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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
133,358 miles · Jul 2, 2019
Suspension

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AXLE ON MY CAR IN 2013 AND IN 2019 WHICH HAS BEEN CRACKED EACH TIME. IT WAS STATIONARY AND I WAS HAVING MY BRAKES DONE.

NHTSA ODI #11228951

194,000 miles · Mar 31, 2019
Exterior Lighting

DRIVIN WITH YOUR LIGHTS ON DIM YOU CAN'T HARDLY SEE THE ROAD. THE LIGHTING DOES NOT EXTEND FAR OUT IN FROM OF THE CAR. IT ONLY SHOW A FEW LIL FEET OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED USIN OTHER BULB TYPE TO SEE IF IT WORKS BETTER. AND NO IT DOESN'T. SOMEONE SAID NISSAN TOLD THEM THE CARS AREN'T GROUNDED THAT GOOD. I DRIVE WI…

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DRIVIN WITH YOUR LIGHTS ON DIM YOU CAN'T HARDLY SEE THE ROAD. THE LIGHTING DOES NOT EXTEND FAR OUT IN FROM OF THE CAR. IT ONLY SHOW A FEW LIL FEET OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED USIN OTHER BULB TYPE TO SEE IF IT WORKS BETTER. AND NO IT DOESN'T. SOMEONE SAID NISSAN TOLD THEM THE CARS AREN'T GROUNDED THAT GOOD. I DRIVE WITH MY ON BRIGHT TO SOMEONE BLINKS AND TELL ME TO DIM MY LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #11192698

194,000 miles · Mar 31, 2019
Air Bags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE GETS INTO THE CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE , THEN STAYS ON SOMETIMES. AS LONG AS THE PERSON IS IN THE SEAT IT STAYS ON. WHEN THEY GET OUT IT GOES OFF. I WASN'T IN ANY ACCIDENT. IT WAS LIKE IT WHEN I GOT IT

NHTSA ODI #11192697

129,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY, NO VEHICLES AROUND ME,AND IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER AND MY MOON ROOF OVER THE DRIVER SEATS EXPLODED OUT. THE GLASS FLEW OFF MY CAR. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY MOON ROOF IN THE BACKSEAT EXPLODED OUT, CAUSING ALL THE…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY, NO VEHICLES AROUND ME,AND IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER AND MY MOON ROOF OVER THE DRIVER SEATS EXPLODED OUT. THE GLASS FLEW OFF MY CAR. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, MY MOON ROOF IN THE BACKSEAT EXPLODED OUT, CAUSING ALL THE GLASS TO FLY OFF THE CAR. NOW MY WHOLE TEMPERED GLASS IS SHATTERED. THANKFULLY AT THE TIME OF THE GLASS EXPLODING, I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE VEHICLE. BUT THE DAY MY REAR MOON ROOF EXPLODED I HAD TO PICK UP MY KIDS. I WAS ONLY DRIVING 20-25 MPH AND THE SHARDS OF GLASS KEPT DROPPING ON ME AND MY KIDS (FROM THE WIND BLOWING THE FABRIC) MY OLDEST DAUGHTER GOT GLASS STUCK IN HER AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11190188

174,878 miles · Feb 15, 2019
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. SHORTLY AFTER, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUDSON NISSAN OF NORTH CHARLESTON (7331 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. SHORTLY AFTER, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUDSON NISSAN OF NORTH CHARLESTON (7331 RIVERS AVE, NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29406) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,878.

NHTSA ODI #11180408

116,000 miles · Feb 13, 2019
Air Bags

DRIVER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY, AND FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON FRONT CONSOLE REMAINING ON WHETHER SEAT OCCUPIED OR NOT. INDICATES POSSIBLE NON-FUNCTIONING OF AIRBAG. CONDITION IS PRESENT WHETHER VEHICLE STATIONARY OR MOVING. INVESTIGATED BY DEALER ( COURTESY NISSAN OF RICHARDSON, TEXAS) AND TOL…

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DRIVER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY, AND FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON FRONT CONSOLE REMAINING ON WHETHER SEAT OCCUPIED OR NOT. INDICATES POSSIBLE NON-FUNCTIONING OF AIRBAG. CONDITION IS PRESENT WHETHER VEHICLE STATIONARY OR MOVING. INVESTIGATED BY DEALER ( COURTESY NISSAN OF RICHARDSON, TEXAS) AND TOLD THAT FIRST STAGE REPAIR ( REPLACEMENT OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION) COSTS ~ $ 2100 WITH NO GUARANTEE OF SOLUTION, FOLLOWED BY FURTHER ATTEMPT TO SOLVE AT ADDITIONAL COST. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO BE SOLVED BY NISSAN. ALSO REPORTED TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA BUT NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI #11179955

72,300 miles · Jan 30, 2019
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR HAD SNAPPED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A CLICKING METAL SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER (AUTONATION NISSAN LAS VEGAS, 5800 W SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89146, (702) 570-1013) STATED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN OIL CHANGE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR HAD SNAPPED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A CLICKING METAL SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER (AUTONATION NISSAN LAS VEGAS, 5800 W SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89146, (702) 570-1013) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE SWAY BARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED BACK AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL OR CURRENT WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A WARRANTY, WHICH WAS NOT TRUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,300.

NHTSA ODI #11173130

54,000 miles · Jan 20, 2019
Air Bags

WHILE ON AND MOVING, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF, WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WILL TURN ON (INDICATING BAG OFF) FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME. THIS OCCURS WITH A 150+ POUND PASSENGER SITTING NORMALLY IN THE SEAT, WITH SEATBELT FASTENED. THIS OCCURS THROUGHOUT TURNS, ON STRAIGHT RO…

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WHILE ON AND MOVING, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF, WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WILL TURN ON (INDICATING BAG OFF) FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME. THIS OCCURS WITH A 150+ POUND PASSENGER SITTING NORMALLY IN THE SEAT, WITH SEATBELT FASTENED. THIS OCCURS THROUGHOUT TURNS, ON STRAIGHT ROADS, AND AT VARYING SPEEDS. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS, BUT I HAVE ONLY NOW DONE A SEARCH FOR IT. GOOGLE SEARCHES INDICATE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMAS. BUT MAXIMAS PRIOR TO 2016 ARE NOT RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI #11171054

134,000 miles · Nov 6, 2018
Engine

WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP AND WHEN IDLING THE RPM GO UP AND DOWN AND ALSO IT IDLES VERY IRRATICALLY.

NHTSA ODI #11149620

102,000 miles · Nov 5, 2018
Air Bags

AIRBAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #11145342

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.