2008 NISSAN MAXIMA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Maxima. This model year has 78 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2008 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Structural Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Considering a 2008 Nissan Maxima?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Nissan Maxima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 23 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 21 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 78 most recent complaints
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 defe…
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 WHE…
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 …
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 …
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 370…
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 …
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 …
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…
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 SYSTE…
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 THE…
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 A…
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 COUL…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2008 Nissan Maxima.
Recalls for 2008 Nissan Maxima
0 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2008 Nissan Maxima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.
2008 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Nissan Maxima reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2008 Nissan Maxima has 78 NHTSA owner complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (23 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Maxima?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (23 complaints). #2: Structural Problems (21 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (8 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Nissan Maxima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2008 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2008 Nissan Maxima has 7 crash-related complaints and 0 fire reports out of 78 total NHTSA complaints. 4 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2008 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?▾
No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2008 Nissan Maxima in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.
Should I buy a 2008 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2008 Nissan Maxima has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2008 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.