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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

What owners actually said

1,028 reports
135,700 miles · Oct 27, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION RECALL. THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS BAD ON THESE ON MODEL ALTIMAS. THEY OVERHEAT AND LOSE ALL POWER AND THE CAR WONT ACCELERATE . THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT, NO WARNING SOUND, IT JUST GOES OUT, WHERE EVER WHILE IN MOTION! MY CAR DID THIS LAST TIME ON THE FREEWAY. YOU HAVE TO SIT UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION COOLS OFF .. I…

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TRANSMISSION RECALL. THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS BAD ON THESE ON MODEL ALTIMAS. THEY OVERHEAT AND LOSE ALL POWER AND THE CAR WONT ACCELERATE . THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT, NO WARNING SOUND, IT JUST GOES OUT, WHERE EVER WHILE IN MOTION! MY CAR DID THIS LAST TIME ON THE FREEWAY. YOU HAVE TO SIT UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION COOLS OFF .. I HAVE BEEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN MANY PLACES, I ALMOST GOT HIT THE LAST TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. YOU CAN'T DRIVE MORE THAN 2 HOURS AT 70 WITHOUT IT HAPPENING. NISSAN RECALLED THE PART AND EXTENDED TEH WARRANTYS BUT THE PARTS STILL DO IT. THE TRANSMISION SHOULDN'T EVEN BE SERVICED UNTIL 100000 MILES! THESES CARS SHOULD EASILY GET 200-250,000 MILES. NISSAN IS NEGLIGENT IN NOT RECALLING THEM AT ALL! THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS "KNOWN" ISSUE AND IT COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED! I AM ON THE 4TH TRANSMISSION REPAIR AND IT STILL DOES IT! THEY NEED TO RECALL THE CAR MODEL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! IT DOES IT WHILE IN MOTION, WHICH IS FRIGHTENING WITH NO WARNING! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPARI AS IT DID IT AT 20000 MILES FIRST! THE NTHSA NEEDS TO MAKE THEM RECALL THE CAR

NHTSA ODI #10919401

127,300 miles · Oct 20, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,300.

NHTSA ODI #10917487

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD IS CRACKING. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW. NEVER SETS OUTSIDE DURING DAYTIME IN SUN. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE SAME ISSUE. NISSAN DENIES THERE'S ANY PROBLEM, WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. COSTS ABOUT $2000 TO REPLACE THE DASH. HAPPENING MOSTLY WITH 2008 & 2009 MODEL YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10916360

60,000 miles · Oct 15, 2016
Unknown Or Other

MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND I CANNOT GET NISSAN TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD I NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE IT FOR $1800.00. I FEEL THIS IS FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND NISSAN SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO THE REPLACEMENT. I LIVE IN TX AND THE GLARE IT CAUSE IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THE SUN IS OUT AND THE …

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MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND I CANNOT GET NISSAN TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD I NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE IT FOR $1800.00. I FEEL THIS IS FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND NISSAN SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO THE REPLACEMENT. I LIVE IN TX AND THE GLARE IT CAUSE IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THE SUN IS OUT AND THE SUN IS ALWAYS OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10916258

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2016
Visibility/wiper

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT NISSAN IS DOING TO CORRECT THE MELTING DASHBOARD ISSUE. MY DASHBOARD HAS A STICKY FILM ON IT WHICH CREATES AN EXTREMELY BAD GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE DURING THE DAY. RECENTLY I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE THE PERSON DUE TO THE GLARE THAT THE DASHBO…

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I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT NISSAN IS DOING TO CORRECT THE MELTING DASHBOARD ISSUE. MY DASHBOARD HAS A STICKY FILM ON IT WHICH CREATES AN EXTREMELY BAD GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD. IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE DURING THE DAY. RECENTLY I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE THE PERSON DUE TO THE GLARE THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CREATING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN AT FAULT IF I HIT THAT PERSON? THE POLICE WOULD HAVE BLAMED ME FOR THE ACCIDENT BUT THE TRUE CULPRIT IN MY EYES IS NISSAN BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE. HOW THE HELL CAN NISSAN SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T SEE WHILE DRIVING?!?

NHTSA ODI #10915376

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2016
Structure

DASHBOARD HAS BLACK STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT REFLECTS A GLARE AND IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE GLARE IS SO DISTRACTING AT TIMES THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND THAT THE AREA AFFECTED WILL CONTINUE TO GROW WHICH WILL SERVERLY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO SEE CLEA…

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DASHBOARD HAS BLACK STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT REFLECTS A GLARE AND IS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE GLARE IS SO DISTRACTING AT TIMES THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND THAT THE AREA AFFECTED WILL CONTINUE TO GROW WHICH WILL SERVERLY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY

NHTSA ODI #10915367

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2016
StructureVisibility/wiper

MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH HAS BEEN MELTING FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS AND IS NOW CAUSING AN INABILITY TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A LARGE REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING DAYTIME DRIVING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS AND OTHER CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE CORPORATE OFFICE AT NISSAN OFFERED 1/2 OFF THE PRICE, BUT I BEL…

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MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH HAS BEEN MELTING FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS AND IS NOW CAUSING AN INABILITY TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A LARGE REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING DAYTIME DRIVING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS AND OTHER CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THE CORPORATE OFFICE AT NISSAN OFFERED 1/2 OFF THE PRICE, BUT I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO THE DANGERS THAT IT'S CAUSING FOR MANY DRIVERS.

NHTSA ODI #10913977

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD HAS OUTLINING LINES AROUND THE DEFROSTER THAT ARE TACKY OTHER SPOTS ON THE DASH ALSO WHAT GASES ARE BEING RELEASED FROM THIS MELTING DASHBOARD IS IT HARMFUL I CONTACTED NISSAN THEY ARE NOT HELPFUL SORRY IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY I NOTICED THE DAMAGE ABOUT A YEAR AGO SPRING OF 2015 IT IS GROWING SLOWLY ON MY DASH

NHTSA ODI #10913628

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2016
Structure

DASHBOARD IN 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA APPEARS TO BE MELTING, BECOMING VERY STICKY AND CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO CLEAN IT WITH ANYTHING, DUE TO THE GUMMY TEXTURE OF THE DASH. HAS A SHINY APPEARANCE TO IT AND GETS WORSE EVERY DAY. THIS IS CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH VISION ON BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS WHILE DRIVING. AFRAID AS IT …

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DASHBOARD IN 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA APPEARS TO BE MELTING, BECOMING VERY STICKY AND CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO CLEAN IT WITH ANYTHING, DUE TO THE GUMMY TEXTURE OF THE DASH. HAS A SHINY APPEARANCE TO IT AND GETS WORSE EVERY DAY. THIS IS CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH VISION ON BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS WHILE DRIVING. AFRAID AS IT GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE OF THE DASH AREA.

NHTSA ODI #10910258

158,000 miles · Sep 24, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

AFTER REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPUTTER ANYTIME I WAS DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MILES. MY MECHANIC FIGURED OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS OVERHEATING TO ABOUT 600 DEGREES WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO MORE THAN 250 DEGREES, CAUSING PARTS OF THE ENGINE TO BEGIN MELTING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAM…

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AFTER REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPUTTER ANYTIME I WAS DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MILES. MY MECHANIC FIGURED OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS OVERHEATING TO ABOUT 600 DEGREES WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO MORE THAN 250 DEGREES, CAUSING PARTS OF THE ENGINE TO BEGIN MELTING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON TO ALERT ME OF THIS ISSUE, AND I MAY NOW HAVE PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10909439

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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems