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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Nissan Maxima Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 339 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Nissan dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2009 Nissan Maxima owner complaints

Owners have filed 339 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Nissan Maxima, describing incidents dated December 23, 2008 to October 17, 2025.

Most-cited components

  • Steering 168 complaints
  • Electrical System 79 complaints
  • Air Bags 43 complaints
  • Suspension 36 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 33 complaints
  • Engine 22 complaints

Of the 339 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 339 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11709781 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11639588 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shuddering uncontrollably. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue driving to the residence at 20 MPH. The dealer and the…

  • ODI #11639330 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact received notification of an undisclosed recall. The contact stated that while the vehicle was off, the push-to-start button was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to start. The immobilizer warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a…

Read all 339 complaints

Owner-reported

2009 Nissan Maxima mileage at failure

270 of the 339 complaints on file for the 2009 Nissan Maxima give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
SteeringMedian 60,000 milesMiddle half 45,000–90,000 milesBased on 141 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 70,000 milesMiddle half 45,000–95,000 milesBased on 65 complaints
Air BagsMedian 80,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–115,000 milesBased on 30 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

SUSPENSION/STRUT INSULATOR CRACKING

NHTSA #09V358000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported September 16, 2009 · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 26,398 vehicles

Owners notified October 8, 2009 · Vehicles built March 2, 2009 – August 3, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.

Safety consequence

IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Nissan Maxima model years

Check your 2009 Nissan Maxima VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Nissan Maxima at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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