2008 Nissan Maxima problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (16) · Structure:body (14) · Tires (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Maxima model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
59 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (82)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-027D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication – network diagnostic flow chart this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB10-066C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 82 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-23 · Engine And Engine Cooling“see attached document for complaint.…”
2023-01-29 · Structure:body“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. …”
2020-11-05 · Unknown Or Other · 126,000 mi“the car ignition will not let me turn it…”
2020-02-20 · Suspension · 20 mi“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.…”
2019-11-29 · Power Train · 219,000 mi“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 arri…”
2019-08-15 · Air Bags · 96,000 mi“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 60473, (708) 333-2000) was contacted by phone and informed of the fail…”
2019-03-30 · Engine · 70,000 mi“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 cost…”
2018-12-21 · Power Train · 11,500 mi“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 see…”
2018-03-16 · Air Bags“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 left front tire pressure sensor ($186) was found to be faulty on febru…”
2018-03-08 · Electrical System · 17,132 mi“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.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.