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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

7 reports
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98,000 miles · Feb 19, 2020
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INFORMED BY A SIBLING THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INFORMED BY A SIBLING THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT THERE WAS A GRAVE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FAMILY MEMBER WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO COME OUT, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND THEN UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #11310061

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2015
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

NISSAN: DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK INOPERATIVE WITH INTELLIGENT KEY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10673001

77,000 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING ON 3 OF THE 4 DOORS. DEPENDING ON DAY, SOMETIMES ONE OR MORE LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USING KEY FOB OR WHEN USING POWER LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER DOOR. AT OTHER TIMES, ONE OR MORE LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN WHEN USING KEY FOB OR WHEN USING POWER LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER DOOR. I AM FEARFUL THAT AFTER A CRASH I …

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POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING ON 3 OF THE 4 DOORS. DEPENDING ON DAY, SOMETIMES ONE OR MORE LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USING KEY FOB OR WHEN USING POWER LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER DOOR. AT OTHER TIMES, ONE OR MORE LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN WHEN USING KEY FOB OR WHEN USING POWER LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER DOOR. I AM FEARFUL THAT AFTER A CRASH I WILL TRY TO UNLOCK DOORS TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO FOUND MY DOORS UNLOCKED WHEN RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE, EVEN AFTER HITTING THE LOCK BUTTON WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. I AM FEARFUL THAT A CAR THIEF OR MURDERER MAY HAVE ACCESS TO MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE TRIED TO ACCESS MY VEHICLE QUICKLY IN DANGEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I'VE HAD TO TRY MULTIPLE TIMES TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522658

40,000 miles · Jun 25, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR SYSTEM IN THIS CAR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL, ALL 4 DOOR DO NOT LOCK OR OPEN. IT HAS TO BE DONE MANUALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521690

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2012
Latches/locks/linkages

ALL FOUR OF MY POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU WILL THINK THE DOOR IS LOCKED BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD JUST OPEN THE DOOR …

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ALL FOUR OF MY POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU WILL THINK THE DOOR IS LOCKED BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND ROB OR HARM ME OR SOMEONE IN MY CAR. ALSO WHEN IT IS PARKED AND YOU THINK IT IS LOCKED SOMEONE COULD STEAL YOUR CAR OR SOMETHING FROM YOUR CAR. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM HOW CAN A NISSAN SERVICE REP TELL ME THAT HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455440

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ARE BAD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE DOORS MIGHT NOT OPEN IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10390031

18,000 miles · Feb 1, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages

BOTH BACK PASSENGER DOORS ON THE 2008 ALTIMA SOMETIMES DO NOT CLOSE. AFTER OPENING THE DOORS, AND THEN TRYING TO SHUT THE DOORS THEY DO NOT LATCH SHUT AND BOUNCE BACK TO THE OPEN POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TEN TIMES AND THE DOOR LATCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. WITHIN THE WEEK OF THE PROBLEM BEING "FIXED" IT HAPPENED AGAIN.…

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BOTH BACK PASSENGER DOORS ON THE 2008 ALTIMA SOMETIMES DO NOT CLOSE. AFTER OPENING THE DOORS, AND THEN TRYING TO SHUT THE DOORS THEY DO NOT LATCH SHUT AND BOUNCE BACK TO THE OPEN POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TEN TIMES AND THE DOOR LATCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. WITHIN THE WEEK OF THE PROBLEM BEING "FIXED" IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT IS ONLY THE TWO BACK DOORS NOT THE FRONT ONES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257098

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.

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