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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

Steering complaints

158 reports
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77,120 miles · Feb 7, 2017
Steering

ON SUNDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2017, I LEFT MY HOUSE TO VISIT MY BROTHER AT 10AM AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE (20MINS LATER) TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. AN ORANGE LIGHT THAT READ "KEY" POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE KEY LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKES WERE HARD TO PRESS, AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START ONLY LOCK WOU…

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ON SUNDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2017, I LEFT MY HOUSE TO VISIT MY BROTHER AT 10AM AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE (20MINS LATER) TO MY CAR, IT WOULD NOT START. AN ORANGE LIGHT THAT READ "KEY" POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. TRIED TO START THE CAR AND THE KEY LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKES WERE HARD TO PRESS, AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START ONLY LOCK WOULD SHOW UP ON THE PUSH TO START BUTTON. AFTER TWO HOURS, I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, I DID SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN MAXIMA AND NOT COVERED BY ANY EXTENDED WARRANTIES; THOUGH I READ THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED OFTEN ENOUGH WITH THE 2009 MAXIMA THAT NISSAN ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THIS REPAIR. 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. MONDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2017, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM MY CAR ISSUE (LOCK STEERING) AND THE COST WAS GOING TO BE $1104 TO REPAIR, WITH MY MILITARY DISCOUNT THE COST WAS $985.46. STILL THIS IS MONEY I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER MALFUNCTION AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WEAR AND TEAR OF VEHICLE. WHICH, BTW, THE VEHICLE IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS AND ALL WORK COMPLETED BY A NISSAN TECHNICIAN WHICH MAKES THIS EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING. THIS COMPLAINT IS TO NOT ONLY BRING ATTENTION TO THE ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA, BUT TO ALSO GET REIMBURSED FOR MY OUT OF POCKET REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL NISSAN CUSTOMER SINCE 2000 (THIS IS MY THIRD MAXIMA; FAVORITE TYPE OF CAR), BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY NISSAN, YOU'RE LOSING YET ANOTHER CUSTOMER'THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ODI #10949965

67,000 miles · Jan 30, 2017
Steering

MY WIFE WAS STRANDED AT A BUSINESS AND OUR CAR WOULDN'T START. AFTER CALLING OUR LOCAL DEALER, IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING LOCK. WE PURCHASED THIS 2010 MAXIMA NEW IN SEPT. 2009. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY NISSAN. WE HAVE 67000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT'S NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10948587

70,000 miles · Jan 19, 2017
Steering

VEHICLE IS AN IMPLACABLE CONDITION. JUST TURNED ONLY 70,000 MILES. CAR WAS PARKED AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS. WHEN I CAME OUT TO GO HOME THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON. UPON DIAG. FOUND THE STEERING LOCK SOLENOID HAS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE STRANDED. HAVING THE CAR TOWED 20 MILES AT MY EXPENSE I FIND PUT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE…

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VEHICLE IS AN IMPLACABLE CONDITION. JUST TURNED ONLY 70,000 MILES. CAR WAS PARKED AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS. WHEN I CAME OUT TO GO HOME THE KEY LIGHT WAS ON. UPON DIAG. FOUND THE STEERING LOCK SOLENOID HAS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE STRANDED. HAVING THE CAR TOWED 20 MILES AT MY EXPENSE I FIND PUT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. VERY COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10946565

50,940 miles · Jan 7, 2017
Steering

SEE ATTACHMENTS

NHTSA ODI #10940298

91,000 miles · Jan 6, 2017
Steering

WENT TO USE CAR BEFORE WORK AND IT WOULDN'T START. TO THE PROPER MEASURES TO START IT BY GIVING IT A JUMP AND NO AVAIL. I FINALLY LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR THE WARNING NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY ISSUE AND NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. I BEGAN RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND 09 NISSANS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT N…

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WENT TO USE CAR BEFORE WORK AND IT WOULDN'T START. TO THE PROPER MEASURES TO START IT BY GIVING IT A JUMP AND NO AVAIL. I FINALLY LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR THE WARNING NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY ISSUE AND NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. I BEGAN RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND 09 NISSANS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT NEWER MODELS. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN AFTER 65K MILES AND MY CAR IS AT 91K. THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE AND CAUSED TO A DEFECT NOT THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE DRIVER. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940053

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2016
Steering

THE CAR DOESN'T START, THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT LOCKED AND IT SHOWS A RED LIGHT WITH A KEY IN THE DASHBOARD, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT DOING GROCERY AND WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR TO GO BACK HOME IT DIDN'T START, SHOWING THAT RED LIGHT WITH A KEY ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10938930

55,000 miles · Dec 17, 2016
Steering

I'M THE SECOND OWNER & IT'S RUN FINE SINCE NOVEMBER 2011. YESTERDAY IT WOULDN'T START DUE TO THE FAULTY/BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH. TOWED IT TO DEALER & IT'S GOING TO BE $910 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ELECTRONIC IGNITION. VIN CONTAINS A'S (NOT B'S), INDICATING IT WAS FROM FIRST HALF OF 2010. IT PROBABLY HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE 2009 M…

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I'M THE SECOND OWNER & IT'S RUN FINE SINCE NOVEMBER 2011. YESTERDAY IT WOULDN'T START DUE TO THE FAULTY/BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH. TOWED IT TO DEALER & IT'S GOING TO BE $910 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ELECTRONIC IGNITION. VIN CONTAINS A'S (NOT B'S), INDICATING IT WAS FROM FIRST HALF OF 2010. IT PROBABLY HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE 2009 MAXIMAS THAT WERE RECALLED. DEALER 'CORRECTLY' STATES THE 2010 DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL, BUT IT SHOULD. LOVE NISSAN CARS, BUT AFTER THIS, I'LL NEVER TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. NISSAN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE CARS TO RECIPROCATE CUSTOMER LOYALTY.

NHTSA ODI #10935996

100,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

GOT IN CAR LEAVING FROM GYM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED COULD NOT MOVE IT. CALLED DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO HOLD KEY FOB OVER CAR IGNITION DID NOT RESOLVE SITUATION. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED . I GOT ON LINE TO RESEARCH ABOUT THIS LOCKING MECHANISM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MILLIONS OF CONSUMER COMPLA…

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GOT IN CAR LEAVING FROM GYM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED COULD NOT MOVE IT. CALLED DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO HOLD KEY FOB OVER CAR IGNITION DID NOT RESOLVE SITUATION. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED . I GOT ON LINE TO RESEARCH ABOUT THIS LOCKING MECHANISM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MILLIONS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO THIS VERY ISSUE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS BEING FILED AGAINST NISSAN FOR THIS SITUATION. APPARENTLY THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS INTERNAL STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM HOWEVER NISSAN HAS PASSED THE COST OF THE FAULTY COMPONENT ONTO THE UNEXPECTED CONSUMER. THIS COST ME $1000.00 . SHAME ON YOU NISSAN. THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928314

92,000 miles · Nov 25, 2016
Steering

CAR STARTED FINE ALL MORNING, I WENT INSIDE TOF PAY A BILL NOT EVEN 10 MINUTES LATER. I WENT TO MY CAR TO CRANK UP AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, BRAKES WERE HARD, AND THE KEY DISPLAY FLASHING. I CALLED A MECHANIC TO TRY EVERYTHING NO BUDGE, SOON I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. NISSAN CALLED THE NEX…

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CAR STARTED FINE ALL MORNING, I WENT INSIDE TOF PAY A BILL NOT EVEN 10 MINUTES LATER. I WENT TO MY CAR TO CRANK UP AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, BRAKES WERE HARD, AND THE KEY DISPLAY FLASHING. I CALLED A MECHANIC TO TRY EVERYTHING NO BUDGE, SOON I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. NISSAN CALLED THE NEXT DAY STATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM HAD FAILED AND WARRANTY WAS COVERING IT. I ENDED UP DISHING OUT OVER 1300.00 TO GET IT FIX.

NHTSA ODI #10927904

79,000 miles · Nov 18, 2016
Steering

VEHICLE STARTED FINE, MADE A STOP AT THE STORE BEFORE HEADING TO WORK IN THE AM, CAME OUT OF STORE ONLY TO FIND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CALLED SERVICE DEPARTMENT USED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. ESCL OR ELECT. STEERING CONTROL LOCK MODULE BAD AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PROB…

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VEHICLE STARTED FINE, MADE A STOP AT THE STORE BEFORE HEADING TO WORK IN THE AM, CAME OUT OF STORE ONLY TO FIND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CALLED SERVICE DEPARTMENT USED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. ESCL OR ELECT. STEERING CONTROL LOCK MODULE BAD AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM KNOWN/COMMON BY NISSAN NEITHER EXTENDED WARRANTY NOR NISSAN WANT TO PAY TO REPAIR. WITH THIS BEING KNOWN AND COMMON THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART.

NHTSA ODI #10926796

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.