Welcome to the growing family of new NISSAN
owners. This vehicle is delivered to you with
confidence. It was produced using the latest
techniques and strict quality control.
This manual was prepared to help you under-
stand the operation and maintenance of your
vehicle so that you may enjoy many miles (kilome-
ters) of driving pleasure. Please read through this
manual before operating your vehicle.
A separate Warranty Information Booklet
explains details about the warranties cov-
ering your vehicle. The “NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide” explains details
about maintaining and servicing your ve-
hicle. Additionally, a separate Customer
Care/Lemon Law Booklet (U.S. only) will
explain how to resolve any concerns you
may have with your vehicle, as well as
clarify your rights under your state’s lemon
law.
Your NISSAN dealership knows your vehicle
best. When you require any service or have any
questions, they will be glad to assist you with the
extensive resources available to them.Before driving your vehicle, please read this
Owner’s Manual carefully. This will ensure famil-
iarity with controls and maintenance require-
ments, assisting you in the safe operation of your
vehicle.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION RE-
MINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important driving rules to
help ensure a safe and comfortable trip
for you and your passengers!
●NEVER drive under the influence of al-
cohol or drugs.
●ALWAYS observe posted speed limits
and never drive too fast for conditions.
●
ALWAYS give your full attention to driving
and avoid using vehicle features or taking
other actions that could distract you.
●ALWAYS use your seat belts and appro-
priate child restraint systems. Preteen
children should be seated in the rear seat.
●ALWAYS provide information about the
proper use of vehicle safety features to
all occupants of the vehicle.
●ALWAYS review this Owner’s Manual
for important safety information.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified.
Modification could affect its
performance, safety or durability, and
may even violate governmental
regulations. In addition, damage or per-
formance problems resulting from modi-
fications may not be covered under
NISSAN warranties.
FOREWORD READ FIRST—THEN DRIVE SAFELY
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
0 Illustrated table of contents
Air bags, seat belts and child restraints..............0-2
Exterior front......................................0-3
Exterior rear.......................................0-4
Passenger compartment...........................0-5Instrument panel...................................0-6
Engine compartment check locations................0-8
Warning/indicator lights............................0-9
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
1. Top tether strap anchor (P. 1-20)
2. Rear head restraint (P. 1-7)
3. Rear seat belts (P. 1-9)
4. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag (P. 1-35)
5. Front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bags (P. 1-35)
6. Front-seat Active Head Restraints
(P. 1-7, P. 1-8)
7. Front seat belts (P. 1-9)
8. Supplemental front-impact air bags
(P. 1-35)
9. Seats (P. 1-2)
10. Occupant classification sensor
(pattern sensor) (P.1-42)
11. Seat belts with pretensioners (P. 1-48)
12. LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren) system (P. 1-19)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
LII0065
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS AND CHILD
RESTRAINTS
0-2Illustrated table of contents
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
1 Safety—Seats, seat belts and
supplemental restraint system
Seats............................................1-2
Front power seat adjustment.....................1-3
Folding rear seat (if so equipped).................1-5
Head restraint adjustment.......................1-7
Front-seat Active Head Restraints................1-8
Seat belts........................................1-9
Precautions on seat belt usage...................1-9
Child safety...................................1-12
Pregnant women..............................1-13
Injured persons................................1-13
Three-point type seat belt with retractor..........1-13
Seat belt extenders............................1-16
Seat belt maintenance.........................1-16
Child restraints...................................1-17
Precautions on child restraints..................1-17LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren) System.............................1-19
Top tether strap child restraint..................1-20
Child restraint installation using LATCH..........1-21
Child restraint installation using the seat
belts.........................................1-25
Booster seats....................................1-31
Precautions on booster seats...................1-31
Booster seat installation........................1-33
Supplemental restraint system.....................1-35
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system.......................................1-35
Supplemental air bag warning labels.............1-49
Supplemental air bag warning light..............1-50
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
WARNING
●Do not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will not
be against your body. In an accident,
you could be thrown into it and receive
neck or other serious injuries. You
could also slide under the lap belt and
receive serious internal injuries.●For the most effective protection when
the vehicle is in motion, the seat should
be upright. Always sit well back in the
seat with both feet on the floor and
adjust the seat properly. See “Precau-
tions on seat belt usage” later in this
section.
●After adjustment, gently rock in the seat
to make sure it is securely locked.
●Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.●The seatback should not be reclined
any more than needed for comfort. Seat
belts are most effective when the pas-
senger sits well back and straight up in
the seat. If the seatback is reclined, the
risk of sliding under the lap belt and
being injured is increased.
CAUTION
When adjusting the seat positions, be
sure not to contact any moving parts to
avoid possible injuries and/or damage.
ARS1152
SEATS
1-2Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
●When returning the seatbacks to the
upright position, be certain they are
completely secured in the latched posi-
tion. If they are not completely secured,
passengers may be injured in an acci-
dent or sudden stop.
●Closely supervise children when they
are around cars to prevent them from
playing and becoming locked in the
trunk where they could be seriously in-
jured. Keep the car locked, with the rear
seatback and trunk lid securely latched
when not in use, and prevent children’s
access to car keys.
To fold down the driver side of the rear seat, reach
through the opening and pull on the strap
1
located behind the seat.
The rear seats can be locked using the mechani-
cal key to prevent unauthorized access.
Secondary trunk lid release (if so
equipped)
For models with a rear center console, the trunk
can be accessed through the access panel be-
tween the rear seats, as shown.
●Fold down the center arm rest.
●Insert the mechanical key into the trunk com-
partment access lid lock. Fold down the
trunk compartment access lid. For more in-
formation on the mechanical key, see
“Nissan Intelligent Key™” in the Pre-driving
checks and adjustments chapter.
●Pull the rear seat trunk release handle
1.
WRS0867LPD0459
1-6Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/21/08—tbrooks
WARNING
●Every person who drives or rides in this
vehicle should use a seat belt at all
times. Children should be properly re-
strained in the rear seat and, if appro-
priate, in a child restraint.
WARNING
●The seat belt should be properly ad-
justed to a snug fit. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the entire
restraint system and increase the
chance or severity of injury in an acci-
dent. Serious injury or death can occur
if the seat belt is not worn properly.
SSS0134SSS0016
1-10Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
WARNING
●Always route the shoulder belt over
your shoulder and across your chest.
Never put the belt behind your back,
under your arm or across your neck. The
belt should be away from your face and
neck, but not falling off your shoulder.
●Position the lap belt as low and snug as
possible AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE
WAIST. A lap belt worn too high could
increase the risk of internal injuries in
an accident.●Be sure the seat belt tongue is securely
fastened to the proper buckle.
●Do not wear the seat belt inside out or
twisted. Doing so may reduce its
effectiveness.
●Do not allow more than one person to
use the same seat belt.
●Never carry more people in the vehicle
than there are seat belts.
●If the seat belt warning light glows con-
tinuously while the ignition is placed in
the ON position with all doors closed
and all seat belts fastened, it may indi-
cate a malfunction in the system. Have
the system checked by a NISSAN dealer
●No changes should be made to the seat
belt system. For example, do not modify
the seat belt, add material, or install
devices that may change the seat belt
routing or tension. Doing so may affect
the operation of the seat belt system.
Modifying or tampering with the seat
belt system may result in serious per-
sonal injury.●Once a seat belt pretensioner has acti-
vated, it cannot be reused and must be
replaced together with the retractor.
See your NISSAN dealer.
●Removal and installation of preten-
sioner system components should be
done by a NISSAN dealer.
●All seat belt assemblies, including re-
tractors and attaching hardware,
should be inspected after any collision
by a NISSAN dealer. NISSAN recom-
mends that all seat belt assemblies in
use during a collision be replaced un-
less the collision was minor and the
belts show no damage and continue to
operate properly. Seat belt assemblies
not in use during a collision should also
be inspected and replaced if either
damage or improper operation is noted.
●All child restraints and attaching hard-
ware should be inspected after any col-
lision. Always follow the restraint
manufacturer’s inspection instructions
and replacement recommendations.
The child restraints should be replaced
if they are damaged.
SSS0014
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-11
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie