There are no safety recalls for the 2008 Nissan Maxima, but owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA.
2008 Nissan Maxima problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Air Bags | 23 | |
| Structure | 21 | |
| Tires | 8 | |
| Power Train | 8 | |
| Electrical System | 6 | |
| Engine | 5 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | |
| Steering | 4 | |
| Suspension | 4 | |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | |
| Seats | 3 | |
| Service Brakes | 3 | |
Most reported parts
- Structure › Body — 16
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 2
- Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems — 2
- Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint — 1
- Suspension › Front — 1
- Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields — 1
- Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 75,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2008 Nissan Maxima complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Structure · reported Jan 29, 2023
Heavy Rust/corrosion/hole in driver & passenger floorboard. Visible from underneath vehicle when the vehicle is up on the lift. Iâm 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.
Air Bags · at 20 miles · reported Feb 20, 2020
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.
Power Train · at 219,000 miles · reported Nov 29, 2019
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.
Engine · at 70,000 miles · reported Mar 30, 2019
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.
Power Train · at 11,500 miles · reported Dec 21, 2018
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…
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2008 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2008 Nissan Maxima as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Nissan Maxima?
Owners report air bags problems most often (23 reports), followed by structure (21). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 75,000 miles.
Are Nissan recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Nissan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.