IllustrationHeavy Rust/corrosion/hole in driver & passenger floorboard. Visible from underneath vehicle when the vehicle is up on the lift. I’m concerned my feet will go through the floor. Inspected by an authorized auto body shop and they confirmed this is very unsafe and a manufacture defect.
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
Structure complaints
21 reportsFLOORBOARDS RUSTED OUT.
I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA AND I NOTICED THAT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED PRETTY BAD. I WAS GETTING MY BRAKES AND ROTORS CHANGED WHEN I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. MY COUSINS FRIEND WAS OVER HIS HOUSE WHEN HE WAS DOING MY BRAKES AND ROTORS AND SAID NISSANS ARE KNOWN FOR RUST PROBLEMS UNDER …
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I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA AND I NOTICED THAT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE FLOOR BOARD IS RUSTED PRETTY BAD. I WAS GETTING MY BRAKES AND ROTORS CHANGED WHEN I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. MY COUSINS FRIEND WAS OVER HIS HOUSE WHEN HE WAS DOING MY BRAKES AND ROTORS AND SAID NISSANS ARE KNOWN FOR RUST PROBLEMS UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND WHEN I LOOKED WHAT DO YOU KNOW ITS ALL RUSTED. I LOOKED UP ABOUT NISSAN RUST PROBLEMS AND TONS OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND NISSAN DOESNT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS RUST PROBLEM. I HOPE THERE WILL BE A RECALL TO GET THESE RUST ISSUES RESOLVED AND NISSAN FIXES THESE PROBLEMS
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2008. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AND WASHED ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHEN I STEPPED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE I FELT MY FOOT SINK INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT FLOOR BOARD. I LIFTED THE FLOOR MAT UP AND TO MY SURPRISE I COULD PUSH DOWN ON THE CARPET THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF TH…
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2008. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AND WASHED ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHEN I STEPPED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE I FELT MY FOOT SINK INTO THE PASSENGER FRONT FLOOR BOARD. I LIFTED THE FLOOR MAT UP AND TO MY SURPRISE I COULD PUSH DOWN ON THE CARPET THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED THE DRIVERS FRONT FLOOR PAN AND OBSERVED THE SAME CORROSION. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL KEEP MY FEET IN THE CAR IS THE CARPETING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP AND THEY WOULD NOT EVEN WORK ON IT. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNET I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS REGARDING THE MAXIMA AND ALTIMA'S. I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE IS IN QUESTION.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR RUSTED BIG WHOLE ON BOTH SIDE. JUST LOOK UNDER THE CAR THIS WEEK WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY SUN ROOF SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. THERE WAS NO CAR ANYWHERE AROUND NOR DID ANYTHING FALL AND HIT IT.
MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA SL FLOORBOARDS HAVE RUSTED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE RUST WAS SO BAD, THE CAR WOULD NOT PASS THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA VEHICLE INSPECTION. I HAD TO HAVE A BODY SHOP CUT OUT THE FLOORBOARDS ON BOTH SIDES, WELD IN NEW SUPPORTS, FLOORBOARD AND THEN RESEAL AND REPAIR CARPET. THIS WAS A DEFE…
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MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA SL FLOORBOARDS HAVE RUSTED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE RUST WAS SO BAD, THE CAR WOULD NOT PASS THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA VEHICLE INSPECTION. I HAD TO HAVE A BODY SHOP CUT OUT THE FLOORBOARDS ON BOTH SIDES, WELD IN NEW SUPPORTS, FLOORBOARD AND THEN RESEAL AND REPAIR CARPET. THIS WAS A DEFECT AS TO THE WAY THE CORROSION OCCURRED, MOISTURE TRAPPED IN BETWEEN LAYERS OF FLOORING. IN ADDITION, IT IS NOT A PLACE ANYONE NORMALLY EXAMINES, AS MOST CARS DON'T HAVE THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. THE REPAIR COST ME $850, JUST SO I FELT SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION. THE COMPANY DOING THE REPAIR TOLD ME ALL I HAD BETWEEN MY FEET AND THE ROAD WAS CARPET LINER.
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…
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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.
BROUGHT MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED EXTREME RUST UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE REST OF THE CAR IS SPOTLESS UNDERNEATH, NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE. TOOK THE CAR TO A COUPLE BODY SHOPS AND THEY SAID IT IS MOST LIKELY FROM A LEAK INSIDE THE CAR CAUSED BY POOR SEALING WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. THIS IS DEFINI…
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BROUGHT MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED EXTREME RUST UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THE REST OF THE CAR IS SPOTLESS UNDERNEATH, NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE. TOOK THE CAR TO A COUPLE BODY SHOPS AND THEY SAID IT IS MOST LIKELY FROM A LEAK INSIDE THE CAR CAUSED BY POOR SEALING WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING AND NOW STARTING TO SHOW. OF COURSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE NISSAN CROOKS WILL NOT TAKE BLAME FOR IT. I HAVE HAD 3 NISSAN VEHICLES IN MY LIFETIME AND IT IS AN ABSOLUTE SHAME THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY KNOW THEY ARE BUILDING THE VEHICLE IMPROPERLY BUT THEY KNOW THE ISSUE WILL NOT PRESENT ITSELF UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, LEAVING THEM TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY. I HOPE SOMEONE AT NISSAN IS READING THIS AND I HOPE A LAWSUIT OCCURS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES FOR YOUR DISPLEASURE.
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 DEALER. THE ABS MOTOR IS RUNNING INTERMITTENTL…
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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 DEALER. THE ABS MOTOR IS RUNNING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE SURFACE IS DRY AND NO RAIN OR SNOW. THIS CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED OR AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. THE HINGES ON THE HOOD AND THE DOORS ARE RUSTING. TH
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.