2010 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
275 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 238 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 156 of 275 complaints (56.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 156 | 56.7% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 31 | 11.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.4% |
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 | 156 |
| Electrical System | 79 |
| Suspension | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Engine | 20 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
Steering: 156; Electrical System: 79; Suspension: 27; Unknown Or Other: 24; Engine: 20; Air Bags: 13; Power Train: 12; Structure:Body: 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 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 41 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 77 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 45 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 41; 50,000 to 74,999: 77; 75,000 to 99,999: 45; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 11
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 71 |
| 2015 | 58 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2010: 10; 2011: 9; 2012: 6; 2013: 23; 2014: 71; 2015: 58; 2016: 36; 2017: 13; 2018: 12; 2019: 8; 2020: 8; 2021: 12; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 156 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 31 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 10311531 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
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 HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT THE CAR WILL DART TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. ON THE TEST DRIVE I RODE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND COULD FEEL THE CAR MOVING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, THE SERVICE MGR SAID HE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313697 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH HIS HEADLIGHTS. WHEN DRIVING IN A RURAL AREA OR AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CURRENT VOLTAGES WERE SUFFICIENT AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS BUT FEELS THAT IT MAY BE IN THE MAKING. THE CONTACT DID NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT HE COULD CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THE FAILURE MILEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 62 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314760 · 2010-02-27 (February 27, 2010)
I WAS INVOLVED -- IN FRONT END CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR ALL THE WAY TO THE CAR'S ENGINE. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE UNDER THE IMPACT. I TOWED MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND I SPOKE WITH THEIR SHOP MECHANICS, HE WAS ALSO SURPRISE THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE AND HE SUGGESTED THE AIRBAG FRONTAL SENSORS MIGHT BE DEFECTED. HE REFERRED ME TO NISSAN MANUFACTURE DEPARTMENT. AFTER CONTACTING THEM, A REPRESENTATIVE EMAILED ME AN AIR B…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317855 · 2010-03-08 (March 8, 2010)
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 STOPPING, PROBLEM DID NOT SEEM TO REPEAT IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,975 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334867 · 2010-06-07 (June 7, 2010)
2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER STATES UNSAFE TO BACK UP IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO HEAD RESTRAINTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE OVER OR AROUND THE HEAD REST BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO LARGE AND BLOCKED THE BACK-UP VIEW. REMOVING THE HEAD REST WAS NOT AN OPTION DUE TO SAFETY REASONS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10334867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10339596 · 2010-06-22 (June 22, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 1,738 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345749 · 2010-07-27 (July 27, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, TWO VEHICLES STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY PERFORMED AN INVESTIGATION ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,057. UPDATED 10/21/10*LJ THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,057 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357137 · 2010-09-23 (September 23, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357137 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 ↗