RoadVitals

2009 Nissan Maxima Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
11
Latest Oct 29, 2019
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.
3%
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.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 11 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 visibility

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

Body & structureVisibility
Filed Oct 29, 2019

THE DASHBOARD MELTING IS CAUSING EXTREME GLARE ON THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD AND DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING THE DAY OUT OF WINDSHIELD SO IT'S AFFECTING MY DRIVING ABILITY. AND EVERYTHING IS STICKING TO IT AND IT'S DESTROYING THE OTHER PARTS IN MY VEHICLE IT IS MELTING ON TOO. I HAVE SUN VISOR ON EVERYTIME OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT STICKINESS IS ALWAYS THERE AND CONTINUES TO MELT REGARDLESS.

NHTSA ID
11271781
Incident
Sep 12, 2019
Mileage
234,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 6, 2019

THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED CAUSING SEVERE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS DEFECT MAKES IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE CARS AND PEDESTRIANS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR OUR SON AND AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A NEW DASHBOARD OR AS WE HAVE IT TODAY, COVERED WITH A TOWEL. WE HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN AT LEAST 3-5 TIMES HOWEVER THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN TO DO TO ASSIST. I DID TELL THEM THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO ONLY COVER CARS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEY SHOULD BE LOYAL TO ALL CUSTOMERS REGARDLESS OF THE STATE.

NHTSA ID
11266585
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Visibility
Filed Jun 27, 2017

DASH DEFECT. THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOOKS LIKE MELTED TAR CREATING A GLARE WHILE DRIVING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN'S 2008 & 2009 ALTIMAS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN USA (CASE # 2716855) THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD OFFER TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR WHICH WOULD STILL BE $1000 OUT OF POCKET. MY QUESTION IS; ARE THEY WAITING FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN BEFORE THEY OFFER A CAMPAIGN FOR RECALL? YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID
11001736
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Visibility
Filed Mar 14, 2017

MY 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A CRACKED AND MELTING DASHBOARD. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT THE SUNLIGHT CAUSES AN EXTREME GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES VISIBILITY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ON SUNNY DAYS. A BIKER OR PEDESTRIAN COULD BE CROSSING THE STREET IN FRONT OF ME AND I WOULD NOT KNOW IT DUE TO ONLY SEEING THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT THIS AND THEY WERE NOTHING BUT RUDE THE ENTIRE TIME. THEY SAID THERE ARE NO KNOWN DEFECTS WITH IT AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT IS AN ISSUE. I TOLD THEM THAT I CANNOT SEE AND IT IS AN EXTREMELY BIG ISSUE AND THEY DISAGREE. I EVEN OFFERED TO PAY TOWARDS THE COST OF A NEW DASHBOARD AND THEY SAID THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO AT THIS POINT AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS DUE TO THE BLINDING REFLECTION FROM THE DASH.

NHTSA ID
10965958
Incident
Mar 14, 2017
Visibility
Filed Jun 20, 2016

INABILITY TO CLEARLY SEE ROAD IN CERTAIN SUNNY CONDITIONS FROM A MELTING DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSES GLARE IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID
10875448
Incident
Jun 16, 2010
Visibility
Filed Nov 3, 2014
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SUNROOF GLASS ABRUPTLY FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SCRATCHES TO THE EYES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,916.

NHTSA ID
10652006
Incident
Oct 28, 2014
Mileage
79,916 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 28, 2014

I'VE OWNED MY NISSAN SENSE 2009 AND OVER THE LAST YEAR THE DASH HAS BEEN MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE RIGHT IN THE DRIVER VISION OF VIEW. I'M HOPING THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS IT IS CAUSING ME TO DO LESS DRIVING ON SUNNY DAYS DUE TO GLARE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10629215
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Visibility
Filed Apr 10, 2014

I HAVE A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA S-MODEL AND I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I HAD MY SUNROOF TILTED. THE SUNROOF GLASS MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE GLASS SHATTERED ABOVE MY HEAD. I LOOKED FOR SIGNS OF AN OBJECT HITTING THE TOP OF MY CAR BUT NONE WERE PRESENT. THE GLASS SHATTERED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR OUTWARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10578895
Incident
Apr 8, 2014
Visibility
Filed Aug 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION HEARD FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10533036
Incident
Jul 25, 2013
Mileage
78,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 3, 2012

CAR WAS SITTING PARKED; HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WENT TO GET IN CAR AND REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS DANGLING. REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD, CHUNK OF WINDSHIELD BROKEN WHERE MIRROR HAD BEEN ATTACHED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10457229
Incident
Apr 26, 2012
Mileage
59,400 mi
AirbagsSteeringVisibility
Filed Sep 23, 2011

TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME UP POSITION WHEN DRIVERS DOOR WAS OPENED AT APPROX 2 YEARS/52,000 MILES. TILT STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE LOWERED UNTIL DISASSEMBLED BY THE DEALER. DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS SERIOUSLY OBSTRUCTED, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. POTENTIAL AIR BAG EFFECTIVENESS WAS ALSO SERIOUSLY DEGRADED. NISSAN IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT MOTORS (TILT OR TELESCOPE) IN SERVICE BULLETIN NTB09094. HOWEVER, NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THIS FIRST-TIME NISSAN OWNER FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT. THERE IS NO CERTAINTY OF WHETHER REPLACEMENT NISSAN STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT MOTORS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME UNDERLYING DESIGN DEFECT AND WILL NOT FAIL SHORTLY AFTER INSTALLATION. THE TELESCOPE ADJUSTMENT MOTOR FAILED AT APPROX 1 YEAR/38,000 MILES. TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR FOR BOTH ADJUSTMENT MOTORS WAS APPROXIMATELY $400+. I REQUEST NISSAN AND NHTSA ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10426881
Incident
Jul 3, 2011
Mileage
52,000 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 .