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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
50,940 miles · Jan 7, 2017
Steering

SEE ATTACHMENTS

NHTSA ODI #10940298

91,000 miles · Jan 6, 2017
Steering

WENT TO USE CAR BEFORE WORK AND IT WOULDN'T START. TO THE PROPER MEASURES TO START IT BY GIVING IT A JUMP AND NO AVAIL. I FINALLY LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR THE WARNING NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY ISSUE AND NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. I BEGAN RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND 09 NISSANS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT N…

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WENT TO USE CAR BEFORE WORK AND IT WOULDN'T START. TO THE PROPER MEASURES TO START IT BY GIVING IT A JUMP AND NO AVAIL. I FINALLY LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR THE WARNING NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY ISSUE AND NO SOLUTION WAS FOUND. I BEGAN RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND 09 NISSANS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT NEWER MODELS. THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN AFTER 65K MILES AND MY CAR IS AT 91K. THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE AND CAUSED TO A DEFECT NOT THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE DRIVER. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10940053

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2016
Steering

THE CAR DOESN'T START, THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT LOCKED AND IT SHOWS A RED LIGHT WITH A KEY IN THE DASHBOARD, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT DOING GROCERY AND WHEN I WENT TO THE CAR TO GO BACK HOME IT DIDN'T START, SHOWING THAT RED LIGHT WITH A KEY ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10938930

66,000 miles · Dec 28, 2016
Electrical System

VEHICLE WON'T START AT TIMES. HAS STRANDED MY WIFE MULTIPLE TIMES. EACH TIME REQUIRED A JUMP. THOUGHT WAS BATTERY, SO REPLACED. CONTINUED TO FAIL. THIS LAST TIME WIFE TRIED TO TURN WHEEL A BIT WHILE LOCKED AND VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED AGAIN, SHE AVOIDED BEING STRANDED ONCE AGAIN. KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN.

NHTSA ODI #10938022

85,000 miles · Dec 18, 2016
Electrical System

ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE AFTER WORK, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT AND I PLUGGED THAT INTO GOOGLE. IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MECHANISM AND IT WAS COMMON FOR THIS TO FAIL. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED FROM WORK TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CHARGE WAS $900 FOR THE P…

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ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE AFTER WORK, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT AND I PLUGGED THAT INTO GOOGLE. IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL MECHANISM AND IT WAS COMMON FOR THIS TO FAIL. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED FROM WORK TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CHARGE WAS $900 FOR THE PART AND $250 FOR THE SERVICE. DOING RESEARCH, I NOTICED THAT THIS PART WAS RECALLED FOR 2009 ALTIMAS. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2009, BUT IT WAS A 2010 MODEL, SO IT IS MY ASSUMPTION THAT THIS WAS MADE WITH THESE 2009 PARTS. THIS PART IS VITAL APPARENTLY, AS IT CAUSES ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITH THE STARTER TO DISABLE. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. IT FEELS THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT FIXING IT AND CHARGING A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE PART ALONE. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR USERS OF NISSAN'S TO NOT BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND NOT HAVE THIS PART FIXED IMMEDIATELY. NISSAN SHOULD DO THEIR PART AND OFFER A REPLACEMENT FOR FREE SO INDIVIDUALS HAVE FAITH IN USING THEIR SERVICES AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10936106

55,000 miles · Dec 17, 2016
Steering

I'M THE SECOND OWNER & IT'S RUN FINE SINCE NOVEMBER 2011. YESTERDAY IT WOULDN'T START DUE TO THE FAULTY/BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH. TOWED IT TO DEALER & IT'S GOING TO BE $910 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ELECTRONIC IGNITION. VIN CONTAINS A'S (NOT B'S), INDICATING IT WAS FROM FIRST HALF OF 2010. IT PROBABLY HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE 2009 M…

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I'M THE SECOND OWNER & IT'S RUN FINE SINCE NOVEMBER 2011. YESTERDAY IT WOULDN'T START DUE TO THE FAULTY/BROKEN IGNITION SWITCH. TOWED IT TO DEALER & IT'S GOING TO BE $910 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ELECTRONIC IGNITION. VIN CONTAINS A'S (NOT B'S), INDICATING IT WAS FROM FIRST HALF OF 2010. IT PROBABLY HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE 2009 MAXIMAS THAT WERE RECALLED. DEALER 'CORRECTLY' STATES THE 2010 DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL, BUT IT SHOULD. LOVE NISSAN CARS, BUT AFTER THIS, I'LL NEVER TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. NISSAN NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE CARS TO RECIPROCATE CUSTOMER LOYALTY.

NHTSA ODI #10935996

100,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

GOT IN CAR LEAVING FROM GYM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED COULD NOT MOVE IT. CALLED DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO HOLD KEY FOB OVER CAR IGNITION DID NOT RESOLVE SITUATION. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED . I GOT ON LINE TO RESEARCH ABOUT THIS LOCKING MECHANISM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MILLIONS OF CONSUMER COMPLA…

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GOT IN CAR LEAVING FROM GYM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED COULD NOT MOVE IT. CALLED DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO HOLD KEY FOB OVER CAR IGNITION DID NOT RESOLVE SITUATION. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED . I GOT ON LINE TO RESEARCH ABOUT THIS LOCKING MECHANISM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MILLIONS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO THIS VERY ISSUE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS BEING FILED AGAINST NISSAN FOR THIS SITUATION. APPARENTLY THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS INTERNAL STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM HOWEVER NISSAN HAS PASSED THE COST OF THE FAULTY COMPONENT ONTO THE UNEXPECTED CONSUMER. THIS COST ME $1000.00 . SHAME ON YOU NISSAN. THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN MOTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10928314

92,000 miles · Nov 25, 2016
Steering

CAR STARTED FINE ALL MORNING, I WENT INSIDE TOF PAY A BILL NOT EVEN 10 MINUTES LATER. I WENT TO MY CAR TO CRANK UP AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, BRAKES WERE HARD, AND THE KEY DISPLAY FLASHING. I CALLED A MECHANIC TO TRY EVERYTHING NO BUDGE, SOON I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. NISSAN CALLED THE NEX…

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CAR STARTED FINE ALL MORNING, I WENT INSIDE TOF PAY A BILL NOT EVEN 10 MINUTES LATER. I WENT TO MY CAR TO CRANK UP AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, BRAKES WERE HARD, AND THE KEY DISPLAY FLASHING. I CALLED A MECHANIC TO TRY EVERYTHING NO BUDGE, SOON I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. NISSAN CALLED THE NEXT DAY STATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM HAD FAILED AND WARRANTY WAS COVERING IT. I ENDED UP DISHING OUT OVER 1300.00 TO GET IT FIX.

NHTSA ODI #10927904

79,000 miles · Nov 18, 2016
Steering

VEHICLE STARTED FINE, MADE A STOP AT THE STORE BEFORE HEADING TO WORK IN THE AM, CAME OUT OF STORE ONLY TO FIND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CALLED SERVICE DEPARTMENT USED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. ESCL OR ELECT. STEERING CONTROL LOCK MODULE BAD AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PROB…

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VEHICLE STARTED FINE, MADE A STOP AT THE STORE BEFORE HEADING TO WORK IN THE AM, CAME OUT OF STORE ONLY TO FIND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CALLED SERVICE DEPARTMENT USED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. ESCL OR ELECT. STEERING CONTROL LOCK MODULE BAD AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM KNOWN/COMMON BY NISSAN NEITHER EXTENDED WARRANTY NOR NISSAN WANT TO PAY TO REPAIR. WITH THIS BEING KNOWN AND COMMON THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART.

NHTSA ODI #10926796

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

NISSAN HAS ON ITS SITE THAT THE NEWER MODEL NISSAN MAXIMA AFTER 2009 DOES NOT HAVE THE ESCL MALFUNCTION (ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK) BUT I JUST EXPERIENCED IT TWO WEEKS AGO AFTER DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. LUCKILY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT OCCURRED. WHEN THE CAR GOES INTO THAT STATE, THE ENTIRE CAR IS ON LOCK DO…

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NISSAN HAS ON ITS SITE THAT THE NEWER MODEL NISSAN MAXIMA AFTER 2009 DOES NOT HAVE THE ESCL MALFUNCTION (ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK) BUT I JUST EXPERIENCED IT TWO WEEKS AGO AFTER DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. LUCKILY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT OCCURRED. WHEN THE CAR GOES INTO THAT STATE, THE ENTIRE CAR IS ON LOCK DOWN IT WILL NOT MOVE. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU ANYWHERE AND YOU CAN BE STRANDED.NISSAN KNOWS IT'S A MALFUNCTION AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO MAKE IT A RECALL, PLUS THEY PROMISED THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO THE NEWER MODELS AFTER 2009 BUT IT HAPPENED TO ME ON 11/1/16. IN THE SITE THEY TELL YOU WHAT THEY WILL DO BUT IT IS NOT HONORED.

NHTSA ODI #10925761

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.