IllustrationMy steering failed completely while driving, making it nearly impossible to turn.
2011 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from 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 →106Owner complaints
Model-year median: 99
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2011 Nissan Maxima
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 106 owner complaints · 0 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)
- Air Bags: 23 reports
- Power Train: 22 reports
- Unknown Or Other: 14 reports
- Electrical System: 12 reports
- Engine: 12 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
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
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
110–25K
1225–50K
1450–75K
975–100K
18100–150K
0150K+
64 reports with mileage · 42 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
Steering complaints
9 reportsCvt transmission jerking , engine is always idling hard sometimes wants to even shut off , accelerating sometimes takes a lil while to respond , rack and pinion assembly faulty I would like for nissan to fix my car or get a lump sum check for all faulty errors these cars have
S10 DIRECT REPLY - LETTER EXPRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA SAFETY, DEFECT, AND COMPLIANCE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LOOSELY AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE PASSENGERS RECEIVED …
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S10 DIRECT REPLY - LETTER EXPRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA SAFETY, DEFECT, AND COMPLIANCE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LOOSELY AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE PASSENGERS RECEIVED LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. *JS SEE ALSO ODI 10816663. *DSY *TR
VEHICLE IS PARKED AND ENGINE WONT START. HAD A 2009 MAXIMA THAT ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUES. CHECKED BATTERY AND IT IS FINE BUT CAR WONT START. I HAVE JUMPSTARTED IT AND THAT HAS TURNED THE CAR BACK ON BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS LAST TIME MY CAR DID NOT START , NOT EVEN WITH A JUMP START.
STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP KEY FOB NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BY CAR. IT WONT LET ME START IT.
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED DUE TO A STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, AND COULD NOT BE STARTED.
I HAVE A 2011 MAXIMA AND MY FAMILY AND I KEEP GETTING STRANDED. I UNLOCK THE CAR AND THEN THE BREAK IS STIFF, STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAR WON'T START. THIS IS THE WORST FEELING WHEN YOUR SITTING IN A DARK PARKING LOT WITH 2 YOUNG KIDS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! I SEE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,400. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,400. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ
STEERING LOCKED..CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO PAYING FOR GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY, I AM UNDER 36,000 MILES SO COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT WILL NOT COVER EXPENSE FOR TOWING THE CAR. I READ THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN MAXIMA AND FEEL THAT COMPANY SHOULD OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No 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.