IllustrationMileage unknown · Jul 28, 2016
Air Bags
AIRBAG
NHTSA ODI #10889350
2008 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
625–50K
1050–75K
1175–100K
15100–150K
5150K+
59 reports with mileage · 19 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
23 reportsAIRBAG
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK SAME TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT WHICH COST ME $98.00 AND THE ADVISED ME THAT THE AIR BAG SPRING IS WEAK, AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOY AND THEN THE TELL ME IF IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY/MAY NOT DEPLOY. (ALSO IF HIT A HARD ENOUGH BUMP IT MAY CAUSE I…
Read full complaint
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK SAME TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON IT WHICH COST ME $98.00 AND THE ADVISED ME THAT THE AIR BAG SPRING IS WEAK, AIR BAG HAS NEVER BEEN DEPLOY AND THEN THE TELL ME IF IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY/MAY NOT DEPLOY. (ALSO IF HIT A HARD ENOUGH BUMP IT MAY CAUSE IT TO) THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT WHY WOULD A STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG SPRING JUST GO WEAK AND THERE IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR TO IT. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT TO ME. I HAVE KNOWN A GUY THAT HAD TO REPLACE HIS. SO I AM PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM GOING ON. WHEN THIS HAPPEN I CHECKED FOR RECALLS BY IT STATED NONE HAD BEEN REPORTED.
TAKATA RECALL - THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND PER THE DEALER THE SPIRAL CABLE AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE PART IS WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE AIRBAG TO RETURN BACK ONCE DEPLOYED. THEY INFORMED ME THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT WON'T RETURN LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO DO. TH…
Read full complaint
TAKATA RECALL - THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND PER THE DEALER THE SPIRAL CABLE AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE PART IS WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE AIRBAG TO RETURN BACK ONCE DEPLOYED. THEY INFORMED ME THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT WON'T RETURN LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO DO. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT; THEREFORE, THE AIRBAG HASN'T BEEN DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD DUE TO IT BEING ABOVE THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE DASHBOARD DUE TO IT BEING ABOVE THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
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 NORT…
Read full complaint
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. THIS MAKES NO SINCE THAT MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MY CAR THEREFORE, NISSAN SHOULD VOLUNTARILY FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAG DOES NOT INFLATE WHICH COULD LEAD TO DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. I WANT THE FHTA TO CONTACT NISSAN AND HAVE THEM TO WORK TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT LEAVES TO SOMETHING SERIOUSLY. NISSAN DEALER EVEN STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE HAPPEN BY ME TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL WHICH MADE NO SENSE TO ME.
VISIBLE CUTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS STARTED TO FORM ON THE DASH BOARD OUTLINING THE SHAPE AIRBAG CONTAINER UNDERNEATH. AFRAID THAT THIS MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOY. CONTACTED NISSAN BUT THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR CRASH. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. ALTHOUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED, THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BU…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR CRASH. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. ALTHOUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED, THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V136000(AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
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 …
Read full complaint
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. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH OFF AND ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH OFF AND ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,700.
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…
Read full complaint
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. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE08045 · Transmission Hose Leak
Opened Jul 23, 2008 · Closed Oct 24, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
THIS PE WAS OPENED FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE MAY HAVE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.THE LEAKED FLUID CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITE.NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS IN THE HOSE IS EXCESSIVE STRESS DURING THE MANUFACTURE FORMING PROCESS RESULTING IN HOSE DEFORMATION AT LOADING ONTO A MANDREL, OR DAMAGE DURING UN-LOADING.REGARDING LOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, WHEN EXCESSIVE STRESS IS APPLIED WHILE LOADING THE HOSE ONTO THE MANDREL, HOSE DEFORMATION (WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BULGE) CAN OCCUR AROUND THE BENDING AREA.A CRACK WILL START TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE AT THE AREA OF DEFORMATION.REGARDING UNLOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, AFTER THE CURING PROCESS, IN SOME INSTANCES THE HOSE STUCK TO THE MANDREL TIGHTLY AND THE OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
THIS PE WAS OPENED FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE MAY HAVE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.THE LEAKED FLUID CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITE.NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS IN THE HOSE IS EXCESSIVE STRESS DURING THE MANUFACTURE FORMING PROCESS RESULTING IN HOSE DEFORMATION AT LOADING ONTO A MANDREL, OR DAMAGE DURING UN-LOADING.REGARDING LOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, WHEN EXCESSIVE STRESS IS APPLIED WHILE LOADING THE HOSE ONTO THE MANDREL, HOSE DEFORMATION (WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BULGE) CAN OCCUR AROUND THE BENDING AREA.A CRACK WILL START TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE AT THE AREA OF DEFORMATION.REGARDING UNLOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, AFTER THE CURING PROCESS, IN SOME INSTANCES THE HOSE STUCK TO THE MANDREL TIGHTLY AND THE OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THIS PE WAS OPENED FOR MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE MAY HAVE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS RESULTING IN A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.THE LEAKED FLUID CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITE.NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PINHOLES AND/OR CRACKS IN THE HOSE IS EXCESSIVE STRESS DURING THE MANUFACTURE FORMING PROCESS RESULTING IN HOSE DEFORMATION AT LOADING ONTO A MANDREL, OR DAMAGE DURING UN-LOADING.REGARDING LOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, WHEN EXCESSIVE STRESS IS APPLIED WHILE LOADING THE HOSE ONTO THE MANDREL, HOSE DEFORMATION (WHICH LOOKS LIKE A BULGE) CAN OCCUR AROUND THE BENDING AREA.A CRACK WILL START TO FORM ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE AT THE AREA OF DEFORMATION.REGARDING UNLOADING STRESS, NISSAN STATES, AFTER THE CURING PROCESS, IN SOME INSTANCES THE HOSE STUCK TO THE MANDREL TIGHTLY AND THE OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO PULL THE HOSE FROM THE MANDREL.IF THIS OPERATION WAS PERFORMED ROUGHLY, THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSE COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE MANDREL EDGE. NISSAN ALSO STATES, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSES RECEIVED INTERNAL DAMAGE, A DAMAGED HOSE WAS PRODUCED AS A RARE, RANDOM EVENT RATHER THAN SYSTEMATICALLY.THE TRANSMISSION HOSE SUPPLIER, COOPER STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE, IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT LIMIT EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE HOSE DURING MANUFACTURE. NISSAN HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS ASSEMBLED ON MY 2007 AND MY 2008 MAXIMA VEHICLES.NISSAN REDESIGNED THE TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE ON MY 2009 MAXIMA, AND THE HOSE IS MANUFACTURED BY A NEW SUPPLIER.NISSAN HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT THE LEAKS MOSTLY OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 2000 MILES OF SERVICE WITH A SEVERE DROP IN INCIDENTS BEYOND 2000 MILES OF SERVICE.MOST LEAKS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED, AND THE ONE FIRE WAS MINOR. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.