IllustrationMY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. *TR
2007 Nissan Altima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Altima years
Owner complaints for the 2007 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
670–25K
7625–50K
8450–75K
5575–100K
65100–150K
25150K+
372 reports with mileage · 99 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.
- Suspension. Review the 121 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
28 crash reports22 fire reports13 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
57 reportsTHE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY CAR CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS A 2007 MODEL. IT SEEMED TOO NEW A VEHICLE TO NEED SUCH A REPAIR. THE COST WAS 638.95 TO REPAIR IT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, AND STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN…
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THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY CAR CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS A 2007 MODEL. IT SEEMED TOO NEW A VEHICLE TO NEED SUCH A REPAIR. THE COST WAS 638.95 TO REPAIR IT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, AND STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKES WERE WORSE THAN BEFORE. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THEY HAD INSTALLED THE NEW MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THE NEW ONE WASN'T HOLDING PRESSURE, SO I HAD NO BRAKES. ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM MY VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER YET AGAIN. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THE MASTER CYLINDERS WERE NEEDING REPLACEMENT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL QUITE FREQUENTLY, BUT A RECALL HAS NOT YET BEEN ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I AM ADDING MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST TOWARD THAT END. *TR
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED AT 48,000, INDICATING LOW BRAKE FLUID. TOPPING FLUID OFF IN MASTER CYLINDER, LIGHT WENT OFF. LIGHT REAPPEARED 2 MONTHS LATER. NOW ADDING BRAKE FLUID EVERY 2 MONTHS. INSPECTION REVEALS LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW. I HAVE FILLED THE BRAKE FLUID MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT CONTINUES TO LOSE FLUID. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED BASED ON CAR FORUMS ON THE WEB THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. THERE IS ALSO AN OPEN NHTSA INVESTIGATION FOR THI…
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BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW. I HAVE FILLED THE BRAKE FLUID MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT CONTINUES TO LOSE FLUID. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED BASED ON CAR FORUMS ON THE WEB THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. THERE IS ALSO AN OPEN NHTSA INVESTIGATION FOR THIS ISSUE.
MY 07 ALTIMA HAS A BRAKING PROBLEM. I PUSH THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED AND IT HAS A RESIDUAL POP AND JERK. IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AS NORMAL AND THEN IT SEEMS TO CATCH AGAIN AND IT WILL JERK AND BECOME A EXTREME BRAKE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS INITIALLY AND BLED THE LINES. THAT DI…
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MY 07 ALTIMA HAS A BRAKING PROBLEM. I PUSH THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED AND IT HAS A RESIDUAL POP AND JERK. IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AS NORMAL AND THEN IT SEEMS TO CATCH AGAIN AND IT WILL JERK AND BECOME A EXTREME BRAKE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS INITIALLY AND BLED THE LINES. THAT DID NOT FIX IT. THEY THEN RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO NISSAN AND I DID AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND I HAD THAT REPLACED AND THEY REALIZED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND THEY WERE BOTH REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD BUT I HAVE NO RECOURSE BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. HE HAS ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT IS NORMAL FOR THE ALTIMA'S. I READ THAT THERE ARE OTHER ALTIMA'S THAT HAVE A SIMILAR TYPE ISSUES. I JUST WANT THE ISSUE RESOLVED. I HAVE A DISCOUNT ON MY INSURANCE THAT INVOLVES MY GOOD DRIVING AND I CAN NOT APPLY THAT BECAUSE OF THE BREAKING ISSUE. MY INSURANCE MONITORS MY DRIVING AND BASE MY DISCOUNT ON MY DRIVING PERFORMANCE. *TR
AFTER NOTICING THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, I TOOK IT TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAD SERVICED A NUMBER OF NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THE …
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AFTER NOTICING THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, I TOOK IT TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAD SERVICED A NUMBER OF NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MY SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED THAT THERE IS AN ON-GOING INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT NISSAN MAY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR
MASTER CYLINDER CRACKED AND LEAKING. APPARENTLY, WE'RE NOT THE FIRST TO HAVE A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR
THE FIRST INSTANCE OF AN ISSUE WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I SIMPLY NEEDED TO CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS. AFTER I CHANGED MY BRAKE PADS, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY TEMPORARILY. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME THAT I WAS SIMPLY LOW ON BRAKE FLUID AND THEY TOPPED THE FLUID OFF. THE LIGH…
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THE FIRST INSTANCE OF AN ISSUE WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I SIMPLY NEEDED TO CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS. AFTER I CHANGED MY BRAKE PADS, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY TEMPORARILY. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOLD ME THAT I WAS SIMPLY LOW ON BRAKE FLUID AND THEY TOPPED THE FLUID OFF. THE LIGHT WENT AWAY TEMPORARILY AGAIN. THEN I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL STARTED STICKING WHEN IT WAS PRESSED. I WAS THEN TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY BREAK BOOSTER WAS BAD AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. AN HOUR LATER I WAS CALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THAT THEY DISCOVERED MY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND IT ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ON, SO I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE'S A LEAK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA, THERE HAS BEEN VARIOUS ISSUES/PROBLEMS WITH IT. ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS HAS BEEN THE BRAKES. I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT THE SQUEAKY SCREECHING NOISE IS NORMAL FOR ALL NISSAN'S WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A BUNCH OF CRAP. THROUGH THE YEARS, NO MATTER IF REPLACING BRAKE PADS TO CALIBERS I S…
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SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA, THERE HAS BEEN VARIOUS ISSUES/PROBLEMS WITH IT. ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS HAS BEEN THE BRAKES. I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT THE SQUEAKY SCREECHING NOISE IS NORMAL FOR ALL NISSAN'S WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A BUNCH OF CRAP. THROUGH THE YEARS, NO MATTER IF REPLACING BRAKE PADS TO CALIBERS I SHOULD NOT HAVE THE SQUEAKING STILL. *TR
Official recalls
308V521000 · 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.
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.
07V267000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Jun 21, 2007
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF A SUFFICIENTLY HOT OBJECT ENTERS THE AIR FILTER HOUSING THROUGH THE ENGINE FRESH AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND CONTACTS THE ENGINE AIR FILTER, THE FLAMMABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIR FILTER MATERIAL ARE SUCH THAT THE FILTER MAY IGNITE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE AIR FILTER MATERIAL IGNITES, A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR FILTER WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS IMPROVED ANTI-FLAMMABILITY MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 3, 2007, AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 1, 2007. 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
2PE11020 · 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.
PE07026 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened May 22, 2007 · Closed Jun 27, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
NISSAN NOTIFIED THE AGENCY ON JUNE 18, 2007 THAT IT WILL RECALL (RECALL # 07V267) ALL MY 2007 ALTIMA VEHICLES WITH 2.5 LITER ENGINE BUILT AT THE SMYRNA, TENNESSEE PLANT FROM SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 TO MAY 11, 2007 AND AT THE CANTON, MISSISSIPPI PLANT FROM OCTOBER 30, 2006 TO MAY 11, 2007.NISSAN DETERMINED THAT IF A SUFFICIENTLY HOT OBJECT (FOR EXAMPLE, A CIGARETTE ASH OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCE) ENTERS THE AIR FILTER HOUSING THROUGH THE ENGINE FRESH AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND CONTACTS THE AIR FILTER, THE FLAMMABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIR FILTER MATERIAL ARE SUCH THAT THE FILTER MAY IGNITE.IF THE AIR FILTER IGNITES, A FIRE MAY OCCUR.VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THESE DATES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DIFFERENT AIR FILTER.NISSAN WILL REMOVE THE ORIGINAL AIR FILTER AND INSTALL A NEW UNIT WITH IMPROVED ANTI-FLAMMABILITY CHARACTERISTICS.ODI IS AWARE OF 26 REPORTS OF FIRE (OF WHICH THREE WERE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO BOTH ODI AND NISSAN) AND NO INJURIES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.