IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SUNROOF GLASS ABRUPTLY FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SCRATCHES TO THE EYES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,916.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
4625–50K
6450–75K
5275–100K
54100–150K
21150K+
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
Visibility complaints
4 reportsI HAVE A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA S-MODEL AND I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I HAD MY SUNROOF TILTED. THE SUNROOF GLASS MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE GLASS SHATTERED ABOVE MY HEAD. I LOOKED FOR SIGNS OF AN OBJECT HITTING THE TOP OF MY CAR BUT NONE WERE PRESENT. THE GLASS SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR OUTWARDS. *TR
CAR WAS SITTING PARKED; HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WENT TO GET IN CAR AND REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DANGLING. REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD, CHUNK OF WINDSHIELD BROKEN WHERE MIRROR HAD BEEN ATTACHED. *TR
TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME UP POSITION WHEN DRIVERS DOOR WAS OPENED AT APPROX 2 YEARS/52,000 MILES. TILT STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE LOWERED UNTIL DISASSEMBLED BY THE DEALER. DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS SERIOUSLY OBSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. POTENTIAL AIR BAG EFFECTIVENESS WAS ALSO SERIOUSLY DEGRADED…
Read full complaint
TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME UP POSITION WHEN DRIVERS DOOR WAS OPENED AT APPROX 2 YEARS/52,000 MILES. TILT STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE LOWERED UNTIL DISASSEMBLED BY THE DEALER. DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS SERIOUSLY OBSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. POTENTIAL AIR BAG EFFECTIVENESS WAS ALSO SERIOUSLY DEGRADED. NISSAN IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT MOTORS (TILT OR TELESCOPE) IN SERVICE BULLETIN NTB09094. HOWEVER, NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THIS FIRST-TIME NISSAN OWNER FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT. THERE IS NO CERTAINTY OF WHETHER REPLACEMENT NISSAN STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT MOTORS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT AND WILL NOT FAIL SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLATION. THE TELESCOPE ADJUSTMENT MOTOR FAILED AT APPROX 1 YEAR/38,000 MILES. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR FOR BOTH ADJUSTMENT MOTORS WAS APPROXIMATELY $400+. I REQUEST NISSAN AND NHTSA ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR
Official recalls
109V358000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.