MANIFOLD, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE THE MANIFOLD OR GASKET, IS THERE A RECALL ON THAT PART, VERY UNSAFE CAR FILLS UP WITH THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IT ALSO RUSTING ON THE BACK BY THE WHEEL IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ITS TO EARLY TO BE RUSTING POOR PAINT
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
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.
Engine complaints
54 reportsI 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.
SPEED WENT FROM 70 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR, IT JUST DROP
MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER ONLY 90,000 MILES. NISSAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOR FREE UNDER THEIR EXTENDED CVT WARRANTY PROGRAM, HOWEVER, LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE MAKING A LONG DISTANCE TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE. ACCORDING TO NISSAN THE CVT FLUID REQUIRED FOR THE CVT TRANSMISSION …
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MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER ONLY 90,000 MILES. NISSAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOR FREE UNDER THEIR EXTENDED CVT WARRANTY PROGRAM, HOWEVER, LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE MAKING A LONG DISTANCE TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE. ACCORDING TO NISSAN THE CVT FLUID REQUIRED FOR THE CVT TRANSMISSION CAN BECOME GLUE LIKE AND GUNK UP AT HIGH SPEEDS OR IN HOT WEATHER, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND THE CAR TO STALL. THE SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM IS AN EXTERNAL COOLANT SYSTEM FOR THE CVT FLUID PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER AT THEIR EXPENSE TO KEEP THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM BECOMING THICK. I AM EXTREMELY DISGUSTED WITH MY NISSAN EXPERIENCE, THEY KNOWINGLY ARE MAKING TRANSMISSIONS WHICH FAIL AFTER LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND ARE REQUIRING THEM TO USE NISSAN CVT FLUID WHICH IS A FAIL ALSO.
WENT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT MOSSY NISSAN, KEARNY MESA, CA. WAS INFORMED THE HEADGASKET(S) WERE LEAKING COOLANT. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ALTHOUGH MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE LEAK(S) WERE A COMMON AND PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT NISSAN USED THE INCORRECT HEAD GASKETS FOR THIS MODEL OF 3.5 V6 (FRONT WHEEL DR…
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WENT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT MOSSY NISSAN, KEARNY MESA, CA. WAS INFORMED THE HEADGASKET(S) WERE LEAKING COOLANT. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ALTHOUGH MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE LEAK(S) WERE A COMMON AND PRE-EXISTING CONDITION. HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT NISSAN USED THE INCORRECT HEAD GASKETS FOR THIS MODEL OF 3.5 V6 (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VQ35HR TO BE SPECIFIC). ONCE NISSAN REALIZED THEIR MISTAKE, ALL SUBSEQUENT ENGINES RECEIVED THE CORRECT HEAD GASKETS AND THE LEAKAGE PROBLEMS WENT AWAY. I AM REQUESTING THAT NISSAN FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEAD GASKET DEFECT AND EXTEND THE DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT EXPENSE. I AM UNSURE WHETHER THE NHTSA CAN HELP ME IN THIS CASE, BUT PERHAPS IF MY COMPLAINT CAN BE IN THE DATABASE, WE CAN GET MORE AFFECTED CONSUMERS TO SUBMIT SIMILAR HEAD GASKET DEFECT COMPLAINTS IN THE HOPES THAT NISSAN WILL BE FORCED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IMMEDIATELY THE CAR RAN HOT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER THAT THEN INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/CATALYST CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND WAS LEAKING. WHICH THEY INFORMED ME WAS VERY DANG…
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UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IMMEDIATELY THE CAR RAN HOT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER THAT THEN INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/CATALYST CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND WAS LEAKING. WHICH THEY INFORMED ME WAS VERY DANGEROUS BUT THEY WHERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS WHICH LED TO CRACKED HEADS ON THE MOTOR AND EVENTUALLY TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. WHAT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN? NOT SO MUCH,. *TR
OIL CAP WILL NOT UNSCREW ON 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT IS LEAKING OIL. *TR
I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND CAR, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT JUST GAVE OUT. IT WAS STILL RUNNING BUT AS I HIT GAS IT WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND WAS TOLD I NEED WHOLE NEW MOTOR DUE TO THE FACT THE CAM…
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I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND CAR, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IT JUST GAVE OUT. IT WAS STILL RUNNING BUT AS I HIT GAS IT WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS, AND WAS TOLD I NEED WHOLE NEW MOTOR DUE TO THE FACT THE CAMSHAFT BROKE. NOW THIS IS A PART I AM BEING TOLD THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK AND IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK AND SEE IF ANY RECALLS HAVE BEEN PUT OUT ON CAMSHAFT. I DID AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN. I AM FILING COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I NOW HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET (EST. IS OVER $4,800!!!!) FOR REPAIRS DONE TO MY CAR FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND BY THE CAMSHAFT BREAKING IT CAUSED A LIST OF OTHER MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE, WHICH IS WHY I NEED TO REPLACE IT! *TR
AS I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE (DRIVING 60 MPH) THEN REDUCED MY SPEED TO 20 WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T GO!! IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND MY RPM WOULD CLIMB UP TO 4 OR 5! I HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK HOME ON INTERSTATE DRIVING 20 MPG!!! IT'S HAPPENED ONLY WHEN I TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES!! I AM HIGHLY DISSATISFIED WITH THE…
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AS I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE (DRIVING 60 MPH) THEN REDUCED MY SPEED TO 20 WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T GO!! IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND MY RPM WOULD CLIMB UP TO 4 OR 5! I HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK HOME ON INTERSTATE DRIVING 20 MPG!!! IT'S HAPPENED ONLY WHEN I TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES!! I AM HIGHLY DISSATISFIED WITH THE ALTIMA! EVERYONE I ENCOUNTERED ABOUT THE 2006-2008 ALTIMA REGRETS GETTING ONE. *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.
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