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.
2010 Nissan Maxima steering problems
moderate 157 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
157
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 157 steering complaints filed for the 2010 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 14 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2010 Nissan Maxima by each odometer reading. Median failure: 87,192 mi.
10% have failed by51,000 mi
Half the fleet by87,192 mi
90% have failed by132,796 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 57% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 157 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
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 customers and reimbursed them for the faulty part they installed, but they were not interested in helping me because of the…
I went to pick my child up from work at 1130 pm came back out and car wouldn't start. It repeat said lock.. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Nissan maxima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the start button was depressed and the key warning light illuminated. As a result, the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel lock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
Today when I into my car and the car wouldn't start. I noticed the yellow "key" indicator is on, and the intelligent key will only lock and unlock the doors. I tried to start the car by placing the intelligent key in the manual start port, but the push button ignition stays ("reads") in the locked position, and the lcd shows an image that appears to be telling me to pull the key out of the…
I own a 2010 Nissan maxima on november 21, 2014 after leaving work. I notice a yellow indicator light on my dashboard. Initially I thought my key fob had a weak battery, so I called my brother to pick up my extra valet key. However that did not work, I was eventually towed to the Nissan dealership where my car was diagnose for a failure in the electronic steering column lock (escl), as a result…
I'm the second owner & it's run fine since november 2011. Yesterday it wouldn't start due to the faulty/broken ignition switch. Towed it to dealer & it's going to be $910 to replace the faulty electronic ignition. VIN contains a's (not b's), indicating it was from first half of 2010. It probably has the same defect as the 2009 maximas that were recalled. Dealer 'correctly' states the 2010 doesn't…
I have a 2010 Nissan maxima. It was purchased about 3 months ago. As I was trying to leave work last week, the car would not start. There was a red key light on in the upper left corner of the dash. I called a local Nissan dealer and they told me that my key battery was more than likely just dead. After I replaced the battery, the car still would not start. I called the dealer back and they…
Steering lock failed causing me to be stranded. Car would not start, but lights and door locks worked fine. Had to have the car towed to dealer and repaired. This is a known issue with Nissan. They refund 2009 maxima owners but refuse to refund the 2010 even though it's the same part. *tr
My 2010 maxima had a defective electronic steering column lock which prevented me from starting the vehicle and I had to tow it to the dealership. I was stranded on a major thoroughfare in cold weather with no heat for several hours as a result. The steering lock was replaced by a local dealership at a cost of $1000+. The 2009 Nissan maxima model had the same exact problem. Nissan currently has…
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2010 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 157 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 50,000 and 85,880 miles, with the median around 67,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 85,880. 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/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.