IllustrationMY DASH BOARD IS MELTING FROM THE HEAT AND CRACKING ALL AROUND. MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON ALONG WITH TIRE SENSOR. HAD SENSOR REPLACE SEVERAL TIME AND HAVE SAME ISSUE.
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
Air Bags complaints
142 reportsAIRBAGS DID NOT PASS INSPECTION, RECEIVED REJECTION STICKER. AIRBAG SENSORS ARE DEFECTIVE. BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU.
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR DISPLAYED OFF. VEHICLE HAS A FAULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, REQUIRING THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED.
MY 2008 ALTIMA SEDAN HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IN DECEMBER 2017 I EXPERIENCED AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT THAT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALONG WITH A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT INDICATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF. THESE WARNINGS APPEARED NO MATTER IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EMPTY OR IF AN ADULT PASSENGER OCC…
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MY 2008 ALTIMA SEDAN HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IN DECEMBER 2017 I EXPERIENCED AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT THAT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ALONG WITH A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT INDICATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF. THESE WARNINGS APPEARED NO MATTER IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EMPTY OR IF AN ADULT PASSENGER OCCUPIED IT. THIS HAPPENED ANYTIME THE CAR WAS RUNNING (STOPPED OR MOVING AT ANY SPEED). I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY ACTIVE RECALLS. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED THAT NISSAN VEHICLES HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNINGS RELATED TO SENSORS AND OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR A BROAD RANGE OF NISSAN AND INFINITI VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL MODEL YEARS SINCE 2007. THERE WAS ONE NHTSA RECALL (#08V-521) RELATED TO THIS ISSUE THAT COVERED MY MODEL AND YEAR, BUT THIS APPLIED TO ONLY A SMALL GROUP OF NISSAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN 2007-2009 THAT EXHIBITED A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ONE MONTH AFTER THE LAST MONTH INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, BUT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE LAST MONTH OF PRODUCTION INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNINGS GO BEYOND THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE WARRANTS EXPANSION OF THE ABOVE RECALL OR A NEW RECALL. I DON'T BELIEVE NISSAN IS LIVING UP TO ITS SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES. I HAVE COMPLETED SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE (SEE ATTACHMENT) THAT SHOULD CONVINCE NHTSA OF THE NEED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DEFECT. I HAVE INVESTED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE AND CREATING THE ATTACHED REPORT. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE FROM NHTSA STATING IF THEY INTEND TO PURSUE NISSAN TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL RECALLS, OR NOT.
DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CRACKING TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN SEE THE FOAM MATERIAL THAT THE DASH IS MADE OUT OF MAKE SEEING OUT THE WINDSHIELD VERY DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING OUT OF A TUNNEL DURING THE DAY AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE MOMENTARILY MAKING DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT. BOUGHT A DASH COVER TO HOPEFULLY SLOW DOWN THE PRO…
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DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CRACKING TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN SEE THE FOAM MATERIAL THAT THE DASH IS MADE OUT OF MAKE SEEING OUT THE WINDSHIELD VERY DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING OUT OF A TUNNEL DURING THE DAY AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE MOMENTARILY MAKING DRIVING VERY DIFFICULT. BOUGHT A DASH COVER TO HOPEFULLY SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS AND SO I COULD SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD CLEARLY. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT DOES LIGHTS UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. BOUGHT THE CAR, 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, IN NORTH FLORIDA AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND HAWAII, WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE, YEAR ROUND. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS AND HAVE LESS THAN 75000 MILES.
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON EVEN THOUGHT SOMEONE IN SEAT
SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2014, THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY MELTING AND CRACKING TO THE POINT WHERE THE GLARE FROM THE BLACK MELTED DASHBOARD HAS SEVERELY DECREASED VISIBILITY. ADDITINALLY, AS MORE CRACKS HAVE APPEARED THE CAR NO LONGER RECOGNIZES WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SHOWS THE AIRBAG AS 'O…
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SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2014, THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY MELTING AND CRACKING TO THE POINT WHERE THE GLARE FROM THE BLACK MELTED DASHBOARD HAS SEVERELY DECREASED VISIBILITY. ADDITINALLY, AS MORE CRACKS HAVE APPEARED THE CAR NO LONGER RECOGNIZES WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SHOWS THE AIRBAG AS 'OFF.'
MY PASSANGER AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING WHEN SOMEBODY IS SITTING IN THE SEAT IT IS STILL OFF WHEN DRIVING, THEIR WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS BUT WHEN I CALL NISSAN ITS NOT MY MODEL
TAKATA RECALL, GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. WERE THERE ANY AIRBAGS IN THE CAR??????
MY PASSANGER AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING WHEN SOMEBODY IS SITTING IN THE SEAT IT IS STILL OFF WHEN DRIVING, THEIR WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS BUT WHEN I CALL NISSAN ITS NOT MY MODEL
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.