Nissan Maxima problems
275 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
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.
The steering lock assembly is faulty in many 2009 and 2010 maximas, as well as other nissans. An extended warranty for 6 years/ unlimited miles was issued for 2009 maximas only, even though Nissan knows that the same issue affects 2010 maximas. Nissan has worked with other…
Vehicle won't start at times. Has stranded my wife multiple times. Each time required a jump. Thought was battery, so replaced. Continued to fail. This last time wife tried to turn wheel a bit while locked and vehicle was able to be started again, she avoided being stranded once…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Nissan maxima. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH the engine stalled with the illumination of the warning indicators. The engine failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. The failure occurred twice. The…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2010 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 275 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Nissan Maxima is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2010 Nissan Maxima?
The 2010 Nissan Maxima is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2010 Nissan Maxima?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 157 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 69,423 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 69,423 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Nissan Maxima has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Nissan Maxima?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 275 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.