YearToAvoid

2008 Nissan Maxima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

44/100

#11 most-complained of 19 Maxima years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Nissan Maxima has 79 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 44 out of 100 — #11 highest of 19 Maxima model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is structure & body (24 complaints, 30% of the total). Complaints report 7 crashes and 4 injuries.

Complaints
79
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
7 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 25 hwy

Top 2008 Nissan Maxima problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body24 (30%)
  2. Airbags23 (29%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (15%)
  4. Engine11 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain8 (10%)
  6. Electrical System7 (9%)
  7. Other4 (5%)
  8. Steering4 (5%)
  9. Brakes3 (4%)
  10. Fuel System3 (4%)
2008 Nissan Maxima complaints: complaints filed per quarter82008 Q12010 Q22012 Q32014 Q32015 Q42017 Q12018 Q42020 Q4
100 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q1 (8).

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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid89576221
2007Caution50129121
2008Good4479021
2009Avoid94339122
2010Avoid83275122

All Nissan Maxima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Nissan Maxima a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Nissan Maxima ranks #11 of 19 among Maxima model years (Complaint Index 44/100, verdict: Good). It has 79 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Maxima?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (24 complaints), airbags (23 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (12 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Nissan Maxima in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Nissan Maxima?
EPA rates the 2008 Nissan Maxima at 21 MPG combined (19 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.