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.

8.6

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,030
Average Mileage:
74,500 miles
Total Complaints:
18 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace steering wheel lock (10 reports)
  2. not sure (5 reports)
  3. install electronic steering lock (2 reports)
  4. tap the communicator box under the steering column (1 reports)
2010 Nissan Maxima electrical problems

electrical problem

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2010 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #18

Feb 012022

Maxima SV-T V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

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

Purchased 2010 Nissan Maxima from Olathe Toyota July 16, 2016, but they never notified Nissan Corp that I was new owner. So I never received any of the recall notices from Nissan. The only reason I know this is because Nissan Corp told me when I reached out to them about fixing my car. They told me there was nothing they could due because ESLC campaign expired March 2020. Called Olathe Toyota where I purchased car and I asked them to just fix Steering Column Lock since they didn’t notify Nissan I was new owner. They won’t call me back or talk to me. Keep in mind ESLC is $1200.00 part and that no labor cost. I am looking at $1800.00 to $2000.00 repair cost on a car that’s maybe worth $4000.00. All this could have been resolved if Olathe Toyota had just followed procedures, and when notified of their oversight step up and took care of their customer. Nissan Corp could have step up and helped out too. No more Nissan vehicles for me.

- Anna E., Olathe, US

problem #17

Aug 302016

Maxima SV V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

be aware of this problem. nissan would do nothing about it to help you. its a shame as they know its a faulty part.

- Andre W., Temple Hills, MD, US

problem #16

Dec 242016

Maxima S

  • CVT transmission
  • 66,000 miles

This issue has happened multiple times over the last year or so, I thought it was the battery, so I replaced. Seemed to have helped for a bit, but now started again. Vehicle won't start. Has stranded my wife several times. This last time she turned the wheel and it was able to be started again without a jump. A real pain in the ass, as it seems to be a common issue with Nissan.

- Richard M., Louisville, UK

problem #15

Oct 262016

Maxima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

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

See other sites that discuss faulty Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL). So far Nissan appears to look the other way. Very upsetting.

- Jeremiah K., West Chester, PA, US

problem #14

Sep 172016

Maxima S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,256 miles

I own a Nissan Maxima 2009 and never had a single issue with it until sept 19. I got into my car and it would not start. Somehow the car failed to recognize my key and as such the car will not start. I had to pay a tow truck to come pick it up and haul it over to a Nissan Dealership to get it fixed. They charged me over 1000 dollars and the only explanation I received is that the Lock steering device was faulty. I do not understand why I have to pay for it regardless of whether my car was covered under insurance or not. Nissan should pay seeing that they are the ones who sold me faulty equipment. I am outraged by the entire series of events and cannot believe I had to pay for the repairs on a job that Nissan fail to claim as there fault.

- gagonzal, Washington, DC, US

problem #13

Oct 262015

Maxima SV 3.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 52,000 miles

Nissan should take better care of their customers. This should not be happening, car won't start due to steering lock mechanism.

- Brian G., Avon, CT, US

problem #12

Dec 082015

Maxima V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles

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

This is the not the first time this happened. First time just after one year the battery totally drained while sitting in a parking lot. The dealer wanted to charge for a new battery. But after enough yelling and screaming on my part, the dealer replaced the battery free of charge. This time the problem was that the car won't start.

I had the car in at a body shop because somebody hit my car in the parking lot. The auto body called me to tell me they can't move the car, because it won't start. Tried the spare key and tried replacing the key batteries, it did not make any difference. The dealer won't return the auto body shops' calls because they were aware of this problem with the Maxima's. The auto body people called the electrician that works with them and he told them this is a common problem with the Nissans. He told them to tap the communicator box located under the steering column, and sure enough, after doing that they were able to start the car.

When I get my car back I will take it to the dealer and see what they have to say about this.

- gunslinger1959, Marlborough, MA, US

problem #11

Oct 222015

Maxima 3.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 64,710 miles

Apparently this is a (paid) recall for the 2009 model year. My 2010 was put into service in 2009 but not covered.

I am a fourth time owner of a Maxima, not sure if I will buy again after this experience.

- schutter, Beaconsfield, QC, Canada

problem #10

Oct 262015

Maxima SV

  • CVT transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I would not recommend this car to anyone. Last year, my battery drained significantly whenever the seasons changed, so I bought a new battery thinking that this would solve my problems.

A few days ago, I took my son to daycare and the car didn't want to start because of the weather. I pressed the button a few times and I was able to get it to go. A few days later, I stopped to get something to eat and now the brake is locked, so I can't start the car. From what I'm reading in here, it's going to cost me over $1000 to fix when this should've been resolved with Nissan.

- frisco, Frisco, TX, US

problem #9

Sep 242015

Maxima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

THIS HAPPENED AT HOME.. IT WAS OK THE NITE BEFORE BUT WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT .. SO HAD TO GET A RIDE TO TAKE MY CHILD TO SCHOOL. HAD TO CALL A TOW TO TAKE TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS FIXED..

- lalo1021, Abilene, TX, US

problem #8

Sep 152015

Maxima V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

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

If you take out time and read the thousands of other complaints in regards to the 2010 Nissan Maxima; then you will discover that my locking mechanism on my steering wheel is preventing my vehicle from starting. HIGHLY FRUSTRATING. Please explain why all these individuals (valued customers) are having the same issue including me and nothing is being done.

To add insult to injury, i went to the place where i got the vehicle and they talked me into buying another key fob battery for $6 and stated that if that didn't work, replace the actual car battery which also didn't work. I later find out that Nissan is well aware of the problem but did not tell me that they knew what the issue was. To add insult to injury, I called cooperate and found that the not only didn't help my situation but show no desire to RECALL this issue. #AWFUL #ItsAShame #

- James B., Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #7

Jul 012015

Maxima S4DS 3.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 135,120 miles

LEFT ME STRANDED. HAD TO HAVE TOWED HOME. NOT SURE ON NEXT MOVE? JUST BOUGHT 28 DAYS AGO FROM FORD DEALER IN HAVANA FLORIDA. WILL CALL THEM TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP. MOST OF STEERING LOCK WAS ALREADY REMOVED. HOPE THEY CAN HELP, LET YOU KNOW

- compdr007, Tifton, GA, US

problem #6

Jun 302015

Maxima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,600 miles

Car worthless and unusable without the very expensive repair.

- Walter Scott F., Long Beach, CA, US

problem #5

Mar 012015

Maxima V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles

Getting in your car on a cold snowy day and the car doesn't start with the key fob. Everything works with the remote, except it won't start the car when I push the button. I am seeing on Youtube that the problem could be the steering lock under the wheel in the dashboard. I can't believe that I read many, many complaint from others on line and that Nissan has not recalled this problem. I have 27,000 miles on this car and its ridiculous that they don't have a back up, somewhere to put the key to start the car. I now have to tow the car to a dealer or mechanic to fix this stupid problem. I can't believe with all the complaints I read there should be a Recall

- Dennis S., Staten Island, NY, US

problem #4

Mar 022015

Maxima S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

My 2010 Nissan Maxima would not start after it was driven to work. The dash light flashed a yellow key, the brake peddle was hard, and the push button was locked. The vehicle was towed to a local dealership where they confirmed the problem was an electronic steering lock problem.

On a regular day, I wouldn't think twice about making a post as I know repairs do happen. However, when I did my own research on the electrical steering lock, I found Nissan had recalled the electronic steering lock in 2009 and some 2010 vehicles. Unfortunately, my vehicle was not covered in the recall. As I now know first hand, the problem continues to occur in more then just what they recalled. Do yourself a favor and pay for the extended warranty.

- kinber2002, Rockton, IL, US

problem #3

Nov 052014

Maxima S V6

  • CVT transmission
  • 83,000 miles

FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DROVE TO DR. APPT BEFORE WORK. CAME OUT TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING. READ THE MANUAL, TRIED ALL THE SUGGESTIONS AND STILL NOTHING. CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY GET ME A TOW TRUCK TO LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP.

TOTAL COSTS....

MISS A DAY OF WORK

HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 3 DAYS-$210.00

$1000 TO FIX THE STEERING LOCK ISSUE

- tdriscoll17, Bridgewater, NJ, US

problem #2

Jul 072014

Maxima SV 3.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Bought a 2010 Nissan Maxima brand new from Stewart Nissan in Fayetteville, NC while being stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and now a wounded warrior anyway. I pull up to my bank and got out of my car and locked doors with my smart key, came out of the bank unlocked the doors and got in the car and put my foot on the brake and pushed the start button and the car would not respond to nothing, a yellow and a red key indicator flashed. I tried everything to start my car and it did nothing.

So I had it towed to my house, and contacted the dealer that I purchased my car from,and service adviser told that the Altima,370z, and Murrano were covered under the factory warranty, but not the Maxima. I wanted to know why not? All the Nissan vehicles are doing the same thing which is the steering lock is malfunctioning and Nissan corp is aware of these problems and not owning up to it. I've been a Nissan owner ever since I've been driving, 200sx, 280zx, 300zx Nissan hard body, Armada, and Maxima. Which Nissan just lost me with this because I've been done injustice. Shame on Nissan. You guy are just gonna leave me stuck, having to pay 1100.00 bucks to fix this with no warning. Shame on you Tim Allen(910)922-3100 I'm so unhappy with Nissan for this.

- Timothy A., Fayetteville, NC, US

problem #1

Jan 242014

Maxima CVT 3.5L V6

  • Manual transmission
  • 23,000 miles

The problem is the car won't start, the steering lock mechanism is faulty in some Nissan cars causing the ignition to not start. This problem has happened in many new Nissans and Nissan has issued extended warranty in 2009 cars and said the problem was fixed in newer years. A short web search shows numerous later model cars with the same problem. I have been quoted $1265.00 to replace the part. I believe the extended warranty should cover all Nissan cars with this problem until they stop using this part.

- Christopher B., Newark, De, US

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