IllustrationTHE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. *TR
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 reportsI HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SL, I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. MY DASH IS "MELTING" AND HAS BECOME A SHINY, STICKY BLACK MESS THAT CREATES AN INCREDIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I'M AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I WANT TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I FOUND IT ANNOYIN…
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I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SL, I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. MY DASH IS "MELTING" AND HAS BECOME A SHINY, STICKY BLACK MESS THAT CREATES AN INCREDIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I'M AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I WANT TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I FOUND IT ANNOYING THAT THE DASH WAS MELTING, I'VE HAD OTHER CAR DASHES CRACK IN THE HEAT, BUT NOT MELT. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE DASH IS SO SHINY NOW IT CAN BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE A YEAR OR SO AGO. I'VE SELECTED JAN 1, 2014 ARBITRARILY. IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME THAT THE ISSUE REALLY STARTED BEING A PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH IS MELTING. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN FACING THE SUN AND A SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR
OIL CAP WILL NOT UNSCREW ON 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT IS LEAKING OIL. *TR
NISSAN: DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK INOPERATIVE WITH INTELLIGENT KEY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
DASH BOARD MELTING. *TR
DASH BOARD IS VERY STICKY. HAVE CALLED THE DEALER BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE. INVESTED TOO MUCH $$ FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WITH NO ONE TAKING CREDIT AND WANTING TO FIX IT. THE GLARE IS BECOMING AN ISSUE (ESP LIVING IN THE SOUTH WHERE THE SUN SHINES BRIGHTLY) YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
NOT SO MUCH ONE SPECIFIC INCIDENT BUT A FEW OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE SEAT MOVES SIDE TO SIDE AND SEEMS TO BE OFF TRACK. THE INTERNET MENTIONS MANY INSTANCES OF SEAT PROBLEMS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A CAR SEAT CAN BE A PROBLEM, I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND KNOW MANY FOLKS WHO OWNED MANY CARS AND NE…
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NOT SO MUCH ONE SPECIFIC INCIDENT BUT A FEW OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE SEAT MOVES SIDE TO SIDE AND SEEMS TO BE OFF TRACK. THE INTERNET MENTIONS MANY INSTANCES OF SEAT PROBLEMS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A CAR SEAT CAN BE A PROBLEM, I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND KNOW MANY FOLKS WHO OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER EVER HEARD OF A SEAT BEING A PROBLEM EVER. BUT I'M GOING TO BE CHARGED $89.95 TO "DIAGNOSE" A SEAT PROBLEM THAT APPARENTLY IF ISN'T AFFECTED BY THE TECH BULLETIN COULD PAY UPWARDS OF $1500 FOR A CAR SEAT. 2ND ISSUE IS MY REAR DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. FIRST IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR AND THE LOCK STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE KEY FOB AND INTERNAL LOCK BUTTON. WEEK AND A HALF LATER THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. LOOKING UP THIS ON THE INTERNET IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR NISSAN'S. THE DEALER CONVENIENTLY IS GOING TO CHARGE ME TWO (2) DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES OF $89.95 TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS (AGAIN NOT 1 CHARGE FOR BOTH BUT TWO SEPARATE CHARGES). THE INTERNET SAYS ACTUATORS WHICH I'LL UPDATE LATER AFTER THIS WEEK IF THAT'S THE ISSUE. I'D THINK THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THESE TWO CLAIMS FOR A POTENTIAL RECALL TO SAVE CONSUMERS FROM BE FLEECED FOR WHAT APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT ISSUES THAT AREN'T WEAR AND TEAR ISSUES AND APPEAR TO BE DEFECTS. *TR
DURING THE PAST YEAR OR SO, MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE HAS BEEN DEVELOPING A VERY STICKY AND EXTREMELY SHINY SURFACE ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH IS UNWASHABLE AND WHEN SUNLIGHT IS REFLECTED OFF IT, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I THOUGH I WAS THE…
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DURING THE PAST YEAR OR SO, MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE HAS BEEN DEVELOPING A VERY STICKY AND EXTREMELY SHINY SURFACE ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH IS UNWASHABLE AND WHEN SUNLIGHT IS REFLECTED OFF IT, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I THOUGH I WAS THE ONLY ONE BUT READING UP ON IT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. PLEASE HELP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS TO FIX THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT, NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR OTHER 2008 ALTIMA DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND AND FELLOW NEIGHBORING CARS ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU!
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH BOARD IS MELTING. I LIVE IN MIAMI FL. AND BROUGHT MY 2008 ALTIMA NEW FROM A LOCAL DEALER. AROUND 2010, I STARTED TO NOTICE THE DETERIORATION OF THE DASH BOARD. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO A CLEANING PRODUCT. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY RECENT RESEARCH OVER THE INTERNET AND PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF OTH…
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MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH BOARD IS MELTING. I LIVE IN MIAMI FL. AND BROUGHT MY 2008 ALTIMA NEW FROM A LOCAL DEALER. AROUND 2010, I STARTED TO NOTICE THE DETERIORATION OF THE DASH BOARD. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO A CLEANING PRODUCT. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY RECENT RESEARCH OVER THE INTERNET AND PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF OTHER 2008 ALTIMA'S OWN BY OTHERS, THE MELTING DASH BOARD IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE RESOLVING BY RECALLING THERE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE DASH BOARD IS SO SHINY THAT IT INTER-FEARS WITH THE DRIVER'S VISION WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING, THE DASH REFLEX THE SUN DIRECTLY IN THE FACE OF THE DRIVER. I REACHED OUT TO NISSAN (CASE# [XXX]) THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REFUSE TO REPAIR OR RESOLVE THE ISSUES. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF ENDANGERING THE PEOPLE LIVES, THE WARRANTY LIMITATION SHOULD NOT APPLY. I AM ASKING FOR NISSAN TO CONFIRM A RECALL AND REPLACE MY DASH BOARD. CASE#[XXX] VIN#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.