CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Nissan Maxima powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 Nissan Maxima have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 104,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Maxima | 372 |
| 2007 Maxima | 16 |
| 2008 Maxima | 8 |
| 2009 Maxima | 8 |
| 2010 Maxima (this page) | 11 |
| 2011 Maxima | 19 |
| 2012 Maxima | 18 |
| 2013 Maxima | 24 |
| 2014 Maxima | 20 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗IF YOU CONFIRM: Customers concern of a "clicking" noise coming from either left or right front/rear CV-type axles during take-off/acceleration. ACTION: Apply Molykote M77 grease (P/N 44003-7S000) to the hub bearing surfaces. NOTE: * Do not remove the axle from the hub or transmission for this bulletin * Refer to the Electronic Service Manual (ESM) for model specific torque specifications. - For 2007-2013 Versa and 2013 LEAF vehicles, see the Service Procedure torque specifications on page 4. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION When diagnosing possible power steering gear (rack and pinion steering rack, or steering rack) leak issues, it may appear the steering rack is leaking when actually, it?s not. Use this service bulletin to help make a more accurate diagnosis of the steering rack. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2010 Maxima's CVT transmission shows a consistent failure pattern across 11 complaints. Most prevalent is sudden power loss during highway and city driving—engine revs high with loud whining while transmission gets stuck in high gear and won't downshift or respond to throttle. This happens intermittently, often triggered by elevation changes or entering busy traffic, making it a hazard: one owner nearly collided merging onto a highway when the car wouldn't accelerate despite full throttle. Owners report the condition is intermittent and difficult to diagnose—check engine lights flicker on and off (primarily P1778 and P0774 codes), then clear themselves, frustrating dealership techs who can't replicate it.
Complete transmission failure is the end result, occurring as early as the 40,000-mile range and as late as 157,000 miles. One owner reported metal-to-metal grinding at extremely low mileage on a nearly new vehicle. A separate failure mode involves the transmission slipping completely during highway driving, dropping vehicle speed to 25 mph unexpectedly. One owner also reported throttle non-disconnect during braking at slow speeds, requiring neutral to stop, and a fifth complaint involved push-start button failure.
Owners describe dealerships initially refusing to acknowledge problems and saying nothing is wrong, citing manufacturer response delays and warranty coverage disagreements.
Same Nissan Maxima powertrain reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
CVT Power Loss and Shifting Failure
CVT transmission loses power suddenly during highway and city driving, gets stuck in high gear, and won't downshift or respond to throttle input. Engine RPM runs high with loud whining noise. Condition is intermittent and often occurs on elevation changes or during acceleration into traffic.
When: Between 44,000 and 157,000 miles; worsens progressively over time
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power at highway speeds (75 mph); Vehicle stuck in 6th gear (won't downshift); Loud whining noise from CVT; Engine RPM stays high without acceleration; No response when gas pedal depressed; Inability to maintain posted speed limit; Intermittent failure—car may accelerate normally, then suddenly lack power
Codes mentioned: P1778, P0774
Repairs/costs cited: Complete CVT transmission replacement required; owners report fluid was changed at 44,000 miles prior to Nissan recommendation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSBs and warranty extension acknowledged by owners; Nissan Consumer Affairs refused to acknowledge ongoing issues despite multiple complaints and TSBs
CVT Transmission Failure with Grinding Noise
Transmission develops metal-to-metal grinding or loud muffler-like sound and fails completely, requiring replacement. Occurs at very low mileage on new vehicles.
When: Early in vehicle ownership; one complaint at approximately 157,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud metal-to-metal grinding or muffler noise; Transmission failure; Vehicle unable to move or shift properly
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty had expired at 157,000 miles; one owner noted Nissan extended factory warranty claim to 10-year/120,000 miles (unconfirmed)
CVT Stalling and Limp Mode
Engine stalls and car slows dramatically, making motorcycle-like noise. Check engine light comes on. Transmission won't engage properly or slips completely, trapping vehicle at slow speed on highway.
When: One owner reported slipping at 120,000 miles; another reported limp mode shortly after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Engine stalling in neighborhood driving; Motorcycle-like noise from transmission; Car slows to 25 mph on highway unexpectedly; Transmission slip—no power delivery despite throttle input; Periodic limitation to 2,000 RPM
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement or major repair required
Throttle Non-Disconnect During Braking
Throttle fails to disconnect when trying to brake from slow speed, forcing driver to shift into neutral to stop vehicle. Engine revs as if at full throttle when shifted to neutral. Intermittent, occurs within 5 minutes of cold start in warm weather.
When: Started 2 months after 13-month ownership; occurred 3 times total
Symptoms owners cite: Throttle fails to disconnect during braking; Unable to stop from 25 mph without shifting to neutral; Engine races when shifted to neutral; Occurs shortly after cold start in warm weather (above 70°F)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealer could not replicate and stated nothing was wrong
Push-Start Ignition Failure
Push-start button fails to activate engine ignition. Key signal displays on dashboard but vehicle will not start. Multiple owners report being stranded.
When: Intermittent throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Push-start ignition will not engage; Key signal shows on dash; Engine will not crank; Owner/driver stranded multiple times
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2010 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 powertrain problem on the 2010 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 35,000 and 119,700 miles, with the median around 104,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 119,700. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2010/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.