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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

Steering complaints

158 reports
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83,000 miles · Oct 15, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA EXPERIENCED THE STEERING LOCK FAILURE AND COULD NOT START THE CAR. THIS, AS I HAVE BEEN READING, IS COMMON AND IT'S GOING TO COST OVER $700.00 TO FIX. THIS IS BS NISSAN!

NHTSA ODI #10782493

136,000 miles · Oct 6, 2015
Steering

TRIED TO START CAR KEY LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKES WERE HARD TO PRESS ANG IGNTION WOULD NOT START ONLY LOCK WOULD SHOWUP ON THE PUSH TO START BUTTON NOW CAR IS SITTING AND HAVE TO GET TOWED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO WORK AFTER STOPPING AT A SCHOOL.

NHTSA ODI #10780014

68,000 miles · Sep 30, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or Other

THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED ON MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. BASED ON SHORT RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. NISSAN SHOULD BE RECALLING THIS PART.

NHTSA ODI #10778857

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2015
SeatsSteeringVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10763620

33,000 miles · Aug 19, 2015
SteeringSuspension

WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH OUR 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA VERY CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER 2009 FOR THE 2010 MAXIMA. NISSAN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER, THEY INSIST THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT A PART OF THIS FORMER CAMPAIGN. I STRUGGLE TO BELIEVE THIS AS IT'S JUST TOO IRONIC THAT EVERYTHIN…

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WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH OUR 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA VERY CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER 2009 FOR THE 2010 MAXIMA. NISSAN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, HOWEVER, THEY INSIST THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT A PART OF THIS FORMER CAMPAIGN. I STRUGGLE TO BELIEVE THIS AS IT'S JUST TOO IRONIC THAT EVERYTHING ALIGNS WITH THE FORMER. WE EXPERIENCE 3 PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING. 1.) AT MINIMAL SPEED MAINLY AT INITIAL ACCELERATION, WHEN TURNING SLOWLY, AND WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS YOU FEEL A JOLT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND CAN HEAR A THUD OR CLUNK IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. 2.) WHEN THE CAR REACHES APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BOUNCES ERRATICALLY AND 3.) BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS AND HIGH SPEEDS THE CAR PULLS/VEERS TO THE RIGHT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2013 AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A NISSAN-AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE HYUNDAI-AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO 4 ADDITIONAL, INDEPENDENT MECHANICS/TECHNICIANS AND THEY ALSO CANNOT GET TO THE "ROOT" OF THE PROBLEM WITHOUT HAVING THE CAR FOR AN UNREALISTIC AMOUNT OF TIME FOR DIAGNOSIS. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO PURCHASE A LIFETIME ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING PACKAGE FROM A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AS WELL AS I HAD PURCHASED NEW WHEELS AND TIRES THINKING THAT WAS THE ISSUE. REGARDLESS OF WHAT I DO OR WHERE I TAKE IT, THE ISSUES CONTINUE. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND CANNOT DRIVE AT EASE KNOWLING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. I ALSO HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD WHOSE SAFETY I AM CONCERNED WITH WHEN SHE DRIVES IN OUR MAXIMA WITH US. NISSAN DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY CONCERNS, THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME MY VIN DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THE FORMER CAMPAIGN AND THEN SENT ME ON MY WAY. SOMEONE, ANYONE, PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #10749935

120,000 miles · Aug 12, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FAILURE AND STAYED LIT AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FAILURE AND STAYED LIT AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10748056

60,800 miles · Jul 20, 2015
Steering

AFTER WORK ON 7/18/15, I WENT TO MY CAR TO GO HOME, BUT AS I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE START BUTTON, I GOT NOTHING - NOT A PEEP FROM THE ENGINE - SO I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED AAA, THINKING THAT MY BATTERY WAS DEAD (EVEN THOUGH I'D JUST PURCHASED A NEW ONE RECENTLY), BUT THE JUMP DIDN'T DO ANY…

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AFTER WORK ON 7/18/15, I WENT TO MY CAR TO GO HOME, BUT AS I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE START BUTTON, I GOT NOTHING - NOT A PEEP FROM THE ENGINE - SO I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED AAA, THINKING THAT MY BATTERY WAS DEAD (EVEN THOUGH I'D JUST PURCHASED A NEW ONE RECENTLY), BUT THE JUMP DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO MY CAR. I CALLED HOME AND HAD MY BACK-UP FOB BROUGHT TO ME, THINKING THAT PERHAPS THE BATTERY FROM MY MAIN ONE WAS DEAD, BUT THE SECOND ONE DIDN'T WORK, EITHER. NOR DID EITHER OF THEM WORK IN THE PORT THAT'S LOCATED IN THE BOTTOM-LEFT PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD, SO I GOT A RIDE TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE SOME SALESMEN GAVE ME SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT I SHOULD DO. WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I'D DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY MENTIONED, THEY SAID THAT ALL THAT WAS LEFT TO BE DONE WAS TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP, WHICH I DID, BUT SINCE IT WAS A FRIDAY AND NEARLY 6:00 PM, MY CAR WASN'T GOING TO BE LOOKED AT UNTIL MONDAY AFTERNOON. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, AS WELL AS OVER THE WEEKEND, I DID SOME SEARCHING ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM, 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, SO I DON'T SEE WHY THIS PROBLEM SHOULDN'T ALSO BE INCLUDED, AS WELL. NISSAN, YOU'RE LOSING YET ANOTHER CUSTOMER...

NHTSA ODI #10735351

90,320 miles · Jun 24, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,320.

NHTSA ODI #10727025

89,000 miles · Jun 4, 2015
Steering

MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA EXPERIENCED THE STEERING LOCK FAILURE. IT LEAVES PEOPLE STRANDED WHEN THE STEERING LOCK ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM FAILS. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT LOCKED BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE STEERING LOCK DEVICE FAILS TO FULLY DISENGAGE SO THE SMART KEY SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THIS MAY NOT CAUSE ACCIDE…

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MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA EXPERIENCED THE STEERING LOCK FAILURE. IT LEAVES PEOPLE STRANDED WHEN THE STEERING LOCK ANTI-THEFT MECHANISM FAILS. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT LOCKED BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. THE STEERING LOCK DEVICE FAILS TO FULLY DISENGAGE SO THE SMART KEY SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. THIS MAY NOT CAUSE ACCIDENT, BUT IT CAN STRAND A PERSON ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME LEAVING THEM WITH THE TOWING FEE AND ANYWHERE FROM 700-1000$ IN DEALERSHIP FEES. I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND BACK AND FORTH FOR LUNCH. AT THE END OF THE DAY IT FAILED TO START DUE TO WHAT I LATER FOUND OUT WAS THE STEERING LOCK DEVICE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10723506

50,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Steering

THE STEERING COLUMN CAN BE ADJUSTED TO A USER'S PREFERRED POSITION. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL "FALLING" OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITION. I CAN READJUST USING THE ELECTRONIC ADJUSTMENT LEVER, HOWEVER IT WILL AGAIN "FALL" IN POSITION, BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE. THE CHANGE IS SO GRADUAL THAT IT IS NOT NOTICED…

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THE STEERING COLUMN CAN BE ADJUSTED TO A USER'S PREFERRED POSITION. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL "FALLING" OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITION. I CAN READJUST USING THE ELECTRONIC ADJUSTMENT LEVER, HOWEVER IT WILL AGAIN "FALL" IN POSITION, BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE. THE CHANGE IS SO GRADUAL THAT IT IS NOT NOTICED UNTIL IT BLOCKS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH IF THAT OCCURRED AT THE WRONG TIME, COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO INADVERTENTLY TRAVEL AT AN UNSAFE SPEED, AND LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10717717

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.