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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 →

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.

53 crash reports13 fire reports26 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

90 reports
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90,000 miles · Aug 8, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,00…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10894214

95,000 miles · Jul 27, 2016
Electrical System

MY TPMS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE SYSTEM IS READING ZERO PSI IN ALL TIRES. THEY SAID IT WAS A PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT AND DOESN'T WANT TO ADDRESS IT. SO IF I WANT IT FIXED ITS GONNA COST ME OVER $200. MY WIFE WHO HAS A 2009 MURANO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE…

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MY TPMS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE SYSTEM IS READING ZERO PSI IN ALL TIRES. THEY SAID IT WAS A PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT AND DOESN'T WANT TO ADDRESS IT. SO IF I WANT IT FIXED ITS GONNA COST ME OVER $200. MY WIFE WHO HAS A 2009 MURANO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TPMS LIGHT BEING ON AND READING ZERO PSI IN ALL TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #10888900

160,000 miles · Jul 15, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10884999

140,000 miles · Jul 6, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. A YELLOW LIGHT WITH A KEY APPEARED IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE RESEARCHED THE WARNING LIGHT AND TRIED EVERYTHING SUGGESTED SUCH AS DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, DISCONNECTING THE NEGATIVE BATTERY, ETC. WITH NO LUCK. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO A CONFERE…

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MY CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. A YELLOW LIGHT WITH A KEY APPEARED IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DASH. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE RESEARCHED THE WARNING LIGHT AND TRIED EVERYTHING SUGGESTED SUCH AS DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, DISCONNECTING THE NEGATIVE BATTERY, ETC. WITH NO LUCK. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO A CONFERENCE 4 HOURS AWAY TOMORROW AND NOW HAVE NO CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10882846

150,000 miles · Jun 14, 2016
Electrical System

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING RECURRING ISSUES INVOLVING THE GAS PEDAL FAILING TO WORK IN MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY, AT A STOP SIGN, OR MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY THE GAS PEDAL WILL UNEXPECTEDLY FAIL TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. I WILL PRESS THE PEDAL WITH ABSOLUTE NO ACCELERATION FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO …

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I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING RECURRING ISSUES INVOLVING THE GAS PEDAL FAILING TO WORK IN MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHETHER ON THE HIGHWAY, AT A STOP SIGN, OR MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY THE GAS PEDAL WILL UNEXPECTEDLY FAIL TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. I WILL PRESS THE PEDAL WITH ABSOLUTE NO ACCELERATION FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THE SAME CODES APPEAR. THE CODES ARE P0223, P0123, P2135. RESPECTIVELY, EACH CODE MEANS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR FAULT, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR FAULT AND FAILED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CODES IS TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY. I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTIMA'S THROTTLE BODY TWICE AND THE AFTER EACH TIME THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS AS WELL. I HAVE ALSO PERFORMED THE THROTTLE BODY RE-LEARN PROCEDURES AS DIRECTED BY NISSAN AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS AS WELL. BOTH MY WIFE AND I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND WE HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THIS FAULTY ISSUE WITH OUR ALTIMA. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A MAJOR ROAD OR HIGHWAY WHEN ABRUPTLY THE GAS PEDAL FAILS TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NISSAN MUST CORRECT THIS ISSUE. UPON, LOOKING AT THE INTERNET IT SEEMS NUMEROUS CONSUMERS OF NISSAN ALTIMA'S ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ACCELERATION ISSUE WITH THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THIS FRIDAY WITH NISSAN BUT I AM NOT VERY HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIX THIS AFFORDABLY WITHOUT CHARGING AN ARM AND A LEG. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER GLITCH WITH NISSAN ALTIMA(S).

NHTSA ODI #10874118

38,500 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineStructure

5 YRS AGO THE SOUND OF MY ENGINE CHANGED AND UPON INSPECTION THE WELDING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. I WAS INFORMED BY PEMBROKE PINES NISSAN THAT SINCE CAR IS AT 38,500 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING A MANUFACTURE FAILURE IT WOULD SET ME BACK $975. I DIDN'T HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. FOR THE PAST 3 YRS, MY PA…

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5 YRS AGO THE SOUND OF MY ENGINE CHANGED AND UPON INSPECTION THE WELDING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. I WAS INFORMED BY PEMBROKE PINES NISSAN THAT SINCE CAR IS AT 38,500 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING A MANUFACTURE FAILURE IT WOULD SET ME BACK $975. I DIDN'T HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. FOR THE PAST 3 YRS, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND ON EVEN IRREGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. FURTHERMORE, THE RADIO WILL GO BLANK OR HAVE ILLEGIBLE CHARACTERS ON IT. I TOO HAVE THE MELTING DASH ISSUE AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF TIMES I SLIPPED AND MY FINGER NAIL HAS GOUGED OUT PIECES OF DASH BOARD. IT'S AMAZING THAT LEXUS HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THEIR MELTING DASH BOARD ON THE IS250 & IS350 ISSUES BUT NISSAN COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ITS BRAND OR REPUTATION; I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE COMPANY ISN'T WHOLE JAPANESE OWNED.

NHTSA ODI #10860227

10,000 miles · Mar 11, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

WHEN AN ADULT IS SETTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL PERIODICALLY GO ON. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR YEARS. ST. CHARLES NISSAN TECH FOUND OCCUPANT SENSOR FAILURE TO BE CAUSING THE ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL INVOLVING THIS ISSUE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V521000. MY CAR'S VIN IS NOT PART OF T…

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WHEN AN ADULT IS SETTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL PERIODICALLY GO ON. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR YEARS. ST. CHARLES NISSAN TECH FOUND OCCUPANT SENSOR FAILURE TO BE CAUSING THE ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL INVOLVING THIS ISSUE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V521000. MY CAR'S VIN IS NOT PART OF THE OPEN RECALL, HOWEVER, SINCE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE, I WONDERED IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED AT WHAT VIN THEY STOPPED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10846119

24,000 miles · Jan 27, 2016
Electrical System

INTELLIGENT KEY INDICATOR ON DASH INDICATES LOW BATTERY IN KEY FOB. AT STARTUP BATTERY REPLACED TWICE AND OTHER FOB USED. STILL LIGHTS ON DASH. CAR STARTS FOR NOW BUT AFRAID IT WILL NOT. HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLIANT ON OTHER 2008 NISSAN ALTIMAS

NHTSA ODI #10822473

118,760 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO BECOME EXPOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,760.

NHTSA ODI #10783788

111,000 miles · Aug 26, 2015
Electrical SystemFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTILATION UNIT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTILATION UNIT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED SMOKE INHALATION RELATED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO REMOVE THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10759534

Official recalls

4

10V401000 · 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

1

PE11020 · 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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems