2009 NISSAN MAXIMA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Maxima. This model year has 339 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Steering Defects.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2009 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Airbag Malfunctions
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Nissan Maxima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 168 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 79 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 43 | 4 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 36 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 33 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electric | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 339 most recent complaints
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that after the windshield was replaced by Safelite Auto Glass, the employee at Safelite attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start, and the steering wheel had seized. T…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shuddering uncontrollably. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue driving to the residence at 20 MPH. The deal…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact received notification of an undisclosed recall. The contact stated that while the vehicle was off, the push-to-start button was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to start. The immobilizer warning light illuminated. The vehic…
The steering wheel lock malfunctioned. The part is available for inspection. The car was parked on the street. It endangered others because it would not start and had to be towed. This issue was confirmed and reproduced by the dealer with diagnostics. There were no symptoms pr…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal knocking sound emanating from the engine compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagno…
In 2016 we had to replace the steering lock mechanism. Went to start the car and a security light came on and car would not start , and had to get the car towed from work. We paid to have the part replaced on 12/23/2016. Now, 11/27/2023 we had the same issue with the steering loc…
The airbag light is on and blinking. I did call the local Nissan dealer and they told me there was not a recall for this problem on the 2009 Nissan maxima. This seems very unfair because several recalls have been made on the airbags. Also I was told over 5 years ago that the …
UNKNOWN
I recently had my father pass away and my mom gave me his car , the air conditioning stopped working then the serpentine belt broke so I had a mobile mechanic come out and replace serpentine belt and tensioner. Then the power steering wheel fell off on freeway luckily no one wa…
I just purchased this vehicle. The dashboard gives a reflection on the windshield. It is a visibility hazard. The dashboard is very sticky, like it's melting in the sun.
The contact owned 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while at a complete stop, another vehicle driving approximately 70 MPH, crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained hips and back pain. The contact was seen by emergency servi…
On 9/12/22, my son purchased a 2009 Nissan Maxima from Street Cars. My son was told that the car did not pass the state inspection, but all items on the list were taken care of. The salesman noted the Air Intake Tube would be ordered for the car and installed once received. My s…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the suspension. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V358000 (Suspension)…
Passenger front air bag defect. Since reading many post in this forum in relation to the same issue, manufacture should be held responsible to replace sensor. Vehicle have not been in a wreck as far as I know. The sensor light came on around June this year and haven’t went off. I…
CVT transmission whinnying with loss of power when accelerating
Not sure what is goiNg I have spent so Much money replaciNg parts on this car. And it is still not fixed. It’s one thing after Another . I cannot fight out why the engine light is on its like the whole care is malfunctioning. And no one knows what it is. And heavy smoke From tail…
The airbag warning light on the dash started blinking. The local dealer investigated and advised that the front passenger airbag occupancy sensor was defective. Repair would require complete replacement of the front passenger seat cushion at an estimated cost of about $2,000. The…
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the engine was running hot and there was thick white smoke coming from the exhaust tips. In addition, the vehicle stalled and was restarted however the vehicle shut off. The cont…
I own a 2009 Maxima. I took the vehicle into a repair shop to diagnose a problem that i was experiencing with the suspension. The vehicle made a thumping noise on rough or bumpy road surfaces and felt as though the front end was going to break apart whenever I hit even a small po…
ELECTRICAL AND AC FAILURE, SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND COULDN'T REALLY AFFORD TO SPEND BC I WAS TRYING TO GET MY AC REPAIRED AND NO INE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE WARM WEATHER IS APPROACHING AND I CANNOT HAVE MY SELF AND MY CHILD SWEATING BULLETS AGAIN THIS YEAR. PURCHA…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2009 Nissan Maxima.
Recalls for 2009 Nissan Maxima
1 campaignNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Nissan Maxima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2009 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Nissan Maxima reliable?▾
Notable Issues. The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 339 NHTSA owner complaints, 7 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Steering Defects (168 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Maxima?▾
#1: Steering Defects (168 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (79 complaints). #3: Airbag Malfunctions (43 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Nissan Maxima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2009 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 7 crash-related complaints and 2 fire reports out of 339 total NHTSA complaints. 6 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2009 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?▾
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2009 Nissan Maxima. The largest issue: SUSPENSION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2009 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2009 Nissan Maxima has notable issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Steering Defects issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2009 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.