← New search

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 · Oct 28, 2018
EngineUnknown Or Other

MY CAR KEEPS LOSING POWER AFTER DRIVING IT FOR AWHILE. I HAD A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INSTALLED. IT CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER AND STARTS UP AFTER A FEW HOURS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ODI #11143485

12,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Unknown Or Other

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND NOTHING WILL FIX IT, AS IT IS SIMPLY A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY IT WAS MADE. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH A NISSAN MAXIMA OR A NISSAN ALTIMA HAVE MELTING DASHBOARDS. TEXAS HEAT, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER STA…

Read full complaint

MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND NOTHING WILL FIX IT, AS IT IS SIMPLY A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY IT WAS MADE. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH A NISSAN MAXIMA OR A NISSAN ALTIMA HAVE MELTING DASHBOARDS. TEXAS HEAT, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER STATES, IS DAMAGING OUR DASHBOARDS. NOT ONLY IS IT MELTING, BUT IT BREAKS AND CRACKS IF YOU TOUCH IT. IF A FINGERNAIL TOUCHES IT, IT CREATES AN INDENTION. I HAVE MANY SPOTS ON MY DASHBOARD WHERE PIECES HAVE FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF. NOT ONLY IS IT BREAKING, BUT IT IS ALSO VERY VERY STICKY. IT IS HARD TO CLEAN. THE WORST PART IS THAT IT CAUSES A GLARE AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SINCE IT IS SO STICKY, THE SUN REFLECTS AND CAUSES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #11113617

88,000 miles · Jul 3, 2018
Seats

NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WAS ROCKING FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN BREAKING AND ACCELERATING. READ ON REPAIR PAL THAT NISSAN MURANO'S WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. HTTPS://REPAIRPAL.COM/DAMAGED-SEAT-ADJUSTER-ASSEMBLY-MAY-CAUSE-NOISEROCKING-MOVEMENT-780. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS SEAT MAY COME LOOSE.

NHTSA ODI #11105304

87,000 miles · May 18, 2018
SteeringSuspensionWheels

CONTROL ARMS BOTH NEED REPAIR, REPEATED ISSUES WITH TIRE INFLATION GAUGES, TIRE WEAR, STRUTS, AND STEERING. NEEDED REPAIR COSTING $2700 TO REPLACE CONTROL ARMS.

NHTSA ODI #11096748

75,000 miles · May 15, 2018
Engine

ENGINE OIL PAN RUST THROUGH AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11093887

118,000 miles · Apr 2, 2018
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEAL…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #11082554

184,000 miles · Mar 26, 2018
SteeringSuspension

WHEN LOOKING UP MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR, YOUR SITE SEEMS TO INDICATE A "SUSPENSION/STRUT INSULATOR CRACKING" PROBLEM, HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY FOR MY VIN # THERE IS ONLY ONE RECALL AND IT IS FOR A "STEERING COLUMN" PROBLEM . I JUST WANT TO KNOW ALL THE FACTS BEFORE I TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIRS …

Read full complaint

WHEN LOOKING UP MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR, YOUR SITE SEEMS TO INDICATE A "SUSPENSION/STRUT INSULATOR CRACKING" PROBLEM, HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY FOR MY VIN # THERE IS ONLY ONE RECALL AND IT IS FOR A "STEERING COLUMN" PROBLEM . I JUST WANT TO KNOW ALL THE FACTS BEFORE I TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIRS THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11081367

46,000 miles · Jan 31, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

2015 HYUNDAI GENESIS SEDAN. RADIO, NAVIGATION, XM, TCD/DVD WON'T PLAY. SCREEN COMES IN AND OUT CONSTANTLY. BATTERY DRAINS. ON MY 2ND BATTERY. BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO SERVICE. 50,000 MILES. HYUNDAI NOW INCLUDES WARRANTY FOR 2016 MODELS BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS???

NHTSA ODI #11066164

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2018
Steering

NISSAN HAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2009 NISSAN MAXIMAS ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. MY MAXIMA IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, IN JULY OF 2014 DURING ROUTINE SERVICE AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS REPLACED. A FEW DAYS AGO IT FAILED AGAIN, I HAD TO TOW IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT N…

Read full complaint

NISSAN HAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2009 NISSAN MAXIMAS ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. MY MAXIMA IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, IN JULY OF 2014 DURING ROUTINE SERVICE AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS REPLACED. A FEW DAYS AGO IT FAILED AGAIN, I HAD TO TOW IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT NISSAN WILL NOT COVER ANY PART OF THE COST OF $797.19. MY CASE NUMBER WITH NISSAN USA IS 29509408. I'M ASKING FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST AND $40.00 FOR TOWING COST FOR A PART THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #11062896

106,000 miles · Jan 5, 2018
Steering

CAR WOULD NOT START ON A BLISTERY COLD DAY. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED INFRONT OF MY HOUSE, BUT I THEN HAD TO GET TOWED TO A GARAGE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WENT DOWN WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. "KEY" LIGHT TURNS ON. ALL FUNCTIONS ON FOB STILL WORK AND THE CAR HAD A BRAND NEW BATTERY INSTALLED 3 MONTHS AGO. SEE…

Read full complaint

CAR WOULD NOT START ON A BLISTERY COLD DAY. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED INFRONT OF MY HOUSE, BUT I THEN HAD TO GET TOWED TO A GARAGE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WENT DOWN WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. "KEY" LIGHT TURNS ON. ALL FUNCTIONS ON FOB STILL WORK AND THE CAR HAD A BRAND NEW BATTERY INSTALLED 3 MONTHS AGO. SEEMS TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WHICH HAS CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START.

NHTSA ODI #11060840

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.