Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2026
My steering failed completely while driving, making it nearly impossible to turn.
- NHTSA ID
- 11709444
- Incident
- Dec 15, 2025
2011 Nissan Maxima Steering Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering 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.
9
Latest Jan 7, 2026
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.
8%
of 106 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 5, 2023
Cvt transmission jerking , engine is always idling hard sometimes wants to even shut off , accelerating sometimes takes a lil while to respond , rack and pinion assembly faulty I would like for nissan to fix my car or get a lump sum check for all faulty errors these cars have
- NHTSA ID
- 11520699
- Incident
- Aug 17, 2022
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 21, 2018
Crash reported3 injuries reported
S10 DIRECT REPLY - LETTER EXPRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA SAFETY, DEFECT, AND COMPLIANCE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CONTROLLING THE SPEED AND DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED LOOSELY AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE PASSENGERS RECEIVED LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. *JS SEE ALSO ODI 10816663. *DSY *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 11130128
- Incident
- Dec 10, 2013
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed Jan 23, 2017
VEHICLE IS PARKED AND ENGINE WONT START. HAD A 2009 MAXIMA THAT ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUES. CHECKED BATTERY AND IT IS FINE BUT CAR WONT START. I HAVE JUMPSTARTED IT AND THAT HAS TURNED THE CAR BACK ON BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS LAST TIME MY CAR DID NOT START , NOT EVEN WITH A JUMP START.
- NHTSA ID
- 10947036
- Incident
- Jan 22, 2017
Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2017
STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP KEY FOB NOT BEING RECOGNIZED BY CAR. IT WONT LET ME START IT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10945599
- Incident
- Nov 19, 2016
- Mileage
- 132,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 9, 2016
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED DUE TO A STEERING LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, AND COULD NOT BE STARTED.
- NHTSA ID
- 10934037
- Incident
- Dec 9, 2016
- Mileage
- 42,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 15, 2015
I HAVE A 2011 MAXIMA AND MY FAMILY AND I KEEP GETTING STRANDED. I UNLOCK THE CAR AND THEN THE BREAK IS STIFF, STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAR WON'T START. THIS IS THE WORST FEELING WHEN YOUR SITTING IN A DARK PARKING LOT WITH 2 YOUNG KIDS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! I SEE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE!!
- NHTSA ID
- 10782581
- Incident
- Oct 15, 2015
EngineSteering
Filed Dec 26, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,400. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ
- NHTSA ID
- 10668289
- Incident
- Nov 20, 2014
- Mileage
- 55,400 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 17, 2013
STEERING LOCKED..CAR WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO PAYING FOR GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY, I AM UNDER 36,000 MILES SO COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT WILL NOT COVER EXPENSE FOR TOWING THE CAR. I READ THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN MAXIMA AND FEEL THAT COMPANY SHOULD OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10556370
- Incident
- Dec 17, 2013
- Mileage
- 34,300 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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .