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
What owners actually said
339 reports
60,000 miles · Jul 29, 2016
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE "INDICATOR KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE "INDICATOR KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10891621
130,000 miles · Jul 18, 2016
Steering
STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONS STRANDING THE DRIVER IN POSSIBLY DANGEROUS LOCATIONS OR HOURS. HAD TO TOW TO DEALER AND PAY $1094 FOR REPAIRS
NHTSA ODI #10885524
110,000 miles · Jul 15, 2016
SteeringUnknown Or Other
STEERING WHEEL LOCK PROBLEM-I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS STRANDED LATE IN THE EVENING AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET HOME AND DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY CAR. MY CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START. THE EXPERIENCE WAS TRAUMATIZING.
NHTSA ODI #10885098
92,000 miles · Jul 12, 2016
Steering
THE ESCL MODULE WENT OUT ON MY MAXIMA. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING IN MANY, MANY MAXIMA FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 MAXIMAS'. IN FACT, MANY FORUMS DISCOURAGE BUYING THE 2009 AND SUGGEST EARLIER MODELS. CURRENTLY, MY AUTOMOBILE IS DISABLED AT THE MECHANIC'S SHOP WITH A REPAIR FEE OF $1070.
NHTSA ODI #10884324
65,357 miles · Jul 9, 2016
Steering
I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR (FROM AN AUDI DEALERSHIP) ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO (AS IS) AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS I'VE NOW RESEARCHED. THERE WAS THIS WEIRD GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY STOP BUT IT WAS DISTURBING. MY SISTER AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEARN OF…
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I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR (FROM AN AUDI DEALERSHIP) ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO (AS IS) AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS I'VE NOW RESEARCHED. THERE WAS THIS WEIRD GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY STOP BUT IT WAS DISTURBING. MY SISTER AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEARN OF THAT IT WAS THE TELESCOPIC STEERING COLUMN AND TWO MOTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ABOUT $900 TO FIX IT. AS A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO JUST SPENT THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THE CAR... I JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND JUST HOW SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS THE PROBLEM IS. THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WHEEL LOCKING IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME AND MY PASSENGERS... BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. I'M NOT SURE WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED BY NISSAN AS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH 09 MAXIMA OWNERS ACROSS THE BOARD. NISSAN EVAN ISSUED A MEMO, BUT NOTHING MORE? THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS OF A SITUATION TO IGNORE. THERE ARE LIVES AT RISK.
NHTSA ODI #10883789
70,000 miles · Jul 5, 2016
Unknown Or Other
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS A DANGEROUS GLARE FROM IT ON MY WINDOW WHEN I DRIVE. NOT ONLY IS IT STICKY AND IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN BUT THE GLARE MAKES IT HARD TO SEE THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #10882741
98,000 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Steering
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, SHIFT WONT WORK, BRAKES WONT ENGAGE...NEVER NOTIFIED REGARDING NISSAN ALERT WHICH IS POSTED ON THEIR SITE...HOW DOI GET MY CAR FIXED...CARWONT START AND CANT GET TOWED OUT OF GARAGE
NHTSA ODI #10876908
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
INABILITY TO CLEARLY SEE ROAD IN CERTAIN SUNNY CONDITIONS FROM A MELTING DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSES GLARE IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA ODI #10875448
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other
MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA IS NO LONGER STARTING AND THE BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL HAVE LOCKED. IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE A KEY EVEN THOUGH I DO. ANY ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE RESULTS IN A SPORADIC TICK TICK OR SCREECHING TYPE NOISE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
NHTSA ODI #10873952
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2016
Steering
MY CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULDN'T START WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT UPON INSTALLING A NEW INE, THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT'S THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND IT WOULD BE $1000 TO REPAIR.
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.
2009 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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