nissan Maxima problems
0 safety recalls. 275 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
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…
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while attempting to open their front driver side door, but it would not open all the way locking in a place where there is a small space from the door and frame. The contact had to force and push the door back closed and…
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.
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. 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. 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 aren't always better value.