Nissan Maxima problems
78 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
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…
I was backing the car out of my driveway when the car stopped moving in reverse and moved forward. After stopping the car I attempted to back it again with the same results only the car moved forward enough to hit my fence causing minor damage to the driver side bumper. I…
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…
Floor boards have rusted out to carpet on both sides of the vehicle. Car is 5 years old and now a safety hazard. I am the original owner, has been well taken care of. *tr
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2008 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Nissan Maxima is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2008 Nissan Maxima?
On the NHTSA data, the 2008 Nissan Maxima does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2008 Nissan Maxima?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 20 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 79,436 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 79,436 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Nissan Maxima has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2008 Nissan Maxima?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 78 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.