IllustrationTHE DASH HAS A GUMMY FEELING AND IS SPLITTING AROUND ALL THE VENTS, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL AREAS, AND THE ENTIRE AREA ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
199 reportsTHE NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS MELTING, WARPING, CRACKING, AND PEELING AS A RESULT OF DAMAGE FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUN. FROM READING, THE MATERIALS USED TO MANUFACTURE THE DASHBOARD WERE NOT MADE FOR EXTREME HEAT AND WEATHER CONDITIONS, THUS CAUSING GLARE AND VISIBILITY ISSUES AS WELL AS FUNES FROM MELTING PLASTICS. THIS …
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THE NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS MELTING, WARPING, CRACKING, AND PEELING AS A RESULT OF DAMAGE FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUN. FROM READING, THE MATERIALS USED TO MANUFACTURE THE DASHBOARD WERE NOT MADE FOR EXTREME HEAT AND WEATHER CONDITIONS, THUS CAUSING GLARE AND VISIBILITY ISSUES AS WELL AS FUNES FROM MELTING PLASTICS. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO EVIDENT AMONGST CONSUMERS LIVING IN FLORIDA AND NISSAN HAS AGREED TO REPAIR THEIR DAMAGED VEHICLES AS PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DISABLED, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, LEAVING ME STRANDED. NISSAN ISSUED LETTER IN 2013 STATING THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITY THE ESCL MAY MALFUNCTION. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO EXTEND WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES. MY CAR HAS APPROX 61,000 MI…
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FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) UNIT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DISABLED, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, LEAVING ME STRANDED. NISSAN ISSUED LETTER IN 2013 STATING THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITY THE ESCL MAY MALFUNCTION. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO EXTEND WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES. MY CAR HAS APPROX 61,000 MILES, BUT PAST THEIR TIME LIMIT. NISSAN DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND DEALER CHARGED $678.14 FOR THE PART WHICH IS READILY AVAILABLE FOR UNDER $400. TOTAL COST FOR REPAIR WAS $991.37, PLUS MY TOWING CHARGE OF $37. DEALER SERVICE DEPT HAD QUOTED A PRICE OF HIGH $800 TO $900. WHY WAS VEHICLE NOT RECALLED AND REPAIRED WHEN NISSAN KNEW THAT THE PART COULD FAIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING? I WAS FORTUNATE THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT DISABLED IN A MORE DANGEROUS AREA. WE HAD TWO VISITS FROM AAA BEFORE WE DISCOVERED THE LIKELY PROBLEM THROUGH THE INTERNET.
PURCHASED A USED 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. AFTER A COUPE MONTHS I NOTICED THE TOP OF MY DASHBOARD WAS REALLY SHINNY. WHEN I TOUCHED IT THE DASH WASH VERY STICKYAND MELTING. AS TIME AS GONE ON AND THE DAYS GETTING WARMER AND SUN BRIGHTER IT'S GETTING WORSE. THE GLARE FROM THE MELTING DASH HAS MADE ME UNABLE TO SEE AT TIMES WHILE …
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PURCHASED A USED 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. AFTER A COUPE MONTHS I NOTICED THE TOP OF MY DASHBOARD WAS REALLY SHINNY. WHEN I TOUCHED IT THE DASH WASH VERY STICKYAND MELTING. AS TIME AS GONE ON AND THE DAYS GETTING WARMER AND SUN BRIGHTER IT'S GETTING WORSE. THE GLARE FROM THE MELTING DASH HAS MADE ME UNABLE TO SEE AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN 3 ACCIDENTS SO FAR DUE TO THIS.
MY DASH BECAME SHINY AND STICKY OVER A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I FIRST TRIED SOAP AND WATER AND THEN GOOBEGONE. AND NOTHING WOULD HELP IT. IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS MELTING. IT IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME. THE SHINYNESS IS REFLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD AT TIMES AND MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE T…
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MY DASH BECAME SHINY AND STICKY OVER A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I FIRST TRIED SOAP AND WATER AND THEN GOOBEGONE. AND NOTHING WOULD HELP IT. IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS MELTING. IT IS PARKED IN THE GARAGE MOST OF THE TIME. THE SHINYNESS IS REFLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD AT TIMES AND MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE THROUGH IT VERY WELL.
THE DASHBOARD IS DETERIORATING AND HAS BECOME VERY SHINY. THIS CREATES GLARE ON SUNNY DAYS WHICH DEGRADES VISIBILITY TO THE POINT OF BEING A SAFETY CONCERN. AS EVIDENCED BY A CLASS ACTION SUIT IT FLORIDA, THIS ISSUE IS PERVASIVE FOR THIS MODEL. TOYOTA HAS ALREADY RECALLED THEIR CARS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE.
DASHBOARD MELTING. DANGER REFLECTION FROM MELTING SHINE.
I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CLEANING SUBSTANCE PUT ON THE DASHBOARD. MY CAR SITS OUT IN THE SUN AS I DO NOT HAVE GARAGE OR CARPORT. THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD CREATES A HAZARD AS THERE IS A GLARE WHILE YOUR ARE DRIVING. *TR
WHEN DRIVING ON LONG AND SOMETIMES SHORT TRIPS, THE AIR FLOW STOPS BLOWING, LIKE A VENT WAS CLOSED. THE BLOWER FAN MOTOR IS STILL WORKING AND THE A/C IS STILL WORKING BECAUSE IT IS STILL COLD AT THE VENT BUT THERE IS NO AIR FLOW. *TR
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. STARTED 3 YEARS AGO, WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP TO CLEAN IT. IT HAS INCREASED IN SIZE AND NOTHING CLEANS IT. THE GLARE ONTO THE WINDOW IS TERRIBLE, DANGEROUS. HAS A STRANGE SMELL TO IT.
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.