IllustrationI PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH 2015 AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD APPEARED TO BE MELTING.
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
What owners actually said
1,028 reportsDASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD
THE DASHBOARD HAS A DEFECT FROM GLUE SURFACING TO TOP AND CAUSING GLARE AND STICKY, SHINY THAT REFLECTS ON WINDOW A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. NISSAN WILL NOT PAY AND NOT A RECALL. THIS REALLY SAD MISTAKE AND NO ONE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING A TRANSMISSION KIT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE BECAME SEVERE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,666.
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE I HEAR A LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING AT B ALL TIMES. AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL THE WHINING DRIVETRAIN NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION GOES AWAY. I ALSO HEAR A RATTLING NOISE FROM CENTER EXHAUST AT IDOL AND NOTICE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PIPE HAS RUSTED OUT NEAR ENGINE FLEX PIPE.
HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STAYS ON WHETHER THERE IS AN OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY IN A CRASH. PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULTY SENSOR SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR NISSAN THAT HAS RESULTED IN PRE…
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HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STAYS ON WHETHER THERE IS AN OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY IN A CRASH. PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULTY SENSOR SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR NISSAN THAT HAS RESULTED IN PREVIOUS RECALLS AND SEVERAL CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. NISSAN NOW HAS A RECALL OF 3.53 MILLION VEHICLES MODEL YEARS 2013-2017 REGARDING THIS VERY SAME ISSUE. NHTSA PLEASE INVESTIGATE THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD EXPAND FURTHER TO VEHICLES PRIOR TO 2013. IN 2008 THIS PROBLEM WAS DETECTED AND RECALLED. THE US NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION UPGRADED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ISSUE AFTER REVIEWING COMPLAINTS WHETHER PRIOR NISSAN RECALLS ADEQUATLEY ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY WEBSITE REGARDING THIS SAME AIR BAG ISSUES/SENSOR SYSTEM PROBLEM WITH EARLIER MODEL YEAR NISSAN VEHICLES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN CAN ONLY RECALL 2013-2017 MODEL YEARS WHEN EARLIER MODELS VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. NISSAN IS TURNING THEIR BACKS ON SAFETY.
DASHBOARD MELTING RESULTING IN STICKY GOO TO THE TOUCH THUS RESULTING IN VISIBILITY ISSUES. TERRIBLE GLARE ON WINDSHIELD CAUSING SEVERE VISIBILITY ISSUES - UNABLE TO SEE THRU THE GLARED WINDSHIELD TO DRIVE SAFELY. ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE SEVERITY OF THE GLARE AS LIGHT SHINES THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 ULTIMA HAS MELTED INTO A SHINY RUBBER CAUSING SERIOUS VISIBILITY ISSUES WHILE DRIVING DURING SUNNY BRIGHT DAYS. I RESORTED TO PUTTING A PLASTIC RECTANGLE TO COVER THE REFLECTION ON MY MORNING COMMUTE, BUT NOW THAT PLASTIC IS STUCK AND SEMI-PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE DASHBOARD FROM THE STICKINESS. …
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THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 ULTIMA HAS MELTED INTO A SHINY RUBBER CAUSING SERIOUS VISIBILITY ISSUES WHILE DRIVING DURING SUNNY BRIGHT DAYS. I RESORTED TO PUTTING A PLASTIC RECTANGLE TO COVER THE REFLECTION ON MY MORNING COMMUTE, BUT NOW THAT PLASTIC IS STUCK AND SEMI-PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE DASHBOARD FROM THE STICKINESS. THE ATTACHED PICTURES WERE TAKEN ON MY DRIVEWAY. NOTICE THE REFLECTION OF THE ROCK WALL AND WHITE GARAGE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. DURING MORNING OR AFTERNOON SUNNY CONDITIONS, THE GLARE BECOMES UNBEARABLE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE VERY PREVALENT SPECIFICALLY WITH A 2008 MODEL YEAR ALTIMA. NOT 2007 AND NOT 2009 SO CLEARLY IT'S A DEFECT AND A HAZARDOUS ONE TOO VISUALLY. ALSO THERE ARE UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES OF THE FOWEL TAR LIKE ORDER WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR MOST PROMINENTLY PRESENT AFTE THE CAR SITS CLOSED FOR A WHILE.
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA CVT TRANSMISSION QUITE ON ME AND MY FAMILY AND LEFT US STRANDED AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR A TAXI TO TAKE ME MY WIFE AND KIDS HOME AND WE WERE GROCERIE SHOPPING 30 MILES FROM HOME AND WE WERE STRANDED ON A COUNTY RD ##
THE SYSTEM IMPROPERLY CLASSIFIES AN ADULT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AS A CHILD OR AS AN EMPTY SEAT, ILLUMINATING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF ON THE DASH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT WHEN THIS IS ILLUMINATED THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THEY HAVE FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THIS CONCERN STATING THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE AN …
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THE SYSTEM IMPROPERLY CLASSIFIES AN ADULT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AS A CHILD OR AS AN EMPTY SEAT, ILLUMINATING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF ON THE DASH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT WHEN THIS IS ILLUMINATED THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THEY HAVE FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THIS CONCERN STATING THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE AN ERROR SHOWING UP ON THE DRIVER DASH IN ORDER FOR TESTING TO BE DONE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT NISSAN HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLES IN THE MODEL YEARS OF 2013-2017. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM EXTENDS WELL BEYOND THE YEARS STATED IN THE RECALL AND SHOULD BE EXAMINED FURTHER. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS CONCERN WITHOUT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FROM A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.
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.