PARKED VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE ENERGIZED FOB START SIGNAL, REQUIRING TOW TO DEALERSHIP, REPLACEMENT OF STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY (PARTS COST $744.68). AT 64,247 MI (OUT OF WARRANTEE), ISSUE IS OF DESIGN WITHOUT EMERGENCY MECHANICAL STARTING PROCEDURE, EXTREME COST OF REPLACEMENT, UNFORESEEN FAILURE NOT DUE TO OPERATOR.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
275 reportsBOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. CAR WOULDN'T START AS A RESULT OF A STOPLIGHT SWITCH BEING FAULTY, RESULTING IN PUSH BUTTON START NOT WORKING. REPLACED FOR $166.07 ON 01/13/16 AND THEN CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN A MONTH LATER ON 02/09/16 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHI…
Read full complaint
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
IN SEPTEMBER 2015 I PURCHASED A ONE OWNER CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2010 MAXIMA WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS UP TO DATE WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY; THINKING I WAS AS SAFE AS I COULD BE. JUST 5 SHORT MONTHS LATER ON FEBRUARY 8, 2016 AFTER WORK, AT DUSK MY 2010 MAXIMA WITH ONLY 82,700 MILES FAILED TO START. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY HARD A…
Read full complaint
IN SEPTEMBER 2015 I PURCHASED A ONE OWNER CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2010 MAXIMA WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS UP TO DATE WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY; THINKING I WAS AS SAFE AS I COULD BE. JUST 5 SHORT MONTHS LATER ON FEBRUARY 8, 2016 AFTER WORK, AT DUSK MY 2010 MAXIMA WITH ONLY 82,700 MILES FAILED TO START. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY HARD AND NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. THIS POSES AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, AS I WORK IN THE FIELD IN CRIME STRICKEN AREAS; HENCE BUYING A CPO VEHICLE AND PURCHASING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 45 MINUTES, IN THE DARK ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP. BEING THAT IT WAS AFTER 6PM, THE DEALER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING. DEALERSHIP CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO INFORM ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WILL COST ME $925+TAX!!! THE CAR WAS OPERATING JUST FINE; NO REASON TO THINK I WAS AT RISK OF BEING STRANDED. ACCORDING TO ONLINE RESEARCH, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE AND BEEN STRANDED WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND/OR IN HORRIBLE WHETHER CONDITIONS, YET NO RECALL. 2009 NISSAN MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME FAULTY PART. SINCE THE SAME PART CONTINUED TO BE USED ON 2010 MODELS, WHY WAS THIS RECALL NOT EXTENDED FOR 2010 MODELS? NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE FAULTY PART BEFORE SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENS TO SOMEONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
KEY LOCK WILL NOT ALLOW CAR TO START OR TURN IGNITION.
I DOUBLE PARKED MY 2010 MAXIMA TO RUN INTO A STORE TO BUY A NEWSPAPER. WHEN I RETURNED A MINUTE LATER TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START - THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I WAS STRANDED ON A VERY BUSY AVENUE WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2010 MAXIMA, I AM SHOCKED THAT NISSAN HA…
Read full complaint
I DOUBLE PARKED MY 2010 MAXIMA TO RUN INTO A STORE TO BUY A NEWSPAPER. WHEN I RETURNED A MINUTE LATER TO THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START - THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I WAS STRANDED ON A VERY BUSY AVENUE WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2010 MAXIMA, I AM SHOCKED THAT NISSAN HAS NOT RECALLED THIS CAR TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. I HAD TO WAIT 4 HOURS IN THE FREEZING COLD BEFORE A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. THE DRIVER TOOK ME TO THE BAY RIDGE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1,056.00. I ALSO MISSED A DAY'S WORK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KEY WITH A LOCK WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KEY WITH A LOCK WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
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. …
Read full complaint
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!
UNEXPECTEDLY, AFTER DRIVING ONE KID TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, VEHICLE (STATIONARY) WOULD NOT START TO DRIVE MY OTHER KID TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF TO HELP PREVENT THEFT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM RECOGNIZI…
Read full complaint
UNEXPECTEDLY, AFTER DRIVING ONE KID TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, VEHICLE (STATIONARY) WOULD NOT START TO DRIVE MY OTHER KID TO MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF TO HELP PREVENT THEFT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM RECOGNIZING MY KEY (FOB), NO REGULAR KEY IS ISSUED, JUST BUTTON START. IN MY VEHICLE THE ESCL MAY MALFUNCTION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED AND COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. STILL WAITING TO HEAR THE DREADFUL CALL FROM THE DEALER (HAVE TO BE TOWED AND I AM NOT EVEN DONE MAKING PAYMENTS FOR MY 2010 MAXIMA) TO SEE WHAT THE DAMAGE WILL BE OR IF COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, MEANS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU ARE STRANDED WITH A NON RELIABLE CAR, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUNTAINS OR THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT, NO WAY TO START A CAR IF NO MECHANIC KEY IS ISSUED AND THE ONLY OPTION, THE FOB, IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY YOUR OWN CAR.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM WORKS WITH FAB TURNING ON VEHICLE DISENGAGED AND THE WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CULPRIT AND WITHOUT THE REPAIR OF $950 THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING JUST FINE 1 HOUR PRIOR TO LOCKING ME OUT AND CAUSING MANY OF HOURS WITH AAA DIAGNOSTICS, THEN TOWING TO 2 SEPARATE LOCATIONS AND…
Read full complaint
STEERING WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM WORKS WITH FAB TURNING ON VEHICLE DISENGAGED AND THE WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CULPRIT AND WITHOUT THE REPAIR OF $950 THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING JUST FINE 1 HOUR PRIOR TO LOCKING ME OUT AND CAUSING MANY OF HOURS WITH AAA DIAGNOSTICS, THEN TOWING TO 2 SEPARATE LOCATIONS AND I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS IS A ROUTINE ISSUE IT SEEMS EXTREME AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING IF IT HAPPENED WHEN ON THE ROAD AND NOT IN MY GARAGE TO QUOTE THEIR RESPONSE WAS NO IT WOULDN'T OF DONE IT WHILE DRIVING BUT IT COULD OF DESERTED YOU IN A LOCATION OTHER THAN YOUR HOME CAUSING YOU EVEN FURTHER INCONVENIENCE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD, I MAINTAIN IT BY OPERATORS MANUAL, I CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW UPSETTING IT IS TO HAVE A VEHICLE WITH THE "AUTO THEFT" SELLING POINT BE A FAULTY MANUFACTURING OF THE ABILITY FOR OWNERS TO START THEIR VEHICLE. THE RANDOM STOP WORKING IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT MOVE. ITS DEFINITELY A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS SITUATION.
Official recalls
109V358000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration