2009 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10257581 · 2009-02-05 (February 5, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT WORK WHENEVER A PASSENGER UTILIZED THE BACK REST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WORK WITH A BACK REST AND THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 750 AND FAILURE MILEAGE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257581 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 10288758 · 2009-10-17 (October 17, 2009)
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, I EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION OF MY 2009 MAXIMA. I HIT A LIGHT POLE DAMAGING THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION, BUT I REACTED IN TIME BY USING MY BRAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10288758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293152 · 2009-11-22 (November 22, 2009)
DRIVER SIDE SEAT IN MY NISSAN MAXIMA 2009 HAS BEEN REPLACED (THE BASE) AND STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH FLEXING, I AM AFRAID THAT IF THERE IS A MAJOR ACCIDENT THE SEAT IS GOING TO COME APART AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,143 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296402 · 2009-12-18 (December 18, 2009)
DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT SECURELY ANCHORED TO FLOOR - IT ROCKS SLIGHTLY AS I OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED ON 4 OCCASIONS TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE SEAT IS SUFFICIENTLY SECURE TO PROTECT ME IN A SERIOUS COLLISION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296402 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V358000 · Suspension
Reported: 2009-09-16 (September 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: 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).
NHTSA campaign record ↗