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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

275Owner complaints

Model-year median: 99

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2010 Nissan Maxima

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 275 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Steering: 158 reports
Electrical System: 79 reports
Suspension: 29 reports
Unknown Or Other: 24 reports
Engine: 20 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

09V358000 — Suspension

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Maxima years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering

158Electrical System

79 Suspension

29 Unknown Or Other

24 Engine

All reported categories

Air Bags

15 Power Train

15 Structure

11 Vehicle Speed Control

7 Seats

6 Electronic Stability Control (esc)

4 Visibility

4 Visibility/wiper

4 Engine And Engine Cooling

3 Equipment Adaptive/mobility

2 Fuel/propulsion System

2 Latches/locks/linkages

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

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

Visibility complaints

4 reports

Clear category filter

51,000 miles · Mar 10, 2015

StructureVisibility

Read full complaint

DRIVING VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH WHEN A PORTION OF GLASS FROM THE PANORAMIC ROOF DETACHED FROM THE ROOF ASSEMBLY. REPORTED THE ISSUE TO DEALERSHIP ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ABOUT WATER LEAKAGE PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. DEALER 1 STATED THEY COULD NOT RECREATE ISSUE. DEALER 2 STATED THAT A SEAL WAS CAUSING A WATER LEAK BUT A WEATHER SEAL WOULD NOT CAUSE A PANORAMIC ROOF TO DETACH. NISSAN STILL REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT EVEN AFTER THE ROOF COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IS ALSO UNWILLING TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY AS I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. PLEASE MAKE THIS AS A KNOWN ISSUE AND FORCE NISSAN TO RELEASE A RECALL OR TSB AT THE MINIMUM. THE NEXT PERSON WHO THIS HAPPENS TO MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THERE ARE ALSO MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS SAME ROOF GLASS ON THIS MODEL EXPLODING WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693174

89,000 miles · Feb 10, 2015

Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #10682535

60,000 miles · Jan 27, 2012

Electrical SystemSteeringVisibility

I'M UNABLE TO TURN ON ACCESSORY IGNITION OR START CAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. PART #48700-JK000. MANUFACTURE IS UNABLE TO SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW ONE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY NISSAN MOTORS, NOT JUST FOR MAXIMA, BUT ALL INTELLIGENT KEY MODELS. CURRENTLY CAN'T EVEN ROLL WINDOWS UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10445618

16,000 miles · May 18, 2011

VisibilityInjury

I WAS DRIVING AND THE HIGHWAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT IT NOR WAS IT DAMAGED PREVIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401448

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.