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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

What owners actually said

339 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2014
Structure

I BOUGHT MY MAXIMA LAST YEAR AND NOTICED MY DASH WAS STICKY TRIED TO WIPE IT OFF WITH A WET RAG USING WATER AND IT WOULD NOT GO AWAY IT IS NOW SPREADING TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE THE RESIN IN THE DASH MATERIAL IS MELTING. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING IT I LOOKS LIKE I HAVE WATER ON MY DASH. WHEN I AM DRIVING INTO THE SUN THE REFLE…

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I BOUGHT MY MAXIMA LAST YEAR AND NOTICED MY DASH WAS STICKY TRIED TO WIPE IT OFF WITH A WET RAG USING WATER AND IT WOULD NOT GO AWAY IT IS NOW SPREADING TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE THE RESIN IN THE DASH MATERIAL IS MELTING. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING IT I LOOKS LIKE I HAVE WATER ON MY DASH. WHEN I AM DRIVING INTO THE SUN THE REFLECTION OF THE AREA SHINES ON TO MY WINDSHIELD ALMOST BLINDING ME. NO OTHER PART OF THE INTERIOR LOOKS THIS WAY. I AM CONCERNED WITH DRIVING IT AN DO NOT SEE THIS TO BE SOMETHING I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE. LIKE I SAID I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A DASH BOARD LOOK LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584287

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2014
Visibility

I 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

NHTSA ODI #10578895

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

34,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Electrical System

ON 3/3/14 MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULD NOT START. SYMPTOMS OF THIS ISSUE - KEY RECOGNIZED(UNLOCKS AND WHEN INSERTED INTO KEY FOB PORT THERE IS A NOTIFICATION) - PRESSING START BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, LOCKED REMAINS ILLUMINATED(EG ACC AND ON DO NOT ACTIVATE) - NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT - ALL LIGHTS COME ON IN THE …

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ON 3/3/14 MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULD NOT START. SYMPTOMS OF THIS ISSUE - KEY RECOGNIZED(UNLOCKS AND WHEN INSERTED INTO KEY FOB PORT THERE IS A NOTIFICATION) - PRESSING START BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, LOCKED REMAINS ILLUMINATED(EG ACC AND ON DO NOT ACTIVATE) - NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT - ALL LIGHTS COME ON IN THE CAR - BRAKE LIGHTS WORK - ELECTRONIC SEATS STILL MOVE I EXPERIENCED A DEAD BATTERY JUST 3 MONTHS EARLIER SO I WAS SURE THIS WAS NOT THE ISSUE. PLUS I HAD A NEW BATTERY. I GOOGLED A COMBINATION OF THE SYMPTOMS WITH MY MODEL/YEAR AND MANY LINKS CAME UP. TURNED OUT TO BE THE "STEERING LOCK FAILURE" WHICH WAS UNDER A EXTENDED WARRANTY. 5 YEARS OR 72 K MILES. WORST PART OF THE EXPERIENCE WAS DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE MIDWAY NISSAN ON BELL ROAD DEALERSHIP IN PHOENIX. THE EXPERIENCE LEFT ME KNOWING THAT THEY CARE MORE ABOUT MAKING MONEY TODAY THAN EARNING RETURN CUSTOMERS. LUCKILY THEY WARRANTY PAID FOR EVERYTHING. BUT THEY WERE WILLING AND READY TO SCREW ME OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568199

4,440 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Seats

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 2009 NEW. APPROX 1 YEAR LATER THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO ROCK. NISSAN REPLACED THE DRIVERS TRACK WHICH THEY SAID WAS DEFECTIVE. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN TO ROCK AGAIN AND WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN, THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE SEAT CONTINUED TO ROCK AND INCREASINGLY GOT WORSE. JANUARY 2014 THE V…

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THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 2009 NEW. APPROX 1 YEAR LATER THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO ROCK. NISSAN REPLACED THE DRIVERS TRACK WHICH THEY SAID WAS DEFECTIVE. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN TO ROCK AGAIN AND WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN, THEY STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE SEAT CONTINUED TO ROCK AND INCREASINGLY GOT WORSE. JANUARY 2014 THE VEHICLE IS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUSLY ROCKING BACK AND FOURTH WHEN YOU ACCELERATE OR BRAKE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATES HE IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NISSAN REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS BECAUSE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FINDS THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ATTEMPT TO GO THREW NISSAN TO OWN UP TO THEIR PROBLEM. I GET UP TO THE VP OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECEIVE A PHONE CALL STATING THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT KEEP MY RECEIPT IN CASE THERE IS A RECALL AND I MAY GET MY MONEY BACK IF THERE'S A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563757

63,773 miles · Feb 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA DOES IT SEEM TO READ MY KEY ANYMORE. IT HAS A ORANGE LIGHT ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR OBVIOUSLY RECOGNIZES THE KEY FOR I AM STILL ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR. IT WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. WHEN I PRESS THE PUSH START BUTTON, THE ONLY LIGHT THAT COMES ON IS THE LOCK LIGHT. IT ALL DOES…

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MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA DOES IT SEEM TO READ MY KEY ANYMORE. IT HAS A ORANGE LIGHT ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR OBVIOUSLY RECOGNIZES THE KEY FOR I AM STILL ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR. IT WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. WHEN I PRESS THE PUSH START BUTTON, THE ONLY LIGHT THAT COMES ON IS THE LOCK LIGHT. IT ALL DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL. I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. ONE SECOND IT WAS WORKING, ANOTHER SECOND IT WASN'T. I FIND THIS HIGHLY INCONVENIENT THAT NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT THE DEALERSHIPS ONLY PROVIDES AID MONDAYS THOUGH SATURDAYS AS IF PEOPLE ONLY HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS ON MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE SHOULD BE A 24/7 HELP HOTLINE AT LEAST. THIS IS MY SECOND ISSUE WITH THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY IN MY KEY FOB. I WENT TO GET A NEW BATTERY FOR IT AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563579

101,648 miles · Feb 7, 2014
Power Train

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT MY TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AND IF I DO NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE IT THE CAR WHILE DRIVING WILL BASICALLY THE GEARS IN THE MECHANISM WILL GRIND MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND JUST STOP. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN USA I WAS INFORMED MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY …

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I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT MY TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AND IF I DO NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE IT THE CAR WHILE DRIVING WILL BASICALLY THE GEARS IN THE MECHANISM WILL GRIND MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND JUST STOP. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN USA I WAS INFORMED MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT EVEN IF IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT ALSO IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT NISSAN HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSFER CASE LEAKING. WHY IS NISSAN NOT REPLACING THIS PART WHILE UNDER WARRANTY IF THEY NO THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563440

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

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.