Nissan Maxima Steering Problems
Owners have filed 502 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Nissan Maxima across 24 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (168). The words owners use most often: “steering lock” (19% of reports).
- 502steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 20mention a crash
- 14mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering lock: mentioned in 96 of 502 complaints (19%)
- Wheel locked: mentioned in 32 of 502 complaints (6%)
- Wouldn start: mentioned in 31 of 502 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Nissan Maxima at $1,350, and half of them between $1,100 and $1,500.
Based on 50 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 399 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 502 complaints, 20 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 14 an injury.
Nissan Maxima steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Maxima | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2019 Maxima | 1 | 6% | 19,000 |
| 2017 Maxima | 4 | 4% | 2,000 |
| 2016 Maxima | 9 | 6% | 11,066 |
| 2014 Maxima | 4 | 4% | 1,020 |
| 2013 Maxima | 1 | 2% | 93,500 |
| 2012 Maxima | 10 | 9% | 38,975 |
| 2011 Maxima | 9 | 8% | 48,700 |
| 2010 Maxima | 158 | 57% | 67,000 |
| 2009 Maxima | 168 | 50% | 63,500 |
| 2008 Maxima | 4 | 5% | 49,367 |
| 2007 Maxima | 7 | 5% | 69,000 |
| 2006 Maxima | 17 | 3% | 37,294 |
| 2005 Maxima | 17 | 2% | 99,000 |
| 2004 Maxima | 37 | 3% | 15,567 |
| 2003 Maxima | 3 | 1% | 79,000 |
| 2002 Maxima | 11 | 5% | 127,500 |
| 2001 Maxima | 6 | 3% | 97,948 |
| 2000 Maxima | 8 | 2% | 124,500 |
| 1999 Maxima | 2 | 1% | 132,300 |
| 1998 Maxima | 4 | 4% | — |
| 1997 Maxima | 6 | 6% | 75,673 |
| 1996 Maxima | 7 | 7% | 75,000 |
| 1995 Maxima | 8 | 5% | 144,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:column locking:anti-theft device
Model years: 2007
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with an 'intelligent key' fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." during an inspection of some vehicles at the assembly plant, it was found that the steering wheel was locked with the ignition knob in the "off" position but the vehicle transmission not being in the "park" position.
Risk: If the key is turned to the "off" position without the transmission being in the "park" position, it is possible that the steering wheel can lock when turned to the right.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel lock assembly free of charge. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My son was driving my car to work and this is his account of the incident On 1/17/2026 on I95 n, the steering wheel abruptly stopped controlling the wheels. It was as if it completely disconnected and he lost control and crashed into the median. It was a terrifying incident for my son. No other…
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that after the windshield was replaced by Safelite Auto Glass, the employee at Safelite attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start, and the steering wheel had seized. The vehicle was…
My steering failed completely while driving, making it nearly impossible to turn.
My main issue that has caused major concern is while I was driving down the road.The steering all of a sudden jerked and I was almost in an accident. I immediately took it down to my mechanic and he stated that the control arm of the vehicle was bad. I did replace all four tires and got an…
Nissan dealership said the front control arms are cracking and recommended having them replaced.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Maximas have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 502 owner complaints about steering for the Nissan Maxima. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Nissan Maxima steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Nissan Maxima?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,350 (half paid between $1,100 and $1,500), from 50 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Nissan Maxima?
The most frequent phrase is “steering lock”, in 96 of 502 complaints, followed by “wheel locked” (32).
Other Nissan Maxima problems
- Power Train problems (2,384)
- Electrical System problems (794)
- Air Bags problems (469)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (435)
- Engine problems (374)
- Suspension problems (321)
- Structure problems (315)
- Tires problems (243)
See all Nissan Maxima problems.