IllustrationORANGE KEY LIGHT INDICATOR COMES ON AND CAR WILL NOT START UP.
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
Electrical System complaints
90 reportsI WAS DRIVING DOWN A DIRT ROAD AND MY CAR DIED I TRIED TO START IT BACK UP BUT IT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING I CAN'T TURN ON ANY LIGHTS UNLOCK OR LOCK THE CAR NOTHING. SHOWS A LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT LOOKS LIKE THE KEY FOB AND LOOKED IT UP AND IT SAYS THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN CAN CAUSE THE ISSUES AND HAS A RECALL
I CAN DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS THEN AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE CAR SHUTS DOWN SLOWS DOWN AND THEN CUTS COMPLETELY OFF TRIES TO RESTART THE CAR IT COMPLETELY DIES HAVE TO GET A JUMP START. COULDN'T GET A READING ON THE CAR NO CODES WOULD SHOW UP IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE NOT KNO…
Read full complaint
I CAN DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS THEN AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE CAR SHUTS DOWN SLOWS DOWN AND THEN CUTS COMPLETELY OFF TRIES TO RESTART THE CAR IT COMPLETELY DIES HAVE TO GET A JUMP START. COULDN'T GET A READING ON THE CAR NO CODES WOULD SHOW UP IT'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE NOT KNOWING WHEN IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF ON ME AND MY DAUGHTER.
MY 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.
CAR STOPPED, WOULD NOT START, YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE LEFT DASHBOARD STAYS ON. CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL
THE POWER START KEY ISNT TURNING ON THE CAR, IT ALLOWS YOU TO ENTER THE CAR BUT THE START TAKES VARIOUS ATTEMPTS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE LOCK STEERING FEATURE MALFUNCTIONS.
THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I HAD TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED LAST MONTH TO DRIVE IN THE STATE OF VA AND TO ACCESS THE NAVAL BASE FOR WORK. I FAILED THE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF IT AND HAD TO PAY $705 FOR A NEW SEAT. I SAW A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY NISSAN RECALL DEPARTMENT …
Read full complaint
THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I HAD TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED LAST MONTH TO DRIVE IN THE STATE OF VA AND TO ACCESS THE NAVAL BASE FOR WORK. I FAILED THE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF IT AND HAD TO PAY $705 FOR A NEW SEAT. I SAW A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY NISSAN RECALL DEPARTMENT MY CAR WASN'T COVERED. HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE? I AM REQUESTING A FULL REFUND FROM NISSAN AS THE ISSUE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED IN 2008. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN HELPING ME ACCOMPLISH IT.
THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I HAD TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED LAST MONTH TO DRIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND TO ACCESS THE NAVAL BASE FOR WORK. I FAILED THE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF IT AND HAD TO PAY $705 FOR A NEW SEAT. I SAW A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY NISSAN RECALL DE…
Read full complaint
THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I HAD TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED LAST MONTH TO DRIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND TO ACCESS THE NAVAL BASE FOR WORK. I FAILED THE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF IT AND HAD TO PAY $705 FOR A NEW SEAT. I SAW A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY NISSAN RECALL DEPARTMENT MY CAR WASN'T COVERED. HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE? I AM REQUESTING A REFUND AS THE ISSUE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN 2008.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START THE INTELLIGENT KEY FOB AND THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 06/01/17*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 10/19/2017*JS
I HAVE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. I NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE STATUS LIGHT REMAINS OFF WITH NO PASSENGER IN IT. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE AS MENTIONED IN THE LINK BELOW. HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/ACM10619386/RCRIT-08V521-7546.PDF PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO FIX…
Read full complaint
I HAVE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. I NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE STATUS LIGHT REMAINS OFF WITH NO PASSENGER IN IT. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE AS MENTIONED IN THE LINK BELOW. HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/ACM10619386/RCRIT-08V521-7546.PDF PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS TO FIX THE ISSUE WITHOUT CHARGE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN AND THEIR REPLY WAS AS BELOW: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING NISSAN NORTH AMERICA REGARDING YOUR 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. A REVIEW OF OUR SYSTEM INDICATES THAT THE ABOVE-REFERENCED VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN ANY RECALL OR SERVICE CAMPAIGNS.CASE # [XXX] HAS BEEN CREATED TO DOCUMENT YOUR INQUIRY. 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.