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2010 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Maxima years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Nissan Maxima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 99.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

238 reports with mileage · 37 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 158 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 →
  • Suspension. Review the 29 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 reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

79 reports
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65,950 miles · Dec 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR TO CHURCH, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER CHRUCH, I GOT IN MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. NOTHING WOULD WORK. THE KEYLESS REMOTE WOULD UNLOCK THE DOORS BUT WHEN PUSHING THE START BUTTON NOTHING HAPPENED. THE AUXILIARY DIDN'T EVEN WORK. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR…

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I HAD DRIVEN MY CAR TO CHURCH, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER CHRUCH, I GOT IN MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. NOTHING WOULD WORK. THE KEYLESS REMOTE WOULD UNLOCK THE DOORS BUT WHEN PUSHING THE START BUTTON NOTHING HAPPENED. THE AUXILIARY DIDN'T EVEN WORK. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR, I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD TO GO TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP DUE TO NISSAN DOESN'T RELEASE ALL CODING. ANOTHER TOW BILL TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSTICS RAN ON THE CAR AND IT WAS THE "ELECTRONIC STEERLING WHEEL LOCK". THIS IS PART OF THE SECURITY/ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM THAT IS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS KNOWN DEFECT IN 2009-2010 NISSAN ALTIMA, MAXIMA AND 370Z. THE OWNERS HAVE NO WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. YOU ARE TOTAL STRANDED AT THAT SPOT. AFTER GOOGLING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND THAT NISSAN IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS PART IS NOW BEEN "REDESIGNED" SO THAT THIS ISN'T HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663044

39,273 miles · Nov 24, 2014
Electrical System

CAME OUT OF THE STORE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. GOT THE CAR TOW TO THE NISSAN DEALER ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 25TH 2014. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A INTERNAL SHORT IN THE STEERING LOCK THAT COST ME $950.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660544

57,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I WAS AT WORK, WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR AND COULDN'T START IT UP. I NOTICED THE "LOCK" WAS ON AND THE KEY LIGHT. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. MY HUSBAND CAME AND PICKED ME UP AND FORTUNATELY WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY JOB. WE WENT INTO GANLEY NISSAN IN MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OH AN…

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I WAS AT WORK, WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR AND COULDN'T START IT UP. I NOTICED THE "LOCK" WAS ON AND THE KEY LIGHT. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. MY HUSBAND CAME AND PICKED ME UP AND FORTUNATELY WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY JOB. WE WENT INTO GANLEY NISSAN IN MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OH AND THEY TOLD ME TO TRY THE KEY PORT. I PLACED MY KEY INTO THE KEY PORT, STILL NOTHING. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT GANLEY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL CHECK MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THIS WAS ONLY COVERED ON ALTIMA'S LAST YEAR AND NOT MAXIMA'S. MY QUESTION IS WHY NOT! THIS IS FRAUD AS FAR I AM CONCERNED. HOW CAN THESE BIG INDUSTRIES GET AWAY WITH THIS NONSENSE, SELLING US PRODUCTS THAT DOES NOT LAST, AND THEN WE HAVE THE SERVICE INDUSTRY CAPITALIZING ON THIS. IT IS NOT FAIR, AND THIS IS A BIG BUMMER ON MY THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IF I HAVE TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF. THEY HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FOR MAXIMA AS WELL TO DO A RECALL, OR BE FAIR AND PAY FOR THESE REPIARS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! I LOVED MY CAR UNTIL YESTERDAY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659659

57,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Electrical System

CAR PARKED AT MY EMPLOYMENT PARKING LOT AND WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND KEY INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT IS ON. KEY DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH NISSAN FOR YEARS, AND NISSAN WANTS TO CHARGE ME $100 FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHEN THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW TO FIX IT. COMPLAINT: VEHI…

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CAR PARKED AT MY EMPLOYMENT PARKING LOT AND WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND KEY INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT IS ON. KEY DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH NISSAN FOR YEARS, AND NISSAN WANTS TO CHARGE ME $100 FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHEN THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW TO FIX IT. COMPLAINT: VEHICLE WON'T START; NISSAN'S FAILURE TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE IT CORRECTED; FAILURE TO START WITH STEERING WHEEL IN LOCK POSITION AND INTELLIGENT KEY DOES NOT WORK. THE INTELLIGENT KEY IS NOT THAT INTELLIGENT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659629

74,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

AFTER GETTING BACK INTO MY CAR AFTER DINNER, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCKED. THE PUSH IGNITION SWITCH WOULD ONLY GO IN THE "LOCK" POSITION. THE "KEY" ICON WAS LIT UP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH. PUTTING THE FOB KEY INTO THE SLOT (THE BACK UP WAY OF STARTING THE CAR) ALSO DID N…

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AFTER GETTING BACK INTO MY CAR AFTER DINNER, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCKED. THE PUSH IGNITION SWITCH WOULD ONLY GO IN THE "LOCK" POSITION. THE "KEY" ICON WAS LIT UP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH. PUTTING THE FOB KEY INTO THE SLOT (THE BACK UP WAY OF STARTING THE CAR) ALSO DID NOT WORK. FROM WHAT I READ ON LINE, MANY 2009-2010 NISSAN MODELS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO A STEERING COLUMN LOCK MECHANISM THAT DOESN'T DISENGAGE. I IMAGINE THIS WILL COST ME ABOUT 700-1000$ TO FIX, NOT TO MENTION THE COST TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659592

82,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART F…

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THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE ALMOST 100 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659168

48,000 miles · Nov 2, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

OUR 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULD NOT START. THIS PRESENTED AN UNSAFE SITUATION IN WHICH MY WIFE WAS VIRTUALLY STRANDED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT START THE CAR WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. WE ATTEMPTED TO USE TWO SEPARATE KEY FOBS FOR OUR CAR BUT NEITHER WORKED…

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OUR 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULD NOT START. THIS PRESENTED AN UNSAFE SITUATION IN WHICH MY WIFE WAS VIRTUALLY STRANDED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT START THE CAR WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. WE ATTEMPTED TO USE TWO SEPARATE KEY FOBS FOR OUR CAR BUT NEITHER WORKED. WE HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT HAD A DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT START. THE PARTS NEEDED AND PART NUMBERS ARE SHOWN BELOW: ** STEERING LOCK (SOME REFERENCED PARTS SOURCES ONLINE ALSO REFER TO IT AS AN IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY) (1 EA) PART #: 48700-9N00B ** LOCK BOLT/SCREW (4 EA) PART # 48703-06F0A WE WERE QUOTED AN ASTRONOMICAL PRICE OF $1,650 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK. IT JUST SEEMS OUTRAGEOUS AND UNBELIEVABLE! I READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ONLINE FOR OWNERS OF THIS SAME TYPE OF NISSAN VEHICLE. MANY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ARISE AT ROUGHLY THE SAME RECORDED MILEAGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF ABSOLUTELY NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM CONSTITUTES AN INHERENT MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEERING AND IGNITION SYSTEM WHICH PRESENTS A HAZARD FOR OWNERS/OPERATORS, AN UNREALISTIC COST FOR AN ISSUE THAT ACTUALLY SHOULD NOT OCCUR, AND LEAVES OWNERS/OPERATORS STRANDED AND BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WON'T OPERATE AND TURN ON THE VEHICLE. I SEE IT AS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE EXAMINED CLOSELY FOR AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE ACTION WITH NISSAN TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651922

45,000 miles · Nov 2, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

THE ANTI THEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCK SWITCH FAILED. THE CAR WILL NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIR. NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE SAME DEFECT IN MODEL YEAR 2009 MAXIMAS AND ALTIMAS. BUT THEY SAY THE PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST IN 2010 MODELS. OBVIOUSLY IT DOES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651902

118,412 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Electrical SystemSteeringWheels

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART F…

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THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON THE VEHICLE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THIS ULTIMATELY PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING DO TO THE PUSH TO START FEATURE. NISSAN RELEASED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE 2009 MODEL MAXIMA WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO 2010 MODEL THAT I HAVE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE NEW PART WILL COST ME $965 OUT OF POCKET. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE ALMOST 100 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649470

82,000 miles · Oct 21, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I DROVE MY 2010 NISSAN MAX TO CHURCH...THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PERFECTLY AND WE HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD IT SERVICED. WHEN I GOT IN VEHICLE TO LEAVE CHURCH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE KEY FOB WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD COME ON. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE DASH SHOWING A KEY BUT NOTHING ELSE WORKED. I H…

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I DROVE MY 2010 NISSAN MAX TO CHURCH...THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING PERFECTLY AND WE HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD IT SERVICED. WHEN I GOT IN VEHICLE TO LEAVE CHURCH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE KEY FOB WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR BUT NOTHING ELSE WOULD COME ON. THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE DASH SHOWING A KEY BUT NOTHING ELSE WORKED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THE ELECTRICAL STEERING COLUMN LOCK SWITCH WAS NOT WORKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR WOULD COST $1100. I WAS INFORMED NO RECALLS FOR 2010 BUT 2009 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA HAD SAME ISSUES AND RECALL WAS DONE FOR THAT YEAR ONLY. I AM SO UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN ESPECIALLY AFTER READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AS WELL. WE HAVE ALWAYS OWNED NISSANS BUT I AM TOTALLY RECONSIDERING MY NEXT VEHICLE PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649196

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.