YearToAvoid

2008 Nissan Quest Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

82/100

#3 most-complained of 12 Quest years

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

The 2008 Nissan Quest has 50 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 82 out of 100 — #3 highest of 12 Quest model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is fuel system (14 complaints, 28% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes, 3 fires, and 4 injuries.

Complaints
50
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 3
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
16 city / 24 hwy

Top 2008 Nissan Quest problems

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

  1. Fuel System14 (28%)
  2. Brakes11 (22%)
  3. Airbags8 (16%)
  4. Electrical System8 (16%)
  5. Engine8 (16%)
  6. Other6 (12%)
  7. Structure & Body6 (12%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (10%)
  9. Steering4 (8%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (2%)
2008 Nissan Quest complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2008Jul 2011Aug 2014Jun 2015Oct 2016Apr 2019Jun 2021
72 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2008 to May 2026; peak Oct 2014 (3).

2008 Nissan Quest recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V067000Feb 10, 2023Airbags404,690 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

    Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

  2. NHTSA 10V072000Mar 2, 2010Brakes179,383 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 titan, armada, and infiniti qx56, and model year 2008-2009 nissan quest vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin end was not spin-formed to specification during the manufacturing process of the brake pedal assembly. The pivot pin could slide and cause the brake pedal to partially disengage from the brake pedal bracket.

    Risk: The driver will experience unusual and noticeable looseness in the pedal and a reduction in braking force increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect to see if the pivot pin had been formed properly and will replace the brake pedal assembly if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on march 22, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. NHTSA 08V187000Apr 24, 2008Structure & Body1,126 vehicles

    Seats

    Nissan is recalling 1,126 my 2008 quest, titan and armada vehicles equipped with manual adjustment front seats. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "seating systems." the seat track assembly may have been manufactured out of specification.

    Risk: This may result in the manual seat pawl not fully engaging increasing the risk of personal injuries in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat track assembly on the driver's and front passenger seats and replace the entire seat assembly free of charge. The recall began on may 27, 2008. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2008 Nissan Quest fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,200
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 Quest years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Caution5574119
2007Avoid100228119
2008Avoid8250319
2009Good4522219
2011Caution7366121

All Nissan Quest years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Nissan Quest a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Nissan Quest ranks #3 of 12 among Quest model years (Complaint Index 82/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 50 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Quest?
The most reported problem areas are fuel system (14 complaints), brakes (11 complaints), and airbags (8 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 97,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Nissan Quest have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Nissan Quest, most recently reported 2023, covering airbags, brakes, and structure & body.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Nissan Quest?
EPA rates the 2008 Nissan Quest at 19 MPG combined (16 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200. 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.