Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
290–25K
4125–50K
7750–75K
4575–100K
35100–150K
11150K+
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
What owners actually said
275 reports
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
46,533 miles · May 18, 2015
Unknown Or Other
CAR WILL NOT START CONSISTENTLY.IT APPEARS TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL IGNITION LOCK. NISSAN WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THE ISSUE. DEALING WITH THE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING REP AT "NISSAN AMERICA" WAS FRUSTRATING.
NHTSA ODI #10717198
56,600 miles · May 18, 2015
Steering
2010 NISSAN MAXIMA...THE CAR RAN FINE ALL WEEKEND BUT MONDAY MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START... THERE WAS FLASHING RED KEY LIGHT.... WITH CLICKING SOUND. RESEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATED THAT THIS IS DUE TO STEERING LOCK AND MY DEALER ADVISED ME TO TOW THE CAR TO THEM. 2009 NISSAN MODELS HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES AND NISSAN HAS A …
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2010 NISSAN MAXIMA...THE CAR RAN FINE ALL WEEKEND BUT MONDAY MORNING THE CAR WOULD NOT START... THERE WAS FLASHING RED KEY LIGHT.... WITH CLICKING SOUND. RESEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATED THAT THIS IS DUE TO STEERING LOCK AND MY DEALER ADVISED ME TO TOW THE CAR TO THEM. 2009 NISSAN MODELS HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES AND NISSAN HAS A RECALL BUT THERE IS NONE FRO 2010.... THOUGHT THE PROBLEM ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.
NHTSA ODI #10717146
67,500 miles · May 18, 2015
Suspension
I BEGAN NOTICING AN ODD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING OVER ROUGH ROADS, POTHOLES OR BUMPS. THE NOISE QUICKLY BECAME WORSE AND MORE METALLIC SOUNDING. I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THIS CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN ALL WINTER AND LITTLE SO FAR THIS YEAR. SO IT HAS NOT BEEN USED MUCH SINCE A NEW CVT WAS INSTALLED UNDER WAR…
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I BEGAN NOTICING AN ODD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING OVER ROUGH ROADS, POTHOLES OR BUMPS. THE NOISE QUICKLY BECAME WORSE AND MORE METALLIC SOUNDING. I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THIS CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN ALL WINTER AND LITTLE SO FAR THIS YEAR. SO IT HAS NOT BEEN USED MUCH SINCE A NEW CVT WAS INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE I TRUST AND AFTER TEST DRIVING IT HEARD THE NOISE AND PUT IT ON THE LIFT. IT WAS THEN BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE FOUND TO BE BROKEN IN ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SPOT. A VERY ODD OCCURRENCE FOR SURE. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10717115
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
94,006 miles · May 7, 2015
Steering
I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE TO START MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA TO HEAD TO WORK AND IT WOULD NOT START AND FLASHED THE KEY LIGHT ON MY DASH. SO I THOUGHT MY REMOTE HAD FAILED SO I GOT MY SECOND REMOTE AND STILL NOTHING. LUCKILY I HAD MY TRUCK TO GET TO WORK THAT DAY. I HAD MY MAXIMA TOWED TO NISSAN AND HAD TO PAY $934.40 OUT OF POCKET. I…
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I WENT OUT TO MY GARAGE TO START MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA TO HEAD TO WORK AND IT WOULD NOT START AND FLASHED THE KEY LIGHT ON MY DASH. SO I THOUGHT MY REMOTE HAD FAILED SO I GOT MY SECOND REMOTE AND STILL NOTHING. LUCKILY I HAD MY TRUCK TO GET TO WORK THAT DAY. I HAD MY MAXIMA TOWED TO NISSAN AND HAD TO PAY $934.40 OUT OF POCKET. I WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN COVERED SOME 2009 MAXIMAS WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT THE 2010 YEARS. SUCH A (INCONVENIENCE) I REALLY WISH NISSAN WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10715157
36,000 miles · Apr 20, 2015
Steering
AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO THE POST OFFICE AND PARKING I PROCEEDED TO RESTART MY VEHICLE AND EXIT THE LOT. THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE MODEL OF MY CAR IS PUSH START WITH NO OTHER ALTERNATE OPTION. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER TOTALING OVER $1100.00 AND NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE…
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AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO THE POST OFFICE AND PARKING I PROCEEDED TO RESTART MY VEHICLE AND EXIT THE LOT. THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE MODEL OF MY CAR IS PUSH START WITH NO OTHER ALTERNATE OPTION. I WAS FORCED TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER TOTALING OVER $1100.00 AND NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURE WHO HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES IN THE PAST FOR THE SAME MECHANICAL ERROR. MY VEHICLE IS A 2010 MAXIMA AND NISSAN HAS SO FAR ONLY ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 2009 EDITIONS WHICH HAD THE SAME ERROR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10706666
98,000 miles · Apr 18, 2015
Electrical SystemFire
I ARRIVE HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 PM (PACIFIC) AND PARK MY VEHICLE (I DONT MOVE IT AT ALL). AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM (PACIFIC) ABOUT 13 HOURS LATER... THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES!! THE FIRE DEPT. SAYS IT COULD BE - IT IS MORE THAN LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10706466
74,000 miles · Mar 30, 2015
Steering
STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE OCCURRED. I COULD NOT START THE CAR. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I RESEARCHED AND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL. FOR SOME REASON NISSAN IS NOT RECALLING AND REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702681
8,700 miles · Mar 27, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN PARK, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,700.
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.
2010 Nissan Maxima Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year