Most common 2008 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of the 79 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Maxima complaints by model year
Best Maxima years: 2022, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005, 2006. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Nissan Maxima:
Transmission hose leak
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…
What 2008 Nissan Maxima owners say
Air bags all 23 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Maxima. While driving at least 15 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a minor crash. The passenger side air bag deployed without warning. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. Although the insurance company declared the vehicle as destroyed, the contact repaired the vehicle, but did not repair the air bag. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V136000(air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
The driver side airbag has malfunction with the light constantly flashing. Took vehicle to Nissan dealers to diagnose what is causing the problem with airbag light constantly flashing and was told they do not know, but if I get involve in an accident the airbag probably will not inflate. They print out several steps Nissan north America recommends to fix the problem which would cost me thousands of dollars. My seat-belts are powertrain until 2018. This makes no since that my driver side airbag all of a sudden stop working even though I have had no accidents involving my car therefore, Nissan should voluntarily fix the problem before I am involved in an accident and my airbag does not inflate which could lead to deadly consequences. I want the fhta to contact Nissan and have them to work to resolve this issue before it leaves to something seriously. …
Body & structure all 21 →
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.
After seeing a today show report earlier in 2015 about under carriage rust in Nissan altima's, I decided I should take a look underneath my 2008 Maxima. Sure enough, there are two large holes rusted all the way through on the driver and passenger side in the same spot. I was a little infuriated that the today show report stated this is only an issue with Nissan altima's made between specific years.... That's not the case! This simply can't be a coincidence. This is clearly a manufacturing defect on the part of Nissan, and it needs to be addressed as a safety recall. As someone who lives in the upper mid-west, I have to deal with road salt and snow for most of the year. If these holes are completely exposing the inside of my car, how can that be considered safe? I've been quoted for $600 from a Nissan dealership to fix this issue. That's simply not going to happen... …
Wheels & tires
On April 30, I was driving in the city, and as I was picking up speed (35-40mph). The driver side time broke causing the cv axle to give-out and me to loose control of my car. In addition, this is a brand new car that only has -4000 miles. I do not feel safe with this car because I am afraid that this is going to happen again.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that there was a malfunction with the tire pressure warning system. He noticed that the indicator continued to illuminate and took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer found no failures and stated that the tires needed air. The failure occurred four times. The dealer also stated that if the temperature changed, it would trigger the indicator as well. The contact was also informed that if the pressure dropped to -1 lb, the air pressure indicator would illuminate. The manufacturer stated that there was a file already created for the contact. The current mileage was approximately 19,000 and failure mileage was approximately 500. Updated 03/09/09. Updated 03/10/09.
2008 Nissan Maxima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | CVT | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Nissan Maxima a good car?
Based on 79 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Maxima rates better than average: 50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Maxima at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Nissan Maxima?
The air bags — 23 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (21) and wheels & tires (8).
How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Maxima have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Nissan Maxima. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Maxima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010, 2004, 2005 and 2006. See the full Nissan Maxima years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Maxima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 31% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.