STEERING WHEEL LOCK/IGNITION PART FAILED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. PART# 48700-9N00B. *TR
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 reportsTHE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE IS LEAVING MAXIMAS STRANDED UNABLE TO START THE CAR WITH THESE SYMPTOMS. WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ELECTRIC LOCK FAILS TO UNLOCK SENDING ERROR MESSAGE TO THE BCM. THE CAR WILL NOT START IN THIS CASE AND WILL FLASH THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING IN THE CLUSTER. …
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THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE IS LEAVING MAXIMAS STRANDED UNABLE TO START THE CAR WITH THESE SYMPTOMS. WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ELECTRIC LOCK FAILS TO UNLOCK SENDING ERROR MESSAGE TO THE BCM. THE CAR WILL NOT START IN THIS CASE AND WILL FLASH THE INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING IN THE CLUSTER. THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND A $1000.00 REPAIR. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2009 BRAND NEW NISSAN MAXIMA SO I WOULDN'T HAVE CAR ISSUES FOR AT LEAST 4 OR 5 YRS. 3 1/2 YEARS LATER MY STUPID CAR LEFT ME STRANDED. I WAS DROPPING OFF MOVIES (IN & OUT) MIDDLE OF THE DAY WITH ALL MY WINDOWS DOWN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULDN'T START. I NOTICED A YELLOW KEY LIGHT /SYMBOL WAS ON (LEFT SIDE) AT FIRST…
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I BOUGHT A 2009 BRAND NEW NISSAN MAXIMA SO I WOULDN'T HAVE CAR ISSUES FOR AT LEAST 4 OR 5 YRS. 3 1/2 YEARS LATER MY STUPID CAR LEFT ME STRANDED. I WAS DROPPING OFF MOVIES (IN & OUT) MIDDLE OF THE DAY WITH ALL MY WINDOWS DOWN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULDN'T START. I NOTICED A YELLOW KEY LIGHT /SYMBOL WAS ON (LEFT SIDE) AT FIRST DIDN'T WORRY CALLED AAA THEY TRIED EVERYTHING THE MANUAL SAID TO DO. WITH NO LUCK CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY AND I HAD TO TOW IT OVER. NOW DEALER SAYS IT HAS A INTERNAL FAILURE IN THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. (FAULT CODE B2612) TOTALING $800.00 W/ LABOR. I DECLINED SERVICE AND TO TOP IT OFF MY WINDOWS ARE STUCK. (DOWN) I'M MAD/PIST/FRUSTRATED DON'T THINK ITS FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY $800 TO START MY CAR 3 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR. CAME HOME TO GET OTHER QUOTES AND COMPLAINTS HOPING SOMEONE ELSE CAN HELP ME. I FOUND OUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM THERE'S ALOT OF MAXIMA OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MY MILEAGE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO 30,000 AND THAT'S WHEN THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAPPEN. NISSAN IS ELIMINATING STEERING LOCK 2010 MODELS. IM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN THINKING OF TRADING IN CAR DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THESE KIND OF ISSUES AGAIN. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!! NOT FAIR!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, AND NOTICED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE LOWEST DOWNWARD POSITION AND WOULD NOT MANEUVER OUT OF THE ADJUSTED SETTING AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION CAUSED DIFFICULTY WHENEVER DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, AND NOTICED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE LOWEST DOWNWARD POSITION AND WOULD NOT MANEUVER OUT OF THE ADJUSTED SETTING AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION CAUSED DIFFICULTY WHENEVER DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL TILT MOTOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY PARKING SPOT AT MY TOWN HOME.I WENT TO START IT AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.I WENT TO RELEASE THE TRUNK LID AND THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN IT OPERATES ON THE BATTERY.THERE IS NO KET SLOT TO OPEN THE TRUNK.I CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT NISSAN AND THEY AGREED THERE IS NO KEY SLOT ON THE TRUNK.WHEN …
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MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY PARKING SPOT AT MY TOWN HOME.I WENT TO START IT AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.I WENT TO RELEASE THE TRUNK LID AND THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN IT OPERATES ON THE BATTERY.THERE IS NO KET SLOT TO OPEN THE TRUNK.I CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT NISSAN AND THEY AGREED THERE IS NO KEY SLOT ON THE TRUNK.WHEN ASKED THEM HOW TO GET IN MY TRUNK TO GET MY BATTERY CABLES AND MY EMERGENCY KIT(WHICH CAME WITH THE CAR).I WAS TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK WAS TO RELEASE THE BACK REST ON THE REAR SEAT AND CRAWL IN THE TRUNK AND PULL THE RELEASE ON THE TRUNK LID.WHEN ASKED IS THERE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM I WAS TOLD NO.I AM A MAN OF 70YRS.OLD WITH A BAD BACK HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CRAWL IN A TRUNK.AS I STATED THE CAR CAME WIT AN EMERGENCY KIT WHAT GOOD IS IT IF I CAN'T GET TO IT.TO ME THIS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.IF WERE ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHEN CARS ARE DOING 60 TO 70 MPH I COULD GET HURT OR KILLED I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME ONE LOOKING INTO THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
POWER TILT STARTED MOVING AND GRINDING ON IT OWN AND STOPPED WHEN THE GEARS STRIPPED OUT IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE TILT MOTOR HAS FAILED. *TR
WE BOUGHT OUR MAXIMA BRANDNEW IN JULY OF 2009. LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT UNTIL THIS PAST JUNE OF 2012. OUR FIRST PROBLEM WAS SOME CLITCHING ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS WOULDN'T MOVE UP AND DOWN WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THIS WOULD HAPPEN OFF AND ON WHILE WE TOOK OUR TRIP OUT OF TOWN IN JUNE. AFTER WE CAME BACK MY …
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WE BOUGHT OUR MAXIMA BRANDNEW IN JULY OF 2009. LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT UNTIL THIS PAST JUNE OF 2012. OUR FIRST PROBLEM WAS SOME CLITCHING ELECTRICAL WIRING. THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS WOULDN'T MOVE UP AND DOWN WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THIS WOULD HAPPEN OFF AND ON WHILE WE TOOK OUR TRIP OUT OF TOWN IN JUNE. AFTER WE CAME BACK MY HUSBAND MADE A APPOINTMENT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT, BUT BECAUSE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS WERE WORKING AGAIN WE JUST LET IT BE AND DIDN'T FOLLOW UP WITH THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. IN JULY OF 2012 I WAS SITTING IN MY PARKED CAR WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE, I STARTED MY CAR ONLY TO HEAR THIS AWFUL SORT OF GRINDING NOISE. I HAD A TOW COMPANY COME TO TELL THAT MY BATTERY WAS "DEAD". WHICH I WAS SURPRISED, BECAUSE MY CAR IS JUST 3 YEARS OLD AND I ONLY HAD 24577 MILES ON IT. THE TOWING COMPANY CHARGED MY BATTERY FOR ME TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE STREET TO AUTOZONE, WHERE I GOT A NEW BATTERY. I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WHEN I BROUGHT IN THE CAR FOR SERVICE, THE LADY WAS TELLING ME THAT I NEEDED TO DRIVE MY CAR MORE OFTEN DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING "LOW". WHICH I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE, I MEAN HOW INCONVENIENT IS THAT TO HAVE TO DRIVE YOU'RE CAR EVERY DAY, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T THE BATTERY JUST "DIES" ON YOU?! MY LAST INCIDENT WITH MY CAR HAPPENED THIS PAST MONDAY 09/17/2012 WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF, SUDDENLY I HEAR AGAIN THIS AWFUL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE PANEL. COME TO FIND OUT AFTER I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALER THAT IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT THE MOTOR NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS IS HAPPENING 2 MONTHS AFTER MY WARRANTY RAN OUT! I CALLED NISSAN DEALER, THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. SEEING MY CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD..TO ME IT SHOULD BE A RECALL FACTORY ISSUE! AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT! THEY SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM? I DON'T THINK SO! NISSAN NEED TO MAKE THIS STEERING COLUMN A RECALL ISSUE! BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR
THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. 3 DAYS LATER WE FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT STARTING BECAUSE OF THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT. DEALER CONTINUES TO ARGUE THAT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. BASED UPON INFORMATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A FREQUENT ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN MURANO, ALTIMA, AND MAXIMA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINED LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE MOTORS IN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINED LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE MOTORS IN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
WE NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE WHEN WE STARTED OUR 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA AND REALIZED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN MAKING THE NOISE AND THAT IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE GOING UP AND DOWN. IT WOULD JUST KEEP TRYING TO MOVE UNTIL YOU HIT THE BUTTON ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. (THE BUTTON WHERE YOU ADJUST HOW YOU WANT YOUR STEERING WHEEL…
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WE NOTICED A STRANGE NOISE WHEN WE STARTED OUR 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA AND REALIZED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN MAKING THE NOISE AND THAT IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE GOING UP AND DOWN. IT WOULD JUST KEEP TRYING TO MOVE UNTIL YOU HIT THE BUTTON ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. (THE BUTTON WHERE YOU ADJUST HOW YOU WANT YOUR STEERING WHEEL.) WITHIN THAT DAY, THE STEERING COLUMN TILT QUIT WORKING. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL TILT MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ISSUED ON THIS AND WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS CALL NISSAN AND SEE IF THEY WILL PAY OR SPLIT THE COST OF THIS REPAIR AS I POINTED OUT THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS TYPE OF STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. AT THIS POINT I HAVE CALLED NISSAN AND HAVE BEEN ISSUED A CASE NUMBER. WE HAVE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS BUT ARE HOPEFUL THAT NISSAN ACCEPT AT LEAST PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUND US SOME OF THE REPAIRS... *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.
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