IllustrationDASHBOARD MELTED AND CAUSES A SEVERE GLARE ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS GLARE LIMITS VIABILITY AND IS DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING.
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 reportsTHE DASHBOARD FOR MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE IS MELTING. IN SUNLIGHT (MOST OF THE DAY), MY VISIBILITY ON THE ROAD IS DECREASED TREMENDOUSLY DUE TO GLARE THE MELTING MATERIAL CAUSES TO REFLECT ON THE FRONT WINDOW. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. FROM ONLINE SEARCHES, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MANY NISSAN ALTIM…
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THE DASHBOARD FOR MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE IS MELTING. IN SUNLIGHT (MOST OF THE DAY), MY VISIBILITY ON THE ROAD IS DECREASED TREMENDOUSLY DUE TO GLARE THE MELTING MATERIAL CAUSES TO REFLECT ON THE FRONT WINDOW. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. FROM ONLINE SEARCHES, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MANY NISSAN ALTIMA DRIVERS, AND NISSAN HAS FAILED TO RESPOND AND REPLACE THESE MELTING DASHBOARDS. A RECALL IS NEEDED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS.
WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR HIGHWAY IN NJ AND CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE COMPLETELY DYING. CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACE AND COST 2000 TO REPAIR. NOW IN 2015 I HAVE THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. CAR NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AT THE TUNE OF 2000 MORE DOLLARS. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE …
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WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR HIGHWAY IN NJ AND CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE COMPLETELY DYING. CAR WAS TOWED TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR PLACE AND COST 2000 TO REPAIR. NOW IN 2015 I HAVE THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. CAR NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AT THE TUNE OF 2000 MORE DOLLARS. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE KNOWN FOR TROUBLE. IF SOMEONE'S GOING DOWN STREET IN FAST LANE AND THIS HAPPENS THEY CAN BE KILLED. IT GIVES NO WARNING AT ALL WHEN IT'S ABOUT TO FAIL. I DO BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD REPAIR/REPLACE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. COULD BE ME OR MY FAMILY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTS ABOUT THIS I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE FAST. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON SAYING OFF WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS IN CAR.
I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 126,000 MILES! CAR BEGAN MAKING NOISE AS IF IT WAS STUCK IN A GEAR, IT BECAME SLUGGISH AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. DROVE IT TO SHEEHY NISSAN A FEW DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 120,00…
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I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 126,000 MILES! CAR BEGAN MAKING NOISE AS IF IT WAS STUCK IN A GEAR, IT BECAME SLUGGISH AS I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. DROVE IT TO SHEEHY NISSAN A FEW DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 120,000. MY MILEAGE WAS 126,000. RECEIVED CALL FROM SHEEHY SERVICE SPECIALIST LEO SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. THE NEXT DAY RECEIVED ANOTHER CALL FROM SERVICE SPECIALIST AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT APPROVED BY CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR REPAIR. I CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL ON FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 FROM NISSAN'S REGIONAL SPECIALIST, QUINASHAY, THAT MORE INFORMATION WAS BEING GATHERED FROM SHEEHY NISSAN. RECEIVED CALL FROM QUINASHAY SAYING THAT THERE WAS NOTHING NISAN COULD DO FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD! THIS IS MY THIRD NISSAN PURCHASE FROM NISSAN STANZA TO A COUPLE OF NISSAN ALTIMAS, ALWAYS UPGRADING. I'VE BEEN A LOYAL NISSAN CUSTOMER AND FOR WHAT! NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE TREATED THIS WAY.
I LIVE IN GEORGIA, AND MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. I CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT PLACING A BLACK TOWEL OVER THE DASH TO DAMPEN THE REFLECTION OF THE SUN. THE DASH HAS A CLEAR, GOOEY, STICKY, LACQUER-LOOKING, FILM THAT SHINES SO BRIGHTLY THAT IT OBSTRUCTS MY VISION. PLEASE NOTE THAT ITS A HAZARD TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE IS C…
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I LIVE IN GEORGIA, AND MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. I CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT PLACING A BLACK TOWEL OVER THE DASH TO DAMPEN THE REFLECTION OF THE SUN. THE DASH HAS A CLEAR, GOOEY, STICKY, LACQUER-LOOKING, FILM THAT SHINES SO BRIGHTLY THAT IT OBSTRUCTS MY VISION. PLEASE NOTE THAT ITS A HAZARD TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE IS CONSTANT POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE A PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER VEHICLES IN MY LINE OF SIGHT -- THIS COULD CLEARLY LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
DASH IS MELTING. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY STATE THEY ARE NOT REPLACING THE DASH. IT IS STICKY AND SHINY AND CAUSES REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NISSAN 2008 ALTIMA. NISSAN WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT A RECALL.
DASH IS MELTING. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY STATE THEY ARE NOT REPLACING THE DASH. IT IS STICKY AND SHINY AND CAUSES REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NISSAN 2008 ALTIMA. NISSAN WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT A RECALL.
GOT IN MY CAR, STARTED THE ENGINE, PUT CAR IN REVERSE, BACKED UP, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, CAR HESITATED TO GO GOT UP TO 10 MILES PER HOUR, CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. MY CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT GO. TOWED TO SHOP AND IT'S MY CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS COSTING ME $3,500 TO REPLACE. VERY DANGEROUS A…
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GOT IN MY CAR, STARTED THE ENGINE, PUT CAR IN REVERSE, BACKED UP, PUT CAR IN DRIVE, CAR HESITATED TO GO GOT UP TO 10 MILES PER HOUR, CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. MY CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT GO. TOWED TO SHOP AND IT'S MY CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS COSTING ME $3,500 TO REPLACE. VERY DANGEROUS ANOTHER CAR COULD HAVE HIT ME BECAUSE MY CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
SPEED WENT FROM 70 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR, IT JUST DROP
IT SEEMS LIKE NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND NOW IT BECAME STICKY AND SHINY.WHILE DRIVING IN DIRECT SUN IT CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND HARD TO SEE THE ROAD CONDITION.IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR A DRIVER.THIS IS HAPPENING MAY BE NISSAN USED A LOW QUALITY MATERIAL FOR THE DASH.THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND F…
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IT SEEMS LIKE NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND NOW IT BECAME STICKY AND SHINY.WHILE DRIVING IN DIRECT SUN IT CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND HARD TO SEE THE ROAD CONDITION.IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR A DRIVER.THIS IS HAPPENING MAY BE NISSAN USED A LOW QUALITY MATERIAL FOR THE DASH.THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY NISSAN.
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.