CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009-2010 Maxima has an expensive problem where the steering lock prevents the car from starting, & costs upwards of $1,000 to fix!
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.
My 2010 Nissan Maxima experienced the steering lock failure and could not start the car. This, as I have been reading, is common and it's going to cost over $700 to fix. This is bs Nissan!
Tried to start car key light came on, brakes were hard to press ang igntion would not start only lock would showup on the push to start button now car is sitting and have to get towed. The car was stationary was getting ready to go to work after stopping at a school.
The steering mechanism failed on my 2010 Nissan Maxima. Based on short research I have found this is a common problem with this year/make/model. Nissan should be recalling this part.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the front passenger seat, steering wheel, and entire vehicle began to shake violently as the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
What we are experiencing with our 2010 Nissan Maxima very closely aligns with the symptoms of the recall campaign issued in September 2009 for the 2010 Maxima. Nissan has been notified, however, they insist that my VIN number is not a part of this former campaign. I struggle to believe this as it's just too ironic that everything aligns with the former. We experience 3 problems with the suspension and steering. 1.) at minimal speed mainly at initial acceleration, when turning slowly, and when braking at slow speeds you feel a jolt in the steering column and can hear a thud or clunk in the front passenger side. 2.) when the car reaches approximately 60 mph, the steering column bounces erratically and 3.) both at low speeds and high speeds the car pulls/veers to the right. This issue has been going on since I purchased the vehicle in 2013 and continues to occur. I have brought the car into a Nissan-authorized dealer and they say nothing is wrong. I have brought the car into the Hyundai-authorized dealer where I bought the car from and they say nothing is wrong. I have brought the car to 4 additional, independent mechanics/technicians and they also cannot get to the "root" of the problem without having the car for an unrealistic amount of time for diagnosis. I have already had to purchase a lifetime alignment and balancing package from a local repair shop as well as I had purchased new wheels and tires thinking that was the issue. Regardless of what I do or where I take it, the issues continue. I am very concerned and cannot drive at ease knowling there is something wrong with the steering and suspension. I also have a 4 year old child whose safety I am concerned with when she drives in our Maxima with us. Nissan didn't seem to care about my concerns, they simply told me my VIN doesn't align with the former campaign and then sent me on my way. Someone, anyone, please help
- Carpentersville, IL, USA
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The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the power steering light illuminated indicating a failure and stayed lit as the failure progressed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the electronic steering wheel lock switch. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
After work on 7/18/15, I went to my car to go home, but as I stepped on the brake and pushed the start button, I got nothing - not a peep from the engine - so I tried a few more times, but to no avail. I called aaa, thinking that my battery was dead (even though I'd just purchased a new one recently), but the jump didn't do anything to my car. I called home and had my back-up fob brought to me, thinking that perhaps the battery from my main one was dead, but the second one didn't work, either. Nor did either of them work in the port that's located in the bottom-left portion of the dashboard, so I got a ride to the local Nissan dealership where some salesmen gave me suggestions of what I should do. When I told them that I'd done everything that they mentioned, they said that all that was left to be done was to have my vehicle towed to the shop, which I did, but since it was a Friday and nearly 6:00 pm, my car wasn't going to be looked at until Monday afternoon. While waiting for the tow truck to arrive, as well as over the weekend, I did some searching online and found out that this was not an uncommon problem, not covered by any extended warranties, though I read that this problem occurred often enough with the 2009 Maxima that Nissan issued an extended warranty to cover this repair, so I don't see why this problem shouldn't also be included, as well. Nissan, you're losing yet another customer...
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. While at a complete stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle the following day. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock module was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,320.
My 2010 Nissan Maxima experienced the steering lock failure. It leaves people stranded when the steering lock anti-theft mechanism fails. The steering wheel is not locked but the vehicle will not start. The steering lock device fails to fully disengage so the smart key system does not recognize the key. This may not cause accident, but it can strand a person anywhere at any time leaving them with the towing fee and anywhere from 700-1000$ in dealership fees. I drove my car to work and back and forth for lunch. At the end of the day it failed to start due to what I later found out was the steering lock device failure.
The steering column can be adjusted to a user's preferred position. I have experienced a gradual "falling" of the steering column position. I can readjust using the electronic adjustment lever, however it will again "fall" in position, blocking the view of the speedometer gauge. The change is so gradual that it is not noticed until it blocks the speedometer, which if that occurred at the wrong time, could cause a driver to inadvertently travel at an unsafe speed, and lead to an accident.
2010 Nissan Maxima...the car ran fine all weekend but Monday morning the car would not start... there was flashing red key light.... with clicking sound. Research on internet indicated that this is due to steering lock and my dealer advised me to tow the car to them. 2009 Nissan models have similar issues and Nissan has a recall but there is none fro 2010.... thought the problem are exactly the same.
I went out to my garage to start my 2010 Nissan Maxima to head to work and it would not start and flashed the key light on my dash. So I thought my remote had failed so I got my second remote and still nothing. Luckily I had my truck to get to work that day. I had my Maxima towed to Nissan and had to pay $934.40 out of pocket. I was told that Nissan covered some 2009 Maximas with the same issue but not the 2010 years. Such a (inconvenience) I really wish Nissan would take care of this.
After driving my vehicle to the post office and parking I proceeded to restart my vehicle and exit the lot. The steering column locked and the car would not start. The model of my car is push start with no other alternate option. I was forced to have my car repaired by the dealer totaling over $1100 and no assistance from the manufacture who has had numerous issues in the past for the same mechanical error. My vehicle is a 2010 Maxima and Nissan has so far only issued a warranty extension for 2009 editions which had the same error.
Steering wheel lock failure occurred. I could not start the car. Had to have the car towed to the dealership. I researched and this is a common issue with my make and model. For some reason Nissan is not recalling and replacing the defective part.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while in park, the steering wheel became stuck in the lock position preventing the vehicle from starting. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN number was not provided. The failure mileage was 8,700.
I have 2010 Maxima and it has been working great. This morning, I started the car to warm it up for my daughter and turn it off for about 10min. When she was ready to leave, the car would not start. Car has power and door locks work fine locking and unlocking but nothing happens when you push button to start the car. Looks like many complaints about the same problem that is related to steering being locked and there is no way to unlock it. 2009 Maximas had the same problem and Nissan did a recall to fix it but nothing on 2010... why "?" this is a safety concern and needs attention asap.
Got into my vehicle to leave for work, brake was hard to push, steering wheel locked in position that it was in, push button start would not work. Tried both keyfobs with no change in status. Light on the dash that I hadn't seen before (a key with a rectangular box around it) changed batteries in both fobs with still no change. Was late for work and had to have my vehicle towed out of my own garage. After researching found that the steering wheel lock would not disengage, which in turn triggered the anti-theft security system and my car would not recognize my own keyfobs. There's no other way to start the vehicle, no general override switch or button of any kind. I had a vehicle that I could not use.
On Feb 24, 2015, I got into my 2010 Nissan Maxima to take son to school and car would not start. After doing a host of troubleshooting (battery, fuses) nothing turned up. Had it towed to the dealership and diagnostic test determined the electronic steering column was defective. I did some research on this issue and discovered millions of consumer complaints about this issue. Nissan was well aware of problem and recalled the 2009 Nissan Maxima models, and extended the recall warranty til Feb 2015 to fix issue. However, they did nothing for the 2010 models. When you purchase a car, you are robbed at the dealership and robbed again of your hard earned minimum wage income due to shoddy workmanship that cost thousands. Lesson learned never buy a Nissan Maxima.
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the engine, the key warning light illuminated and the engine failed to start when the automatic push button was pressed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock mechanism failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.
I went to start my 2010 Maxima and it wouldn't start. I thought it was the battery, so I changed it. No difference. Then I saw that the key indicator was lit on my dashboard. So I checked my key fob, it was fine. Then I began to google the issue and saw that there was a recall on the 2009 Altima/Maxima's on the electronic steering column lock (escl). I read that owners of Maxima's would remove the bottom dashboard and jiggle or tap the escl and the car would eventually start. I tried this remedy, and it worked...temporarily. The light went off but the very next day it came back on. I was hesitant to start my car after the incident. The car started but the light stayed on. I assumed that there was an electrical issue, but since the car started I went on about my daily routine. Then it happened, I was away from my home, on a date, in the snow, and it wouldn't start again. There I was trying to start my car without tools in the snow!! there are countless complaints about this issue on the internet. Many have gone unresolved, and there are many unsatisfied Nissan owners out there. I love my Maxima, but I am very unsatisfied with Nissan and how they have handled this issue. Especially since they admitted fault with the 2009 model, yet new models still have the same issue. I contacted nissanassist.com and filed a complaint and was told that they we're sorry but that they would not assist me.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Katy, TX, USA