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Vehicle safety record
2008 Nissan Maxima Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 79 complaints about the 2008 Nissan Maxima with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (23) and the body, doors & structure (21). Those complaints describe 7 crashes and 4 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2007 has 129 and the 2009 has 339.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical Maxima year, for its age
#141 most complained-about 2008 vehicle
- Complaints
- 79
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 7
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2008 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of all 79 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 2008 Nissan Maxima
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Nissan Maxima. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.
What owners say
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79 complaints about the 2008 Nissan Maxima
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 4.
Heavy Rust/corrosion/hole in driver & passenger floorboard. Visible from underneath vehicle when the vehicle is up on the lift. I'm concerned my feet will go through the floor. Inspected by an authorized auto body shop and they confirmed this is very unsafe and a manufacture defect.
THE CAR IGNITION WILL NOT LET ME TURN IT
Airbag light has turned on. They where not deployed. Tried to reset the light but it still came on. Tried to erase the light with obd2 reader but the code never showed. The light turned on out of nowhere. Its been on for months.
Vehicle stopped forward movement in middle lane of i-95 north. Engine revolutions jumped to red zone but no forward movement. Had to coast, in light traffic, to edge of roadway merge lane. Engine then died. Engine re-started about 35 minutes later and traveled to us hwy 1 when same thing happened. Vehicle died in outer lane. State police arrived and assisted in pushing vehicle to business shoulder/driveway entrance. Had vehicle towed approximately 30 miles to transmission shop in fredericksburg, va where they told me the transmission was gone.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 nissan maxima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated when the vehicle was started. The indicator remained illuminated for the past week. The dealer (94 nissan of south holland, located at 16269 van dam rd, south holland, il 60473, (708) 333-2000) was contacted by phone and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that a diagnostic test should be performed to verify the cause of the failure, but the contact declined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.
The timing chain tensioners prematurely wear, causing a whining noise as the chain rubs against the tensioner while the vehicle is turned on. This wear eventually grinds through the tensioner resulting in complete engine failure which can lead to a crash or injury. This began to happen for me just outside of the manufacturer warranty, and is a costly repair for a part of the engine that should not have to be maintained within the engines expected lifetime.
Have a 2008 nissan maxima and just found out I need a transmission after only having it 2yrs ..Dealer never told me that it had a problem when he sold to me had I known nissan had a problem with this model I would never had purchase it...I need a whole new transmisson and for 3700 dollars I feel nissan should rplace it at no cost to me since it seems that this issue seems to be with all there models not just mine...It just crap that im stuck trying to fix it...Nissan needs to make this problem or rather fix this...
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issue that is so common in there vechicle they need to be held accountable ...Check engine light came on and took it to the dealer cause it wouldnt shift and there it was a big heft bill to tell me that I needed a new transmission and had the nerve to tell me nissan are known for bad transmission...Not what I wanted to hear...
FLOORBOARDS RUSTED OUT.
February 2009 I purchase a 2009 nissan maxima vin#1n4aa51e29c....... There have been minor issues that I have dealt with. Let me explain, first the motors that move the steering column up/down (warranty covered) and in/out (a $600 estimate) both have gone out. Secondly, the left front tire pressure sensor ($186) was found to be faulty on february 20, 2015 with mileage of 47,859. Thirdly, the front left strut ($142) had to be replaced and both front strut mounts have been replaced ($176), which is a recall for...
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some vehicles but not mine. I'm confused by this but let's move on the biggest problem I'm having with nissan. Today the only recall on my 09 maxima has been the escl, which was replaced on july 21, 2017 with 73,429 miles of the car. I immediately noticed a different sound when starting the car. I was told there was nothing they could do about the sound, so I drove the car home. Shortly after, the airbag light on the dashboard started blinking and the passenger airbag indicator came on. On february 19, 2018, my car was taken to a local nissan dealership to get the airbag system fixed with 76,443 miles on the car. The service department ran a diagnostic report ($95) finding code dct b1018 as a problem. They reported their findings to me and gave an estimate of the repairs to be between $2,000 and $4,000, a big difference. I talked with the service department about what had to be done to fix the airbag system, how much time the repairs would take, why such a wide spread in the financial estimate and what may have caused this problem. I learned a lot from this conversation. The biggest surprise was learning that nissan changed how their airbag system sensors worked from always on to off until a seat was occupied. I would feel more like a valued customer when nissan pays 100% of a problem that has been caused by 'no fault' of the consumer.
Airbag light keeps flashing. Sensor is defective. Nissan said they dont cover. Its not included on the warranty. Cluster light on dash is blinking on and off making car unsafe to drive.
My car accelerated causing damage to mailbox, telephones pole and I don't know what else? And myself, along with other people could have been seriously hurt, was driving down the street when a car pulled in front of me, I swerved to keep from hitting them, when I did that my car accelerated to high speed, while my foot was on the brake the whole time and both hands on the stirring wheel while it proceeded to cross the intersection until it came to a stop, foot still on brake while it started to back up slowly back...
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into the intersection I pray to god and then stirred the wheel into the sidewalk and into the back of a pole is where it stopped foot still on brake while the police and ambulance got there. I noticed a week befor it stopped in the middle of me driving it, I thought maybe the key need a new battery so I strarted using the key in the egnition which I usually don't do because of it being a keyless also noticed the seat belt was having issues would not return to its proper place after releasing the belt.? I know this was a electrical or malfunction and someone needs to find it because I did not mistake the gas for the brake.
My airbag light stays on when I'm driving and I'm sure it is faulty. Also the light indicator for my tire pressure stays on even though I've put adequate air in the tire. This occurs while the car is motion and when it is not in motion.
Upon starting the car, air bag light continues to blink and does not go out. The indication is that something is wrong with the air bag system, thus making the vehicle unsafe to drive.
My passage side air bag leather is splitting! I've gone to the dealership where I bought the vehicle, I was told they don't fix it or don't know anyone that will. If they would fix it, the car dealership would be responsible if it did not open! I've asked around no one knows anyone that can repair it...Never had an accident in the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 nissan maxima. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle lost power and stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle stalled because the anti-theft system registered the key as faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact spoke to metro nissan of redlands (1665 industrial park ave, redlands, ca 92374) who stated that the repair would not be covered under warranty and the entire...
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anti-theft system would need to be re-mapped. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the contact would have to pay out of pocket for the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
I left the ignition on and it ran the battery went down , when I realized the battery was dead we charged the battery next day I got in to drive the car the transmission was like in 1st gear of the 6 speed auto transmission , I was out of state and found a dealership it took them a week to replace it, but they did give me a rental car the car had 58,000 thousand miles on it, it has 89,000 now , got in the car this week to go to a funeral and my remote wouldnt work , so I accidently left the car in reverse , when I...
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got out of the car , the car never moved when I got in garage I seen the car moving, I dont understand why the car wasnt moving when I got out of it , hit the neighbors house and caused a lot of damage to it!!
The airbag system stopped working. The airbag light continues to flash and the cruise control has stopped working. The vehicle was stationary when this started.
Air bag light appears at all times on dashboard blinking
I have a 2008 nissan maxima and I noticed that on the bottom of the car on the passenger side the floor board is rusted pretty bad. I was getting my brakes and rotors changed when I noticed the problem. My cousins friend was over his house when he was doing my brakes and rotors and said nissans are known for rust problems under the passenger side of the car and when I looked what do you know its all rusted. I looked up about nissan rust problems and tons of complaints have been filed and nissan doesnt want to take responsibility for this rust problem. I hope there will be a recall to get these rust issues resolved and nissan fixes these problems
I purchased this vehicle new in 2008. The vehicle is in excellent condition and has been serviced and washed on a regular basis. When I stepped into the passenger side I felt my foot sink into the passenger front floor board. I lifted the floor mat up and to my surprise I could push down on the carpet through the bottom of the vehicle. I checked the drivers front floor pan and observed the same corrosion. The only thing that will keep my feet in the car is the carpeting. I took it to a local body shop and they...
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would not even work on it. After checking on the internet I was surprised to find so many complaints from consumers regarding the maxima and altima's. I now have a vehicle that is unsafe for the road and the integrity of the vehicle is in question.
PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR NOT WORKING
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 nissan maxima. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stalled and the service engine soon warning indicator illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the camshaft position sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred two other times. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 61,000.
While waiting for a traffic light to turn green the car stalled. Had to turn the car starter several times before the car would start again. The dealer diagnosed the issue as a failed cam and crank shaft sensor. Prior to this incident the car had trouble starting and would stall when the engine was cold. The dealer diagnosed the issue as the fuel pump not holding its pressure. Cam and crank shaft sensors were replaced as well as the fuel pump.
Driver and passenger floor rusted big whole on both side. Just look under the car this week when I took it to the mechanic
Nissan Maxima: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 107 | 0 | C |
| 2011 | 106 | 0 | C |
| 2010 | 275 | 1 | F |
| 2009 | 339 | 1 | F |
| 2008 | 79 | 0 | B |
| 2007 | 129 | 1 | C |
| 2006 | 576 | 2 | F |
| 2005 | 948 | 2 | F |
| 2004 | 1,426 | 2 | F |
2008 Nissan Maxima vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Nissan Maxima | 79 | 0 | B | |
| 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid | 1,047 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2008 Nissan Altima | 1,031 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2008 Nissan Rogue | 429 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2008 Nissan Versa Hatchback | 381 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2008 Nissan Versa | 381 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 2008 Nissan Pathfinder | 328 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2008 Nissan Sentra | 167 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2008 Nissan Armada | 161 | 7 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2008 Nissan Maxima
Does the 2008 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Nissan Maxima right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Maxima?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (23), body, doors & structure (21), transmission & drivetrain (8).
How many complaints has the 2008 Nissan Maxima had?
79 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on February 21, 2008 and the latest on September 23, 2026. Of these, 7 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2008 Nissan Maxima a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 64 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Nissan Maxima year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Nissan Maxima years have the most complaints?
2004 (1,426), 2005 (948), 2006 (576). See every Nissan Maxima year compared.
What should I do if my 2008 Nissan Maxima has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data