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Nissan Maxima 2009–2014 problems by year and mileage

7th generation (A35)

NHTSA data through 18 October 2026985 complaints, 778 with mileageMethod

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

• 200970kmedian
• 201065kmedian
• 201168kmedian
• 201255kmedian
• 201362kmedian
• 201450kmedian

Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. Latest: the 2009; earliest: the 2014, and the 2009 is 5 years older (part of the gap is age).

The short answer

“Is the 2009–2014 Nissan Maxima reliable?”

Median of reported failures

65,000 mi

90% of reports came by

121,000 mi

Reports with mileage

778

Recalls

1

Most reported

1. Steering35.5% of complaints · median 63,000 mi
2. Electrical system20.3% of complaints · median 66,000 mi
3. Airbag system15.0% of complaints · median 33,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

• Transmission2009–2014
• Engine

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 985 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009–2014 Nissan Maxima; the steering leads with 35.5% of them, and half of the 778 that record an odometer reading came by 65,000 miles — complaints, not a failure rate.

No single peak: the middle half runs 39,000 to 94,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 2009–2014 Nissan Maxima last?

Figure 1 · Nissan Maxima 2009–2014 · 778 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 90 complaints

906845230

11.6% of all reports fall between 50,000 and 60,000 miles

25k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k

• Rest of the range
• Median
• 200,000+ — 8 complaints (1.0%), plotted separately

10%

11,000

25%

39,000

Median

65,000

75%

94,000

90%

121,000

Show the numbers

Complaints by mileage bin

Mileage	Complaints	Share
0–10,000	69	8.9%
10,000–20,000	28	3.6%
20,000–30,000	35	4.5%
30,000–40,000	67	8.6%
40,000–50,000	61	7.8%
50,000–60,000	90	11.6%
60,000–70,000	75	9.6%
70,000–80,000	72	9.3%
80,000–90,000	65	8.4%
90,000–100,000	37	4.8%
100,000–110,000	54	6.9%
110,000–120,000	39	5.0%
120,000–130,000	20	2.6%
130,000–140,000	17	2.2%
140,000–150,000	11	1.4%
150,000–160,000	11	1.4%
160,000–170,000	3	0.4%
170,000–180,000	11	1.4%
180,000–190,000	2	0.3%
190,000–200,000	3	0.4%
200,000+	8	1.0%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

How to read these figures

Common Maxima problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Nissan Maxima 2009–2014

When each system fails

Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)

System0–12,000 mi factory-defect window12,000 mi and beyond wear and service lifeMedian

1. Airbag system148 reportsmedian 33,000middle half 6,000–74,000
2. Steering350 reportsmedian 63,000middle half 48,000–88,000
3. Electrical system200 reportsmedian 66,000middle half 50,000–88,000
4. Engine74 reportsmedian 67,000middle half 41,000–96,000
5. Problems owners could not categorise112 reportsmedian 70,000middle half 50,000–113,000
6. Suspension75 reportsmedian 75,000middle half 45,000–122,000
7. Transmission and driveline112 reportsmedian 94,000middle half 67,000–112,000

5001k2k5k10k20k50k100k200k

• Your odometer, once entered below

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.

All systems in a table

Complaints by vehicle system

System	Complaints	Share	Median	25–75%
Steering	350	35.5%	63,000	48,000–88,000
Electrical system	200	20.3%	66,000	50,000–88,000
Airbag system	148	15.0%	33,000	6,000–74,000
Transmission and driveline	112	11.4%	94,000	67,000–112,000
Problems owners could not categorise	112	11.4%	70,000	50,000–113,000
Suspension	75	7.6%	75,000	45,000–122,000
Engine	74	7.5%	67,000	41,000–96,000
Body structure	39	4.0%	55,000	35,000–95,000
Exterior lighting	34	3.5%	90,000	60,000–112,000
Seats	32	3.2%	38,000	4,500–70,000

Known problems with the 2009–2014 Maxima

Before you buy a 2009–2014 Maxima: the 3-minute check

Generated from 778 mileage-tagged complaints, 1 recall campaign, 2 documented problem areas.

Maxima problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer, or read the table.

Your odometer, milesGo

Figure 3 · Nissan Maxima 2009–2014 · 778 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Steps at bin edges (how to read it)

100%75%50%25%0%

25k50k75k100k125k150k175k200k

• 60,000 mi — 45% of reports below
• 90,000 mi — 72% of reports below
• 120,000 mi — 89% of reports below
• 150,000 mi — 95% of reports below
• 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
• Median (the 50% line)
• Your odometer, once entered

Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

2009–2014 Nissan Maxima recalls (1)

NHTSA records 1 recall campaign covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).

Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

1. Sep 2009 · 2009–2010 · SuspensionIf the strut insulator is cracked, there is a potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting…

   The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 altima and Maxima passenger cars. The upper front strut insulators may have been manufactured out of specification resulting in a potential for the strut insulator to crack.

   What can happen. If the strut insulator is cracked, there is a potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting position, which could affect vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash.

   The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and dealers will replace both left and right side front strut insulators free of charge. The safety recall began october 2009. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-nissan1…

   NHTSA campaign 09V-358 (2009-09-16).

Some of these 1 campaigns also cover Nissan Altima 2007–2012 (1 of them): the same campaign number appears in NHTSA’s file against both, which means the same defect and the same free repair.

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

Out of 985 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:

Crashes

36 (3.7%)

Fires

9

Injury reports

30

Fatality reports

0

Self-reported and overlapping (how to read these).

Maxima problems by model year

The 2009 drew the most complaints of this generation, 339, most of them about the steering, and the 2013 the fewest, 62. A typical year drew about 106.

That makes the 2009 stand out at roughly 3.2 times a typical year (what a yearly count can and cannot say).

What Maxima owners reported

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Nissan Maxima. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that the mileage on the title was not available. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 150,000. The vehicle was taken for…

2012 · 246,000 miles · Electrical system

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The air bag located in the seat failed to activate as designed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the passenger’s side seat sensor was inoperable. The vehicle…

2014 · 46,000 miles · Airbag system

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights became inoperable. The contact stated that the headlights failed to function properly, and the lights were dim. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the…

2014 · 107,000 miles · Exterior lighting

The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shuddering uncontrollably. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact was able to continue driving to the residence at 20 MPH. The dealer and the manufacturer were not…

2009 · 200,000 miles · Suspension

Built from 778 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built

Other Maxima generations

• Maxima 1995–1999 187 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
• Maxima 2000–2003 623 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
• Maxima 2004–2008 2,679 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
• Maxima 2016–2023 155 reports with mileage, most about problems owners could not categorise

Other large cars from the same years

• Buick Lacrosse 2010–2016
• Chevrolet Impala 2006–2013
• Ford Taurus 2010–2019
• Dodge Charger 2011–2023