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2008 Nissan Maxima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

59 reports with mileage · 19 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports
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111,000 miles · Feb 13, 2018
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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 T…

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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 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.

NHTSA ODI #11072448

153,000 miles · Jul 6, 2017
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control

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.

NHTSA ODI #11003265

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructureVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HESITATES TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION DURING ACCELERATION. MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GOING UP AN HILL. THE TRANSMISSION PRODUCE A WHINING SOUND IF THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO INCREASE THE ACCELERATION. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT JUST BELOW 33,000 MILES BY THE DEALER. THE ABS MOTOR IS RUNNING INTERMITTENTL…

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VEHICLE HESITATES TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION DURING ACCELERATION. MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GOING UP AN HILL. THE TRANSMISSION PRODUCE A WHINING SOUND IF THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO INCREASE THE ACCELERATION. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT JUST BELOW 33,000 MILES BY THE DEALER. THE ABS MOTOR IS RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE SURFACE IS DRY AND NO RAIN OR SNOW. THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED OR AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. THE HINGES ON THE HOOD AND THE DOORS ARE RUSTING. TH

NHTSA ODI #10816583

11,100 miles · Jul 25, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH FROM MY SISTERS HOUSE FOR A WOMEN'S GROUP MEETING . MY SISTER LIVES AROUND THE CORNER APPROXIMATELY A BLOCK FROM THE CHURCH AND I WOULD GENERALLY RIDE WITH HER EXCEPT SHE HAD A REHEARSAL AFTERWARDS. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND MY SISTER PULLED UP NEXT TO ME. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE I…

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I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH FROM MY SISTERS HOUSE FOR A WOMEN'S GROUP MEETING . MY SISTER LIVES AROUND THE CORNER APPROXIMATELY A BLOCK FROM THE CHURCH AND I WOULD GENERALLY RIDE WITH HER EXCEPT SHE HAD A REHEARSAL AFTERWARDS. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND MY SISTER PULLED UP NEXT TO ME. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE I WAS PARKING AND BEFORE I COULD SWITCH MY VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND I RAN INTO THE CHURCH. WE WERE THE ONLY TWO AT THE CHURCH AT THE TIME BESIDES THE PASTOR WHO WAS INSIDE OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE SHE GETS THEIR FIRST BEING THAT SHE TEACHES THE WOMEN'S MINISTRY. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH IT ACCELERATING SOME WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. I WAS GOING TO KANSAS CITY ONE DAY AND MY AUNT ASKED ME TO DRIVE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BUT TOLD HER THAT I WAS A BIT AFRAID TO TRAVEL IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT ACCELERATES SLIGHTLY WHEN BREAKING. I ALSO HAD MY SISTER WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT ON A FEW OCCASIONS BECAUSE I FELT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT ACCELERATING. SHE NOTICED IT AS WELL AND SAID THAT I NEEDED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SOON BUT, JUST HADN'T DONE IT YET. LIKE I SAID, IT WOULD ACCELERATE BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY. IT WAS AS IF I WAS BREAKING AND IT WAS ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME. I WISH THAT I'D TAKEN IT IN SOONER. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. BOTH MY VEHICLE AND THE CHURCH WILL NEED REPAIR, AND MY NECK WAS A PIT SORE, BUT I AM THANKFUL THAT I AM OK AND THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I FIND IT QUITE STRANGE THAT I WAS PARKED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE TAKES OFF AS IF I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS. THIS IS MIND BOGGLING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235823

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE08045 · Transmission Hose Leak

Opened Jul 23, 2008 · Closed Oct 24, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

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 OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

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 OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Power Train:automatic Transmission

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 OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.