Complaints
460
per 10K Sold
86.2
US Sales
53,351
Crashes
7
Fires
2
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2009 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#1165 complaints
Steering Defects
Avg mileage:71,112 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#278 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:69,181 mi
Fires:1
#340 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:83,496 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Nissan Maxima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 165 | 1 | 1 | 71,112 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 78 | — | 1 | 69,181 mi | |
| Airbags | 40 | 4 | — | 83,496 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 35 | — | — | 86,574 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 18 | — | — | 78,795 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 15 | — | — | 35,203 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 10 | — | — | 117,581 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 7 | — | — | 156,000 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | — | — | 69,000 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Sunroof/Moonroof | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock | 1 | — | — | — |
Steering Defects
165
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
71,112
Electrical Faults
78
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
69,181
Airbags
40
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,496
Suspension Failures
35
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,574
Engine Problems
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,795
Seat-Related Issues
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
35,203
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
117,581
Wipers & Visibility
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
156,000
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,000
Engine & Cooling
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan Maxima Years
2009 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 460 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 165 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (165 complaints, avg 71,112 mi); Electrical Faults (78 complaints, avg 69,181 mi); Airbags (40 complaints, avg 83,496 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Nissan Maxima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 75,224 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Nissan Maxima include 7 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2009 Nissan Maxima as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2009 Nissan Maxima?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (steering defects) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2009 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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