RoadVitals

2009 Nissan Maxima Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest May 19, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 339 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed May 19, 2023

I recently had my father pass away and my mom gave me his car , the air conditioning stopped working then the serpentine belt broke so I had a mobile mechanic come out and replace serpentine belt and tensioner. Then the power steering wheel fell off on freeway luckily no one was hurt I had to have the power steering pump replaced and another new serpentine belt installed. Then I went to get tires and an alignment done on the vehicle because it was driving kinda weird to be informed that the struts need replaced when I know my father had the struts replaced less then a year ago . Now today I was driving came to a red light and lost all power i could not even use hazard lights because I had no power. I was stuck there.I had to get towed home and purchased a new battery then called a mobile mechanic and was informed I have an ecm failure.with that being said car is unsafe to drive oh and serpentine belt broke again.

NHTSA ID
11522966
Incident
May 19, 2023
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2022

CVT transmission whinnying with loss of power when accelerating

NHTSA ID
11456420
Incident
Mar 9, 2022
Engine
Filed Nov 22, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the engine was running hot and there was thick white smoke coming from the exhaust tips. In addition, the vehicle stalled and was restarted however the vehicle shut off. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.

NHTSA ID
11441250
Incident
Nov 18, 2021
Mileage
178,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2020

MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM CROWN MASON IN TAMPA ANDBTHE CAR STARTED SMOKING IN ONE DAY, WE FOUND OUT THE ENGINE WAS NO GOOD. THE OWNER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT WE HAD TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN ALONG WITH A TUNE UP AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT

NHTSA ID
11350803
Incident
Jul 25, 2020
Mileage
125,876 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 9, 2020

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I STOPPED TO GET GAS AT A REST STOP AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START THEREAFTER. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS VEHICLE HAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK THROUGH NISSAN . I CONTACTED NISSAN AND WAS TOLD DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REIMBURSE ! DUE TO MALFUNCTION MY CAR SHOULD HAVE THE APPROPRIATE STEERING BOX IDENTIFIED IN THEIR CAMPAIGN. THE DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN CORPORATION REFUSED TO ABIDE BY THEIR OWN CAMPAIGN AND DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
11298261
Incident
Jan 5, 2020
Mileage
16,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 17, 2019

THE CAR LOSES POWER AS I'M DRIVING, I REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP I'M AT AROUND $1100 IN WITH REPAIRS AND LABOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST I TURN CAR ON AND DRIVE WITHIN 10 MINS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND ACCELERATION THEN EVENTUALLY DIES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ON ONE OCCASION, VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. IT'S NOT THE BATTERY CUZ IT'S ALSO NEW. THIS IS GETTING SCARY AND RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ID
11232931
Incident
Jun 16, 2019
Mileage
105,256 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 6, 2018

WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP AND WHEN IDLING THE RPM GO UP AND DOWN AND ALSO IT IDLES VERY IRRATICALLY.

NHTSA ID
11149620
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
134,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 28, 2018

MY CAR KEEPS LOSING POWER AFTER DRIVING IT FOR AWHILE. I HAD A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INSTALLED. IT CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER AND STARTS UP AFTER A FEW HOURS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ID
11143485
Incident
Oct 27, 2018
Engine
Filed May 15, 2018

ENGINE OIL PAN RUST THROUGH AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11093887
Incident
Dec 3, 2016
Mileage
75,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11024565
Incident
Sep 19, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 3, 2017

THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING, REVERTS BACK TO IDLE RPM AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT PROPEL THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED AFTER BEING REPAIRED BY NISSAN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11012538
Incident
Jul 29, 2017
Mileage
5 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Feb 13, 2017

THE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM (AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE) FAILED. IT LOCKED MY STEERING WHEEL AND DISABLED THE START BUTTON ON THE CAR. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY; I WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AWAY FROM HOME WITH A CAR THAT WOULD NOT START. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD ISSUED A TSB, BUT NO RECALL. NOR WAS I NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AS AN OWNER.

NHTSA ID
10954324
Incident
Feb 11, 2017
Mileage
72,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Mar 21, 2016

THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DISABLED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND WAS LOCKED IN PLACE, ADDITIONALLY THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. FORTUNATELY THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT HAD THE STEERING LOCK CONTROL FAILED WHILE DRIVING A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE LIKELY OCCURRED AS THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NISSAN SERVICE SHOP FOR A REPAIR COSTING NEARLY $1000. THIS WAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE FOR NISSAN AS THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PART HOWEVER MY VEHICLE'S CONTROL UNIT FAILED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH I DISCOVERED MANY OTHER NISSAN OWNERS HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME SAFETY FAILURE ON THEIR VEHICLES. IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
10850843
Incident
Jan 8, 2016
Mileage
83,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PART STORE, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT, DTC, ABS SENSOR, AND ENGINE SPEED SHIFT CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
10678953
Incident
Jan 19, 2015
Mileage
98,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 10, 2014

THE CAR HAS POWER. ALL ELECTRONICS SEEM TO WORK, HOWEVER, WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND PUSH THE IGNITION BUTTON THE CAR WILL NOT START. THE FIRST TIME I TRY TO START IT, IT WILL TURN OVER VERY SLOWLY. THEN EVERY TIME AFTER THAT, IT WILL GIVE ME A METALLIC CLICKING SOUND BUT WILL NOT TURN OVER. I WENT THROUGH THE COLD AND HOT START UP PROCEDURES TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR STILL HAS POWER, I.E. IF I PLACE THE BUTTON TO THE ON POSITION EVERYTHING WILL TURN ON ELECTRONICALLY, BUT THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. THE BATTERY IS AN INTERSTATE BATTERY AND HAS BEEN TESTED AS GOOD. THE ONLY TIME THE CAR WILL START NOW IS IF I GET A JUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597302
Incident
Jun 9, 2014
Mileage
89,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2014

I PULLED OUT OF MY COMPLEX I HAD ONLY DRIVEN 1/4 OF A MILE AT A RATE OF 40 MPH AND MY VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING AND VERY HARD TO BRAKE. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE GOING AGAIN SO I DROVE RIGHT BACK HOME. I REFERENCED MY OWNERS MANUAL AND IT STATED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS FLASHING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SERVICE FACILITY. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE NEXT DAY. THE SERVICE DEPT NOTIFIED ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY STATED THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT MY FAULT AND WHEN THEY TOOK THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE OFF MY MOTOR IS VERY CLEAN AND THEY CAN TELL THAT I TOOK GREAT CAR OF MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS JUST 3,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. APPROX 48 HRS LATER NISSAN CALLED TO ADVISE ME THEY CAN'T HELP ME WITH THE COST OF MY REPAIRS OVER $9,000. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDLESS TO SAY VERY UNFAIR FOR THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596968
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
63,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 9, 2014

MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA DOES IT SEEM TO READ MY KEY ANYMORE. IT HAS A ORANGE LIGHT ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF MY DASHBOARD. THE CAR OBVIOUSLY RECOGNIZES THE KEY FOR I AM STILL ABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK MY CAR. IT WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. WHEN I PRESS THE PUSH START BUTTON, THE ONLY LIGHT THAT COMES ON IS THE LOCK LIGHT. IT ALL DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL. I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. ONE SECOND IT WAS WORKING, ANOTHER SECOND IT WASN'T. I FIND THIS HIGHLY INCONVENIENT THAT NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT THE DEALERSHIPS ONLY PROVIDES AID MONDAYS THOUGH SATURDAYS AS IF PEOPLE ONLY HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS ON MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE SHOULD BE A 24/7 HELP HOTLINE AT LEAST. THIS IS MY SECOND ISSUE WITH THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY IN MY KEY FOB. I WENT TO GET A NEW BATTERY FOR IT AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563579
Incident
Feb 9, 2014
Mileage
63,773 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Feb 5, 2014

THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER OR START AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. A SMALL YELLOW KEY APPEARS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEFT INSTRUMENT DIAL. THE INTELLIGENT KEY DOES NOT ENGAGE. WEB RESEARCH INDICATES PROBABLE STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST NISSAN DEALER TODAY FEB. 5 WHO CONFIRMED THAT STEERING LOCK HAS FAILED. THE DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL TELLS ME THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ON BACK ORDER, NONE OF THE OTHER DEALERS IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA HAVE ONE. TECHNICALLY IT MAY NOT BE A SAFETY PROBLEM REQUIRING A RECALL BUT IF YOU HAD THIS PROBLEM ON THE SHOULDER OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY OR SITTING ON THE TRACKS AT A RAILROAD CROSSING IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. NOW WE WILL NEED SOME EXPERIENCE IN ORDER TO TRUST THE CAR TO OPERATE CORRECTLY IN A SAFE MANNER. I AM GLAD WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR THAT IS WORKING CORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563171
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
59,500 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Nov 11, 2013

I STARTED MY CAR JUST FINE THIS MORNING BUT ON MY WAY TO WORK I STOPPED AT A STORE AND THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO START BACK UP. I CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY FOR THE PUSH START KEY AND THE CAR BATTERY. THIS PROBLEM FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2009 MAXIMA 370Z AND THE GTR. THEY HAVE THE SAME PARTS FOR THE IGNITION SYSTEMS. PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM. I'M FROM TEXAS BUT WORK AS A CONTRACTOR IN PENNSYLVANIA. I LOVE MY MAXIMA AND IT'S A SHAME THAT I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE COLD FOR 5 HOURS TRYING TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND TALKING TO MY INSURANCE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10551739
Incident
Nov 11, 2013
Mileage
96,487 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Feb 12, 2013

UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, IGNITION WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM "LOCK" TO "ACC" OR "ON". INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LAMP WAS LIT STEADY ON DASH. STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED. ALL POWER AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WORKED (LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, ETC). BATTERY IS FINE. DEALER FOUND STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE PART 48700-9N00A FAULTY AND REPLACED WITH STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE PART 48700-9N00B. SIMILAR PART ON NISSAN GTRS WAS RECALLED, PART NUMBER 48700-JF00A OR 48700-JF00B, BEING REPLACED BY 48700-JF00C SAME PART NUMBER IS FAILING FOR NISSAN 370ZS AS WELL, SAME YEARS AND SAME PART NUMBER 48700-JF00A OR 48700-JF00B, YET THEY ARE NOT BEING RECALLED. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO OCCURRING IN NISSAN MAXIMAS AND NISSAN MURANOS IN ALL MODELS OF NISSAN THIS PART WAS REMOVED IN MID 2010 DUE TO CONSISTENT FAILURE. THE PART COSTS APPROXIMATELY $500 FROM NISSAN, IS USUALLY OUT OF STOCK AND BACK ORDERED, AND COSTS ANOTHER $400-$500 TO BE INSTALLED AT A DEALER. THERE SHOULD BE A MAKE-WIDE RECALL FOR ALL MODELS FOR THIS PART. FAILURE OF THIS PART STRANDS THE DRIVER WITH NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE. HOW CAN AELECTRONIC PART MOUNTED INSIDE THE PASSENGERS COMPARTMENT FAIL SO OFTEN AT LESS THAN THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF SERVICE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10497908
Incident
Feb 4, 2013
Mileage
50,532 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Mar 28, 2012

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AT 75 MPH AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND I ACTED QUICKLY TO TURN ON THE HAZARDS AND GET OFF THE HIGHWAY ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS CAR ONLY HAS ~16000 MILES AS WELL AS ALL OF ITS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED US THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT AS THEY FOUND A LEAF IN THE SENSOR. WE HAVE NO WAY TO VERIFY THAT THERE WAS A LEAF IN THE SENSOR AND THE CAR IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND/OR DRIVEWAY NOWHERE NEAR A TREE. WE WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT SO THAT IF MORE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS OCCUR MAYBE A RECALL IS WARRANTED AS NISSAN'S ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLES COULD BE AT FAULT. HOW COULD A LEAF IN GET IN THERE? IF A LEAF DOES GET IN WHY WOULD THAT CORRODE THE PART? *TR

NHTSA ID
10453400
Incident
Mar 25, 2012
Mileage
16,123 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Aug 17, 2010

THE COLLAR WILL MOVE UP AND DOWN SLOW ... REPORT THE MOTOR IS BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350011
Incident
Aug 15, 2010
Mileage
82,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .