IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V521000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
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
1010–25K
11425–50K
16050–75K
11975–100K
139100–150K
52150K+
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.
53 crash reports13 fire reports26 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
142 reportsPASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON. DEALER REPORTS AIR BAG MODULE PASSENGER SIDE NO GOOD. WAS A RECALL IN 2008 ON SAME ISSUE. NISSAN SAYS CAR NOT PART OF RECALL. FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE. CALLED NISSAN,THEY NEVER CALL BACK. *TR
DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE MELTING. IT IS STICKY AND SHINY AND PIECES LIFT OFF WITH ANYTHING THAT IS PLACED ON THE DASH. THE EFFECT CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT GLARE IN THE SUNLIGHT THAT AFFECTS DRIVER LINE OF SIGHT. DETERIORATION HAS ALSO CAUSED MULTIPLE CRACKS IN DASH SURFACE THAT MAY POTENTIALLY AFFECT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT LOCATED INSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT REPA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT LOCATED INSIDE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V521000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING THERE. THAT IS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, PUTTING IT IN DRIVE DOESN'T MATTER IT STILL SAYS THAT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. THE ONLY TEMPORARY FIX IS FOR THE PASSENGER TO BOUNCE IN THE SEAT AND IT MIGHT TURN THE AIRBAG ON AND GET RID OF THE MESSAGE LIGHT …
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MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING THERE. THAT IS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, PUTTING IT IN DRIVE DOESN'T MATTER IT STILL SAYS THAT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. THE ONLY TEMPORARY FIX IS FOR THE PASSENGER TO BOUNCE IN THE SEAT AND IT MIGHT TURN THE AIRBAG ON AND GET RID OF THE MESSAGE LIGHT ON THE CENTER OF THE DASH. THIS IS IN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. *TR
VEHICLE CRASHED WITH ONLY SIDE CURTAINS DEPLOYING, NO FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT ALL. RESULTING IN OCCUPANT'S DEATH ..UPDATED 08-28-14 *BF..UPDATED 10/28/14 *BF UPDATED 11/6/2014 *JS UPDATED 08/24/2017*CT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH WHEN AN ANIMAL JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT AND THERE WERE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH WHEN AN ANIMAL JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,800. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT DEACTIVATED WHEN MY LAPTOP OR OTHER PACKGES ARE RESTING IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON TO DEACTIVATE THE AIR BAGS. *JS
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY AND MELTING. I CALLED NISSAN AND MAKE MY FIRST COMPLAINT 2 MONTHS TOO LATE WAS TOLD. SINCE THEN THE MELTING AND STICKINESS ON THE COMPLETE TOP OF THE DASH BOARD IS GETTING WORSE. INSIDE THE CAR NOW IT?S ALSO SMELLING LIKE MELTED TAR, WHICH MAY REPRESENT A HEALTH ISSUE WHEN BREATHIN…
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MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY AND MELTING. I CALLED NISSAN AND MAKE MY FIRST COMPLAINT 2 MONTHS TOO LATE WAS TOLD. SINCE THEN THE MELTING AND STICKINESS ON THE COMPLETE TOP OF THE DASH BOARD IS GETTING WORSE. INSIDE THE CAR NOW IT?S ALSO SMELLING LIKE MELTED TAR, WHICH MAY REPRESENT A HEALTH ISSUE WHEN BREATHING IT, AND WITH IT THE INTENSE GLARE, REFLECTION OF THE GLOSSY TAR ON THE FRONT WINDOW IT'S A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS ALSO COULD RESULT IN AIRBAGS BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. NISSAN REFUSES TO HELP REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE DASH BOARD. LAST WEEK I CALLED NISSAN AGAIN. THIS TIME BECAUSE THE A/C?S EVAPORATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.I UNDERSTAND THE COST OF THIS WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS UNDER THE DEFECTIVE DASH BOARD, THIS ONE WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR. ONCE REMOVED, THE MELTED DASH BOARD, NO GUARANTEE COULD BE INSTALLED AGAIN, I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE REP AT NISSAN. A NISSAN SUPERVISOR TOLD ME THE SAME AS OTHERS AND SUGGESTED FOR ME TO CALL NHTSA AND FILE A COMPLAINT, SO THEY WOULD WORK ON A RECALL FOR THIS. MY A/C NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I'M IN FL WHERE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND RAINY SEASON IT'S NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS DOWN. I'M AWARE THAT A/C REPAIR IS MY RESPONSIBILITY BUT I BELIEVE IT'S UNFAIR TO HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL 2,000 BECAUSE OF NISSAN'S DEFECTIVE MATERIAL USED ON DASHBOARDS. THIS IS A KNOWN CONCERN SINCE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. IF NISSAN DOESN'T DO RIGHT BY ITS CONSUMERS AND OR A RECALL IS ISSUE, THERE WOULD BE MANY CONSUMERS IN THE FUTURE WITH RISKS OF ACCIDENTS AND/OR POSSIBLE RESPIRATORY HEALTH ISSUES. A SIMPLE SEARCH ON YOUR PAGE YOU FIND MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THESE ARE ISOLATED ISSUES. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE VEHICLE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO FLASH. THE DEALER STATED THE SEAT CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN THEY STATED THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL IN MY SPECIFIC VIN; THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PR…
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THE PASSENGER SIDE VEHICLE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO FLASH. THE DEALER STATED THE SEAT CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN THEY STATED THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL IN MY SPECIFIC VIN; THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM FOR MY MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE IN 2008. THEY STATED THEY WOULD PAY 40% OF THE COST TO REPLACE SEAT CUSHION; WHICH WOULD RUN UPWARDS OF $800.00. I ASKED IF IT AS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOW INOPERABLE AND THEY STATED YES IT WAS. THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS 08V521000. THE RECALL SPECIFIES THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME... *TR
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.