The 2009 Maxima with the VQ35DE is generally reliable, but the CVT transmission and oil consumption issues dominate the failure landscape. When these go south, repair costs approach the vehicle's value.
CVT Transmission Failure (RE0F10A)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: shuddering or jerking during acceleration, whining or grinding noise, hesitation when shifting from park to drive, transmission overheating warnings, loss of power or limp mode
Fix: CVT replacement or rebuild required. Factory reman units are 12-16 hours labor plus $3,000-4,000 for the unit itself. Cooler lines and fluid flush are mandatory during replacement. Many shops won't touch CVT rebuilds—replacement is the standard fix.
Estimated cost: $4,500-6,500
Excessive Oil Consumption (VQ35DE)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: burning 1+ quart every 1,000-1,500 miles, blue smoke from exhaust on cold start or acceleration, fouled spark plugs, low oil pressure warning if neglected
Fix: Piston ring wear and cylinder glazing are the root cause. Short-term: frequent top-offs and plug replacements. Long-term requires engine rebuild (new rings, hone cylinders, valve seals) at 25-35 hours labor, or short block replacement at 18-24 hours. Many owners just top off oil every tankful and live with it until engine failure.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leak / Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: milky or pink transmission fluid, coolant level dropping without visible leaks, transmission slipping or erratic shifting, sweet smell from exhaust
Fix: The internal cooler in the radiator can fail, allowing coolant into CVT fluid (or vice versa). This cross-contamination kills the CVT within days if not caught. Requires radiator replacement, CVT fluid flush (sometimes full CVT replacement if contamination was severe), and coolant system flush. Total 6-10 hours labor depending on whether CVT survived.
Estimated cost: $1,200-5,000
Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: intermittent no-start condition, sudden stalling while driving, rough idle or hesitation, check engine light with P0335 or P0340 codes
Fix: Sensor itself is cheap, but location on back of engine block near flywheel makes it a nightmare. Requires removing starter and sometimes exhaust components for access. 2-4 hours labor depending on tech experience and whether exhaust studs break.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Motor Mount Failure (Front and Rear)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, excessive engine movement visible from driver seat, vibration at idle, harsh engagement during acceleration
Fix: Hydraulic mounts wear out and leak fluid. Front mount is straightforward (1.5 hours), but rear transmission mount requires lifting drivetrain (3-4 hours). Most shops replace both at once if one is bad—labor overlap saves time.
Estimated cost: $400-900
Timing Chain Tensioner Wear
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: rattling noise on cold start that disappears after 5-10 seconds, check engine light with variable valve timing codes, rough idle when engine is cold
Fix: VQ35DE uses primary and secondary timing chains with hydraulic tensioners. If oil changes were neglected, tensioners wear and chains slack. Requires front cover removal, new chains, tensioners, and guides. 8-12 hours labor. If caught early (just tensioners), can sometimes get away with 4-6 hours, but most techs recommend full chain kit.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking over bumps, wandering or loose steering feel, uneven tire wear on inside edges, alignment won't hold
Fix: Bushings crack and separate, especially in rust-belt states. Nissan sells arms with bushings pre-installed (no press required). 2-3 hours for both sides plus alignment. Aftermarket arms are cheaper but quality varies.
Estimated cost: $500-800
Owner tips
Check transmission fluid color religiously—milky or dark brown means immediate attention needed to avoid CVT death.
Monitor oil level every 500 miles if over 80k—frequent top-offs are cheaper than a seized engine.
Use Nissan CVT fluid only (NS-2 or NS-3)—aftermarket fluids accelerate CVT failure.
If buying used, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on CVT behavior (shudder test) and oil consumption test.
Budget $500/year for 'CVT insurance' savings—you'll need it between 100-130k miles.
Buy only if under 70k miles with documented CVT fluid changes, or if you can wrench yourself and accept oil consumption—otherwise, the repair lottery isn't worth it at this price point.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Battery located in trunk; ensure proper ventilation
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Every control module on the 2008-2014 Nissan Maxima — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
⚠️ Not a separate physical module; NATS immobilizer function integrated in BCM. Key programming requires security PIN from Nissan server.
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
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.
Consequence: 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).
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
19mpg
Highway
26mpg
Combined
22mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
Capability & size
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Wiper blades
A35 generation (2009-2014). Sedan body style has no rear wiper.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5L V6 VQ35DE and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.