YearToAvoid

2010 Nissan Maxima Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2010 Nissan Maxima has a complaint index of 83, ranking 4th-worst among 19 model years, with 275 complaints dominated by steering issues (158 complaints, 57%). NHTSA lists one recall for strut insulator cracking, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Maxima years.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
83/100
#4 of 19 Maxima years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
275
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
7
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
11
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
11 / 0

Top 2010 Nissan Maxima problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering158 (57%)
  2. Electrical System81 (29%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires31 (11%)
  4. Engine30 (11%)
  5. Other27 (10%)
  6. Structure & Body18 (7%)
  7. Airbags15 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain15 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers8 (3%)
  10. Brakes7 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in multiple frontal and side-impact crashes, even at moderate speeds around 25-30 mph.
  • An electrical fire fully engulfed a parked, unmoving vehicle roughly 13 hours after it was last driven.
  • Front strut housings cracked badly, leaving the vehicle feeling unstable in motion.
  • The accelerator pedal stopped responding on the highway while brakes still worked, followed by dashboard lights activating erratically.
  • Headlights provided insufficient illumination at night or in rural areas despite the dealer finding no voltage issues.
  • The engine raced unexpectedly to around 2000 rpm during light braking while coasting to a stop.
2010 Nissan Maxima complaints: complaints filed per quarter382010 Q12011 Q32013 Q42015 Q22016 Q42018 Q22020 Q22022 Q2
275 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2024 Q1; peak 2014 Q4 (38).

2010 Nissan Maxima recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 09V358000Sep 16, 2009Suspension, Wheels & Tires26,398 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    Remedy: 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 (1-800-647-7261).

2010 Nissan Maxima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Maxima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Good4479021
2009Avoid94339122
2010Avoid83275122
2011Caution72106022
2012Caution61107022

All Nissan Maxima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Maxima ranks 4th-worst of 19 model years with a complaint index of 83, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Maxima years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Nissan Maxima?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 158 of 275 complaints (57%), with a median failure mileage of 67,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (09V358000) covers front strut insulators that could crack due to being out of specification; Nissan replaced both insulators free of charge.
Did the 2010 Maxima have airbag deployment problems?
NHTSA complaints include multiple reports of airbags failing to deploy in crashes, and airbag-related complaints are linked to 5 crashes in this model year.
How does the 2010 Maxima compare to other years?
Its complaint index of 83 is higher than most other Maxima years except 2005 (100), 2006 (89), and 2009 (94), all of which are also rated Avoid.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.