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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

Power Train complaints

15 reports
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157,000 miles · Sep 8, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact then stated that the RPM’s failed to increase. Additionally, the contact stated that while shifted into reverse, he heard a whining sound then the ve…

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The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact then stated that the RPM’s failed to increase. Additionally, the contact stated that while shifted into reverse, he heard a whining sound then the vehicle half shifted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the Extended Warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

NHTSA ODI #11543366

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2021
Power Train

CVT torque converter codes p0774 leading to total transmission replacement.

NHTSA ODI #11436958

122,000 miles · Feb 3, 2021
Power TrainSeatsSuspension

MY TRANSMISSION SOUNDS VERY LOUD WHEN I ACCELERATE UNTIL I GET TO ABOUT 55 MPH. IT SEEMS TO FEEL ROUGH AS WELL DURING THAT PERIOD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE. MY PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T BLOW COLD AIR

NHTSA ODI #11394562

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

160,000 miles · Oct 7, 2019
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND ONLY ONE OWNER BEFORE ME, IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL. MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A NOISE FOR MONTHS NOW SO I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP (ON AUGUST 3, 2019) AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IT BROKE DOWN ALMOST 2 HOURS FROM MY HOUSE. OTHER THAN THE KNOCKING NOISE…

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I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND ONLY ONE OWNER BEFORE ME, IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL. MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A NOISE FOR MONTHS NOW SO I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP (ON AUGUST 3, 2019) AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IT BROKE DOWN ALMOST 2 HOURS FROM MY HOUSE. OTHER THAN THE KNOCKING NOISE (WHICH INCLUDING A POPPING NOISE), UNEVEN TIRE WEAR (HAD A BLOW OUT ON 65 3 HOURS FROM HOME), IT STARTED NOT ACCELERATING WHEN I WAS AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. IT STILL RUNS, BUT I'VE SPENT OVER $500 WITHIN A MONTHS TIME TRYING TO RECEIVE ANSWERS AND HAVEN'T YET. I SEE RECALLS FOR OTHER YEARS AS IN THE SUSPENSION/STRUT INSULATOR CRACKING. ALSO, I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS SLIPPING AND NISSAN NOT WANTING TO FIX THEM. I AM NOW EXPECTING MY FIRST CHILD AND HAVE NO FORM OF TRANSPORTATION DUE TO NISSAN AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS NOT KNOWING BASIC CAR KNOWLEDGE NOR WANTING THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFE AND SATISFIED.

NHTSA ODI #11266840

89,000 miles · Jul 24, 2019
Power Train

CAR TOTALLY SLOWED TO 25MPH ON HIGHWAY WHILE TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE ORIENTATION. COULD'VE KILLED MY WHOLE FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE. CVT TRANSMISSIONS IS A FAILURE. ALL CONTACTED TRANSMISSION PLACES AND IMPORT CAR REPAIR SAY ITS VERY PROBLEMATIC AND A WASTE. THOUGHT NISSAN EXTENDED FACTORY WARRANTY TO 10 YR 120000 MILES. I H…

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CAR TOTALLY SLOWED TO 25MPH ON HIGHWAY WHILE TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE ORIENTATION. COULD'VE KILLED MY WHOLE FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE. CVT TRANSMISSIONS IS A FAILURE. ALL CONTACTED TRANSMISSION PLACES AND IMPORT CAR REPAIR SAY ITS VERY PROBLEMATIC AND A WASTE. THOUGHT NISSAN EXTENDED FACTORY WARRANTY TO 10 YR 120000 MILES. I HAVE A 2010. LUCKILY IT WAS EARLY MORNING AND TRAFFIC WAS NOT AS HEAVY.

NHTSA ODI #11234449

111,570 miles · Oct 16, 2017
Exterior LightingPower Train

2010 MAXIMA HAS PROBLEM CAN'T DRIVE FROM CVT

NHTSA ODI #11033943

119,700 miles · Sep 8, 2016
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO SOUTHERN CAL, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 2000 RPMS PERIODICALLY. I PARKED THE CAR FOR 1 - 2 HRS AND IT SEEMED TO START WORKING AGAIN. ONCE HOME, I HEADED TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED COMPLETELY. I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND CALLED NISSAN ON…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO SOUTHERN CAL, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 2000 RPMS PERIODICALLY. I PARKED THE CAR FOR 1 - 2 HRS AND IT SEEMED TO START WORKING AGAIN. ONCE HOME, I HEADED TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED COMPLETELY. I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND CALLED NISSAN ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE ONCE I MADE IT HOME THE ODOMETER WAS ABOVE 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10904590

63,000 miles · Nov 11, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND AN ORANGE LIGHT THAT READ "KEY" POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. ON MY IGNITION BUTTON THE "LOCK" WORD WAS LUMINATED. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, NOR TURN ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. I WAS STRANDED FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER, WHICH CAUSED CHAOS AND UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE. …

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I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND AN ORANGE LIGHT THAT READ "KEY" POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. ON MY IGNITION BUTTON THE "LOCK" WORD WAS LUMINATED. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, NOR TURN ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. I WAS STRANDED FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER, WHICH CAUSED CHAOS AND UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, PARKED AFTER ONLY 2 HOURS AFTER LAST USE. SCHOOLS CAN CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IF YOU DO NOT PICK UP YOUR KID BY A CERTAIN TIME. THAT PROVES THAT IF I DIDN'T FIND A WAY TO GET MY DAUGHTER PICKED UP IN A TIMELY MANNER SHE WOULD'VE BEEN IN DANGER. THANK GOD I WAS IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULD'VE BEEN IN A HOSTILE NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THE COLD, WITH NO HEAT. THE PIECE IN QUESTION THAT WAS THE PROBLEM... QUOTED BY NISSAN IS THE "STEERING LOCK." THIS PIECE HAS BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN IN THE EARLIER MODELS, BUT APPARENTLY NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. (WHICH IS THE YEAR AFTER THE ONE THAT IS RECALLED) APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T FIX THIS ISSUE. WHAT IF I WAS SOMEONE WHO NEEDED TO BE HOME TO TAKE MEDICINE AT A CERTAIN TIME, OR I DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE TO TELL THE SCHOOL WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS WAITING FOR ME THE ISSUE, OR MY WIFE WAS IN LABOR? THIS PIECE IS AN UNNECESSARY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10789790

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.