KEY INDICATOR LOCK LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT START COMPLETELY DISABLED. DID RESEARCH TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM ON YOUTUBE AND THIS SITE TO FIND THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP $1,100 ESTIMATE!!!
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
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.
What owners actually said
339 reportsI PULLED INTO MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY STOPPED THE CAR TO RUN INTO THE HOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WENT BACK TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE YELLOW KEY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AS IF IT WASN'T RECOGNIZING MY I-KEY. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN DEALER THIS WAS STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION COMMON IN THE VEHICLES. WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF $900 …
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I PULLED INTO MY MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY STOPPED THE CAR TO RUN INTO THE HOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WENT BACK TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE YELLOW KEY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AS IF IT WASN'T RECOGNIZING MY I-KEY. WAS TOLD BY NISSAN DEALER THIS WAS STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION COMMON IN THE VEHICLES. WAS GIVEN A QUOTE OF $900 NOT INCLUDING TOWING. CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS UPON SEEING THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE TO INSURE I WASN'T COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY ETC. NO WAS THE ANSWER TO THAT. I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND IS OK WITH LEAVING CONSUMERS STRANDED IN POSSIBLY UNDESIRABLE OR UNSAFE SITUATIONS. I AM A 2ND TIME NISSAN OWNER BUT AFTER HOW THIS IS BEING HANDLED THIS WILL BE MY LAST NISSAN VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO NISSAN FOR DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE A CASE COULD BE OPENED BY CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO POSSIBLE ASSIST WITH THE PAYMENT BUT THEY ONLY ASSIST MORE RELIABLE CUSTOMERS, WHICH THEY DIDN'T FEEL I WAS SINCE I HADN'T BEEN GOING TO NISSAN FOR MY SERVICES. I PURCHASED THIS CAR SECOND HAND AND WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT MORE COST EFFICIENT ROUTES FOR SERVICING AS THE ONE TIME I TRIED TO CONTACT THEM FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE PAST STAFF WAS RUDE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I AM LEFT INT HIS POSITION FOR A KNOW ISSUE WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE COMPANY.
UPON SUCCESSFULLY UNLOCKING THE CAR, THE PUSH IGNITION FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE KEYFOB WAS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR, EVEN SET OFF THE PANIC ALARM BUT PRESSING THE IGNITION BUTTON WOULD NOT MOVE THE CAR OUT OF "LOCK" POSITION. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 1.5 HRS BEFORE HAVING BEEN DRIVEN SEV…
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UPON SUCCESSFULLY UNLOCKING THE CAR, THE PUSH IGNITION FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE KEYFOB WAS ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR, EVEN SET OFF THE PANIC ALARM BUT PRESSING THE IGNITION BUTTON WOULD NOT MOVE THE CAR OUT OF "LOCK" POSITION. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 1.5 HRS BEFORE HAVING BEEN DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. UPON DIAGNOSIS BY A LICENSED MECHANIC, THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK MODULE WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED. ON FURTHER ONLINE RESEARCH, IT WAS LEARNED THAT THIS PART IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE AND IT IS COMMON TO FIND MANY 2009 NISSAN OWNERS OF SEVERAL MODELS (ALTIMA, MAXIMA, 370Z) TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY.
WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON THE PA TURNPIKE, MY STEERING WHEEL JUST DROPPED TO THE LOWEST POSITION!! SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. I ENDED UP GETTING THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING POSITION UP AT LITTLE TO STAY AND LOCK. DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME THAT THE MOTOR …
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WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON THE PA TURNPIKE, MY STEERING WHEEL JUST DROPPED TO THE LOWEST POSITION!! SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. I ENDED UP GETTING THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING POSITION UP AT LITTLE TO STAY AND LOCK. DROVE THE CAR BACK TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TILT AND/OR TELESCOPIC NEEDS REPLACED!! WHAT A FREAKING NIGHTMARE...$800 PLUS DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS PLUS TAX!! WHAT A CROCK OF BULL!! I SEE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF NISSAN OWNERS!! WHY ISNT THE GOVERNMENT DOING ANYTHING!! NOT UNTIL SOMEBODY HAS A FATALITY ACCIDENT!!
GOT OFF OF WORK AND I TRIED TO CRANK MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE KEY SYMBOL WAS ON BUT THAT'S IT.SO I GOT IT TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC THROUGH MY INSURANCE AND I PAYED 35. THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO GET IT TOWED THE CAR LOT WHERE I BOUGJT IT FROM AND IT COST ME $125. I'VE SINCE DID RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT …
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GOT OFF OF WORK AND I TRIED TO CRANK MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE KEY SYMBOL WAS ON BUT THAT'S IT.SO I GOT IT TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC THROUGH MY INSURANCE AND I PAYED 35. THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO GET IT TOWED THE CAR LOT WHERE I BOUGJT IT FROM AND IT COST ME $125. I'VE SINCE DID RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND PAYING OVER $1, 000 OUT OF POCKET.NOW IAM WAITING FOR MY LEINHOLDER TO TELL ME I OWE THEM $1, 000. I REALLY LIKE MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA BUT I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE
CAR WAS PARKED. CAR WILL NOT START STEERING LOCKED UP
I WAS STRANDED AT WORK DUE TO MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKING DEVICE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. NOTHING WE TRIED WORKED. HAD MY CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS. NO RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE AT THIS TIME. NISSAN GAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD BUT DID NOT MAKE ALL OWNERS AWARE. I WAS NEV…
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I WAS STRANDED AT WORK DUE TO MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKING DEVICE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. NOTHING WE TRIED WORKED. HAD MY CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS. NO RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE AT THIS TIME. NISSAN GAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD BUT DID NOT MAKE ALL OWNERS AWARE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE DEVICE AND I HAVE A BILL FOR $906.00 THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT EXPIRED JUNE 2015.
TAKATA RECALL THIS WHOLE STEERING LOCK SITUATION IS AN ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE. APPARENTLY NISSAN DOES NOT FEEL THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING OR REPLACING THIS DEFECT. I KNOW THEY'VE LOST MY BUSINESS. I FEEL AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS COMPLAINED OR HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS HUNDR…
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TAKATA RECALL THIS WHOLE STEERING LOCK SITUATION IS AN ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE. APPARENTLY NISSAN DOES NOT FEEL THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING OR REPLACING THIS DEFECT. I KNOW THEY'VE LOST MY BUSINESS. I FEEL AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS COMPLAINED OR HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX AND AFTER READING THERE ARE TONS OF CASES IDENTICAL TO MINE. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR UNATTENDED AT OUR LOCAL JCPENNEY'S FOR TWO DAYS AND TWO NIGHTS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP.
UNABLE TO START CAR DUE TO STREERING IS LOCKED. NO POWER TO TURN ON ANY ACCESSORIES.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FELL TO MY KNEES. THIS CAR HAS A RETRACTABLE STEERING SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS THEN ABLE TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE DRIVING POSITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO…
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I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FELL TO MY KNEES. THIS CAR HAS A RETRACTABLE STEERING SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS THEN ABLE TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE DRIVING POSITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TWO ELECTRIC MOTORS IN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DEFECTIVE (HAD TO BE REPLACE) THE COST WOULKD BE $2,000. THE CAR HAS JUST 60,000 MILES.
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.
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