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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.

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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

57 reports
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20,000 miles · May 18, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD SQUEAKY BRAKES FOR MONTHS BEFORE DEALERSHIP WOULD ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. FIRST TIME I TOOK CAR IN ABOUT BRAKES WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES SOMETIMES MAKE A NOISE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND BOTH CALIPERS ON FRONT.EVERYTHING WAS FIXED ACCORDING TO…

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MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAD SQUEAKY BRAKES FOR MONTHS BEFORE DEALERSHIP WOULD ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. FIRST TIME I TOOK CAR IN ABOUT BRAKES WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES SOMETIMES MAKE A NOISE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND BOTH CALIPERS ON FRONT.EVERYTHING WAS FIXED ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I'VE NOTICED THAT MY TRANSMISSION MAKES A WHINNY NOISE WHEN DRIVING UP GRADES. TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE REPORTED PROBLEM. GO FIGURE.. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD DO US ALL A FAVOR AND RECALL THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE! WE ALL HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF BY NISSAN! CAR HAS HAD TOO MANY PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE! REGRET BUYING IT!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269008

27,252 miles · Apr 21, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A USED 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN. THE BRAKES ARE VERY SQUEAKY. THE BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN YOU PRESS ON THEM LIGHTLY GOING AROUND 10 MPH OR LESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266235

66 miles · Apr 2, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

VEHICLE RIDES UNSTABLE. SHARP TURNS CAUSES CAR TO BECOME UNSTABLE, LOSES CONTROLS OF TURN. TIRES OR RIMS UNBALANCED. HAVE VEHICLE SEEM MANY TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE CORRECTED. NEITHER REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONFIRM PROBLEM. TOLD BY AMERICAN TIRES SALE ASSOCIATE, NISSAN WILL NOT REIMBURSE THEM FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLE…

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VEHICLE RIDES UNSTABLE. SHARP TURNS CAUSES CAR TO BECOME UNSTABLE, LOSES CONTROLS OF TURN. TIRES OR RIMS UNBALANCED. HAVE VEHICLE SEEM MANY TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE CORRECTED. NEITHER REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CONFIRM PROBLEM. TOLD BY AMERICAN TIRES SALE ASSOCIATE, NISSAN WILL NOT REIMBURSE THEM FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS. THEY REBALANCED THE TIRES, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ADVISE RIGHT FRONT TIRE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT GIVE A WRITE UP ON THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD TOO MANY RECALLS. HANLEES RICHMOND HILLTOP NISSAN SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE MANY RECALLS, PRIOR TO SELLING THIS VEHICLE. MARCH 26, 2009 HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICING, DRIVER SEAT BROKEN, BRAKE HARDWARE DAMAGED - BRAKES REPLACED. MILEAGE AT TIME OF SERVICING 12,800. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. I SPOKE WITH THE FINANCE ASSOCIATE ABOUT REPLACING THE CAR, BUT HE REFUSED.. I HAVE NOTED FROM SERVICING ORDER ON MARCH 26, 2009 - HEAT SHIELD PROBLEM - HIGH RPM ON INITIAL STARTUP. ANTIOCH SERVICE ADVISOR DID NOT ADDRESS THIS MATTER, BECAUSE NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A CORRECTION ORDER ON THIS AS OF TODAY. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR THAT HAS MANY PROBLEMS FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE! I HAVE TRIED SO MANY TIMES TO GET HELP FROM THE SERVICE CENTER AS WELL AS NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICES. NOT HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10264030

30,000 miles · Mar 31, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WITH 30K MILES AND THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING NONSTOP. I TOOK THE PAD OFF ON ALL 4 SIDES AND THERE IS PLENTY OF PAD LEFT. I SANDED THE SYFACE OF THE PAD, CLEANED THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND STILL THEY SQUEAK NON STOP. THE ONLY TIME THEY WILL NOT SQUEAK IS IF I BRAKE SUPER HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263811

9,000 miles · Dec 31, 2008
Air BagsSeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

DRIVERS SEAT SQUIRMS MOVES AND IS NOT RIGID. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. EVERY TIME I TURN THE SEAT MAKES NOISE AND SOUNDS SQUIRMS LIKE ITS NOT PROPERLY SECURE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALSO COMES ON WHEN A FULLY GROWN ADULT IS SITTING IN IT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY ON AN AVERAGE OF 4-5 TIMES MONTHLY. WHE…

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DRIVERS SEAT SQUIRMS MOVES AND IS NOT RIGID. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. EVERY TIME I TURN THE SEAT MAKES NOISE AND SOUNDS SQUIRMS LIKE ITS NOT PROPERLY SECURE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALSO COMES ON WHEN A FULLY GROWN ADULT IS SITTING IN IT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY ON AN AVERAGE OF 4-5 TIMES MONTHLY. WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED NOT PROTECTING THE INDIVIDUAL. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES WHEN PRESSED SOMETIMES THE BRAKES IN THE FRONT DO NOT GRAB PROPERLY AND THEY GRIND BADLY CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO STOP AS WELL . THE DEALERSHIP SAYS CAN NOT REPLICATE BUT STATED THEY ARE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT NISSAN MAY ISSUE A RECALL. FOR THE TIME BEING THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253418

7,000 miles · Nov 22, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 7,000 MILES FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE TOO HARD. THEY CUT INTO THE BRAKE ROTORS AND CAUSE CAR TO STOP POORLY. THEY ALSO SCREECH. WHEN STOPPING. AT 7,500 SERVICE SHOP TURNED THE ROTORS BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE PADS, SO THE HARD PADS WILL CONTINUE TO CUT INTO ROTORS AND MAKE STOPPING DIFFICULT. MY 20005 FORD FRE…

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2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 7,000 MILES FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE TOO HARD. THEY CUT INTO THE BRAKE ROTORS AND CAUSE CAR TO STOP POORLY. THEY ALSO SCREECH. WHEN STOPPING. AT 7,500 SERVICE SHOP TURNED THE ROTORS BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE PADS, SO THE HARD PADS WILL CONTINUE TO CUT INTO ROTORS AND MAKE STOPPING DIFFICULT. MY 20005 FORD FREESTYLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FORD RECALLED AND REPLACED PADS WITH SOFTER ONES AND CURED THE PROBLEMS. NUMEROUS OWNERS OF 2007 AND 2008 NISSAN ALTIMAS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249538

6,000 miles · Aug 16, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH OF 2008, AFTER 2000 MILES I HEARD THE BRAKES START TO SQUEAK, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AUGUST 8TH AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES, THEY DID AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CALIPERS REPLACED, I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS TOLD NO, THERE IS A BU…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH OF 2008, AFTER 2000 MILES I HEARD THE BRAKES START TO SQUEAK, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AUGUST 8TH AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES, THEY DID AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CALIPERS REPLACED, I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS TOLD NO, THERE IS A BULLETIN THOUGH. I THOUGHT THAT OTHER OWNERS SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP AND THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238491

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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