IllustrationCOMPLETE TIRE BLOW OUT OF FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. CAR WAS TRAVELING @60 MILES PER HOUR. 2ND CAR WITH GOODYEAR EAGLES ON NISSAN MAXIMA. RECALLED TIRES ON 2004. 2008 HAS SAME ISSUE. WAIT FOR RECALL AGAIN? OR WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED? THE CAR HAD 10,000 MILES. *TR
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
What owners actually said
78 reports2ND TIRE DEFECTIVE - GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA TIRE- CAR HAS ONLY 7639 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE ON THE CAR THAT HAD TO BE REPLACE WITH THE SAME ISSUE . *TR
WHEN I SHIFT THE GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND VICE VERSA - I CAN HEAR THE CLIKING AS IT SHIFT S AND JERKS AS IT DOES IT. *TR
I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH FROM MY SISTERS HOUSE FOR A WOMEN'S GROUP MEETING . MY SISTER LIVES AROUND THE CORNER APPROXIMATELY A BLOCK FROM THE CHURCH AND I WOULD GENERALLY RIDE WITH HER EXCEPT SHE HAD A REHEARSAL AFTERWARDS. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND MY SISTER PULLED UP NEXT TO ME. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE I…
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I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH FROM MY SISTERS HOUSE FOR A WOMEN'S GROUP MEETING . MY SISTER LIVES AROUND THE CORNER APPROXIMATELY A BLOCK FROM THE CHURCH AND I WOULD GENERALLY RIDE WITH HER EXCEPT SHE HAD A REHEARSAL AFTERWARDS. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND MY SISTER PULLED UP NEXT TO ME. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE I WAS PARKING AND BEFORE I COULD SWITCH MY VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND I RAN INTO THE CHURCH. WE WERE THE ONLY TWO AT THE CHURCH AT THE TIME BESIDES THE PASTOR WHO WAS INSIDE OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE SHE GETS THEIR FIRST BEING THAT SHE TEACHES THE WOMEN'S MINISTRY. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH IT ACCELERATING SOME WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. I WAS GOING TO KANSAS CITY ONE DAY AND MY AUNT ASKED ME TO DRIVE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BUT TOLD HER THAT I WAS A BIT AFRAID TO TRAVEL IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT ACCELERATES SLIGHTLY WHEN BREAKING. I ALSO HAD MY SISTER WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT ON A FEW OCCASIONS BECAUSE I FELT THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT ACCELERATING. SHE NOTICED IT AS WELL AND SAID THAT I NEEDED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SOON BUT, JUST HADN'T DONE IT YET. LIKE I SAID, IT WOULD ACCELERATE BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY. IT WAS AS IF I WAS BREAKING AND IT WAS ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME. I WISH THAT I'D TAKEN IT IN SOONER. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. BOTH MY VEHICLE AND THE CHURCH WILL NEED REPAIR, AND MY NECK WAS A PIT SORE, BUT I AM THANKFUL THAT I AM OK AND THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I FIND IT QUITE STRANGE THAT I WAS PARKED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE TAKES OFF AS IF I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS. THIS IS MIND BOGGLING. *TR
NOTICED NEW TIRE - APPROX 3400 MILES HAD A BUBBLE IN THE SIDE WALL. *TR
ON APRIL 30, I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY, AND AS I WAS PICKING UP SPEED (35-40MPH). THE DRIVER SIDE TIME BROKE CAUSING THE CV AXLE TO GIVE-OUT AND ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. IN ADDITION, THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR THAT ONLY HAS -4000 MILES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. …
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ON APRIL 30, I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY, AND AS I WAS PICKING UP SPEED (35-40MPH). THE DRIVER SIDE TIME BROKE CAUSING THE CV AXLE TO GIVE-OUT AND ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. IN ADDITION, THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR THAT ONLY HAS -4000 MILES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S 85 POUND WIFE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DIMMED INTERMITTENTLY. THE SALES DEALER STATED THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD WORK PROPERLY WITH SOMEONE BETWEEN 70-80 LBS IN THE SEAT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER AND THE MANUFAC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S 85 POUND WIFE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DIMMED INTERMITTENTLY. THE SALES DEALER STATED THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD WORK PROPERLY WITH SOMEONE BETWEEN 70-80 LBS IN THE SEAT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,190 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. UPDATED 04/21/08 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO REMOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,400 AND …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO REMOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY MADE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
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.