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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

Suspension complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2013
Suspension

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS BROKEN. HE SAID THAT IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR AWHILE BECAUSE THE ENDS WERE RUSTED AND THEY NORMALLY DO NOT CORRODE THAT QUICKLY. HE SAID THAT IT WAS A CLEAN BREAK. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT COVERED BY …

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I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS BROKEN. HE SAID THAT IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR AWHILE BECAUSE THE ENDS WERE RUSTED AND THEY NORMALLY DO NOT CORRODE THAT QUICKLY. HE SAID THAT IT WAS A CLEAN BREAK. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 MODEL. WELL, MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007. I AM A RESPONSIBLE DRIVER AND I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SO IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME WHY THE PART WOULD BREAK UNLESS IT WAS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496189

85,000 miles · Jun 28, 2012
Suspension

THE LEFT REAR TORSION/ANT-ISWAY BAR SUSTAINED COMPLETE FRACTURE AT THE END. NOTHING HIT IT. IT APPEARED TO BE DUE TO CORROSION. IT WAS INSPECTED BY CONYERS NISSAN SERVICE AND THE ADVISOR AGREED THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463460

1,000 miles · May 4, 2011
SteeringSuspension

CAR NOT STABLE. IT WANDERS AND PITCHES. STEERING IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTING. SEEMS VERY UNSTABLE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60MPH AND HIGHER. SEEMS TO PITCH FROM CORNER TO CORNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399121

1,000 miles · Jun 24, 2008
Suspension

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM HANLESS HILLTOP NISSAN, RICHMOND, CA FOR MYSELF ON MARCH 30, 2008. I DROVE THE CAR ONE DAY AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE AS TO WHAT VEHICLE WAS GIVEN TO ME, BECAUSE IS WAS NOT THE VEHICLE THAT I TEST DROVE, I WAS TOLD BY MY SALE PERSON THAT IT WAS THE VEHICLE THAT WAS TEST D…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM HANLESS HILLTOP NISSAN, RICHMOND, CA FOR MYSELF ON MARCH 30, 2008. I DROVE THE CAR ONE DAY AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE AS TO WHAT VEHICLE WAS GIVEN TO ME, BECAUSE IS WAS NOT THE VEHICLE THAT I TEST DROVE, I WAS TOLD BY MY SALE PERSON THAT IT WAS THE VEHICLE THAT WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE REASON I WENT BACK TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE VEHICLE WAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CAR DROVE. BASICALLY, THE CAR DRIVES LIKE AN OLD BEAT UP 1955 VEHICLE. THE CARS STEERING IS ALL OVER THE ROAD, IT FEELS UNSAFE. THE CAR BOTTOMED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN AFTER I HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY ANOTHER NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.. WELL, AFTER MY CONTINUED COMPLAINTS, HANLESS NISSAN FINALLY AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, THE SUSPENSION HAD BASICALLY COME APART. THEY REPLACED TWO BOLTS AT THE DIRECTION OF NISSAN.. WELL, THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE A DAY AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BOLTS, THE CAR BOTTOMED OUT AGAIN WHILE GOING OVER A SAFETY ROAD BUMP. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE HANLESS NISSAN, BUT THEY SAID, BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THE EXACT PROBLEM, NISSAN WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, IF THEY WERE TO REPLACE THE SHOCK OR DO ANY OTHER WORK ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THEM FIRST AGREEING TO THE WORK ORDER. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE WAYNE NEVILLE AT 866.799.1690 EXT 1442 ALL THE WHILE, I WAS DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT NISSAN HAD MY BEST INTEREST AT HEART, BUT NOW I SEE IT WAS ALL AN ACT, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT RETURNED ANY OF MY PHONE CALL ABOUT THE CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION OF MY VEHICLE.. I STRONGLY BELIEVE I SHOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER CAR. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEM, THAT I BELIEVE ONE DAY WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT BELIEVE NISSAN IS NOT CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE BUYERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232136

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2008
Suspension

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM BAKER-JACKSON NISSAN, HOUSTON, FOR MY DAUGHTER ON MAY 21. MY DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR ONE DAY AND RETURNED IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN HER CITY OF ARLINGTON, TEXAS. THIS DEALERSHIP, DON DAVIS NISSAN, INFORMED US THEY DON'T KNOW HOW WE WERE SOLD THIS CAR, BECAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSIO…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM BAKER-JACKSON NISSAN, HOUSTON, FOR MY DAUGHTER ON MAY 21. MY DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR ONE DAY AND RETURNED IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN HER CITY OF ARLINGTON, TEXAS. THIS DEALERSHIP, DON DAVIS NISSAN, INFORMED US THEY DON'T KNOW HOW WE WERE SOLD THIS CAR, BECAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION HAD BASICALLY COME APART. THE STUDS HOLDING THE STRUTS WERE MISSING AND BROKEN OFF; ONE MISSING COMPLETELY AND THE OTHER SHEARED OFF. THEY INDICATED MY DAUGHTER WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE ARRIVED IN ARLINGTON SAFELY WITHOUT A MAJOR ACCIDENT OCCURRING. I HAVE ASKED NISSAN TO REPLACE THE CAR WITH AN EXACT MAKE/MODEL/STYLE, BUT TO DATE THEY HAVE NOT AND ARE TELLING ME THEY ARE PLANNING TO REPAIR THE CAR. THEY SENT A NISSAN ENGINEER OUT TO THE ARLINGTON DEALERSHIP TO REVIEW, AND HE INDICATED TO THE SERVICE SHOP PERSONNEL, THE STUDS WERE NOT TORQUED PROPERLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE PLACED A CLAIM WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I HAVE TALKED TO BAKER-JACKSON NISSAN TO REPLACE THE CAR----TO DATE, I AM ONLY GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM BOTH. WE HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR 1 DAY AND HAVE BEEN INCONVENIENCED FOR MORE THAN 2 WEEKS NOW. I THINK NISSAN MAY BE TRYING TO COVER UP A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I'M READY TO GO PUBLIC WITH THIS AND AM CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTIONS. CAN SOMEONE FROM THIS OFFICE PLEASE CALL ME AND DISCUSS MY OPTIONS. I DON'T TRUST THIS CAR, EVEN IF IT IS REPAIRED---WHAT ELSE COULD BE WRONG WITH IT. WE ARE VERY DIS-SATISFIED, UNHAPPY AND FRUSTRATED CUSTOMERS. BAKER-JACKSON NISSAN, HOUSTON, IN MY OPINION DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE IN BUSINESS--IF THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS. NISSAN'S ATTEMPT TO COVER UP A DEFECT SHOULD BE REVEALED AS SUCH. I ONLY WANT TO REPLACE THE CAR AND MAKE SURE NISSAN FIXES THIS PROBLEM FOR OTHER CONSUMERS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. I UNDERSTAND, MANUFACTURERS MAKE MISTAKES, BUT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230123

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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