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#BS-2009-NISMAX-533A

2009 Nissan Maxima

Based on reports from 460 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Complaints
460
Crashes
7
Fires
2
Recalls
1
TSBs
98
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 460 complaints, 7 crashes, 2 fires, and 1 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.0x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

wont start does not turn over

16 complaints • Severity 8.6/10

$X,XXX
2

electronic steering column lock

8 complaints • Severity 8.8/10

$X,XXX
3

steering column locked

8 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

165 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 70K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

54
0–30K
102
30–60K
93
60–90K
58
90–120K
24
120–150K
33
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (102 reports) • Median: 70K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (165 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering165 (36%)
Electrical78 (17%)
Airbags40 (9%)
Suspension35 (8%)
Other34 (7%)
Engine22 (5%)
Seats15 (3%)
Drivetrain10 (2%)

2009 Nissan Maxima: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 36% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, with 165 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 70K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 17% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, with 78 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, with 40 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, with 35 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

12
09
20
10
8
11
32
12
57
13
63
14
58
15
76
16
33
17
17
18
34
19
19
20
4
21
10
22
11
23
2
24
3
25
1
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2009 Nissan Maxima. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

09V358000Oct 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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Nissan Maxima is the 2004 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2009 Nissan Maxima vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

460

Class avg

230

2.0x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 460 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Nissan Maxima Model Years

202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988198719861985198419831982
View all Nissan Maxima years →

2009 Nissan Maxima: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Nissan Maxima?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2009 Nissan Maxima is related to the steering, with 165 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2009 Nissan Maxima reliable?
The 2009 Nissan Maxima has 460 complaints, 7 crash reports, and 2 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.0x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2009 Nissan Maxima problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2009 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Yes, the 2009 Nissan Maxima has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Nissan Maxima problems start?
Based on 364 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 460 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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