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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.

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How this year compares

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
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98,000 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Structure

AFTER SEEING A TODAY SHOW REPORT EARLIER IN 2015 ABOUT UNDER CARRIAGE RUST IN NISSAN ALTIMA'S, I DECIDED I SHOULD TAKE A LOOK UNDERNEATH MY 2008 MAXIMA. SURE ENOUGH, THERE ARE TWO LARGE HOLES RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IN THE SAME SPOT. I WAS A LITTLE INFURIATED THAT THE TODAY SHOW REPORT STATED…

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AFTER SEEING A TODAY SHOW REPORT EARLIER IN 2015 ABOUT UNDER CARRIAGE RUST IN NISSAN ALTIMA'S, I DECIDED I SHOULD TAKE A LOOK UNDERNEATH MY 2008 MAXIMA. SURE ENOUGH, THERE ARE TWO LARGE HOLES RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IN THE SAME SPOT. I WAS A LITTLE INFURIATED THAT THE TODAY SHOW REPORT STATED THIS IS ONLY AN ISSUE WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S MADE BETWEEN SPECIFIC YEARS.... THAT'S NOT THE CASE! THIS SIMPLY CAN'T BE A COINCIDENCE. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON THE PART OF NISSAN, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY RECALL. AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE UPPER MID-WEST, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH ROAD SALT AND SNOW FOR MOST OF THE YEAR. IF THESE HOLES ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSING THE INSIDE OF MY CAR, HOW CAN THAT BE CONSIDERED SAFE? I'VE BEEN QUOTED FOR $600 FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THAT'S SIMPLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN... NISSAN NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS ON THEIR EXPENSE. BY NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, I'M FORCED TO CONSIDER SELLING A CAR THAT OTHERWISE IS IN NEAR PERFECT CONDITION. ON TOP OF IT ALL, IT MAKES ME NEVER WANT TO BUY A NISSAN AGAIN, AND I WILL LOBBY AGAINST ANY FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER PURCHASING A NISSAN. THIS IS SIMPLY A POOR BUSINESS PRACTICE.

NHTSA ODI #10779799

70,000 miles · Jul 21, 2015
Structure

WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN AT THE TIME THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS IN MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA WERE BEGINNING TO ROT. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON JULY 20, 2015 AND WAS TOLD AT THIS TIME THERE IS EXTENSIVE ROT ON BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD AND PASSENGERS SIDE. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THE…

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WAS INFORMED BY NISSAN AT THE TIME THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS IN MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA WERE BEGINNING TO ROT. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP ON JULY 20, 2015 AND WAS TOLD AT THIS TIME THERE IS EXTENSIVE ROT ON BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOORBOARD AND PASSENGERS SIDE. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THERE IS NOTHING NISSAN CAN DO. SO NOW I AM FORCED TO EITHER PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED OR GET RID OF THE VEHICLE THAT RUNS PERFECTLY FINE.

NHTSA ODI #10735626

115,000 miles · Apr 6, 2015
Structure

THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ARE RUSTING AWAY TO THE POINT OF NECESSARY REPAIRS. NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TODAY, 4/6/15, THERE WAS A TELEVISION PIECE WHICH AIRED ON NBC'S TODAY SHOW TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY CAR TO NISSAN ALTIMA'S. THE MAXIMA IS …

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THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ARE RUSTING AWAY TO THE POINT OF NECESSARY REPAIRS. NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TODAY, 4/6/15, THERE WAS A TELEVISION PIECE WHICH AIRED ON NBC'S TODAY SHOW TALKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY CAR TO NISSAN ALTIMA'S. THE MAXIMA IS A SISTER CAR THE ALTIMA. NISSAN NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN ALTIMA'S AND MAXIMA'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703877

65,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
Air BagsStructure

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10692507

50,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Air BagsStructure

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10671144

101,047 miles · Aug 19, 2014
Structure

I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT I WAS STUNNED TO SEE THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE IS STARTING TO RUST. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY BASICALLY SAID TOO BAD. IS THERE ANY T…

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I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT I WAS STUNNED TO SEE THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE IS STARTING TO RUST. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY BASICALLY SAID TOO BAD. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF ACTION THAT I CAN TAKE AGAINST NISSAN TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION? IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626417

120,127 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Structure

THE FLOOR BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST IN COVERING THE REPAIRS. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] THAT "NISSAN COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIRS...IT IS JUST TOO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY." MY VEHICLE IS ONLY SIX YEAR…

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THE FLOOR BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST IN COVERING THE REPAIRS. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] THAT "NISSAN COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIRS...IT IS JUST TOO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY." MY VEHICLE IS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD AND AFTER ADDITIONAL RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THAT RUSTED OUT FLOORS ARE QUICKLY BECOMING A PROBLEM FOR NISSAN. MY GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE SURE OTHERS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS IGNORING. I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO ME. ANY ASSISTANCE OR ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME WILL BE APPRECIATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615091

49,000 miles · May 7, 2014
StructureSuspension

PURCHASED 2008 MAXIMA AS 2ND OWNER WHEN CAR WAS 6 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROX. 20K MILES. RECENTLY WHILE HAVING TIRED CHANGED, NOTICED EXTREME RUST ON UNDERSIDE OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAXIMAS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN BABIED SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, DRIVING MINIMUM…

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PURCHASED 2008 MAXIMA AS 2ND OWNER WHEN CAR WAS 6 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROX. 20K MILES. RECENTLY WHILE HAVING TIRED CHANGED, NOTICED EXTREME RUST ON UNDERSIDE OF THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. IN RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAXIMAS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN BABIED SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, DRIVING MINIMUM MILES. WHAT IS NISSAN DOING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587065

92,000 miles · Dec 9, 2013
Structure

FLOOR BOARDS HAVE RUSTED OUT TO CARPET ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD AND NOW A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10555370

49,367 miles · Jul 9, 2013
Electrical SystemSteeringStructure

I GOT INTO MY CAR AND TRIED TO START IT AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR OCTOBER 2007. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A BUILT IN SAFETY FACTOR AND JUST TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD WORK. WELL I TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I THEN TRIED TO G…

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I GOT INTO MY CAR AND TRIED TO START IT AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR OCTOBER 2007. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A BUILT IN SAFETY FACTOR AND JUST TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD WORK. WELL I TRIED TO TURN THE WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I THEN TRIED TO GET OUT OF MY CAR AND COULDN'T. I ALSO COULD NOT OPEN THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY ARE POWER WINDOWS AND WITHOUT THE CAR RUNNING YOU CANNOT OPERATE THEM.( YOU CAN CHECK THE RECORDS JULY 4TH WAS AN EXTREMELY HOT DAY, IN THE 80'S AT THAT TIME) I FINALLY I CLIMBED OVER THE GEAR SHIFT AND CENTER CONSOLE TO GET TO THE PASSENGER DOOR WHICH I WAS ABLE TO OPEN. ( I AM 75 YEARS OLD SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IT WAS NOT EASY, NOR WOULD IT BE FOR ANYONE. WHEN MY SON CAME HOME FROM WORK HE TRIED AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT SAID IT TOOK EVERYTHING TO TURN IT, AND THEN HE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT A SAFETY FACTOR. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523959

Official recalls

0

No 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

1

PE08045 · 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.