2009 Nissan MAXIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
339 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
70,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 272 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 165 of 339 complaints (48.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 169 | 49.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 36 | 10.6% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 165 |
| Electrical System | 78 |
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Suspension | 35 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Seats | 15 |
| Power Train | 10 |
Steering: 165; Electrical System: 78; Air Bags: 40; Suspension: 35; Unknown Or Other: 33; Engine: 18; Seats: 15; Power Train: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 46 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 64 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 52 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 54 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 46; 50,000 to 74,999: 64; 75,000 to 99,999: 52; 100,000 to 149,999: 54; 150,000 and above: 21
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (64). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2014 | 47 |
| 2015 | 47 |
| 2016 | 57 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 8; 2010: 15; 2011: 6; 2012: 24; 2013: 40; 2014: 47; 2015: 47; 2016: 57; 2017: 25; 2018: 12; 2019: 23; 2020: 15; 2021: 3; 2022: 6; 2023: 6; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 169 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 36 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10269571 · 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)
IN JANUARY 2009 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IN APRIL MY INTERIOR LIGHTS, STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT AND THE HEAT ON MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED IT. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WENT TO GEORGIA, WHEN I GOT BACK TO MARYLAND I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIRS AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. ON MAY 19TH MY STEERING WHEEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324385 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
WHILE TRAVELING IN THE NUMBER (2) LANE OF THE US 405 N FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF OVER 65 MPH, I NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE ACCELERATOR CEASED TO RESPOND WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED, THE ENGINE WOULD REV, AND THE RPM GAUGE WOULD SHOW THE GAUGE MOVING UP, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY INWARDS, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING, AND THE WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,907 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279726 · 2009-08-07 (August 7, 2009)
THE DRIVERS SEATS IN MANY 2009 MAXIMAS ARE UNSTABLE AND ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN ACCELERATING, STOPPING OR TURN CORNERS THE SEATS ROCK CAUSING YOUR FOOT TO BE UNSTABLE ON THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282303 · 2009-08-30 (August 30, 2009)
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW NISSAN MAXIMA IN NOV. MY SISTER BORROWED THE CAR FOR THE WEEKEND AND THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING HER TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, THE MECHANIC ON DUTY GOT THE CAR RUNNING, WHILE REMOVING THE CAR FROM THE TOW TRUCK HE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT TEN FEET AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS THE BRAKES FEEL FLUFFY. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND CLEARED BY THE BODY SHOP, IT WAS THERE ROUGH 5 WEEKS, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO THEN INSPECTED THE CAR AND BRAKES, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274003 · 2009-06-16 (June 16, 2009)
I PURCHASE MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IN JULY 2003. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT MAJOR PROBLEMS. I PERFORM THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR AND STILL HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED ON THE CAR THE CD PLAYER HAS BEEN REPLACE AND WHEN OUT AGAIN TWICE. TENSOR ASSEMBLY AND TIMING BELT ALSO 1500. AND NOW I HAVE THE REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION ANOTHER 3100.00. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR THAT HAS A LUXURY PRICE TAG. NISSAN HAS NOT BE HELPFUL AT ALL AND DO NOT TRY TO ANSWER OF HELP IN ANY WAY. N…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554130 · 2013-11-29 (November 29, 2013)
I HAVE A 2006 MAXIMA WITH 78,000 MILES. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING FROM GEAR 1 TO GEAR 2. ALSO JERKING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. AFTER STOPPING, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE RPMS SKY ROCKET UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGES. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHERE STOPPING AND STARTING IS REQUIRED DUE TO STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. IT COULD ALSO RESULT IN ANOTHER CAR REAR-ENDING ME BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE IMM…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10850843 · 2016-03-21 (March 21, 2016)
THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DISABLED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND WAS LOCKED IN PLACE, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT HAD THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL FAILED WHILE DRIVING A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE LIKELY OCCURRED AS THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NISSAN SERVICE SHOP FOR A REPAIR COSTING NEARLY $1000. THIS WAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE FOR NISSAN AS THEY EXTENDED THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10850843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11441250 · 2021-11-22 (November 22, 2021)
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the engine was running hot and there was thick white smoke coming from the exhaust tips. In addition, the vehicle stalled and was restarted however the vehicle shut off. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage …
Owner-reported narrative. 178,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11441250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11232931 · 2019-07-17 (July 17, 2019)
THE CAR LOSES POWER AS I'M DRIVING, I REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP I'M AT AROUND $1100 IN WITH REPAIRS AND LABOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST I TURN CAR ON AND DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND ACCELERATION THEN EVENTUALLY DIES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ON ONE OCCASION, VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY CUZ IT'S ALSO NEW. THIS IS GETTING SCARY AND RIDICULOUS.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,256 miles reported. Look up ODI 11232931 at NHTSA ↗