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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

33 reports
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174,000 miles · Aug 23, 2019
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

INTI STEERING LOCK WOULDNT ALLOW ME TO TURN ENGINE OFF AFTER PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY THEN NOT STARTING AFTER I HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE TO STOP ENGINE WHICH I AM FINDING OUT TO BE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MODEL & OTHERS ALSO HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF RECALL ISSUE WITH BOTH FRONT STRUTS SAME YEAR & MODELS

NHTSA ODI #11245961

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE PLASTICS ON THE DASH ARE MELTING...

NHTSA ODI #11241109

105,256 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

THE CAR LOSES POWER AS I'M DRIVING, I REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP I'M AT AROUND $1100 IN WITH REPAIRS AND LABOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST I TURN CAR ON AND DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND ACCELERATION THEN EVENTUALLY DIES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ON ONE OCCASION, VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO SAY THE LEAS…

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THE CAR LOSES POWER AS I'M DRIVING, I REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP I'M AT AROUND $1100 IN WITH REPAIRS AND LABOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST I TURN CAR ON AND DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND ACCELERATION THEN EVENTUALLY DIES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ON ONE OCCASION, VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY CUZ IT'S ALSO NEW. THIS IS GETTING SCARY AND RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ODI #11232931

129,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY, NO VEHICLES AROUND ME,AND IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER AND MY MOON ROOF OVER THE DRIVER SEATS EXPLODED OUT. THE GLASS FLEW OFF MY CAR. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY MOON ROOF IN THE BACKSEAT EXPLODED OUT, CAUSING ALL THE…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY, NO VEHICLES AROUND ME,AND IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER AND MY MOON ROOF OVER THE DRIVER SEATS EXPLODED OUT. THE GLASS FLEW OFF MY CAR. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY MOON ROOF IN THE BACKSEAT EXPLODED OUT, CAUSING ALL THE GLASS TO FLY OFF THE CAR. NOW MY WHOLE TEMPERED GLASS IS SHATTERED. THANKFULLY AT THE TIME OF THE GLASS EXPLODING, I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE VEHICLE. BUT THE DAY MY REAR MOON ROOF EXPLODED I HAD TO PICK UP MY KIDS. I WAS ONLY DRIVING 20-25 MPH AND THE SHARDS OF GLASS KEPT DROPPING ON ME AND MY KIDS (FROM THE WIND BLOWING THE FABRIC) MY OLDEST DAUGHTER GOT GLASS STUCK IN HER AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11190188

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

MY CAR KEEPS LOSING POWER AFTER DRIVING IT FOR AWHILE. I HAD A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INSTALLED. IT CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER AND STARTS UP AFTER A FEW HOURS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ODI #11143485

12,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Unknown Or Other

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND NOTHING WILL FIX IT, AS IT IS SIMPLY A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY IT WAS MADE. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH A NISSAN MAXIMA OR A NISSAN ALTIMA HAVE MELTING DASHBOARDS. TEXAS HEAT, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER STA…

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MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND NOTHING WILL FIX IT, AS IT IS SIMPLY A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY IT WAS MADE. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH A NISSAN MAXIMA OR A NISSAN ALTIMA HAVE MELTING DASHBOARDS. TEXAS HEAT, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER STATES, IS DAMAGING OUR DASHBOARDS. NOT ONLY IS IT MELTING, BUT IT BREAKS AND CRACKS IF YOU TOUCH IT. IF A FINGERNAIL TOUCHES IT, IT CREATES AN INDENTION. I HAVE MANY SPOTS ON MY DASHBOARD WHERE PIECES HAVE FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF. NOT ONLY IS IT BREAKING, BUT IT IS ALSO VERY VERY STICKY. IT IS HARD TO CLEAN. THE WORST PART IS THAT IT CAUSES A GLARE AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SINCE IT IS SO STICKY, THE SUN REFLECTS AND CAUSES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #11113617

46,000 miles · Jan 31, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

2015 HYUNDAI GENESIS SEDAN. RADIO, NAVIGATION, XM, TCD/DVD WON'T PLAY. SCREEN COMES IN AND OUT CONSTANTLY. BATTERY DRAINS. ON MY 2ND BATTERY. BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO SERVICE. 50,000 MILES. HYUNDAI NOW INCLUDES WARRANTY FOR 2016 MODELS BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS???

NHTSA ODI #11066164

126,000 miles · Nov 27, 2017
SteeringUnknown Or Other

MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE ESCL (ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK) FAILING. NISSAN IS OFFERING TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS (NHTSA #10119190, NISSAN CAMPAIGN ID PC516). HOWEVER, NISSAN HAS STATED THAT MY VIN# IS NOT PART OF THE PROGRAM. NISSAN HAS ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE NHTSA SET THE PARAMETERS…

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MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE ESCL (ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK) FAILING. NISSAN IS OFFERING TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE FOR VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS (NHTSA #10119190, NISSAN CAMPAIGN ID PC516). HOWEVER, NISSAN HAS STATED THAT MY VIN# IS NOT PART OF THE PROGRAM. NISSAN HAS ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE NHTSA SET THE PARAMETERS FOR THE VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS TRUE THE NHTSA SET THE VIN# PARAMETERS FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND IF SO WHY MY CAR, WHICH HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES, IS NOT INCLUDED. IF IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE NHTSA SET THE PARAMETERS, WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL LIABILITIES NISSAN FACES IN BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON THE NHTSA. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. .IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING, AND HAS POTENTIAL TO STRAND DRIVERS IN POTENTIALLY HARMFUL SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11048773

100,105 miles · Oct 16, 2017
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD MELTING VERY STICKY AND SHINY, VERY HARD TO SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD WHEN SUN GLARES OFF DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ODI #11033928

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A CRACKED AND MELTING DASHBOARD. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT THE SUNLIGHT CAUSES AN EXTREME GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES VISIBILITY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ON SUNNY DAYS. A BIKER OR PEDESTRIAN COULD BE CROSSING THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME AND I WOULD NOT KNOW IT DUE TO ONLY SEEING THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIE…

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MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A CRACKED AND MELTING DASHBOARD. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT THE SUNLIGHT CAUSES AN EXTREME GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES VISIBILITY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ON SUNNY DAYS. A BIKER OR PEDESTRIAN COULD BE CROSSING THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME AND I WOULD NOT KNOW IT DUE TO ONLY SEEING THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT THIS AND THEY WERE NOTHING BUT RUDE THE ENTIRE TIME. THEY SAID THERE ARE NO KNOWN DEFECTS WITH IT AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE. I TOLD THEM THAT I CANNOT SEE AND IT IS AN EXTREMELY BIG ISSUE AND THEY DISAGREE. I EVEN OFFERED TO PAY TOWARDS THE COST OF A NEW DASHBOARD AND THEY SAID THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO AT THIS POINT AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS DUE TO THE BLINDING REFLECTION FROM THE DASH.

NHTSA ODI #10965958

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.