2008 Nissan Armada

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
14 mpgcombined; city 12, highway 17–18; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$23,200U.S. average; Ohio $20,730 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedlowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
6over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
161filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Armada. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service brakes57000
Structure39006
Electrical system23010
Unknown or other18001
Fuel/propulsion system12001
Air bags11000
Suspension11000
Service brakes, hydraulic9000
Visibility4000
Engine and engine cooling3000
Fuel system, gasoline3000
Engine2000
13 more parts
Exterior lighting2000
Seat belts2000
Steering2000
Wheels2000
Equipment adaptive/mobility1000
Fuel system, other1000
Latches/locks/linkages1000
Parking brake1000
Power train1000
Seats1010
Service brakes, electric1000
Tires1000
Vehicle speed control1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006266
  2. 200786
  3. 2008161
  4. 200923
  5. 201048
  6. 201140
  7. 201217
  8. 201317
  9. 201412
  10. 201521
  11. 201781
  12. 201875
  13. 201979
  14. 202027
  15. 202113
  16. 20229
  17. 20235
  18. 20244
  19. 202521
  20. 20268

Every Armada year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2008 Armada over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Air bags: frontal

NHTSA campaign 23V067000 · reported Feb 10, 2023 · 404,690 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Air bags: side/window

NHTSA campaign 10V349000 · reported Jul 22, 2010 · 21 vehicles potentially affected

NISSAN IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008 NISSAN ARMADA AND INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 7, 2007 THROUGH FEBRUARY 14, 2007. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION A-PILLAR FINISHER MIGHT IMPEDE THE CORRECT INFLATION OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG NEAR THE UPPER PORTION OF THE B-PILLAR.

Risk: INCORRECT INFLATION OF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH REQUIRING DEPLOYMENT OF THAT AIR BAG.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT PILLAR FINISHERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Fuel system, other: storage

NHTSA campaign 10V074000 · reported Mar 3, 2010 · 340,000 vehicles potentially affected

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56 VEHICLES. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE MAY INACCURATELY DISPLAY THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS SOME FUEL, TYPICALLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY.

Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL SENDER UNIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WITH A NEW IMPROVED SENDER CARD. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages

NHTSA campaign 10V072000 · reported Mar 2, 2010 · 179,383 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Seats

NHTSA campaign 08V187000 · reported Apr 24, 2008 · 1,126 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Seat belts: rear/other

NHTSA campaign 07V449000 · reported Sep 25, 2007 · 3,564 vehicles potentially affected

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.' THE DRIVER'S SIDE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT UPPER ANCHOR BRACKET MAY BE CRACKED.

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BRACKET FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 93 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 Armada, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (23), electrical system (14), engine and engine cooling (12), fuel system (7), service brakes (7).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2008 Armada.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: sport utility vehicle. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Armada
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline12 / 18 / 14
Armada
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline12 / 17 / 14
Armada
Rear-Wheel Drive
5.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline or E8512 / 18 / 14
Armada
4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline or E8512 / 17 / 14

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data