CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009-2010 Maxima has an expensive problem where the steering lock prevents the car from starting, & costs upwards of $1,000 to fix!

For more information, see this page on the Nissan Maxima Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) defect.

8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
23,550 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. have car repainted (3 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
2010 Nissan Maxima body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2010 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #5

Apr 092015

Maxima SV 3.5L V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Paint should not look this hideous after 5 years of life. I have a 2007 (Black) Lexus and the paint is still pristine! Both cars get the same treatment and both are parked in the garage....what's the difference you ask??? Nissan is GREEDY with their painting procedures....greedy with the amount of clear coats.

- victor2581, Rialto, CA, US

problem #4

Oct 012013

Maxima Sports

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

The paint situation has been gradually deteriorating for the last couple years. I thought maybe it was the usual wear and tear on a vehicle, but I have been told that it appears to be defective paint. Now I see where other people have had paint problems with the 2010 Maxima. There are some spots that are down to the metal.

- dword5558, Lake Butler, FL, US

problem #3

Sep 082010

Maxima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,000 miles

My issue is with the paint on my 2010 Nissan Maxima and Mossy(dealership) not wanting to own up to it as their problem. After having my car for approximately 9 months I took it in to get it washed and noticed it didn't come out clean. After bringing it to the attention of the car wash attendant he showed me that the paint on my new car was actually cracking all over it, in some spots all the way down to the metal frame. This was the first time I noticed it but it had obviously been going on for some time. I just thought my car was dirty all the time. Unfortunately my dealership Mossy Nissan refused to own up to it and told me it was tree sap, but that makes no sense as it is covered from bumper to bumper with problem spots and I don't park my car under a tree. Even though this happened in the first 12 months of owning the car they also wouldn't cover it under the B2B warranty.

There are a couple other issues which are now I have to pay my insurance deductible to get this fixed and my new car isn't going to be worth crap after they repaint it. This was the first Nissan I have bought and will be the last. It is so upsetting to me I plan to sell the car as soon as it is repainted so I can avoid the constant reminder of mossy's and nissan's poor customer service.

- Adan P., Houston, TX, US

problem #2

May 002010

Maxima

  • CVT transmission
  • 600 miles

I have owned 6 other Nissans. They are great cars. But I am very Very disappointed with the paint. The first 2 weeks after I bought the car the paint began chipping on the hood and even a chip in the back passenger door. This really upsets me. I advised my service advisor @ ABC Nissan and he just said a lot people are complaining about that with the newer cars. I paid $33,000.00. I think the paint should be better than this. I believe I have defective paint and feel that Nissan should fix this problem. I am a loyal customer.

- Monica T., Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #1

Sep 032010

Maxima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 11 miles

On August 30th I made an agreement with Nissan of St. Charles to buy a new 2010 Nissan Maxima. They had to locate the car equipped as I was looking for. I returned to your dealership on Friday September 3 to buy the car. When I arrived I asked where the car was. I was told they'd find it and I could get the paperwork started.

Upon completion of the paperwork I was taken to the car. As I walked around it I saw that the rear bumper was BROKEN and there was a paint defect on the front driver's side. I told by the Sales Rep and the Sales Manager that I wanted a new car - not one with damage. They told me there were NO MORE cars available equipped as I wanted so I had to take that car but they would TAKE CARE OF IT. I said "you'll have a new bumper put on and fix the paint" and they said they'd take care of it. I was given the "WE OWE YOU" papers and left the dealership.

When I got home an hour later and pulled the car into the garage, I looked under the fluorescent lights and noticed the entire hood had paint damage. I called the dealership immediately. The Sales Manager said come back on Saturday and we'll take care of it. I drove back on Saturday. I was asked to wait for the GM. I waited 30 minutes while he talked to one of your sales people. When I showed the damage to the GM – Jim Pigoni, he said "Hey lady it's a black car. You're gonna see imperfections in the paint!" I pointed out that the night before I picked up the car you had a car on your lot struck by lightning. I'd been told the flames shot 50 feet in the air. I suggested to the GM that my car may have been hit with debris from the fire. He said it was more likely sap and I should take the car through the car wash two or three times! Then he asked why I had even come back on Saturday since no one in the body shop was working till Tuesday. I came back because your Sales Manager told me to. I told Jim I paid for a new car and I wanted a new car. He said I needed to bring the damaged Nissan back once the body shop was open and they'd take care of it. I asked for a loaner car and that it be dropped at my office when my schedule opened. Jim asked me to come to his office so he could give me his card so I could call him for the loaner. He hands me his car and turns and walks away. No hand shake. No I'm sorry. No have a nice day.

Due to my work schedule I could not be without my car until Monday September 20. The loaner was brought to my office that afternoon. Jim called me September 21 to say my car was done. I said I'd be there the next evening to pick it up. I got to your dealership Wednesday 9/22 in the evening. Bob met me and I asked him to pull the car into the service bay so I could see the car in good light. I started at the rear of the car and immediately noticed that the bumper had been painted meaning they'd repaired the bumper rather than replace it. I asked Bob if it has been replaced. He said it had been "fixed". I said I had asked that it be replaced and it had not and I wasn't satisfied. Bob said he'd check with Jim. When Bob came back he said the bumper had been fixed according to Jim and that's all Nissan of St. Charles was obligated to do.

I didn't go any further with the inspection of the car. I didn't look at the paint. I wasn't given a receipt for the adjustment to the loan - I cancelled the remote start, paint protector and rust package when the issues with lack of service became obvious. I said to Bob that I'm 52 years old and I've been buying cars for a long time and I've NEVER in my life been treated so poorly by a dealer. I was so upset. I told Bob I was leaving with the loaner and that I would call the next day. As I walked back to the loaner, Jim was standing in the showroom window. I looked right at him. He never came out. Never offered an explanation.

This morning as I was driving to O'Hare I turned my phone on and heard a voicemail from Jim. No apology or offer to work with me. Just a message that said "I need my loaner car Marie". I had an 8AM flight today. When I landed in Atlanta my phone rang and it was Neal from your dealership. He was calling to let me know he'd BEEN TO MY OFFICE LOOKING FOR ME. When my staff told him I was away HE DROVE TO MY HOME AND TOOK THE LOANER CAR leaving my Maxima - which by the way was filthy.

Because St. Charles Nissan treated me like dirt, I told them to cancel the additional work I ordered on the purchase day; remote start, paint sealant and rust inhibitor. That was September 20th. I asked for something in writing confirming I cancelled this work but I did not receive anything. I emailed St. Charles Nissan on October 1 saying my loan still included the $1481 for the work I cancelled. I asked them to confirm I would get a credit. No one replied to me. As of October 4th Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation still hadn't been contacted by St. Charles Nissan regarding my credit. So I called the Finance Manager at St. Charles Nissan today. He said they sent a check to their credit company on Thursday or Friday last week; the day I sent them an email. When I asked if I would be credited for the interest for the 3 weeks he said I'm not going to argue with you for $5 lady. I said I wasn't arguing, I just want done what's right. He said he'd give me five bucks from his own pocket if I'll come into the dealership then hung up.

My only hope now is I can save others the heartache of spending your hard earned money at St. Charles Nissan.

- Marie B., Naperville, IL, US

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