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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

What owners actually said

275 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2010
Seats

2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER STATES UNSAFE TO BACK UP IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO HEAD RESTRAINTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE OVER OR AROUND THE HEAD REST BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO LARGE AND BLOCKED THE BACK-UP VIEW. REMOVING THE HEAD REST WAS NOT AN OPTION DUE TO SAFETY REASONS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10334867

2,975 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE DOING NORMAL DRIVING, ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE COMING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL AND PLANNING TO STOP AT A CORNER, AND ONCE WHEN PULLING INTO MY CARPORT, WITH FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, I NOTICED THE ENGINE RACING AT 2000 RPM OR SO, TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO HOLD CAR WITH FOOTBRAKE, AND, AFTER STOPPING, PROBLEM DID NOT SEEM …

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WHILE DOING NORMAL DRIVING, ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE COMING DOWN A SLIGHT HILL AND PLANNING TO STOP AT A CORNER, AND ONCE WHEN PULLING INTO MY CARPORT, WITH FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE, I NOTICED THE ENGINE RACING AT 2000 RPM OR SO, TRYING TO ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO HOLD CAR WITH FOOTBRAKE, AND, AFTER STOPPING, PROBLEM DID NOT SEEM TO REPEAT IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10317855

2,800 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED -- IN FRONT END CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR ALL THE WAY TO THE CAR'S ENGINE. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE UNDER THE IMPACT. I TOWED MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND I SPOKE WITH THEIR SHOP MECHANICS, HE WA…

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I WAS INVOLVED -- IN FRONT END CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR ALL THE WAY TO THE CAR'S ENGINE. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE UNDER THE IMPACT. I TOWED MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND I SPOKE WITH THEIR SHOP MECHANICS, HE WAS ALSO SURPRISE THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE AND HE SUGGESTED THE AIRBAG FRONTAL SENSORS MIGHT BE DEFECTED. HE REFERRED ME TO NISSAN MANUFACTURE DEPARTMENT. AFTER CONTACTING THEM, A REPRESENTATIVE EMAILED ME AN AIR BAG MANUAL. I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF DRIVING A DEFECTED CAR. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU ADVISE ME TO WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314760

62 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH HIS HEADLIGHTS. WHEN DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA OR AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CURRENT VOLTAGES WERE SUFFICIENT A…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH HIS HEADLIGHTS. WHEN DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA OR AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CURRENT VOLTAGES WERE SUFFICIENT AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BUT FEELS THAT IT MAY BE IN THE MAKING. THE CONTACT DID NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1600.

NHTSA ODI #10313697

250 miles · Feb 17, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

THE CAR HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY OPINION. THE CAR WILL DRIFT TO THE RIGHT ON ITS OWN AND WHEN YOU STEER IT BACK TO PREVENT RUNNING OFF THE PAVEMENT THE CAR VEERS TO YOUR LEFT AND WOULD RUN OFF THE ROAD TO YOUR LEFT IF YOU DO NOT CORRECT IT. ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL ST…

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THE CAR HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY OPINION. THE CAR WILL DRIFT TO THE RIGHT ON ITS OWN AND WHEN YOU STEER IT BACK TO PREVENT RUNNING OFF THE PAVEMENT THE CAR VEERS TO YOUR LEFT AND WOULD RUN OFF THE ROAD TO YOUR LEFT IF YOU DO NOT CORRECT IT. ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT THE CAR WILL DART TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. ON THE TEST DRIVE I RODE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND COULD FEEL THE CAR MOVING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, THE SERVICE MGR SAID HE COULD FEEL IT ALSO BUT SAID THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE CROWN IN THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM BECOMES A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN ON NARROW FOUR LANE ROADS, YOU MUST CONSTANTLY FIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD OR KEEP FROM RUNNING INTO THE CAR ON YOUR LEFT. I HAVE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO GET USED TO THIS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING IS DIFFERENT FROM MY PREVIOUS CARS. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ADJUSTMENT THAT COULD BE MADE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I AM 70 YEARS OLD AND HAVE DRIVEN A FEW CARS IN MY TIME AND CAN TELL YOU THIS CAR SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE WAY IT DOES, IT IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS TRYING TO DRIVE ITSELF WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING - IE: TOYOTA AND CHEVROLET AND JUST WONDERING IF THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ELECTRONIC STEERING COMPONENTS.. I SENT NISSAN AN EMAIL OF MY CONCERN AND DISSATISFACTION BY THE DEALER SAYING NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ARE BLAMING THEIR PROBLEM ON THE CROWN IN THE ROADS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311531

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.