RoadVitals

2010 Nissan Maxima Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
12
Latest Sep 8, 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.
4%
of 275 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

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 powertrain

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 8, 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact then stated that the RPM’s failed to increase. Additionally, the contact stated that while shifted into reverse, he heard a whining sound then the vehicle half shifted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the Extended Warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

NHTSA ID
11543366
Incident
Sep 2, 2023
Mileage
157,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 15, 2021

CVT torque converter codes p0774 leading to total transmission replacement.

NHTSA ID
11436958
Incident
Sep 2, 2021
Interior & seatsPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Feb 3, 2021

MY TRANSMISSION SOUNDS VERY LOUD WHEN I ACCELERATE UNTIL I GET TO ABOUT 55 MPH. IT SEEMS TO FEEL ROUGH AS WELL DURING THAT PERIOD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE. MY PASSENGER SEAT DOESN'T BLOW COLD AIR

NHTSA ID
11394562
Incident
Jan 2, 2021
Mileage
122,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 23, 2020

UNABLE TO PUSH START CAR IGNITION. A KEY SIGNAL SHOWS ON DASH AND CAR WILL NOT START AFTER SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. THE KEY IS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE SHE CAN'T GET PUSH START IGNITION TO START. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MORE HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11301457
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Mileage
145,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 2019

I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND ONLY ONE OWNER BEFORE ME, IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL. MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING A NOISE FOR MONTHS NOW SO I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP (ON AUGUST 3, 2019) AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IT BROKE DOWN ALMOST 2 HOURS FROM MY HOUSE. OTHER THAN THE KNOCKING NOISE (WHICH INCLUDING A POPPING NOISE), UNEVEN TIRE WEAR (HAD A BLOW OUT ON 65 3 HOURS FROM HOME), IT STARTED NOT ACCELERATING WHEN I WAS AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. IT STILL RUNS, BUT I'VE SPENT OVER $500 WITHIN A MONTHS TIME TRYING TO RECEIVE ANSWERS AND HAVEN'T YET. I SEE RECALLS FOR OTHER YEARS AS IN THE SUSPENSION/STRUT INSULATOR CRACKING. ALSO, I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS SLIPPING AND NISSAN NOT WANTING TO FIX THEM. I AM NOW EXPECTING MY FIRST CHILD AND HAVE NO FORM OF TRANSPORTATION DUE TO NISSAN AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS NOT KNOWING BASIC CAR KNOWLEDGE NOR WANTING THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFE AND SATISFIED.

NHTSA ID
11266840
Incident
Aug 9, 2019
Mileage
160,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 24, 2019

CAR TOTALLY SLOWED TO 25MPH ON HIGHWAY WHILE TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE ORIENTATION. COULD'VE KILLED MY WHOLE FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE. CVT TRANSMISSIONS IS A FAILURE. ALL CONTACTED TRANSMISSION PLACES AND IMPORT CAR REPAIR SAY ITS VERY PROBLEMATIC AND A WASTE. THOUGHT NISSAN EXTENDED FACTORY WARRANTY TO 10 YR 120000 MILES. I HAVE A 2010. LUCKILY IT WAS EARLY MORNING AND TRAFFIC WAS NOT AS HEAVY.

NHTSA ID
11234449
Incident
Jul 19, 2019
Mileage
89,000 mi
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 16, 2017

2010 MAXIMA HAS PROBLEM CAN'T DRIVE FROM CVT

NHTSA ID
11033943
Incident
Apr 9, 2017
Mileage
111,570 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 8, 2016

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO SOUTHERN CAL, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 2000 RPMS PERIODICALLY. I PARKED THE CAR FOR 1 - 2 HRS AND IT SEEMED TO START WORKING AGAIN. ONCE HOME, I HEADED TO THE MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED COMPLETELY. I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND CALLED NISSAN ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE ONCE I MADE IT HOME THE ODOMETER WAS ABOVE 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10904590
Incident
Jul 11, 2016
Mileage
119,700 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 11, 2015

I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE AND AN ORANGE LIGHT THAT READ "KEY" POPPED UP ON THE DASHBOARD. ON MY IGNITION BUTTON THE "LOCK" WORD WAS LUMINATED. MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, NOR TURN ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. I WAS STRANDED FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER, WHICH CAUSED CHAOS AND UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE. MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, PARKED AFTER ONLY 2 HOURS AFTER LAST USE. SCHOOLS CAN CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IF YOU DO NOT PICK UP YOUR KID BY A CERTAIN TIME. THAT PROVES THAT IF I DIDN'T FIND A WAY TO GET MY DAUGHTER PICKED UP IN A TIMELY MANNER SHE WOULD'VE BEEN IN DANGER. THANK GOD I WAS IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULD'VE BEEN IN A HOSTILE NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THE COLD, WITH NO HEAT. THE PIECE IN QUESTION THAT WAS THE PROBLEM... QUOTED BY NISSAN IS THE "STEERING LOCK." THIS PIECE HAS BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN IN THE EARLIER MODELS, BUT APPARENTLY NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. (WHICH IS THE YEAR AFTER THE ONE THAT IS RECALLED) APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T FIX THIS ISSUE. WHAT IF I WAS SOMEONE WHO NEEDED TO BE HOME TO TAKE MEDICINE AT A CERTAIN TIME, OR I DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE TO TELL THE SCHOOL WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS WAITING FOR ME THE ISSUE, OR MY WIFE WAS IN LABOR? THIS PIECE IS AN UNNECESSARY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10789790
Incident
Nov 7, 2015
Mileage
63,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 12, 2015

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY MORNING CAR WAS STALLING A LITTLE WAS DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN ONCE I PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR IT STARTED TO MAKE NOISES LIKE A MOTORCYCLE AND WOULDN'T MOVE FAST. CAR STOP ON MY STREET AND WE HAD TO PUSH IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. NOW WHEN I CRANK MY CAR IT MAKES THE MOTORCYCLE NOISE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN GOES AWAY. CAN'T DRIVE IT BUT CAN CHANGE THE GEARS WITH EASE. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND STATED THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10715962
Incident
May 11, 2015
Mileage
104,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 12, 2014

CVT NISSAN 2010 MAXIMA PROBLEMS & ISSUES ----THESE ARE RECORDED PROBLEMS WITH NISSAN'S NEW CVT TRANSMISSION ON NISSAN MAXIMA 2010. THE CVT EXHIBITS LOST OF POWER, HIGH RPM, LOUD WHINING NOISE, AND CVT GETS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR (WON'T DOWN SHIFT) IN MANUAL AND DRIVE MODE. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND GIVES A P1778 CODE (OTHER CODES AS WELL). . THIS CVT TRANSMISSION SUCKS. I TOOK IT TO FOUR DEALERSHIPS. I WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. THE CAR WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED WITH "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON". THE ERROR CODE 1778 &. FOUR OTHER CODES WERE PULLED IN TOTAL. THE OVERALL DIAGNOSIS IS "COMPLETE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE"I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE CODE OCCURRED AT 44K, 65K, 85K MILES, AND 94K MILES, AND EACH TIME IT WAS UNDIAGNOSABLE SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THIS DIAGNOSED WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT 124,000 MILES. AT NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS I SPOKE WITH MEGAN, JUANITA AND THEN CALLIA FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH (SO SHE SAYS - SHE WAS A TELEPHONE REPRESENTATIVE). ALL OF THESE NISSAN REPS HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF NISSAN ENGINES OR CVT'S. CONSUMER AFFAIRS REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS, EVEN DESPITE THE TSB'S, WARRANTY EXTENSION, NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, AND MY NUMEROUS CALLS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. ALL IN ALL THEY DID NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE CVT. THESE NISSAN DEALERS, NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, AND NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ARE CROOKS --- I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE TO NOT BUY NISSAN CARS. IF YOU DO HAVE TO BUY A NISSAN BEWARE THAT THEY WILL TRY TO RIP YOU OFF AT EVERY DIAGNOSIS AND DECISION POINT ON THEIR PART. I AM VERY SORRY TO SAY. I USED TO THINK NISSAN WAS A GOOD COMPANY. HTTP://YOUTU.BE/PD9ZDCU9EYM HTTP://YOUTU.BE/8V9LHH8KROS HTTP://YOUTU.BE/BTKFBFWJLSG. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587829
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
44,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 3, 2013

NISSAN MAXIMA 2010 - SPORT EDITION. THE CVT TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS SEVERE LOSE OF POWER ON 75MPH ROADWAY DRIVING BETWEEN PHOENIX AND FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA, UP ELEVATION. LACK OF POWER IS PRESENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS WELL. ON 75 MPH HIGHWAYS THE CVT BEGINS TO WHINE, THE ENGINE HAS HIGH RPM, LOUD WHINING NOISE FROM CVT, AND CAR GETS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR IN BOTH MANUAL SHIFT MODE AND DRIVE MODE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN SPEED WITH OTHER VEHICLES AT THE POSTED 75 MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GIVE A CODE BUT ONCE GAVE A P1778 CODE - FAULTY SOLENOID OR STEP UP MOTOR. THIS ISSUE OCCURS FREQUENTLY WITHIN CITY DRIVING AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO HIGH SPEED HIGHWAYS ON LONG DRIVES OVER HILLY ROADS CLIMBING UP ELEVATION. IN CITY DRIVING THE CVT WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER OF TRAFFIC WHEN ENTERING A BUSY HIGHWAY. AT OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO ACCELERATE DRAMATICALLY (NORMAL) TO THE SPEED OF CARS ON A BUSY MAIN STREET (55MPH). AND, THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR JUST LACKS POWER WHEN ENTERING A BUSY 3-4 LANE STREET (55 MPH) AND YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY 3-4 LANE STREET WITH APPROACHING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS BARELY ABLE TO GET ITSELF OUT OF THE WAY AT FULL THROTTLE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST AND DID NOT OCCUR WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. CVT FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 44,000 MILES PRIOR TO NISSAN RECOMMENDATION. THIS CVT TRANSMISSION SUCKS AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE GIVING CUSTOMERS A HARD TIME SINCE THE PROBLEM DOESN'T NOT GIVE A ENGINE TROUBLE CODE. THE CODE P1778 EVENTUALLY IS CLEARED FROM THE COMPUTER ON ITS OWN WHEN IT DOES OCCUR. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CVT TRANSMISSION PERSISTS AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY FAIL TO ACCELERATE AND MAINTAIN THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT DURING CITY DRIVING AND ON HIGH SPEED HIGHWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10546581
Incident
Aug 31, 2011
Mileage
35,000 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .