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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

Structure complaints

312 reports
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25,000 miles · Oct 22, 2013
Structure

THERE IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKER, MODEL AND YEAR. THE "MELTING DASHBOARD". THE MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE RUBBER-TYPE DASHBOARD BEGINS TO "MELT". THE SURFACE IS STICKY AND CAUSES VERY BAD WINDSHIELD SUN GLARE, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE DOCUMENTED PHOTOS AND CO…

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THERE IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKER, MODEL AND YEAR. THE "MELTING DASHBOARD". THE MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE RUBBER-TYPE DASHBOARD BEGINS TO "MELT". THE SURFACE IS STICKY AND CAUSES VERY BAD WINDSHIELD SUN GLARE, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE DOCUMENTED PHOTOS AND COMMENTS FROM OTHER CAR OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549013

50,000 miles · Oct 19, 2013
Structure

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 08 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. I LIVE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, MY DASHBOARD HAS TURNED SHINY, STICKY, AND IS QUITE LITERALLY MELTING. THE LAST 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR, I NOTICED THAT THE PART AROUND THE RADIO UNIT HAS BEEN CRACKING AND "SOFTENING". IN THE DAYTIME, THE SHINY ME…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 08 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007. I LIVE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, MY DASHBOARD HAS TURNED SHINY, STICKY, AND IS QUITE LITERALLY MELTING. THE LAST 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR, I NOTICED THAT THE PART AROUND THE RADIO UNIT HAS BEEN CRACKING AND "SOFTENING". IN THE DAYTIME, THE SHINY MELTING PART OF THE DASH REFLECTS ONTO MY WINDSHIELD AND CREATES A BLINDING GLARE THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO EVEN SEE THE ROAD. I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS CLEANING SOLUTIONS UNTIL I REALIZED THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I HAVE COME ACROSS MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, MOST IN FLORIDA, AND ALL 2008 ALTIMAS. I WILL ENCLOSE A LINK TO THE FORUM WHERE MANY ALTIMA OWNERS HAVE FOUND THANKS TO GOOGLE WITH THE ISSUE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND SOME PICTURES OF THE DASHBOARD IF NECESSARY. HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/MY-DASHBOARD-IS-MELTING-T569582.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548517

51,000 miles · Oct 11, 2013
Structure

IT APPEARS AS IF MY DASHBOARD IS "MELTING." THE FINISH ON THE DASHBOARD IS DISAPPEARING AND IT HAD BECAME VERY STICKY AND THERE IS A GLARE ON THE DASH THAT IS HINDERING VISIBILITY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON 2008 NISSAN ALTIMAS AND MY CONCERNS THAT IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TH…

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IT APPEARS AS IF MY DASHBOARD IS "MELTING." THE FINISH ON THE DASHBOARD IS DISAPPEARING AND IT HAD BECAME VERY STICKY AND THERE IS A GLARE ON THE DASH THAT IS HINDERING VISIBILITY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE COMMON ON 2008 NISSAN ALTIMAS AND MY CONCERNS THAT IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM AWARE NOW BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547586

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2013
StructureVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING CAUSING GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547382

65,000 miles · Oct 3, 2013
Structure

THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND MELTING. THE CAR IS GARAGE PARKED AND I USE SUN SHADES WHEN IT IS PARKED OUTSIDE. THE DASH IS MELTING SO BADLY THAT THE GLARE IS BLOCKING MY ABILITY TO SEE THINGS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546667

32,000 miles · Oct 2, 2013
EngineService BrakesStructureCrash

I PULLED IN A PARKING SPACE, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND BEFORE I COULD PUT IT IN PARK THE CAR ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I WENT ABOUT TWENTY FEET, OVER CURBS, SIDEWALK, ANOTHER PARKING SPACE, AVOIDING CARS, SKID MARKS MADE, AND FINALLY DIRECTED THE CAR TOWARD A DUMPSTER AND IT STOPPED. IT IS A MIR…

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I PULLED IN A PARKING SPACE, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND BEFORE I COULD PUT IT IN PARK THE CAR ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I WENT ABOUT TWENTY FEET, OVER CURBS, SIDEWALK, ANOTHER PARKING SPACE, AVOIDING CARS, SKID MARKS MADE, AND FINALLY DIRECTED THE CAR TOWARD A DUMPSTER AND IT STOPPED. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT SOMEONE IN MY PATH WASN'T KILLED. THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED BACK AND SO THE BODY SHOP CONNECTED WITH NISSAN CONSIDERED IT A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546536

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2013
Structure

DASH APPEARS TO BE MELTING. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN TULSA IN 2011 WHILE I WAS LIVING IN ARKANSAS...MOVED TO KANSAS IN JULY 2013 AND NOTICED IN AUGUST THAT MY DASH APPEARS TO BE MELTING. CAR HAS BEEN MOST EXCLUSIVELY PARKED IN GARAGE....THIS SLICK, WET LIKE APPEARANCE CAUSES GLARE ON WINDSHIELD MAKING IT HARD TO SEE....I TOOK THE CA…

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DASH APPEARS TO BE MELTING. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN TULSA IN 2011 WHILE I WAS LIVING IN ARKANSAS...MOVED TO KANSAS IN JULY 2013 AND NOTICED IN AUGUST THAT MY DASH APPEARS TO BE MELTING. CAR HAS BEEN MOST EXCLUSIVELY PARKED IN GARAGE....THIS SLICK, WET LIKE APPEARANCE CAUSES GLARE ON WINDSHIELD MAKING IT HARD TO SEE....I TOOK THE CAR TO STATE LINE NISSAN IN KANSAS CITY, MO LAST WEEK AND THEY DISMISSED THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL COVERED BY A NISSAN WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10545620

100,000 miles · Sep 25, 2013
Structure

MY DASH HAS STARTED TO MELT. ITS UGLY BUT THE MAIN ISSUE IS DRIVING IN THE SUN. THE SPOTS THAT ARE MELTING ARE VERY SHINNY AND AT TIMES CAUSES ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545409

15,000 miles · Sep 20, 2013
Structure

DASHBOARD MELTS IN HIGH TEMPERATURE CLIMATES. GLARE FROM MELT IS SO BAD THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. VISIBILITY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AT THIS POINT AND NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE OR ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544572

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2013
StructureVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE STARTED MELTING AROUND MAY, 2013. AT FIRST IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE BUT NOW THERE ARE BIG SHINY, STICKY PATCHES ON MY DASHBOARD. THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY THE SUN REFLECTS OFF OF THE MELTED AREAS AND CAUSES A GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT GREATLY REDUCES …

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THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE STARTED MELTING AROUND MAY, 2013. AT FIRST IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE BUT NOW THERE ARE BIG SHINY, STICKY PATCHES ON MY DASHBOARD. THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY THE SUN REFLECTS OFF OF THE MELTED AREAS AND CAUSES A GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT GREATLY REDUCES MY VISIBILITY. BECAUSE OF THAT I TEND TO NOT DRIVE IT OFTEN. ALSO ITS GIVING OFF THE SMELL OF BURNED PLASTIC. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS COMMON IN PLACES LIKE TEXAS, FLORIDA, AND CALIFORNIA. HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NISSANUSA/POSTS/10152938385130375 HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/MY-DASHBOARD-IS-MELTING-T569582.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544347

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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