Steering/brake lock failed to disengage with attempted engine start up. Key indicator light and security lights flashing on dash. Steering lock required replacement after car was towed to nearest Nissan dealership. This repair was not covered under warranty which had expired 7 month earlier. On line research would suggest this is a fairly common occurrence; a Nissan service bulletin has…
2009 Nissan Maxima steering problems
moderate 168 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
168
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 168 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 11 model years of Nissan Maxima we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 168.
Steering accounts for 50% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2009 Maxima has a well-documented steering column lock failure that strands owners without warning and costs $800–$1,500 to repair. Nissan's extended warranty covers only certain VINs and expired for many owners; repair costs fall entirely to the owner after warranty ends, typically years before failure occurs.
The 2009 Nissan Maxima has a critical steering column lock defect. Owners report the vehicle suddenly refuses to start, the steering wheel locks solid, and the ignition button won't respond—all with no warning. A yellow or red key light flashes on the dash. The car becomes a brick: stuck in Park, immobilized, sometimes with a locked brake pedal. One owner was stranded at an airport during lunch. Another's family was stuck three hours trying to restart the car at a remote location.
Nissan knows this is a problem—they issued a warranty extension (Service Campaign PC516), removed the part entirely from 2010 and newer models, and issued a service bulletin. Yet the same part was recalled on the GT-R and 370Z. Dealers confirm they replace this module two to three times a week on Maximas and Muranos.
The catch: Nissan's extended warranty covers only certain VINs and expires after 5–6 years, regardless of mileage. Owners left out of the campaign or past the expiration date pay $800–$1,500 out of pocket, with no recourse. A separate issue—steering tilt and telescope motor failure—locks the wheel in extreme positions and costs another $400–$975 to fix. Nissan acknowledges it but won't recall it.
Same Nissan Maxima steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2010 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) Failure
The electronic steering column lock module fails, preventing the vehicle from starting and locking the steering wheel. The car becomes completely immobilized without warning. This is reported as a common and recurring defect affecting multiple 2009 Nissan models. Nissan issued a warranty extension (Service Campaign PC516) for certain VINs but explicitly excluded many 2009 Maximas. The same part was recalled on GT-R and 370Z models.
When: Typically 2–4 years into ownership, around 30,000–87,000 miles; failures occur after parking for short periods
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to start; push-button ignition does not respond; Yellow or red key warning light on dashboard; Steering wheel locked in place; Car will not shift out of Park; Brake pedal locked or very stiff; Intelligent key fob locks/unlocks doors and opens trunk but ignition does not respond
Codes mentioned: B2612, Yellow key indicator light, Red key security light
Repairs/costs cited: Part number 48700-9N00A replaced with 48700-9N00B; part costs approximately $500–$750; labor $400–$500; total repair cost $800–$1,500. Part frequently back-ordered. Nissan removed this part design from 2010 and newer models, confirming known defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued Service Campaign PC516 (Recall Number NHTSA #10119190) with an extended warranty covering ESCL failure, but only for specific VIN ranges. Many 2009 Maxima owners report their VINs were excluded despite identical failures. Campaign expired for many owners. Nissan removed fuse as workaround in 2009 models. Extended warranty period appears to be time-limited rather than mileage-based; owners report warranty expiring 5–6 years after purchase regardless of mileage.
Steering Column Tilt and Telescope Motor Failure
The automatic tilt and telescope adjustment motors in the steering column fail, leaving the steering wheel stuck in extreme upward or downward position. Makes grinding noise when attempting adjustment. Impairs driver visibility and comfort, and potentially affects airbag deployment effectiveness. Nissan has a Technical Service Bulletin (NTB09094) documenting the issue but has not issued a recall.
When: Typically 1–3 years into ownership; reported between 24,577 miles and 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding or noise from steering column when attempting tilt adjustment; Steering wheel becomes stuck in lowest or highest position; Power tilt function does not work; wheel cannot move up; Wheel position changes unexpectedly, particularly when unlocking from driver's door; Driver visibility compromised, especially in extreme positions
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of one or both tilt and telescope adjustment motors. Parts cost approximately $189–$300 per motor; labor $100–$400; total repair cost $400–$600 for single motor, up to $975 for both. Extended warranty may cover with $50 deductible; out of pocket repair is expensive.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued Technical Service Bulletin NTB09094 acknowledging the issue and stating dealers see this problem regularly on Maxima and Murano models. No recall issued. Nissan consumer affairs has refused to cover repairs after warranty expiration, citing warranty terms only.
Steering Lock Release Switch Failure
The steering lock release mechanism fails, preventing the vehicle from starting. The steering wheel becomes locked and cannot be moved. Distinct from the electronic lock module, this is a mechanical or electrical release component within the steering column assembly.
When: Reported at various mileages; one case at approximately 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Steering wheel locked in place and cannot be turned; Key indicator light on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost approximately $775–$900. Part must be replaced at dealership.
Synthesized from 168 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
In august of 2014 I got in my car, 2009 Nissan maxima, started it. Memory is set for my drivers seat. Seat set as normal. Steering/tilt did not move as it is set to my position. Did not move in, out, up nor down tried to set it, did not work manually either. Took my car to dealer, they said the motor has gone out in steer/tilt and it will cost close to $500.00 to get fixed. *tr
Steering component - telescope and tilt function: 1. The steering column telescoping function stopped working and can no longer be adjusted leaving the steering wheel in a locked position. Potential for injury if the steering wheel cannot be moved far enough away from the driver if the air bag deploys during a frontal crash. 2. Steering wheel tilt function stopped working and can no longer be…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan maxima. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the steering lock unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the necessary parts were on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the parts would…
On december 17, 2012 I had driven from my house to the gym. There was no issue with my car and when I went to leave my car would not start. My Nissan maxima has a push start ignition and when I pushed the button nothing happened. In the display it kept indicating the yellow key light and the red key security light. I had the car towed to the local Nissan dealer who told me the steering lock…
While traveling west on the pa turnpike, my steering wheel just dropped to the lowest position!! Scared the hell out of me. I ended up getting the car to the shoulder of the road. I was able to get the steering position up at little to stay and lock. Drove the car back to my local Nissan dealership to tell me that the motor for the steering wheel tilt and/or telescopic needs replaced!! What…
Upon successfully unlocking the car, the push ignition failed to respond and the car would not start. The keyfob was able to lock and unlock the car, even set off the panic alarm but pressing the ignition button would not move the car out of "lock" position. The car had been parked for about 1.5 hrs before having been driven several miles. Upon diagnosis by a licensed mechanic, the electronic…
Car will not start with the electric push button. It seems to be the electric steering lock mechanism actuator. Nissan wants to charge $1000 for the part and $400 labor. It took us 15 mins to take the part out ourselves and unplugged it and plugged it back in. It did work a few times but now it wont work again. Looks like I will have to buy the part which is on amazon for around $400.00. This is…
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Nissan Maxima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 168 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 142 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 46,500 and 92,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,500; a quarter make it past 92,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Nissan/Maxima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.