ONE DAY DRIVING ON A NORMAL DAY ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED TO BLINK REPEATEDLY, IT HASNT STOPPED SINCE. CAR HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND AIR BAGS WERE NEVER DEPLOYED.
2008 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Altima years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Altima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 231.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima 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
685 reports with mileage · 343 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.
- Structure. Review the 312 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 168 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
142 reportsON SATURDAY MORNING ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 2019, I WENT TO START MY CAR. AFTER I DID SO BOTH OF MY AIRBAG LIGHTS STAYED ON. EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP OF SOUTH STRAND NISSAN IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC ON JUNE 10, 2019 AND THEY SAID THERE COULD BE MULTIPLE …
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ON SATURDAY MORNING ON THE 8TH OF JUNE 2019, I WENT TO START MY CAR. AFTER I DID SO BOTH OF MY AIRBAG LIGHTS STAYED ON. EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP OF SOUTH STRAND NISSAN IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC ON JUNE 10, 2019 AND THEY SAID THERE COULD BE MULTIPLE REASONS FOR THE ISSUES, THAT I NEEDED TO GO AND HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE AGENTS NAKLME, AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THEM FIX A PROBLEM THAT I HONESTLY BELIEVE SHOULD NEVER BE AN ISSUE IF TH3Y AND THE NHTSA DID THEIR JOB RIGHT WITH QUALITY/SAFETY CONTROL.
WITH AN ADULT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT OCCASIONALLY ILLUMINATES. IF THE PASSENGER LIFTS ALL THEIR WEIGHT OFF THE SEAT CUSHION THE LIGHT GOES OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWN NORTH NISSAN (9160A RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, (512) 451-7411) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OCCUPANT SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWN NORTH NISSAN (9160A RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, (512) 451-7411) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OCCUPANT SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
DIAGNOSTIC SCAN WAS RAN AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAME BACK WITH 4 CODES STATING: OCCUPANT SENSOR UNIT FAIL X2 CRASH ZONE SENSOR UNIT FAIL AND COMM FAIL
TAKATA RECALL MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING SINCE 2014. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED NISSAN AT THE TIME AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD PAY 40% OF THE REPAIR. I TOLD THEM I WILL NOT PAY FOR AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT ESPECIALLY WINCE THE TAKATA RECALL WAS SO PREVALENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATE…
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TAKATA RECALL MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING SINCE 2014. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED NISSAN AT THE TIME AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD PAY 40% OF THE REPAIR. I TOLD THEM I WILL NOT PAY FOR AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT ESPECIALLY WINCE THE TAKATA RECALL WAS SO PREVALENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WOULD COST OVER $800.00 TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG (INFORMATION I CAN SEND YOU, IF NECESSARY). I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND WAS ALMOST IN 'T-BONED' BY ANOTHER DRIVER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHO RAN A STOP LIGHT. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND YOUR DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO ISSUE THE RECALL. SO I NOW AM ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, SO I CAN FINALLY HAVE A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG REPLACED. I DO REALIZE I AM NOT ON ANY RECALL LIST BUT I CAN SHOW DOCUMENTATION THAT THE AIRBAG HAS NOT FUNCTIONED IN OVER FOUR YEARS. I WILL GLADLY HELP IN ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY NEED. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY NISSAN OF ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 2551 THE NALLEY WAY, ATLANTA, GA 30360, (678) 825-6749) WHERE IT WAS DI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY NISSAN OF ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 2551 THE NALLEY WAY, ATLANTA, GA 30360, (678) 825-6749) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.
TAKATA RECALL. CAR AIRBAG CENSOR NOT WORKING. ALWAYS KEEP BLINKING. GONE TO CORAL SPRINGS NISSAN DEALER. AS PER THEM WHOLE SEAT CUISINE ON PASSENGER SITE NEED REPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE 2 OPINION. AS PER MR. BRANDON ONLY PASSENGER SITE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK. AS PER SHIA BOTH OF AIRBAG NOT GOING TO WORK. IT IS DANGERS AND COST FOR TH…
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TAKATA RECALL. CAR AIRBAG CENSOR NOT WORKING. ALWAYS KEEP BLINKING. GONE TO CORAL SPRINGS NISSAN DEALER. AS PER THEM WHOLE SEAT CUISINE ON PASSENGER SITE NEED REPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE 2 OPINION. AS PER MR. BRANDON ONLY PASSENGER SITE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK. AS PER SHIA BOTH OF AIRBAG NOT GOING TO WORK. IT IS DANGERS AND COST FOR THAT IS AROUND $ 2100.00. I KEEP ON CHANGING TYRE PRESSURE CENSOR MANY TIME. BUT THIS IS REDICULOUS THAT SUCH A SAFETY REQUIREMENTS DOESN'T HAVE WARRANTY. MY CAR HAS ONLY 66000 MILE. MY DESK BOARD LEATHER IS ALSO CRACKING. MEANS EITHER END UP SPENDING MORE THEN $ 3500 TO KEEP RUNNING BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASON. OTHERWISE MY CAR IS FINE AND FIT. I HEARDLY USE 500 MILES A MONTH. CAN YOU DO SOMETHING.
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY ONE EVENING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN. I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR SEEMS TO GO EVEN SLOWER. IT WAS MYSELF AND MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE HIGHWAY WAS 70 MPH AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MPH. I PU…
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I OWN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY ONE EVENING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN. I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR SEEMS TO GO EVEN SLOWER. IT WAS MYSELF AND MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE HIGHWAY WAS 70 MPH AND MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MPH. I PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION AND A NICE MAN LOOKED AT THE CAR AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SO GET BACK ON THE WAY TO GO BACK BECAUSE I DIDN'T TRUST THE CAR TO MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. IT DID THE AME THING AGAIN. SO I DROVE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON ALL THE WAY HOME AND PARKED IT. NOW IT DRIVES FINE RIGHT IN THE SMALL TOWN I LIVE IN BUT I CANT DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN AT ALL, WHICH REALLY DEFEATS THE PURPOSE.
A SERVICE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD FAILING MY STATE INSPECTION. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL A DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE. THE SAME ISSUES WERE REPORTED ON MY CAR THAT ARE THE SAME AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER NISSAN ALTIMAS 2008 THAT WERE RECALLED. HOWEVER NISSAN STATED MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH I REPORTED THE SAME…
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A SERVICE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD FAILING MY STATE INSPECTION. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL A DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE. THE SAME ISSUES WERE REPORTED ON MY CAR THAT ARE THE SAME AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER NISSAN ALTIMAS 2008 THAT WERE RECALLED. HOWEVER NISSAN STATED MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL EVEN THOUGH I REPORTED THE SAME ISSUES THAT ARE UNDER RECALL. THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME OR GIVE ME ANY OPTIONS. THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COSTS. THE ISSUES REPORTED UNDER DIAGNOSTIC WAS OCCUPANT SENSOR ( PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION) CODE B 1018.
Official recalls
410V401000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Sep 10, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
08V521000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:software
Oct 7, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Air Bags
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
08V363000 · Suspension
Jul 31, 2008
NISSAN IS RECALLING 1,018 MY 2008 ALTIMA VEHICLES. THE LEFT SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BOLT WERE TO COME OUT, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT TO SPECIFICATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
07V599000 · Electrical System:ignition:module
Dec 28, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) REPLACED DURING SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE SOFTWARE. IF THE TPMS IS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT ALERT THE DRIVER TO A DECREASE IN THE TIRE PRESSURE AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TPMS FUNCTION AND REACTIVATE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
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
1PE11020 · Brake Master Cylinder Internal Leak
Opened May 23, 2011 · Closed Mar 14, 2012
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE11-020 to investigate possible brake performance loss due to brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder into the brake booster in the subject vehicles.A total of 237 complaints were identified by ODI and Nissan.The majority of complaints and warranty claims reported that brake malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illumination as the only symptom of a problem.Only 12 complaints alleged any effect on brake performance and in each of these the drivers were able to stop the vehicles without incident.No crash claims could be attributed to the alleged defect. Returned part analysis data provided by Nissan showed that most of the master cylinders replaced under warranty did not have a leak condition.These replacements may have resulted from brake MIL illumination due to pad wear.For most of the warranty claims, in a few cases where a master cylinder leak was found, Nissan's testing showed that the leaks were extremely slow and would require thousands of miles or months of driving before brake performance could be affected.After an extensive study of replaced master cylinders for a presumed leak, Nissan was unable to identify any concern with the parts or design of the subject components that could affect brake performance. Nevertheless, Nissan does recognize a concern with premature brake MIL illumination and has decided to address this problem by conducting a voluntary service campaign covering approximately 1.17 million model year 2007 through 2012 Altima vehicles (up to June 25, 2011 production, the date of Nissan's running change for the longer life brake pad).Nissan's owner letter for the service campaign states, As your brake pads wear over time, the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir will drop and may cause the brake warning lamp to illuminate.?Although this is a normal condition, there has been concern that the brake warning light illumination may be caused by a slow fluid leak over time.Nissan's service campaign will inspect the brake pads and test the master cylinder for leakage.If leakage is detected, Nissan will replace the master cylinder at no charge.If excessive pad wear is observed, customers will be notified and will be responsible for repairs.For more details concerning Nissan's service campaign, see the PE11-020 file on www.Safercar.gov. Based on the low failure rate for confirmed master cylinder leakage in the subject vehicles and the low probability that the condition would affect brake performance, this investigation is closed.
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