CarComplaints.com Notes: We don't recommend the 2009 Maxima nearly as highly as the 2007-2008 Maxima, because NHTSA complaints show a pattern of the electronic steering column lock module failing.
When the module fails it prevents the car from starting, & Nissan dealers charge over $1,000 (!!) to repair it. Nissan recalled the module on some other 2009 models with the same steering lock problem, but for some reason they left out the 2009 Maxima. See this page on the Nissan Maxima Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) defect.
If you're thinking about buying a 2009 Maxima, instead you might consider a 2007-2008 Maxima, or a newer model year.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,139 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I returned to my parked car after commuting on the train home from work and tried to start the vehicle. It was a bitter cold evening and the temperature was approximately 3 degrees. When I tried to start the car, the key icon showed up on the left hand side of the instrument panel and the steering was locked and push button ignition did not start the car. The brake pedal was very stiff and did not "give" when depressed. Also, I couldn't get the car to shift to neutral to move it when my husband arrived to see if he could determine the problem. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and they said it is a Nissan problem and the part is on an extended warranty because of the well-known and ongoing issues. I am in the process of having the car towed to my Nissan dealer to have them inspect it and repair it. They are instructed to search for any recalls or warranty when entering the VIN number. I've searched the internet and it seems like a very common issue. Even the towing company driver said he tows about 3-5 Nissan a week with the same issue and it's very common, as it happens all of the time. I'm hoping they have this part on recall or have it listed on an extended warranty repair. My 2009 Maxima has 37,000 miles on it.
The engine would not turn over or start and the steering wheel is locked. A small yellow key appears on the left side of the left instrument dial. The intelligent key does not engage. Web research indicates probable steering lock failure. The car was towed to nearest Nissan dealer today Feb. 5 who confirmed that steering lock has failed. The dealer service personnel tells me the replacement part is on back order, none of the other dealers in the Washington DC area have one. Technically it may not be a safety problem requiring a recall but if you had this problem on the shoulder of an interstate highway or sitting on the tracks at a railroad crossing it could be very dangerous. Now we will need some experience in order to trust the car to operate correctly in a safe manner. I am glad we have another car that is working correctly.
My 2009 Nissan Maxima will not start. The yellow key light on the left comes on briefly. I had it towed to a repair shop and was told it is the steering column lock module. Part is not available due to a high failure rate.. the dealer, repair shop and the tow truck driver all noted this is happening frequently. This was also confirmed by some internet research. I think a nationwide recall is in order. Drivers are being stranded with no warning.
Warranty just expired after 5 years. Few months later, the telescoping steering wheel started making grinding noises and will not telescope back and forth unless I manually push or pull hard. Got quoted $850 for a repair, but I refused to pay that much to get it fixed as it is not my fault. I see many 2009 Nissan having this problem and I am extremely disappointed in the manufacturer to not recall this! this might be my last Nissan as I already had 3 Nissan batteries, my alternator replaced and my driver's seat frame replaced! I can't wait until my car loan is paid off!
Steering wheel motor started grinding and locked in the lowest position difficult to steer in that position until fixed called Nissan and they said there was no campaign, extended warranty, or problem they know of. They admitted to extended warranty on push button ignition replaced motor at a cost of $420 Nissan is ignoring the hundreds of complaints I have seen on the internet forums, problem occurring in 2009 Maximas and muranos. The dealership said they replace 2-3 a week. If it is true, at every dealership it is about 40 % of all Maximas sold in 09 have the bad motor which costs $189. Nissan needs to cover the cost for this defective motor !!!!!! the start button and steering column are related parts !!!!!!!
- Trumbull, CT, USA
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My 2009 Nissan Maxima will not start. The yellow key light on the left comes on briefly. I had it towed to the dealership and was told it is the steering column lock module and that it will cost over $900 to repair, not to mention over $100 for the diagnostic exam. I don't feel consumers should have to pay for a problem that they have not caused. It's apparent that this is happening frequently according to the research I have done. I feel that Nissan should pay this cost.
I parked and went into local post office. Got back in my car and it wouldn't start. Tried to get a jump and was told nothing was wrong with battery, doors unlocked, lights came on and hazard lights worked. Called local Nissan dealership and explained to service gentleman what was going on and he immediately told me the steering lock release had gone out and I needed to have the car towed to the dealership. Three days later the service gentleman called me and told me it was indeed the steering lock release that'd gone out and it was $775 + tax to get it fixed. I'm baffled because my car is my only means of transportation and I can't believe that the end result is that I have to pay for this. The car will not work without this release switch being replace and I don't have the money to get it fix so what now am I to do. I began to read upon this issue and see it's an ongoing problem with '09 Maximas and it has been recalled on other such Nissan vehicles. I think Nissan should take the responsibility for this and recall this part for its customers. This is unbelievable and also not covered under warranty.
My wife parked the car on Monday night, and the next day when she tried to start it, nothing would happen, like it wasn't registering the key fob. So I went to the car and I tried to start it, and I noticed that I could turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, and all the way to the right. The steering wheel lock isn't working. After researching this problem on the internet, I found out that this is a common problem with an expensive fix that has to be fixed by the dealership. The problem with that is that we live 2 hrs from the nearest dealership, and on top of the lock being replaced, we will have to pay around $200 to have it towed. I'm thankful that my wife was here at the house when this happened, and not out somewhere with our new born daughter considering it has been below 0 degrees here the past few days.
I am a single 34 year old white female. I have a 2009 Nissan Maxima and I was downtown cincinnati at 2:00 am. I walked to the car from a business nearby and got into my car and it would not start. There was a light on the top left of the dashboard that was yellow and said key. I attempted to start it again and nothing. I contacted a friend who helped me try to jump it; thinking it may be the battery and again nothing. I was very upset that I was stuck in downtown cincinnati, now with a friend trying to help. I ended up spending a $100 on a taxi to get home and now today I find out thus is going to cost me $900. This car only has 56,000 miles on it. I should be able to feel safe. I no longer do. I hope Nissan thinks about recalling this issue bc according to many online testimonies this is happening a lot to 2009 Nissan Maxima owners. I'll have to say I won't buy another. I had a Toyota before this and I'll go back go being a loyal Toyota customer. Thank you for your time.
My wife was leaving home from work late nite and the car would not start I came down and jump the car and it was not the battery the key would not register at all. It was almost as if it did not recognize the key. I still have to get the car towed today which is already 150 plus the dealer is saying to fix it will be 500 plus. Are you serious Nissan as soon as I get it fixed at the dealer im trading it in. This is the second time something has happen with that steering wheel.
The steering wheel lock issue is leaving Maximas stranded unable to start the car with these symptoms: What happens is when you try to start the car, without warning, the electric lock fails to unlock sending error message to the BCM. The car will not start in this case and will flash the intelligent key warning in the cluster.
I started my car just fine this morning but on my way to work I stopped at a store and the car did not want to start back up. I changed out the battery for the push start key and the car battery. This problem from what I have been reading is an issue with the 2009 Maxima 370Z and the gtr. They have the same parts for the ignition systems. Please fix this problem. I'm from Texas but work as a contractor in Pennsylvania. I love my Maxima and it's a shame that I have been stuck in the cold for 5 hours trying to get a tow truck and talking to my insurance. Thank you.
Got in the car to go home from work and pushed the start button. The steering column went down like normal then a grinding noise in the steering column was made. At that point, the steering column had to be raised manually with quite a bit of pressure. So much so I was almost afraid the airbag may deploy. Has never worked, like it did when I bought it new, since. Still makes a noise when its suppose to go up or down but never moves on its own.
The vehicle was left parked at my job parking lot and when I went to leave home after work the car simply didn't want to start. The vehicle had to be towed to the nearby dealership which stated that the issue is related to the steering lock control unit. He was not able to state why it happened just that it just happens suddenly without reason and now it's going to cost approx. $1000 to fix. You can only imagine how much this may cost if this is a common issue with these cars and there is no real cause why it happens per the technician at Nissan's of burleson stated.
I bought my Maxima in April of 2011. It was pre-owned with about 14000 miles. The telescopic and tilt functions for the steering wheel stopped working. My steering wheel is stuck in the lower position making a bit difficult to drive specially when I have to back up; it actually feels a little bit dangerous. I will be getting it fixed next week. Since Nissan denied my claim for then to pay for this. I spoke with Nissan consumer affair specialists and they came back telling me that it is not covered in the warranty anymore and that it will be up to me to get it fixed. Obviously, when I first called them I understood that the warranty was over. I was hoping they would see this as a serious issue seeing there are many complaints from other consumers already related to the tilt and/or the telescopic motors going bad. The cost for this repair is $975. I wouldn't mind spending this on tires and brakes, but the failure of this motors so early in the life of this car is unacceptable. I am surprised of Nissan not having initiated a recall campaign for this. Very disappointing. This is my third Nissan but because of the way they seem to care for issues of their customers it maybe the last one.
My steering tilt stopped working about a week ago (August 2013). The power tilt makes a grinding sound and will not go into the up position but rather gets stuck on the lowest level. I had to force it back up manually in order to enter/exit the car and to drive with the steering wheel at the proper level. I turned off the comfort settings and have tried not to change any of the other settings until I can get this issue looked at by the dealership or fixed. My husband and I both drive the vehicle so this has been an inconvenience for both of us. Even with the comfort settings off, the tilt still changes position at times (possibly because of unlocking from the driver's side door? I read something about that happening from one of the forums). I purchased my Nissan as a pre-owned certified car in April of 2012 with 32,900 miles on it. I have only had the car just over a year so this is very disappointing. I've read several forums that this is a common problem but that Nissan has not addressed it with a re-call. I am hoping my issue will be covered under my extended warranty and if so, it should only be a deductible of $50 according to what others have said on the forums. However, out of pocket this part can cost upwards of $600.
After vehicle was started, a grinding noise was heard and the tilt and telescoping of the steering wheel became inoperable. The steering wheel is stuck at the lowest position and the instrument panel cannot be seen while driving. This makes it uncomfortable because my legs are pressed against the steering wheel and could be a safety issue. There is a service bulletin out for this, but dealerships will not address it. The cost is roughly $800 to repair and there are multiple failures of this part(s) from what I have read on different forums.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lemont, IL, USA