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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.

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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

Engine complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2022
EngineService BrakesSteering

While driving to work car stalled going 20MPH, no power brakes, no power steering, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car pressed start car restarted. Five days later, going to store, driving 35 mph, car stalled while running, no power steering, no power brakes, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car…

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While driving to work car stalled going 20MPH, no power brakes, no power steering, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car pressed start car restarted. Five days later, going to store, driving 35 mph, car stalled while running, no power steering, no power brakes, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car restarted. This is an on going safety problem. My father in law had this same vehicle and he was afraid to drive it because of the same issues.

NHTSA ODI #11485332

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2021
Engine

Motor mount is cracked causing engine to shudder

NHTSA ODI #11443688

21,523 miles · Apr 1, 2020
EngineSteeringSuspension

MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN MAKING A WINNING NOISE, THEN IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS DONE. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. I GAVE A CVT TRANSMISSION. ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH STRUTS.HAD NOISE SINCE 2019.

NHTSA ODI #11319941

145,000 miles · Jan 23, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

UNABLE TO PUSH START CAR IGNITION. A KEY SIGNAL SHOWS ON DASH AND CAR WILL NOT START AFTER SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. THE KEY IS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE SHE CAN'T GET PUSH START IGNITION TO START. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MORE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11301457

30,000 miles · Oct 19, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemStructure

EVAP RECALL; SEVERE RUST; POWER STEERING IS WEAKENING; MOTOR HAS EXTREMELY LOUD START; NOT SAFE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 2 MILES - STOPPED DRIVING TODAY AFTER THE CAR'S BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE CHANGED DUE TO HORRIBLE RUST ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11141516

70,000 miles · Jul 23, 2016
Engine

TORQUE MOTOR MOUNT CRACKED

NHTSA ODI #10887909

68,000 miles · Jul 19, 2016
Engine

DESCRIPTION: NISSAN: KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AND OIL NOT REGISTERING ON THE STICK BUT OIL IS NOT LEAKING ANYWHERE. KNOCKING OCCURS WHEN CAR STARTS AND SOMETIME WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10885953

68,431 miles · Jan 6, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

UNEXPECTEDLY THE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULDN'T START. I THEN CHECK THIS WEBSITE, AND FIND A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE! THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL! I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN ISN'T HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAULTY PART. I PAID ALMOST $40,000 FOR A CAR THAT WON'T START. THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. …

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UNEXPECTEDLY THE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA WOULDN'T START. I THEN CHECK THIS WEBSITE, AND FIND A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE! THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK CONTROL! I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN ISN'T HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAULTY PART. I PAID ALMOST $40,000 FOR A CAR THAT WON'T START. THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. MY ISSUE OCCURED WITH MY 4 MONTH OLD SON IN THE VEHICLE WHILE EVERYONE ELSE I KNEW WAS AT WORK. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE! THIS SAME PART NUMBER WAS RECALLED IN PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THE MAXIMA! THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER STOPPING AT THE BANK TO MAKE A DEPOSIT. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HOLD NISSAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ONGOING ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #10818365

78,123 miles · Jul 13, 2015
EngineSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN MAKING A TURN OR GOING OVER A BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN MAKING A TURN OR GOING OVER A BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE FROM THE MOTOR MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,123.

NHTSA ODI #10733655

104,000 miles · May 12, 2015
EnginePower Train

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY MORNING CAR WAS STALLING A LITTLE WAS DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN ONCE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR IT STARTED TO MAKE NOISES LIKE A MOTORCYCLE AND WOULDN'T MOVE FAST. CAR STOP ON MY STREET AND WE HAD TO PUSH IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. NOW WHEN I CRANK MY CAR IT MAK…

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MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY MORNING CAR WAS STALLING A LITTLE WAS DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN ONCE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR IT STARTED TO MAKE NOISES LIKE A MOTORCYCLE AND WOULDN'T MOVE FAST. CAR STOP ON MY STREET AND WE HAD TO PUSH IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. NOW WHEN I CRANK MY CAR IT MAKES THE MOTORCYCLE NOISE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN GOES AWAY. CAN'T DRIVE IT BUT CAN CHANGE THE GEARS WITH EASE. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND STATED THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715962

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.