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.
While driving to work car stalled going 20MPH, no power brakes, no power steering, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car pressed start car restarted. Five days later, going to store, driving 35 mph, car stalled while running, no power steering, no power brakes, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car restarted. This is an on going safety problem. My father in law had this same vehicle and he was afraid to drive it because of the same issues.
For while the car would vibrate when hitting even the slide is bump causing instability in not only steering noises clicking but once we save enough money to pay for the fix finally finding out it was the insulator for the strut this part of the same recall which stated this insulator was a different manufacturer therefore not applicable to this recall
My transmission began making a winning noise, then it got louder and louder. Now my transmission is done. There have been lots of complaints about the make and model vehicle. I gave a cvt transmission. Also have issues with struts.had noise since 2019.
I was unable to start the vehicle after returning to my parked car during a late night drive to visit a friend. When I tried the push-button ignition the car wouldn't move from past lock. I noticed a new light indicator for my "intelligent key" I had not seen before. After a quick google, I found that these symptoms were linked to a electronic steering control lock defect that had been know for years. After contacting Nissan I was told that are indeed have a service campaign for the 2010 Nissan Maxima however for I am financially responsible for the defect as my VIN was not included in "service campaign". because of this defect I was stranded miles from home in the middle of the night and forced to pay over 800$ out of pocket in emergency repairs to replace a part that may very well fail again in the future.
- Hackensack, NJ, USA
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The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start because the steering column would lock up. Also, the key indicator illuminated and the contact had to take off the paneling and tap the steering column box to get the steering column to unlock for the vehicle to start. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The steering column was replaced by the previous owner and the dealer had not been contacted. The failure mileage was 173,247.
Bought my 2010 Maxima about 6 months ago. After driving it home I heard a horrible rattling in the steering wheel and a clattering in the front end. The dealership had given me a 3 month warranty so I contacted them the same day I got the car to report the problem. After calling the dealership 3 to 4 times a week for 5 months, they finally had me bring the car in. The first visit they replaced the steering joint. The problem persisted and seemed worse than before. The second time I was told that my car had a bad rack and that the part would be in in 4 days. 4 weeks later they finally changed the rack. I received the car back and to my surprise the rattling in the steering wheel was even worse and it felt as if my tires were gonna just fall off the car. Now almost a year later the problem still persists and Nissan refuses to fix it.
I been having vibrations and clunk noises since I brought the car in 2013 the car shakes and vibrates at 55 mph since then I replace shocks struts ball joints control arms and tires but the problem is getting worse.
Steering- when turning the colum it squeeks; right or left as I am slowing down to make the turn. Suspension- strut insluators need to be replaced; this was mentioned years back in a recall and mine are needing to be replaced, I am not origional owner. Passenger air bag light- constantly on lower control arms- replaced drivers side but needs passenger side replaced as well
Steering column failure. The steering locking mechanism suddenly stopped working. Had to get it towed and cost nearly $1,500 to get the vehicle fixed. For a well maintained 2010 Maxima, thats a large unexpected bill. Seems to be happening to lots of Nissan models. Nissan needs to correct this situation.
On Sunday, 5 February 2017, I left my house to visit my brother at 10am and when I came back outside (20mins later) to my car, it would not start. An orange light that read "key" popped up on the dashboard. Tried to start the car and the key light came on, brakes were hard to press, and the ignition would not start only lock would show up on the push to start button. After two hours, I had to get the car towed to the dealership. While waiting for the tow truck to arrive, I did some searching online and found out that this was not an uncommon problem with the Nissan Maxima and 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. The piece in question that was the problem... quoted by Nissan is the "steering lock." This piece has been recalled by Nissan in the earlier models, but apparently not for my vehicle (which is the year after the one that is recalled) apparently they didn't fix this issue. Monday, 6 February 2017, I received a call from the dealership to confirm my car issue (lock steering) and the cost was going to be $1104 to repair, with my military discount the cost was $985.46. Still this is money I should not have had to pay considering that this is a manufacturer malfunction and has nothing to do with wear and tear of vehicle. Which, btw, the vehicle is in great shape and has had regular maintenance checks and all work completed by a Nissan technician which makes this even more frustrating. This complaint is to not only bring attention to the ongoing issue with the 2010 Nissan Maxima, but to also get reimbursed for my out of pocket repair. I have been a loyal Nissan customer since 2000 (this is my third Maxima; favorite type of car), but I can honestly say Nissan, you're losing yet another customer'this is ridiculous.
My wife was stranded at a business and our car wouldn't start. After calling our local dealer, it's a known problem with the steering lock. We purchased this 2010 Maxima new in Sept. 2009. This is a known issue that should be taken care of by Nissan. We have 67000 miles and was told that it's not a warranty issue.
Vehicle is an implacable condition. Just turned only 70,000 miles. Car was parked at my place of business. When I came out to go home the key light was on. Upon diag. Found the steering lock solenoid has malfunctioned causing the vehicle to be stranded. Having the car towed 20 miles at my expense I find put this is a known issue with this particular year make and model. Very costly repair.
Went to use car before work and it wouldn't start. To the proper measures to start it by giving it a jump and no avail. I finally looked in the manual for the warning Nissan intelligent key issue and no solution was found. I began research and found this is a national problem and 09 Nissan were recalled for this issue but not newer models. This tends to happen after 65K miles and my car is at 91K. The repairs are expensive and caused to a defect not the wear and tear of the driver. Nissan should be held accountable.
The car doesn't start, the steering wheel is not locked and it shows a red light with a key in the dashboard, I was in a parking lot doing grocery and when I went to the car to go back home it didn't start, showing that red light with a key on it.
I'm the second owner & it's run fine since November 2011. Yesterday it wouldn't start due to the faulty/broken ignition switch. Towed it to dealer & it's going to be $910 to replace the faulty electronic ignition. VIN contains a's (not B's), indicating it was from first half of 2010. It probably has the same defect as the 2009 Maximas that were recalled. Dealer 'correctly' states the 2010 doesn't have a recall, but it should. Love Nissan cars, but after this, I'll never take it back to the dealer for service. Nissan needs to issue a recall on these cars to reciprocate customer loyalty.
Got in car leaving from gym the steering wheel was locked could not move it. Called dealer who told me to hold key fob over car ignition did not resolve situation. I had to have it towed. I got on line to research about this locking mechanism and have discovered that this is a known issue with millions of consumer complaints to this very issue this is a known issue with millions of complaints being filed against Nissan for this situation. Apparently there should have been a recall on this internal steering wheel lock mechanism however Nissan has passed the cost of the faulty component onto the unexpected consumer. This cost me $1000. Shame on you Nissan. Thank god I was not in motion.
Car started fine all morning, I went inside tof pay a bill not even 10 minutes later. I went to my car to crank up and it was completely dead, brakes were hard, and the key display flashing. I called a mechanic to try everything no budge, soon I called a tow truck to have it towed to the Nissan dealership. Nissan called the next day stating that the steering wheel mechanism had failed and warranty was covering it. I ended up dishing out over $1300 to get it fix.
Vehicle started fine, made a stop at the store before heading to work in the am, came out of store only to find the vehicle would not start. Called service department used for regular maintenance and was told this is a common problem with vehicle. Escl or elect. Steering control lock module bad and will have to be replaced. Problem known/common by Nissan neither extended warranty nor Nissan want to pay to repair. With this being known and common there should be a recall on this part.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Paris, TN, USA