2008 Nissan Maxima recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Engine and engine cooling

  See attached document for complaint.

  Jul 18, 2026
• Structure › Body

  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.

  Jan 22, 2023
• Unknown or other

  THE CAR IGNITION WILL NOT LET ME TURN IT

  Sep 24, 2020 · 126,000 miles
• Air bags

  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.

  Dec 2, 2019 · 20 miles
• Power train

  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.

  Sep 11, 2019 · 219,000 miles
• Air bags

  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.

  Aug 8, 2019 · 96,000 miles
• Engine

  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.

  Mar 30, 2019 · 70,000 miles
• Power train

  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 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…

  Dec 5, 2018 · 11,500 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• TRANSMISSION HOSE LEAKClosed

  THIS PE WAS OPENED FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE MAY HAVE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.THE LEAKED FLUID CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITE.NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS IN THE HOSE IS EXCESSIVE STRESS DURING THE MANUFACTURE FORMING PROCESS RESULTING IN HOSE DEFORMATION AT LOADING ONTO A MANDREL, OR DAMAGE DURING UN-LOADING.REGARDING LOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, WHEN EXCESSIVE STRESS IS APPLIED WHILE LOADING THE HOSE ONTO THE MANDREL, HOSE DEFORMATION (WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BULGE) CAN OCCUR AROUND THE BENDING AREA.A CRACK WILL START TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE AT THE AREA OF DEFORMATION.REGARDING UNLOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, AFTER THE CURING PROCESS, IN SOME INSTANCES THE HOSE STUCK TO THE MANDREL TIGHTLY AND THE…

  PE08045 · opened Jul 23, 2008 · closed Oct 24, 2008