2008 Nissan Maxima Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2008 Nissan Maxima ranks 11th of 19 model years with a complaint index of 44 and earns a Good verdict, meaning it has fewer reported problems than most other Maxima years. NHTSA lists no recalls for this year and 79 total complaints, mostly about structure/body and airbags.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 44/100
- #11 of 19 Maxima years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 79
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 19 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2008 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body24 (30%)
- Airbags23 (29%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (15%)
- Engine11 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (10%)
- Electrical System7 (9%)
- Other4 (5%)
- Steering4 (5%)
- Brakes3 (4%)
- Fuel System3 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe a CV axle failure that caused loss of control while accelerating at low mileage.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in a rear-end collision that led to a secondary front-end crash.
- A passenger-side airbag deployed without warning during a minor low-speed crash.
- Owners report the automatic transmission jerking and clicking when shifting between drive and reverse.
- Some owners describe tire tread or blowout issues on factory-fitted tires at low mileage, including a repeat failure after a prior recall on the same tire brand.
2008 Nissan Maxima recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2008 Nissan Maxima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Nissan Maxima reliable?
- Among Maxima model years, the 2008 ranks 11th of 19 with a complaint index of 44, earning a Good verdict relative to other years. It has no recalls on file with NHTSA.
- What problems does the 2008 Nissan Maxima have?
- NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Maxima center on Structure & Body issues (30% of complaints) and Airbags (29%), followed by suspension, wheels and tires, and engine concerns. Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 75,000.
- Does the 2008 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
- No. NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2008 Nissan Maxima.
- What year Nissan Maxima should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, the 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2016 Maxima model years carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes of 100, 89, 94, 83, and 78 respectively. The 2008 model year is not one of them.
- How does the 2008 Maxima compare to the 2019 or 2022 model years?
- The 2019 and 2022 Maxima earn Best verdicts with complaint indexes of 22 and 17, lower than the 2008's index of 44, meaning the 2008 has more reported problems relative to those years.