE LOWEST POSITION DIFFICULT TO STEER IN THAT POSITION UNTIL FIXED CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CAMPAIGN, EXTENDED WARRANTY, OR PROBLEM THEY KNOW OF. THEY ADMITTED TO EXTENDED WARRANTY ON PUSH BUTTON IGNITION REPLACED MOTOR AT A COST OF $420 NISSAN IS I…

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STEERING WHEEL MOTOR STARTED GRINDING AND LOCKED IN THE LOWEST POSITION DIFFICULT TO STEER IN THAT POSITION UNTIL FIXED CALLED NISSAN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CAMPAIGN, EXTENDED WARRANTY, OR PROBLEM THEY KNOW OF. THEY ADMITTED TO EXTENDED WARRANTY ON PUSH BUTTON IGNITION REPLACED MOTOR AT A COST OF $420 NISSAN IS IGNORING THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET FORUMS, PROBLEM OCCURRING IN 2009 MAXIMAS AND MURANOS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY REPLACE 2-3 A WEEK. IF IT IS TRUE, AT EVERY DEALERSHIP IT IS ABOUT 40 % OF ALL MAXIMAS SOLD IN 09 HAVE THE BAD MOTOR WHICH COSTS $189. NISSAN NEEDS TO COVER THE COST FOR THIS DEFECTIVE MOTOR !!!!!! THE START BUTTON AND STEERING COLUMN ARE RELATED PARTS !!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560419

65,000 miles · Jan 16, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA WILL NOT START. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE LEFT COMES ON BRIEFLY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE AND THAT IT WILL COST OVER $900 TO REPAIR, NOT TO MENTION OVER $100 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC EXAM. I DON'T FEEL CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT THE…

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MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA WILL NOT START. THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE LEFT COMES ON BRIEFLY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE AND THAT IT WILL COST OVER $900 TO REPAIR, NOT TO MENTION OVER $100 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC EXAM. I DON'T FEEL CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE NOT CAUSED. IT'S APPARENT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE. I FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD PAY THIS COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560205

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.