2010 Nissan Maxima problems
The 2010 Nissan Maxima has 275 NHTSA owner complaints and no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
The 2010 Nissan Maxima has 275 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 157 complaints, typically surfacing around 69,423 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Maxima | 129 | 1 |
| 2008 Maxima | 78 | 0 |
| 2009 Maxima | 339 | 0 |
| 2010 Maxima (this page) | 275 | 0 |
| 2011 Maxima | 106 | 0 |
| 2012 Maxima | 107 | 0 |
| 2013 Maxima | 62 | 0 |
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.
Buying a used 2010 Nissan Maxima? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
- steering — 157 owner reports · tends to show around 69,423 mi · ~$700 to fix
- electrical — 21 owner reports · tends to show around 72,685 mi · ~$850 to fix
- suspension — 21 owner reports · tends to show around 105,975 mi · ~$900 to fix
- airbags — 14 owner reports · tends to show around 41,983 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 72,685 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 7.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2010 Nissan Maxima
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
Your road ahead on this 2010 Nissan Maxima
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
- ~21,000 miairbags~$1,100
- ~58,000 miengine~$3,100
- ~65,000 mielectrical~$850
- ~67,000 misteering~$700
- ~89,000 misuspension~$900
- ~104,000 mipowertrain~$2,500
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
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 should I check before buying a used 2010 Nissan Maxima?
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 157 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 69,423 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2010 Nissan Maxima a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 275 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 69,423 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
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.