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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
102,000 miles · May 3, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR HAS MELTED, PRESUMABLY FROM THE HOT SUN. IT HAS BECOME STICKY AND MESS. HOWEVER, IT HAS ALSO BECOME VERY SHINY. THE SHINE REFECTS DANGEROUSLY INTO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, OBSCURING OBJECTS, INCLUDING CARS AND PEDESTRIANS, ON THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO BUT HAS GOTTEN PR…

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THE DASHBOARD OF MY CAR HAS MELTED, PRESUMABLY FROM THE HOT SUN. IT HAS BECOME STICKY AND MESS. HOWEVER, IT HAS ALSO BECOME VERY SHINY. THE SHINE REFECTS DANGEROUSLY INTO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, OBSCURING OBJECTS, INCLUDING CARS AND PEDESTRIANS, ON THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE ATTACHED PHOTO, TAKEN TODAY, SHOWS HOW THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE A LARGE SUV RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY THE MELTED DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ODI #10862785

69,000 miles · Apr 27, 2016
Unknown Or Other

UPON MY DAUGHTER ARRIVING AFTER A 300 MILE DRIVE, I SEE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL/GLUE?? SEEPING FROM HER FRONT DASHBOARD. ITS AS IF DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IN TURN THE MELTED DASHBOARD REFLECT A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT UP TO WINDSHIELD WHICH IN TURN CAUSES LIGHT BLINDNESS WHILE DRIVING NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE TOXICITY ISSUE…

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UPON MY DAUGHTER ARRIVING AFTER A 300 MILE DRIVE, I SEE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL/GLUE?? SEEPING FROM HER FRONT DASHBOARD. ITS AS IF DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IN TURN THE MELTED DASHBOARD REFLECT A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT UP TO WINDSHIELD WHICH IN TURN CAUSES LIGHT BLINDNESS WHILE DRIVING NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE TOXICITY ISSUES. VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AND ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL. NISSAN CORP. SHOULD BE MADE TO REMEDY THIS FOR LIFE AND HEALTH ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #10861725

64,000 miles · Apr 26, 2016
Visibility/wiper

THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE HAS STARTED MELTING. THE GLARE FROM THE SUN ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE ON A SUNNY DAY IN LATE AFTERNOON. I KNOW THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS IN FLORIDA, BUT I LIVE IN TENNESSEE.

NHTSA ODI #10861618

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND A STICKY SUBSTANCE IS CAUSING A SERIOUS GLARE THAT OBSCURES THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE MELTING DASHBOARD IS SPREADING DUE TO SUN SLIGHT EXPOSURE AND HEAT. THE DEFECTIVE DASH BOARDS HAS BEEN REPORTED WIDELY BY MANY AUTO OWNERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE…

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THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND A STICKY SUBSTANCE IS CAUSING A SERIOUS GLARE THAT OBSCURES THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE MELTING DASHBOARD IS SPREADING DUE TO SUN SLIGHT EXPOSURE AND HEAT. THE DEFECTIVE DASH BOARDS HAS BEEN REPORTED WIDELY BY MANY AUTO OWNERS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING AND RESULTING IS VISIBILITY GLARE/OBSTRUCTION.

NHTSA ODI #10861135

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

I BOUGHT A 2008 NISSAN ALTMAN COUPE , IN OCTOBER 2014. MY DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO MELT IN SEVERAL AREAS. NOT ONLY IS THERE A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY THE DASHBOARD, BUT MY CAR HAS STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER WHEN I TRY AND USE MY DE FROST. MY CAR IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE, AND I LIVE IN ILLINOIS.

NHTSA ODI #10861066

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASH MELTING AND SPLITTING.

NHTSA ODI #10861032

38,500 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineStructure

5 YRS AGO THE SOUND OF MY ENGINE CHANGED AND UPON INSPECTION THE WELDING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. I WAS INFORMED BY PEMBROKE PINES NISSAN THAT SINCE CAR IS AT 38,500 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING A MANUFACTURE FAILURE IT WOULD SET ME BACK $975. I DIDN'T HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. FOR THE PAST 3 YRS, MY PA…

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5 YRS AGO THE SOUND OF MY ENGINE CHANGED AND UPON INSPECTION THE WELDING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. I WAS INFORMED BY PEMBROKE PINES NISSAN THAT SINCE CAR IS AT 38,500 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING A MANUFACTURE FAILURE IT WOULD SET ME BACK $975. I DIDN'T HAVE THE REPAIR DONE. FOR THE PAST 3 YRS, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND ON EVEN IRREGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. FURTHERMORE, THE RADIO WILL GO BLANK OR HAVE ILLEGIBLE CHARACTERS ON IT. I TOO HAVE THE MELTING DASH ISSUE AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF TIMES I SLIPPED AND MY FINGER NAIL HAS GOUGED OUT PIECES OF DASH BOARD. IT'S AMAZING THAT LEXUS HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THEIR MELTING DASH BOARD ON THE IS250 & IS350 ISSUES BUT NISSAN COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ITS BRAND OR REPUTATION; I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE COMPANY ISN'T WHOLE JAPANESE OWNED.

NHTSA ODI #10860227

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE DASH IN THE CAR IS MELTING AND CREATING A VERY BAD GLARE WHEN DRIVING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10859871

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD HAS 'MELTED,' BECOMING STICKY AND VERY SHINY. IT CREATES SIGNIFICANT REFLECTION IN THE WINDSHIELD, REDUCING VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #10854930

60,000 miles · Apr 11, 2016
Structure

MY DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND CRACKING IN MANY PLACES. IT ALSO GETS SO HOT IN THE SUMMER THAT I WAS REMOVING SOMETHING FROM IT AND MY FINGERNAIL TOOK A PIECE OF THE DASH. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND WHEN PARKED IN THE SUN, SUN SHIELDS ARE USED. I NOTICED THIS ISSUE IN JULY OF LAST YEAR. NISSAN DEALER SAID WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER…

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MY DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND CRACKING IN MANY PLACES. IT ALSO GETS SO HOT IN THE SUMMER THAT I WAS REMOVING SOMETHING FROM IT AND MY FINGERNAIL TOOK A PIECE OF THE DASH. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND WHEN PARKED IN THE SUN, SUN SHIELDS ARE USED. I NOTICED THIS ISSUE IN JULY OF LAST YEAR. NISSAN DEALER SAID WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.

NHTSA ODI #10854908

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