2008 Nissan Maxima Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Nissan Maxima most often report rust-through on the driver and passenger floor pans, followed by airbag warning-light complaints and dashboard cracking near the passenger airbag. Many complaints describe these as appearing gradually over years of ownership, while a smaller group covers engine sensor stalling, timing chain noise and transmission problems, usually at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Floor pan rust-through (driver and passenger side)

   • 13 complaints (16%)
   • median 101,047 mi at 7.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Complaints describe rust on the driver and passenger front floorboards that progresses to holes visible from underneath the car, sometimes soft enough that a foot pushes through the carpet. Owners frequently mention that the dealer or manufacturer declined assistance after the vehicle was out of warranty, and several say a body shop had to cut out and weld in new floor sections. Some owners link the corrosion to moisture trapped between floor layers. Most often noted between roughly 50,000 and 125,000 miles, typically several years into ownership and often first spotted during unrelated work such as tire or brake service.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look under both front floorboards on a lift, and press the carpet from inside for soft spots; ask whether the voluntary service campaign for the floor pan was ever performed, noting that the campaign has expired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 and said nissans are known for rust problems under the passenger side of the car and when I looked what do you know its all rusted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10992782, filed 2017-06, 87,000 miles

   “The driver and front passenger side floorboards are rusting away to the point of necessary repairs. Nissan is not willing to fix this obvious manufacturing defect. Today, 4/6/15, there was a television piece which aired on nbc's today show talking about the same issue I am having with my car to Nissan altima's. The Maxima is a sister car the altima. Nissan needs to address this serious safety issue in altima's and Maxima's.”

   NHTSA complaint #10703877, filed 2015-04, 115,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on or flashing

   • 15 complaints (19%)
   • median 74,500 mi at 8.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2020

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on or flashing intermittently, sometimes starting at startup and continuing for weeks. Complaints describe dealer diagnoses of a faulty passenger seat airbag sensor, a weak steering-wheel airbag spring, or a seat belt component, with repairs sometimes declined as not covered and sometimes attempted without lasting success. Several owners say they were told the airbag may or may not deploy in a crash. Spread from very low mileage up to about 150,000 miles, with many reports between roughly 60,000 and 115,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the key and confirm the airbag light goes out after the self-check; if it stays lit or flashes, ask for the stored airbag codes and which sensor or connector was diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver side airbag has malfunction with the light constantly flashing. Took vehicle to Nissan dealers to diagnose what is causing the problem with airbag light constantly flashing and was told they do not know, but if I get involve in an accident the airbag probably will not inflate. They print out several steps Nissan north america recommends to fix the problem which would cost me thousands of dollars. My seat-belts are powertrain until 2018. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10824591, filed 2016-02, 98,100 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11046151, filed 2017-11, 125,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission harsh shifting, whine or failure

   • 7 complaints (9%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2019

   Complaints describe hesitation when accelerating, especially uphill, a whining sound under acceleration, and jerking or clicking when shifting between drive and reverse. Some owners report the transmission had to be replaced, one at under 33,000 miles, and another after the vehicle lost forward movement on the highway. Reports range from under 35,000 miles to about 220,000 miles, with several around 80,000 to 115,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test-drive from a stop and up a grade, listening for whine or slip, and ask whether the transmission fluid was serviced or the unit replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On february 17, 2015, my daughter drove into a 3' ditch with about 4 of standing water with algea standing on top of the water. I had the vehicle inspected by my local mechanic to see if anything was damaged and had the oil levels checked as well and we continued to drive the vehicle for about 2500 miles. In may 2015 I chose to have the car repaired , front bumper etc. After the bodyshop finished with the car the airbag light needed to be reset by Nissan. We continued to drive the car for another 500 miles and the transmission stopped. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10780193, filed 2015-10, 113,000 miles

   “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 …”

   NHTSA complaint #11162962, filed 2018-12, 11,500 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Dashboard cracking around passenger airbag

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a crack on the passenger side of the dashboard that starts small and lengthens along the outline of the airbag cover, with owners worried about unexpected deployment. Owners report dealers either declined the repair because it sits over the airbag or suggested the damage came from outside, and trim shops were reluctant to touch it. Typically reported between about 50,000 and 125,000 miles, with several owners noting the crack appeared or grew during hot weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the passenger-side dash top in daylight for a hairline seam or split tracing the airbag cover, and check whether the cover sits flush.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started noticing a crack in the dashboard - passenger side front seat in the summer. The crack continues to grow and it looks like the airbag is about to burst out. You can see a definite line where the crack is going to continue to grow. The outline of the airbag is obvious, which I have never seen before. I have asked if my vehicle has a takata airbag, which no one will answer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10671144, filed 2015-01, 50,000 miles

   “I noticed a small crack on the passenger side dash. The small crack has grown to 4 inches. There is a clear line that the crack is following - and it appears to be exactly where the air bag would deploy. The dealership suggested that someone used a knife or scissors on the dash?? No vinyl repair shop will attempt a repair as it is near the airbag. There is one other complaint registered for this same issue. Clearly it is a manufacturer's issue that Nissan will not take care of.”

   NHTSA complaint #10692507, filed 2015-03, 65,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Stalling or no-start traced to cam/crank sensors

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2019

   Owners report the engine stalling at speed or while waiting at a light, followed by difficulty restarting, with the service engine light sometimes coming on. Complaints describe dealer diagnoses of failed camshaft or crankshaft position sensors, and in one case a fuel pump that would not hold pressure. Some owners also describe a ticking or whining noise from the timing chain area that led to a timing chain recommendation. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 105,000 miles, though timing chain noise appears from around 70,000 miles upward.

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the cam and crank sensors or fuel pump were replaced, and listen for a chain whine or tick at cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10925115, filed 2016-11, 86,162 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11192618, filed 2019-03, 70,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2008 Maxima inspected underneath for floor pan corrosion before purchase, since that is the most frequently reported problem and prior repair campaigns have closed. Also verify the airbag warning light behaves normally and check service records for sensor and transmission work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.