IllustrationTAKATA RECALL, GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. WERE THERE ANY AIRBAGS IN THE CAR??????
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
Engine complaints
54 reportsTAKATA RECALL THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A LARGE CRACK IN IT, LEAKING FUMES INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE PART 6 MONTHS AGO. I'M ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW PART. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS NISSAN ALTIMA'S ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (VERY LOUD EXHAUST). THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES THE METAL TO W…
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TAKATA RECALL THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A LARGE CRACK IN IT, LEAKING FUMES INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE PART 6 MONTHS AGO. I'M ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW PART. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS NISSAN ALTIMA'S ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (VERY LOUD EXHAUST). THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES THE METAL TO WEAKEN AND BREAK.
"TAKATA RECALL" LOUD NOISE ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR AND WHINING NOISE WHEN RIDING BRAKES.
TIMING CHAIN
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING CARBON MONOXIDE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF. NISSAN REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS UNDER WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE HAD 100K MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 4 CYLINDER ALTIMA'S THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH SHOULD BE REP…
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THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING CARBON MONOXIDE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF. NISSAN REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS UNDER WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE HAD 100K MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 4 CYLINDER ALTIMA'S THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO IT'S INHERENT SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS CAN CAUSE OCCUPANTS TO PASS OUT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING DAMAGE AND INJURY TO THIRD PARTY INDIVIDUALS. NISSAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR ALL ISSUES SURROUNDING A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE A MILEAGE LIMITATION IMPOSED. SIMPLY STATED AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHOULD NOT EXHIBIT CRACKING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE. THIS IS A SOUTHERN CAR WITH NO EVIDENCE OF RUST ON THE EFFECTED PART. PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION AFTER BEING STARTED AND WHILE BEING OPERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WAS STRIPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION AFTER BEING STARTED AND WHILE BEING OPERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WAS STRIPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BOLT MISSING IN THE SUN ROOF AND, DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAUSED CORROSION OF THE SUN ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE SUN ROOF AREA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.
AFTER REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPUTTER ANYTIME I WAS DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MILES. MY MECHANIC FIGURED OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS OVERHEATING TO ABOUT 600 DEGREES WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO MORE THAN 250 DEGREES, CAUSING PARTS OF THE ENGINE TO BEGIN MELTING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAM…
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AFTER REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPUTTER ANYTIME I WAS DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MILES. MY MECHANIC FIGURED OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS OVERHEATING TO ABOUT 600 DEGREES WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO MORE THAN 250 DEGREES, CAUSING PARTS OF THE ENGINE TO BEGIN MELTING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON TO ALERT ME OF THIS ISSUE, AND I MAY NOW HAVE PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE.
STICKY SUBSTANCE ON DASH/ 2ND TRANSMISSION IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS
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.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET MY CAR COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN, I WAS SO SCARED, BECAUSE THERE WAS MOVING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I TRIED STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AND THEN HITTING THE GAS AGAIN BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO QUICKLY PUT MY PARKING LIGHTS ON AND PRAY THAT NO ONE WOULD HIT ME. THEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON A C…
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WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET MY CAR COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN, I WAS SO SCARED, BECAUSE THERE WAS MOVING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. I TRIED STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AND THEN HITTING THE GAS AGAIN BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO QUICKLY PUT MY PARKING LIGHTS ON AND PRAY THAT NO ONE WOULD HIT ME. THEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT STARTED MOVING, ONLY TO POWER DOWN TWO BLOCKS LATER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE THIS TIME AND I WAITED A WHILE AND THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON. THIS TIME THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO AUTO ZONE AND CODES CAME UP FOR THE SPEED SENSOR AND THROTTLE SENSOR. THIS WAS SO SCARY AND HAZARDOUS, THANK GOD I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFOREHAND BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH TRAFFIC!
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.