CarComplaints.com Notes: We don't recommend the 2009 Maxima nearly as highly as the 2007-2008 Maxima, because NHTSA complaints show a pattern of the electronic steering column lock module failing.
When the module fails it prevents the car from starting, & Nissan dealers charge over $1,000 (!!) to repair it. Nissan recalled the module on some other 2009 models with the same steering lock problem, but for some reason they left out the 2009 Maxima. See this page on the Nissan Maxima Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) defect.
If you're thinking about buying a 2009 Maxima, instead you might consider a 2007-2008 Maxima, or a newer model year.
4.2
definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,162 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Noticed that my seat was rocking forward and backward when breaking and accelerating. Read on repair pal that Nissan murano's were having the same issues. Https://repairpal.com/damaged-seat-adjuster-assembly-may-cause-noiserocking-movement-780. This seems like it would be a safety hazard as seat may come loose.
Airbag sensor blinking. Seems to be a recurring problem with 2009 Nissan Maxima. Read others complain of same. Dealership says it will cost $1700 to fix the problem. Since it is a recurring complaint it should be considered a recall item.
Passenger occupancy sensor has failed. To replace you must replace the entire seat bottom which is over $1500. There are many other people experiencing the same issue. Seems to be a defect.
I had the driver seat frame replaced under warranty in 2011, shortly afterwards, the seat back tilt failed, then shortly there after, the seat forward, back, up, and down failed. A bit later the driver seat frame is again just as bad as when it was replaced under warranty. I'll never buy another Nissan!
- Winnebago, IL, USA
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The vehicle was purchased 2009 new. Approx 1 year later the drivers seat began to rock. Nissan replaced the drivers track which they said was defective. A few months later it began to rock again and was reported to Nissan, they stated there was no problem. The seat continued to rock and increasingly got worse. January 2014 the vehicle is returned to the dealership because it is dangerously rocking back and fourth when you accelerate or brake. The service manager states he is well aware of the problem. Nissan refuses to make repairs because its out of warranty. Further investigation finds that there are thousands of vehicles out there with the same problem. I attempt to go threw Nissan to own up to their problem. I get up to the vp of customer service and receive a phone call stating there is nothing they can do but keep my receipt in case there is a recall and I may get my money back if there's a recall.
Warranty just expired after 5 years. Few months later, the telescoping steering wheel started making grinding noises and will not telescope back and forth unless I manually push or pull hard. Got quoted $850 for a repair, but I refused to pay that much to get it fixed as it is not my fault. I see many 2009 Nissan having this problem and I am extremely disappointed in the manufacturer to not recall this! this might be my last Nissan as I already had 3 Nissan batteries, my alternator replaced and my driver's seat frame replaced! I can't wait until my car loan is paid off!
Drivers seat base or track is loose and seat rocks upon acceleration and braking, has been replaced once and taken back to two dealerships with both declining to acknowledge the movement.
I parked my car, to pick up something from the store, and when I came back to start my car, it would not start. I checked on forums.Maxima.org and saw that this is a common problem, because of the steering wheel lock. I had to get my car towed, because I was stranded, and now waiting for the diagnosis for the issue, from Nissan repair shop.
We own a 2009 Nissan Maxima that was purchased new on September 25, 2009. When driving the vehicle with my wife in the passenger seat the air bag system turns of the airbag. My wife is 5'5" and 125lbs, well within normal adult size. Upon discovering the problem we have taken the vehicle into the dealerships mechanic 4 times over the last 11 months with every time other than the initial visit lasting almost a week each time. The last time we took it in I called the dealership manager and was told that they had no record of our vehicle being in there shop ever. Upon the completion of the final trip to the shop we discussed the issues at length with the service manager of the dealership and we replicated the issue in both the 2010 and 2011 model Maxima's. we have since called Nissan looking to have our car purchased back or have the problem repaired so that the airbag will work with her in the car. At that time we were told that Nissan's airbag system was designed to take into account all factors and make a decision at that time. As of August 20th 2010 we have been told that there is nothing wrong with our car and that the airbag is functioning normally. Let it be noted that there are several instances of this problem documented across the web.
2009 Nissan Maxima - driver seat moves forward upon acceleration and moves backward upon slowing down or stopping. The driver is moved forward or back whenever the seat moves. The driver seat is not stable upon acceleration or stopping. Notified Nissan dealership- per Nissan, not covered under warranty. The repair is left to the consumer. This is a known issue. Nissan has this issue with other vehicle models.
Driver's seat is not securely anchored to floor - it rocks slightly as I operate the vehicle. The dealer has attempted on 4 occasions to remedy this problem, and has not been able to. I do not believe the seat is sufficiently secure to protect me in a serious collision.
Driver side seat in my Nissan Maxima 2009 has been replaced (the base) and still have an issue with flexing, I am afraid that if there is a major accident the seat is going to come apart and cause serious injury.
The drivers seats in many 2009 Maximas are unstable and rock back and forth while the car is in motion. When accelerating, stopping or turn corners the seats rock causing your foot to be unstable on the brake or accelerator.
In January 2009 I purchased a brand new 2009 Nissan Maxima. In April my interior lights, steering wheel and seat and the heat on my drivers side seat stopped working. I took my car in to the Nissan dealer for repairs, I was told that there was and electrical problem and that they had repaired it. Two weeks later the same thing happened to me when I went to Georgia, when I got back to Maryland I took my car into the Nissan dealer for repairs again and was told that they could not find anything wrong with my car. On May 19th my steering wheel stuck in the highest upward position again and also my seat was not working, and the locks on the doors kept locking and unlocking while my car was turned on but not being driven, on May 20th I took my car in for repairs again, the service writer at the Nissan dealer looked at it and also noticed the problem ( my steering wheel was still stuck in the upward position and the seat was not working), after he played around with several buttons he told me that everything seemed to be doing fine and he didn't know if they could do anything for me. I told him that I would leave my car for repairs because I knew something was wrong still with my car. I received a phone call from the dealer and was told that they could not find anything wrong. I know something is wrong, so where do I go from here. This has been three times that they have tried to fix my car and I am getting nowhere.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Aberdeen, MD, USA