2009 Nissan Maxima Reliability
The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 339 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with nearby Maxima model years (2007–2011), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Maxima's typical year, while the 2008 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
339
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
7
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2009 Nissan Maxima complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 168 | 50% |
| Electrical system | 79 | 23% |
| Air bags | 43 | 13% |
| Suspension | 36 | 11% |
| Unknown or other | 33 | 10% |
| Engine | 18 | 5% |
| Seats | 15 | 4% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 11 | 3% |
2009 Nissan Maxima recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2009 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V358000 | Sep 16, 2009 | Suspension | 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. |
How the 2009 compares with nearby Maxima years
Verdicts compare these Maxima model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 129 | 1 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2008 | 79 | 0 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2009 (this page) | 339 | 1 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 | 275 | 1 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 | 106 | 0 | Air bags | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2009 Nissan Maxima
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2009 Nissan Maxima can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2009 Nissan Maxima reliability FAQ
Is the 2009 Nissan Maxima reliable?
The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 339 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and electrical system. Compared with nearby Maxima model years (2007–2011), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Maxima's typical year, while the 2008 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2009 Nissan Maxima problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Nissan Maxima are steering (168), electrical system (79), air bags (43), suspension (36). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2009 Nissan Maxima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, including 09V358000 (suspension). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2009 Nissan Maxima compare with the 2008 and 2010 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2008 has 79 complaints and 0 recalls (better year); the 2010 has 275 complaints and 1 recall (avoid). The 2009 has 339 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2009 Nissan Maxima?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Maxima research
Other Nissan Maxima model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2009 Maxima, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.