Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Nissan Maxima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving to work car stalled going 20MPH, no power brakes, no power steering, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car pressed start car restarted. Five days later, going to store, driving 35 mph, car stalled while running, no power steering, no power brakes, coasted to safe side of road. Waited ten minutes car restarted. This is an on going safety problem. My father in law had this same vehicle and he was afraid to drive it because of the same issues.
My car would not start was able to open the doors to the car but could not start the car. Car was towed to Nissan service station was told the steering lock had to be replaced for internal failure and it was no longer under warranty. $899.67 dollars later and as I'm leaving the service station I'm told my warranty was up by a few days and also Nissan had extended the warranty for 2009 models but not 2010 models this is a copy taken from nissanassist.com released in 2013 (q1.what is the reason for warranty extension? A. To ensure customer satisfaction. Model year 2009 altima and Maxima vehicles are equipped with an electronic steering column lock (escl) unit that locks the steering wheel when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off to help prevent theft. …
I went to start my 2010 Maxima and it wouldn't start. I thought it was the battery, so I changed it. No difference. Then I saw that the key indicator was lit on my dashboard. So I checked my key fob, it was fine. Then I began to google the issue and saw that there was a recall on the 2009 altima/Maxima's on the electronic steering column lock (escl). I read that owners of Maxima's would remove the bottom dashboard and jiggle or tap the escl and the car would eventually start. I tried this remedy, and it worked...temporarily. The light went off but the very next day it came back on. I was hesitant to start my car after the incident. The car started but the light stayed on. I assumed that there was an electrical issue, but since the car started I went on about my daily routine. Then it happened, I was away from my home, on a date, in the snow, and it wouldn't start again. …
After work on 7/18/15, I went to my car to go home, but as I stepped on the brake and pushed the start button, I got nothing - not a peep from the engine - so I tried a few more times, but to no avail. I called aaa, thinking that my battery was dead (even though I'd just purchased a new one recently), but the jump didn't do anything to my car. I called home and had my back-up fob brought to me, thinking that perhaps the battery from my main one was dead, but the second one didn't work, either. Nor did either of them work in the port that's located in the bottom-left portion of the dashboard, so I got a ride to the local Nissan dealership where some salesmen gave me suggestions of what I should do. …
I went to start my vehicle and an orange light that read "key" popped up on the dashboard. On my ignition button the "lock" word was luminated. My vehicle would not start, nor turn on electrical systems. I was stranded from picking up my daughter, which caused chaos and unnecessary obstacles that could have been a safety issue. My vehicle was in the off position, parked after only 2 hours after last use. Schools can call child protective services if you do not pick up your kid by a certain time. That proves that if I didn't find a way to get my daughter picked up in a timely manner she would've been in danger. Thank god I was in front of my home when this happened because I could've been in a hostile neighborhood, in the cold, with no heat. The piece in question that was the problem... …
In September 2015 I purchased a one owner certified pre-owned 2010 Maxima with all service records up to date with extended warranty; thinking I was as safe as I could be. Just 5 short months later on February 8, 2016 after work, at dusk my 2010 Maxima with only 82,700 miles failed to start. The brake pedal was extremely hard and nothing happened when I pushed the start button. This poses an extreme safety hazard, as I work in the field in crime stricken areas; hence buying a cpo vehicle and purchasing an extended warranty. There was no warning whatsoever that this was about to happen. I had to wait about 45 minutes, in the dark on the west side of san antonio, texas for a tow truck to have my car towed to the nearest Nissan dealership. Being that it was after 6 pm, the dealer would not be able to diagnose until the following morning. …
The electronic steering column malfunctioned causing my car to not start. With the push button ignition as long as I have the key and step on the brake the car should start. The electronic steering column failed so even with the key it would not start. To make a long story short the car was unable to recognize my key which it should do automatically when I get close enough to the car. Since the car was unable to do this it pretty much went into lock down mode as if someone was trying to steal the car. My car should never treat me as someone trying to steal it especially if I have the key. As a result I had to spend over $1,300 to fix it and the worst part is that no one can tell me exactly what caused it so even though I spent all that money to fix it, it could happen again for no reason and no on can tell me why. And it not like there is any warning that it is going to happen. …
Steering wheel lock system works with fab turning on vehicle disengaged and the wiring was determined to be the culprit and without the repair of $950 the car will not turn on. The vehicle was running just fine 1 hour prior to locking me out and causing many of hours with aaa diagnostics, then towing to 2 separate locations and I asked the dealer if this is a routine issue it seems extreme and a manufacturing defect that could have caused serious injury or death resulting if it happened when on the road and not in my garage to quote their response was no it wouldn't of done it while driving but it could of deserted you in a location other than your home causing you even further inconvenience. …
I went to turn on my husband's 2010 Nissan Maxima this morning, and it didn't turn on. The brake pedal was hard to push, and the start button didn't do anything but illuminate the "lock" light above the start button. I pulled out the owners manual to see what the problem was, and once I followed the instructions that were in the owners manual to unlock the steering wheel, nothing happened. I had to call a tow company to have the car towed to the nearest Nissan dealership. The service advisor that assisted me said that is would be covered by the "Nissan extended warranty" that they had for this specific issue (steering wheel lock) but then when I called later to get an update, she advised me that unfortunately my car did not meet the warranty criteria, whatever that means. …
Unexpectedly, after driving one kid to school this morning, vehicle (stationary) would not start to drive my other kid to middle school. The electronic steering column lock (escl) unit that locks the steering wheel when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off to help prevent theft prevents the vehicle from recognizing my key (fob), no regular key is issued, just button start. In my vehicle the escl May malfunction after the vehicle is locked and could prevent the engine from starting. Still waiting to hear the dreadful call from the dealer (have to be towed and I am not even done making payments for my 2010 Maxima) to see what the damage will be or if covered under an extended warranty. Not because the vehicle is in park, means it is not a safety issue. …
Steering complaints in other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2010 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has 158 complaints about the steering of the 2010 Nissan Maxima, 57% of the model year's 275 complaints. The component named most often is column locking › anti-theft device (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Nissan Maxima steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2010 Nissan Maxima, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Nissan Maxima steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.