2010 Nissan MAXIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan MAXIMA has 399 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 8 crash reports 10 injuries

399

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

161 complaints

40%

• 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
• ACCELERATED VEHICLE TO 50 MILES UP TO 70 MILES ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT AS IF THE SUSPENSION HAD TO MUCH POWER FOR THAT MILEAGE. *TR
• I'M UNABLE TO TURN ON ACCESSORY IGNITION OR START CAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. PART #48700-JK000. MANUFACTURE IS UNABLE TO SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW ONE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY NISSAN MOTORS, NOT JUST FOR MAXIMA, BUT ALL INTELLIGENT KEY MODELS. CURRENTLY CAN'T EVEN ROLL WINDOWS U

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

79 complaints

20%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK HER VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ALARM SYSTEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. SHE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE
• I'M UNABLE TO TURN ON ACCESSORY IGNITION OR START CAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. PART #48700-JK000. MANUFACTURE IS UNABLE TO SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW ONE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY NISSAN MOTORS, NOT JUST FOR MAXIMA, BUT ALL INTELLIGENT KEY MODELS. CURRENTLY CAN'T EVEN ROLL WINDOWS U
• MY CAR WON'T START BECAUSE THE STEERING CONTROL LOCK WILL NOT DISENGAGE THUS MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. EVEN WITH A NEW KEY FOB, THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AND WILL NOT CHANGE FROM "LOCK" MODE TO "ACC" OR "ON" POSITION. BASICALLY, MY CAR THINKS I'M A THIEF. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND NUMEROU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK HER VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ALARM SYSTEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. SHE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

29 complaints

• ACCELERATED VEHICLE TO 50 MILES UP TO 70 MILES ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT AS IF THE SUSPENSION HAD TO MUCH POWER FOR THAT MILEAGE. *TR
• CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END OF 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER ONCE, THEY REPLACED STRUTS, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTS. IT'S ONGOING. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER THIS WEEK TO REVISIT THE NOISE PROBLEM, BUT I ANTICIPATE DIFFICULTY. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING AND THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ACCELERATED VEHICLE TO 50 MILES UP TO 70 MILES ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT AS IF THE SUSPENSION HAD TO MUCH POWER FOR THAT MILEAGE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

27 complaints

• WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WONT EVEN TURN ON, THE KEY FOB BATTER WAS REPLACED AND SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ORANGE KEY LIGHT TURNED ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE S
• NO ACTIVATION OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. AFTER FOLLOWING ALL TROUBLE SHOOTING ADVICE IN THE CAR'S MANUAL, I TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE THEY FLAGGED AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL UNIT (PART# 487009N00B) AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ALL PART OF THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT IMMOBILIZER SYS
• I WENT INTO MY CAR AND TRIED TO TURN IT ON ONLY TO SEE THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT UP ON THE DASH ALONG WITH MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP ON ME. SO I CALL NISSAN THEY TRY TO GIVE ME A COUPLE TRICKS TO MAYBE GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK AND NOTHING WORKED, SO I HAD TO GET IT TOWED IN. THERE THEY SAID T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WONT EVEN TURN ON, THE KEY FOB BATTER WAS REPLACED AND SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ORANGE KEY LIGHT TURNED ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

23 complaints

• 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 S
• WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT GO AND WILL IDLE. NISSAN KEEPS SAYING THAT THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. THEY KEEP PUTTING US BACK IN THE CAR. *TR
• MY HUSBAND & I PURCHASED THE 2007 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR OUR DAUGHTER WHO IS NOW EXPECTING HER FIRST CHILD. MY HUSBAND BORROWED HER CAR TO DRIVE MY SISTER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN BACK TO ATLANTA AIRPORT MIND YOU SPEED LIMIT ON I75 IS 70MPH, WHEN THIS MAXIMA LOCKED UP AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6 LANE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 399 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK HER VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ALARM SYSTEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. SHE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: ACCELERATED VEHICLE TO 50 MILES UP TO 70 MILES ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT AS IF THE SUSPENSION HAD TO MUCH POWER FOR THAT MILEAGE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WENT TO START VEHICLE, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WONT EVEN TURN ON, THE KEY FOB BATTER WAS REPLACED AND SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ORANGE KEY LIGHT TURNED ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AFTER TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT NISSAN DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)