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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
234,000 miles · Oct 29, 2019
StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD MELTING IS CAUSING EXTREME GLARE ON THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING THE DAY OUT OF WINDSHIELD SO IT'S AFFECTING MY DRIVING ABILITY. AND EVERYTHING IS STICKING TO IT AND IT'S DESTROYING THE OTHER PARTS IN MY VEHICLE IT IS MELTING ON TOO. I HAVE SUN VISOR ON EVERYTIME OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT STICKINE…

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THE DASHBOARD MELTING IS CAUSING EXTREME GLARE ON THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING THE DAY OUT OF WINDSHIELD SO IT'S AFFECTING MY DRIVING ABILITY. AND EVERYTHING IS STICKING TO IT AND IT'S DESTROYING THE OTHER PARTS IN MY VEHICLE IT IS MELTING ON TOO. I HAVE SUN VISOR ON EVERYTIME OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT STICKINESS IS ALWAYS THERE AND CONTINUES TO MELT REGARDLESS.

NHTSA ODI #11271781

105,000 miles · Oct 8, 2019
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE REMOTE START WAS DEPRESSED ON THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE REMOTE START WAS DEPRESSED ON THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11267005

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2019
Visibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED CAUSING SEVERE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS DEFECT MAKES IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR OUR SON AND AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A NEW DASHBOARD OR AS WE HAVE IT TODAY, COVERED WITH A TOWEL. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AT LEAST 3-5 TIMES HOW…

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THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED CAUSING SEVERE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS DEFECT MAKES IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR OUR SON AND AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A NEW DASHBOARD OR AS WE HAVE IT TODAY, COVERED WITH A TOWEL. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AT LEAST 3-5 TIMES HOWEVER THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN TO DO TO ASSIST. I DID TELL THEM THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO ONLY COVER CARS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEY SHOULD BE LOYAL TO ALL CUSTOMERS REGARDLESS OF THE STATE.

NHTSA ODI #11266585

87,925 miles · Sep 4, 2019
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,925.

NHTSA ODI #11253216

144,000 miles · Sep 2, 2019
Power Train

THE CVT TRANSMISSION ON 09- 2014 NISSAN GO OUT AND TAKE YOU TO PRACTICALLY A DEAD STOP FROM 60MPH. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY UNDOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT NISSIAN HIDES/ DENIES. THERE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATIONS DONE ON THE TRANSMISSIONS AND RECALLED. CVT STEPPER MOTOR/ VALVE BODY / 09 NISSIAN MAXIMA

NHTSA ODI #11252810

174,000 miles · Aug 23, 2019
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other

INTI STEERING LOCK WOULDNT ALLOW ME TO TURN ENGINE OFF AFTER PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY THEN NOT STARTING AFTER I HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLE TO STOP ENGINE WHICH I AM FINDING OUT TO BE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MODEL & OTHERS ALSO HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF RECALL ISSUE WITH BOTH FRONT STRUTS SAME YEAR & MODELS

NHTSA ODI #11245961

120,000 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Air Bags

I OWN A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IN THE YEAR 2016 THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO CONTINUOUSLY BLINK AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT SAID 'AIRBAG OFF' WHETHER THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THINKING THE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE RESET AS MY AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED I TRIED THIS ROUTES. IT ULTIMATELY PROVED NOT TO BE THE PROBLEM A…

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I OWN A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IN THE YEAR 2016 THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO CONTINUOUSLY BLINK AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT SAID 'AIRBAG OFF' WHETHER THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THINKING THE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE RESET AS MY AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED I TRIED THIS ROUTES. IT ULTIMATELY PROVED NOT TO BE THE PROBLEM AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO BLINK. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED BY NISSAN AS AM OCS SENSOR FAIL B1018 AND THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE $2100. THE WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. WITHOUT THE REPAIR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION FOR THE ENTIRE CAR. UPON SPEAKING TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS I LEARNED THE THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BUT OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. EVEN WITH THE FAILED PART BEING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN NISSAN REFUSES TO OFFER ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS PART IS NOT EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS AS IT IS IN THE ACTUAL SEAT CUSHION. THE PRODUCT JUST FAILED AND NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAULTY MANUFACTURED PARTS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD CAUSE SOMEONE THEIR LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #11243811

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE PLASTICS ON THE DASH ARE MELTING...

NHTSA ODI #11241109

105,256 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

THE CAR LOSES POWER AS I'M DRIVING, I REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP I'M AT AROUND $1100 IN WITH REPAIRS AND LABOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST I TURN CAR ON AND DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND ACCELERATION THEN EVENTUALLY DIES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ON ONE OCCASION, VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO SAY THE LEAS…

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THE CAR LOSES POWER AS I'M DRIVING, I REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP I'M AT AROUND $1100 IN WITH REPAIRS AND LABOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST I TURN CAR ON AND DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND ACCELERATION THEN EVENTUALLY DIES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ON ONE OCCASION, VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY CUZ IT'S ALSO NEW. THIS IS GETTING SCARY AND RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ODI #11232931

111,000 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ODI #11232830

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.