103 complaints reported

2009 Nissan Maxima Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
103
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2026

The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that after the windshield was replaced by Safelite Auto Glass, the employee at Safelite attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start, and the steering wheel had seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic steering column lock had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. Upon further investigation, the contact found Manufacturer Recall Number: PC516, which involved the electronic steering column lock (ESCL). However, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that Safelite did not remove the rearview mirror. However, the rearview mirror was left hanging while the windshield was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the Service Campaign under PC516 for the same issue, and the Service Campaign had since expired. The failure persisted, and the vehicle remained at the residence unrepaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2025
Mar 2024

The steering wheel lock malfunctioned. The part is available for inspection. The car was parked on the street. It endangered others because it would not start and had to be towed. This issue was confirmed and reproduced by the dealer with diagnostics. There were no symptoms prior to this issue and the warning light only came on after the part malfunctioned.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2024
Nov 2023

In 2016 we had to replace the steering lock mechanism. Went to start the car and a security light came on and car would not start , and had to get the car towed from work. We paid to have the part replaced on 12/23/2016. Now, 11/27/2023 we had the same issue with the steering lock mechanism where we tried to start the vehicle and it won’t due to this same issue. Now having to get the car towed again to have the part replaced. I saw there was a voluntary safety recall on this issue in 2017. We did not receive any letter stating our car was affected, yet we replaced the part in 2016 with no reimbursement and now again in 2023 with the part doubling in cost.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2023
Aug 2020

I HAVE PARKED MY VECHICKLE AND AFTER 10 MIN. I COULDN'T START ENGINE. IN NISSAN SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED REPLACE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK ($830.00). THEY TOLD ME TOO, THAT WAS RECALL ON THAT PART BUT UNFORTUNATELY HAS EXPIRED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2020
Jul 2020 Crash Injury

TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM MY HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, FIELD STEERING WAS SO OUT OF CONTROL I HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING IN MY LANE THE BRAKES WERE IF YOU WERE TO JUST TOUCH THE BRAKES THE SLIGHTEST YOU WOULD GO OUT THE WINDSHIELD PRACTICALLY. AFTER THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE STEERING ISSUES, I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE SHOP AND I WAS GOING DOWN THE CITY STREET AND IT JERKED SO HARD TO THE RIGHT THAT I JUMPED THE CURB ALMOST HIT A BUSH AND THREE PEOPLE WALKING IN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS.*DT*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2020
Mar 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE STEERING LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED (HILLTOP NISSAN LOCATED AT 258 STATE ROUTE 10, EAST HANOVER, NJ 07936) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE CONTACT DID SO AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2020
Feb 2020

THE ELECTRONIC STREERING COLUMN LOCK WAS STUCK AND MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO START TWICE. IT HAPPENED ONCE WHEN I WAS AT HOME AND I GOT IT REPLACED. NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS AT WORK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020
May 2018

CAR WOULD NOT START ON A BLISTERY COLD DAY. LUCKILY, IT HAPPENED INFRONT OF MY HOUSE, BUT I THEN HAD TO GET TOWED TO A GARAGE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WENT DOWN WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. "KEY" LIGHT TURNS ON. ALL FUNCTIONS ON FOB STILL WORK AND THE CAR HAD A BRAND NEW BATTERY INSTALLED 3 MONTHS AGO. SEEMS TO BE THE STEERING LOCK MODULE WHICH HAS CAUSED THE CAR NOT TO START.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2018
Jan 2018

NISSAN HAS A RECALL ON CERTAIN 2009 NISSAN MAXIMAS ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. MY MAXIMA IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, IN JULY OF 2014 DURING ROUTINE SERVICE AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS REPLACED. A FEW DAYS AGO IT FAILED AGAIN, I HAD TO TOW IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT NISSAN WILL NOT COVER ANY PART OF THE COST OF $797.19. MY CASE NUMBER WITH NISSAN USA IS 29509408. I'M ASKING FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST AND $40.00 FOR TOWING COST FOR A PART THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2018
Dec 2017

OCT 9, 2017, DROVE THE CAR FOR 15 MINUTES, TO DESTINATION. WHEN READY TO LEAVE, CAR WOULD NOT START, AFTER PUSHING STARTER BUTTON. CHANGE FOB KEY BATTERY AND STILL WOULD NOT START. STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN UPRIGHT POSITION. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATES THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK IS FAULTY. REPLACEMENT COST $1100+. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, OBVIOUSLY, IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND BE AN ENDANGERMENT TO STRANDED OCCUPANTS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2017
Apr 2017

2009 MAXIMA WITH 87,000 MILES WAS OPERATIONAL THROUGHOUT THE DAY; WE PARKED AT A BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT FOR LUNCH FEBRUARY 4, 2017 (WINTER; CLOUDY NO RAIN OR SNOW) OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE 45 F. WHEN RETURNING TO VEHICLE, CAR WOULD NOT START: STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND INTELLIKEY SYSTEM WOULD NOT FUNCTION; BLINKING DASH LIGHT INDICATED CAR WAS IN LOCK-DOWN MODE. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK - AFTER 75 MINUTES WAIT CAR WAS TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIR (STILL WAITING). THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM & IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP IN THIS VERY SAME CAR (THAT TIME WAS OCTOBER 2012 WITH 46,000 MILES ON THE CAR). THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE THIS APPEARS TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM; LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR VICIOUS WEATHER. PREVIOUS REPAIR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I SUSPECT THIS REPAIR WILL BE QUITE COSTLY. THE CAR SHOULD NOT LOCK UP LIKE THIS FOR NO REASON. THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISMS APPEARS TO BE EITHER A FAULTY DESIGN OR HAVE PROBLEMS FUNCTIONING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HAVE THIS PART RECALLED OR REPAIRED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2017
Mar 2017 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME, A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND STARTED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2017
Feb 2017

MY MAXIMA WON'T START OR DO ANYTHING. I TOWED THE CAR TO MOSSY NISSAN AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE STEERING LOCKING MECHANISM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2017
Feb 2017

I OWN A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, NEVER HAD NAY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR EXCEPT FOR ROUTINE WORK DONE. I CLOCKED OUT OF WORK AND WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE CAR DID NOT START. THE WHEEL AND BRAKES WERE LOCKED ON ME AND I COULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK TO SHIFT IT. MY KEY LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASH AND I LOOKED IT UP IN MY MANUAL AND SAW IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK.. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAD TO PAY TO TOW MY CAR FROM WORK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT COST ME 1113.00 TO FIX THE STEERING LOCK UNIT.. TO MY KNOWLEDGE I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED OR RECEIVED A LETTER TELLING ME ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ABPUT THE STEERING LOCK. I FEEL LIKE THE WARRANTY SHOULD BE FOREVER BECAUSE WHAT IF THIS STEERING LOCK UNIT I REPLACED GOES OUT ON ME AGAIN LEAVING ME STRANDED SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEN I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER 1113.00 TO FIX... WAY TO GO NISSAN!!!!!!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2017
Dec 2016

CAR WILL NOT START WITH THE ELECTRIC PUSH BUTTON. IT SEEMS TO BE THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM ACTUATOR. NISSAN WANTS TO CHARGE $1000 FOR THE PART AND $400 LABOR. IT TOOK US 15 MINS TO TAKE THE PART OUT OURSELVES AND UNPLUGGED IT AND PLUGGED IT BACK IN. IT DID WORK A FEW TIMES BUT NOW IT WONT WORK AGAIN. LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO BUY THE PART WHICH IS ON AMAZON FOR AROUND $400.00. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND NISSAN SHOULD HONOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT! I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TWICE BEFORE FIGURING THIS OUT! NOT SURE WHY THEY HAVE CHARGE SO MUCH FOR SUCH A SIMPLE FIX. THE DEALER SHIP IS A RIP OFF...

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2016
Dec 2016

THE ESCL MODULE WENT OUT ON MY MAXIMA. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING IN MANY, MANY MAXIMA FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 MAXIMAS'. IN FACT, MANY FORUMS DISCOURAGE BUYING THE 2009 AND SUGGEST EARLIER MODELS. CURRENTLY, MY AUTOMOBILE IS DISABLED AT THE MECHANIC'S SHOP WITH A REPAIR FEE OF $1070.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2016
Dec 2016

MY CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULDN'T START WHEN I WENT TO CRANK IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT UPON INSTALLING A NEW INE, THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT'S THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND IT WOULD BE $1000 TO REPAIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2016
Dec 2016

THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO START. SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ISSUE, AND THE SAME PART AND PART NUMBER HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THERE OTHER MODEL CARS, BUT NOT WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHEN THIS PART FAIL IT WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND NOT BE ABLE TO START THE CAR WITH THE STEERING WHEEL POSSIBLY LOCKED IN PLACE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2016
Nov 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2016
Nov 2016

THE CAR WOULD NOT START. STEERING COLUMN BROKE. HAD IT FIXED THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE 3 YRS AGO. THEN IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TWO DAYS AGO, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. CAR DOESN'T START. THE YELL INTELLIGENT KEY LIGHT WAS ON. I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I CALLED TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (AGAIN). THIS TIME NO LONGER COVERED. TOTAL OF AROUND $1500 TO GET FIXED. BOTH TIMES MY CAR WAS PARKED, AND OFF, AND THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T START. BOTH TIMES HAD I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED OVER 30 MILES ON A FLAT BED. I JUST WANTED 1 YR WITH NO CAR PAYMENT, CATCH UP ON MY STUDENT LOANS, AND BUY A NEW NISSAN. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, EVER AGAIN!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2016
Nov 2016

CAR WOULDN'T START, STEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. ALSO WINDOWS WENT DOWN WITH AUTO-DOWN FEATURE ON KEY BUT NO WAY TO PUT THEM BACK UP.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2016
Sep 2016

THE STEERINGWHEEL WILL NOT UNLOCK AND CAR WONT START. 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2016
Sep 2016

ME AND MY FAMILY WERE OUT OF TOWN OF A WEEKEND GETAWAY, NOT KNOWING THIS STEERING WHEEL LOCK SITUATION WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE US STRANDED OUT OF TOWN AND RUIN A PLANNED OUT WEEKEND. BASICALLY WE ARRIVED TO OUR DESTINATION AS PERFECT AS CAN BE, PARK THE CAR AND ME AND MY FAMILY LEFT MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS AS WE ENJOYED OURSELVES. WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR IS WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN AND SENSE OF WORRY HIT MY FIANCE AND KIDS FACES. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WE HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR NO MORE. STRANDED AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS EXACTLY GOING ON WITH THE HELP OF GOOGLE AND YOU TUBE. A LOVELY MEMORABLE WEEKEND AWAY BECAME A NIGHTMARE IN A MATTER OF HOURS. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN AFTER READING ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND MALFUNCTIONS INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH AND NO SUPPORT OR RECALL FROM NISSAN. ME AND MY FAMILY WERE STRANDED IN A CITY WERE WE HAD NO FAMILY RELATIONS FOR SUPPORT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. MY NISSAN STEERING LOCK SITUATION REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE DANGERS OF THIS. DEFINITELY RECONSIDERING WHAT TO DO WITH MY CAR AND MY NEXT PURCHASE. THANK GOD WITH THE SUPPORT OF A YOU TUBE VIDEO I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS TO GET THE CAR STARTED AFTER A FEW HOURS OF TRYING FOR WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MORE TIMES. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND NOW THE CAR SITS THERE NON RUNNING, STEELING WHEEL LOCKED. MY FAMILY WAS MY PRIORITY AND GETTING THEM HOME WAS A NECESSITY. THIS STEERING WHEEL LOCK REALLY PUT US AS PARENTS IN A DANGEROUS AND SCARED SITUATION FOR OURSELVES AND CHILDREN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2016
Sep 2016

TAKATA RECALL - I WAS AT THE BARBERSHOP GETTING MY HAIRCUT AND AFTERWARDS WHEN LEAVING I WAS ATTENDING TO CRANK UP AND DRIVE OFF BUT MY CAR WOULDN'T CRANK AND IT WAS IN LOCK MODE (STEERING WHEEL LOCK MODULE )AND TOOK ME ALMOST A HOUR OR TWO BEFORE IT CRANKED UP, SO I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AND THERE WAS A LOCK INDICATOR LIGHT ON IN THE DASH AND TODAY ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2016 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND NOW IT WON'T SAY ANYTHING SO I CANT EVEN DRIVE MY 09 MAXIMA SOMEONE PLEASE GET A RECALL FOR THIS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2016
Sep 2016

I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR (FROM AN AUDI DEALERSHIP) ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO (AS IS) AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS I'VE NOW RESEARCHED. THERE WAS THIS WEIRD GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY STOP BUT IT WAS DISTURBING. MY SISTER AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LEARN OF THAT IT WAS THE TELESCOPIC STEERING COLUMN AND TWO MOTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ABOUT $900 TO FIX IT. AS A COLLEGE STUDENT WHO JUST SPENT THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THE CAR... I JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND JUST HOW SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS THE PROBLEM IS. THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WHEEL LOCKING IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME AND MY PASSENGERS... BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. I'M NOT SURE WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED BY NISSAN AS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH 09 MAXIMA OWNERS ACROSS THE BOARD. NISSAN EVAN ISSUED A MEMO, BUT NOTHING MORE? THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS OF A SITUATION TO IGNORE. THERE ARE LIVES AT RISK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2016

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 103 Steering complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.