IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD A STICKY RESIDUE ON IT AND FELT AS IF IT WAS MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
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
Structure complaints
312 reportsMY NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE INTERIOR DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT IS VERY VERY SHINY, AND VERY STICKY ALL ACROSS THE AREAS ADJACENT TO THE WINDSHIELD AREA. THE GLARE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH. IN FLORIDA THAT IS MUCH OF THE DAYLIGHT HOURS WHEN THE SUN IS THE MOST INTENSE.IT IS VERY UNSIGHTLY AS WELL. THIS BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2013. IT HAS…
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MY NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE INTERIOR DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT IS VERY VERY SHINY, AND VERY STICKY ALL ACROSS THE AREAS ADJACENT TO THE WINDSHIELD AREA. THE GLARE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH. IN FLORIDA THAT IS MUCH OF THE DAYLIGHT HOURS WHEN THE SUN IS THE MOST INTENSE.IT IS VERY UNSIGHTLY AS WELL. THIS BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2013. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE. THIS CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT A LARGE PART OF THE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING APPLIED TO THE DASH. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW. *TR
DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL MELTED DASHBOARDS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. LINK: HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/MY-DASHBOARD-IS-MELTING-T569582-150.HTML. *TR
THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING AND GETTING GOOEY AND STICKY FOR MONTHS. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTING SPARKLING REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING CERTAIN DAYS WHEN IT IS VERY SUNNY AND THE SUN SHINES DIRECTLY AT WINDSHIELD. THE DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN (DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AND THE CORPORATE OFFICE) BUT T…
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THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING AND GETTING GOOEY AND STICKY FOR MONTHS. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTING SPARKLING REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING CERTAIN DAYS WHEN IT IS VERY SUNNY AND THE SUN SHINES DIRECTLY AT WINDSHIELD. THE DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN (DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AND THE CORPORATE OFFICE) BUT THE COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR REPAIRING IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, DESPITE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING!!!!!!! AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM THE AC VENTS, BUT IT JUST GOT WORSE & WORSE. I COULDN'T CLEAN IT EVEN WITH A WET RAG IT WAS SO STICKY THAT IT JUST STUCK TO IT. I KEPT A WINDSHIELD PROCTOR IN THE WINDOW AND IT STARTED TO MELT INTO THE DASH. IT GOT SO BAD…
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THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING!!!!!!! AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM THE AC VENTS, BUT IT JUST GOT WORSE & WORSE. I COULDN'T CLEAN IT EVEN WITH A WET RAG IT WAS SO STICKY THAT IT JUST STUCK TO IT. I KEPT A WINDSHIELD PROCTOR IN THE WINDOW AND IT STARTED TO MELT INTO THE DASH. IT GOT SO BAD IT WAS A HAZARD TO TRY AND DRIVE. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO MY DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED AT IT AND FINALLY SAID "YES, YOUR DASHBOARD IS MELTING". I WAS TOLD TO CALL CONSUMER AFFAIRS. AFTER MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH, VOICEMAIL CHASING AND ARGUING THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE MY DASH DUE TO THEIR DEFECT THAT IS CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT. A HAZARD, AND NOW BEING UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD INITIALLY THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT WASN'T A WARRANTY ITEM. EVENTUALLY THEY AGREED TO REPLACE( I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY), BUT THAT THE COST OF LABOR HAD TO BE DEALT WIT MY DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF $560. CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAID THEY WILL ONLY PAY FOR THE PART. FINALLY DISCUSSED WITH DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT PART WAS IN, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WASN'T ORDERED. AN ORDER WAS SUPPOSEDLY PLACED ON 5/13/14 AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS. TODAY IS JUNE 3. 2014 AND I'M STILL WAITING! JUST SPOKE WITH PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THE PART IS ON BACKORDER WITH NO OTHER INFORMATION OF WHEN IT COULD POSSIBLY COME IN! SO MUCH FOR THE HELP! I PROBABLY WILL NOT EVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, AND IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE MY CAR. *TR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD BECOME STICKY AND WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…
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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD BECOME STICKY AND WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 2.5S IS MELTING. THE MELTING STARTED AROUND THE EDGES OF THE SPEAKER GRILL AND THE TOP PART OF THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TRIED TO REMOVE THE RESIDUE WITH DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. THE MELTING HAS PROGRESSED TO A POINT WHERE IT IMPAIRS MY VISION DUE TO THE REFLECTION O…
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THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 2.5S IS MELTING. THE MELTING STARTED AROUND THE EDGES OF THE SPEAKER GRILL AND THE TOP PART OF THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TRIED TO REMOVE THE RESIDUE WITH DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. THE MELTING HAS PROGRESSED TO A POINT WHERE IT IMPAIRS MY VISION DUE TO THE REFLECTION OF SUN ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. I AM ONLY ONE OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED WITH THIS ISSUE. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE FOR THE WORDS "MELTING" "DASHBOARD" AND "ALTIMA" WILL POP UP MORE THAN A DOZEN THREADS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MOST OF THEM ARE FROM SATES WHERE THE TEMPERATURES ARE REGULARLY HOT. *TR
DASHBOARD MELTING. WINDSHIELD COVERED WITH HUGE REFLECTING GLARE IMPAIRING VISION. AIRBAGS MAY NOT OPERATE FROM WITHIN STICKY MOLTEN SUBSTANCE THE DASHBOARD IS COVERED WITH. (2008 ALTIMA COUPE 2.5). *TR
MELTING DASHBOARD. *TR
THE DASH APPEARS TO BE MELTING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PRETTY WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AS EVIDENT IN SEVERAL NISSAN ONLINE FORUMS. MY DASH HAS BECOME SOFT, STICKY AND SHINY IN SEVERAL VERY LARGE SPOTS. IF THIS WERE JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE, I WOULDN'T BE POSTING HERE. THIS IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DASH CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSH…
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THE DASH APPEARS TO BE MELTING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PRETTY WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AS EVIDENT IN SEVERAL NISSAN ONLINE FORUMS. MY DASH HAS BECOME SOFT, STICKY AND SHINY IN SEVERAL VERY LARGE SPOTS. IF THIS WERE JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE, I WOULDN'T BE POSTING HERE. THIS IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DASH CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH WITHOUT THE USE OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. AT A MINIMUM, I JUST WANT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL REMOVE OR REDUCE THE GLARE BY DULLING THE SHINY SPOTS. *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.