IllustrationI NOTICED THAT MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE RANDOMLY DEVELOPED HUGE, LONG CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. IT IS ALSO STICKY AND SOFT (FLEXIBLE). IT APPEARS TO BE MELTING AND IT IS CREATING A SIGNIFICANT GLARE ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE WHEN DRIVING. *TR
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 reportsBEGINNING IN 2012 (LESS THAN 4 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR), I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT PORTIONS OF THE DASHBOARD WERE MELTING. IN THE YEARS SINCE, IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, EVEN IN MUCH, MUCH OLDER CARS. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME …
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BEGINNING IN 2012 (LESS THAN 4 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR), I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT PORTIONS OF THE DASHBOARD WERE MELTING. IN THE YEARS SINCE, IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, EVEN IN MUCH, MUCH OLDER CARS. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT RATHER A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE MELTING DASHBOARD IS SHINY AND REFLECTS SUNLIGHT, CAUSING SUDDEN BLINDING GLARES WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE SUDDEN FLASHES OF LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE REALITY OF BEING UNABLE TO SEE WHILE AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 60 MILES IS INCREDIBLY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. *TR
ON FEBRUARY 2013 I HAD A FRONTAL CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD OF MY MELTING DASH BOARD ON MY 08 ALTIMA. MY DASHBOARD SEEMS TO BE MELTING WITH OUT NO REASON. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD AS IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHICH MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RAVEN DEATH TO A MOTO…
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ON FEBRUARY 2013 I HAD A FRONTAL CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD OF MY MELTING DASH BOARD ON MY 08 ALTIMA. MY DASHBOARD SEEMS TO BE MELTING WITH OUT NO REASON. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD AS IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WHICH MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RAVEN DEATH TO A MOTORIST OR PEDESTRIAN. NISSAN NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT ON THEIR BEHALF FOR THE MAJORITY OF 08 ALTIMAS. *
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE MELTING DASHBOARD CAUSES A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD AND IT IS HARD TO SEE IN BRIGHT LIGHT. *TR
MY DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND APPEARS TO BE MELTING AWAY. THIS SHINY SURFACE CAUSES AN AWFUL GLARED REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO, IT CAUSES THE CAR TO APPEAR OLD AND EVERYTHING STICKS TO IT INCLUDING PAPERS AND INSECTS. IT'S PRETTY GROSS! *TR
AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT MY DETERIORATING DASHBOARD THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A NISSAN DEALER AND GET AN ESTIMATE ON REPLACING THE DASH, THEN THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW IF THEY WOULD GIVE ME SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. I COMPLIED WITH THEM, MADE APPT.. RECEIVED THE ESTIMATE OF $1726.03. I PRESENTED THIS…
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AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT MY DETERIORATING DASHBOARD THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A NISSAN DEALER AND GET AN ESTIMATE ON REPLACING THE DASH, THEN THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW IF THEY WOULD GIVE ME SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. I COMPLIED WITH THEM, MADE APPT.. RECEIVED THE ESTIMATE OF $1726.03. I PRESENTED THIS TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS, THEN AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS TO FINALLY GET AN ANSWER OF "NO WE DECIDED NOT TO GIVE YOU ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY !! THIS IS NOT A DAMAGED PART DUE TO ACCIDENT, THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT!! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DURING THE DAY BECAUSE OF THE GLARE FROM THE SUN, AND UNSAFE AFTER DARK DUE TO HEADLIGHTS AND STREETLIGHTS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS COMPLAINT TO MY LOCAL T.V. INVESTIGATIONS AND DO NOT PLAN ON STOPPING UNTIL I GET A NEW DASHBOARD.. I HAVE SEEN THIS VERY SAME COMPLAINT ON NUMEROUS 2008'S !!!! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT! HAS ANYBODY OUT THERE RECEIVED ANY RESOLUTION???!!! *TR
THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY DETERIORATING. IT IS AS IF IT IS MELTING. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, AND IS NOW A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO THE LIGHT THAT REFLECTS OFF OF THE MELTED PARTS OF THE DASH. IT REFLECTS THE SUNLIGHT DURING THE DAY AND THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT DIRECTLY…
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THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY DETERIORATING. IT IS AS IF IT IS MELTING. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, AND IS NOW A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO THE LIGHT THAT REFLECTS OFF OF THE MELTED PARTS OF THE DASH. IT REFLECTS THE SUNLIGHT DURING THE DAY AND THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVERS EYES... THIS IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS NISSAN ALTIMAS OF THE SAME YEAR. *TR
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CREATES AN AWFUL GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD - ALMOST LIKE SHINING A MIRROR AT THE SUN. IT'S BLINDING AT TIMES WHEN THE SUN HITS IT JUST RIGHT. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE SPAN OF A YEAR. WHEN IT'S EXTREMELY HOT (NEARLY 100 OUT), THE DASHBOARD IS ALMOST LIKE A THICK GOOP THAT COMES…
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MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CREATES AN AWFUL GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD - ALMOST LIKE SHINING A MIRROR AT THE SUN. IT'S BLINDING AT TIMES WHEN THE SUN HITS IT JUST RIGHT. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE SPAN OF A YEAR. WHEN IT'S EXTREMELY HOT (NEARLY 100 OUT), THE DASHBOARD IS ALMOST LIKE A THICK GOOP THAT COMES OFF ON MY FINGERS WHEN I TOUCH IT. I HAVEN'T PUT ANY SORT OF CHEMICAL OR WAX ON IT AS A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE HAS SUGGESTED. NOT ONLY IS THIS HAZARDOUS WHILE DRIVING, BUT I'M CONCERNED THERE MAY BE SOME HARMFUL CHEMICAL (CARCINOGENIC?) THAT I'M INHALING WHILE IN MY CAR. *TR
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA APPEARS TO BE MELTING. THE RUBBER MATERIAL THAT WAS USED TO CREATE THE DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO MELT BECOMING VERY STICKY AND EXTREMELY SHINNY. THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD SHINE HAS BECOME A HAZARD AND IS IMPAIRING MY DRIVING, I CANNOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDSHIELD DURING THE DAY. *TR
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND THE GLARE FROM THE MOLTEN RUBBER/PLASTIC CREATES A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN THE SUN AND IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAY THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTO…
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MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND THE GLARE FROM THE MOLTEN RUBBER/PLASTIC CREATES A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IN THE SUN AND IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAY THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 3000 $ TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD WHICH I DO NO INTEND ON DOING IT AS I FEEL LIKE IT IS NISSAN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. *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.