IllustrationPASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR NOT WORKING
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →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
120–25K
625–50K
1050–75K
1175–100K
15100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
78 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO OTHER TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN THE CAR STALLED. HAD TO TURN THE CAR STARTER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED CAM AND CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING AND WOULD STALL WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED…
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WHILE WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN THE CAR STALLED. HAD TO TURN THE CAR STARTER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START AGAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED CAM AND CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING AND WOULD STALL WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE FUEL PUMP NOT HOLDING ITS PRESSURE. CAM AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE FUEL PUMP.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR RUSTED BIG WHOLE ON BOTH SIDE. JUST LOOK UNDER THE CAR THIS WEEK WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC
AIRBAG
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK SAME TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT WHICH COST ME $98.00 AND THE ADVISED ME THAT THE AIR BAG SPRING IS WEAK, AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOY AND THEN THE TELL ME IF IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY/MAY NOT DEPLOY. (ALSO IF HIT A HARD ENOUGH BUMP IT MAY CAUSE I…
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AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK SAME TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT WHICH COST ME $98.00 AND THE ADVISED ME THAT THE AIR BAG SPRING IS WEAK, AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOY AND THEN THE TELL ME IF IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY/MAY NOT DEPLOY. (ALSO IF HIT A HARD ENOUGH BUMP IT MAY CAUSE IT TO) THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT WHY WOULD A STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG SPRING JUST GO WEAK AND THERE IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR TO IT. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. I HAVE KNOWN A GUY THAT HAD TO REPLACE HIS. SO I AM PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM GOING ON. WHEN THIS HAPPEN I CHECKED FOR RECALLS BY IT STATED NONE HAD BEEN REPORTED.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY SUN ROOF SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. THERE WAS NO CAR ANYWHERE AROUND NOR DID ANYTHING FALL AND HIT IT.
MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA SL FLOORBOARDS HAVE RUSTED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE RUST WAS SO BAD, THE CAR WOULD NOT PASS THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA VEHICLE INSPECTION. I HAD TO HAVE A BODY SHOP CUT OUT THE FLOORBOARDS ON BOTH SIDES, WELD IN NEW SUPPORTS, FLOORBOARD AND THEN RESEAL AND REPAIR CARPET. THIS WAS A DEFE…
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MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA SL FLOORBOARDS HAVE RUSTED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE RUST WAS SO BAD, THE CAR WOULD NOT PASS THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA VEHICLE INSPECTION. I HAD TO HAVE A BODY SHOP CUT OUT THE FLOORBOARDS ON BOTH SIDES, WELD IN NEW SUPPORTS, FLOORBOARD AND THEN RESEAL AND REPAIR CARPET. THIS WAS A DEFECT AS TO THE WAY THE CORROSION OCCURRED, MOISTURE TRAPPED IN BETWEEN LAYERS OF FLOORING. IN ADDITION, IT IS NOT A PLACE ANYONE NORMALLY EXAMINES, AS MOST CARS DON'T HAVE THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. THE REPAIR COST ME $850, JUST SO I FELT SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION. THE COMPANY DOING THE REPAIR TOLD ME ALL I HAD BETWEEN MY FEET AND THE ROAD WAS CARPET LINER.
TAKATA RECALL - THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND PER THE DEALER THE SPIRAL CABLE AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE PART IS WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE AIRBAG TO RETURN BACK ONCE DEPLOYED. THEY INFORMED ME THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT WON'T RETURN LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO DO. TH…
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TAKATA RECALL - THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND PER THE DEALER THE SPIRAL CABLE AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE PART IS WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE AIRBAG TO RETURN BACK ONCE DEPLOYED. THEY INFORMED ME THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT WON'T RETURN LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO DO. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT; THEREFORE, THE AIRBAG HASN'T BEEN DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD DUE TO IT BEING ABOVE THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD DUE TO IT BEING ABOVE THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE08045 · 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.