NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
57 reportsClear category filter72,000 miles · Oct 21, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKES SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY, AND AROUND THE SAME TIME A BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND SAID MY MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A P…
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I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKES SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY, AND AROUND THE SAME TIME A BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND SAID MY MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A PENDING INVESTIGATION OF 07 & 08 NISSAN ALTIMAS AND A BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK, AND THAT THE SAME MODEL YEAR NISSAN SENTRAS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THAT SAME REASON. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WAS A $550 FIX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10432342
35,000 miles · Oct 18, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE LIGHT WARNING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430688
27,000 miles · Oct 5, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I TOOK MY 2008 ALTIMA IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ABOUT 1 WEEK BEFORE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 MY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASHBOARD--IT WASN'T A CONSISTENT AND NOT EVERY TIME I WAS DRIVING CAR. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BRAKE FOR THIS TO OCCUR. AT DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM ABOUT ISSUE AND THEY LOOKED INTO IT. AFTER SER…
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I TOOK MY 2008 ALTIMA IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ABOUT 1 WEEK BEFORE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 MY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASHBOARD--IT WASN'T A CONSISTENT AND NOT EVERY TIME I WAS DRIVING CAR. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BRAKE FOR THIS TO OCCUR. AT DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM ABOUT ISSUE AND THEY LOOKED INTO IT. AFTER SERVICING MY CAR I WAS INFORMED THAT MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO NEEDED BACK BRAKES. I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE CAR, BECAUSE THE BRAKES MIGHT NOT WORK. I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED!! I ONLY HAVE 27000 MILES ON MY 2008 ALTIMA. OF COURSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2007 & 2008 ALTIMA'S. NISSAN HAS A RECALL FOR THE SENTRA (?) VEHICLE THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED. I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS ISSUE BEING LOOKED INTO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10428794
50,000 miles · Oct 4, 2011
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
I RECENTLY HAVING ISSUE WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. WHICH AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS, WITH BRAKE LEAKS. I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, WHICH CAUSES CONCERN FOR ME. I HAVE AN 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE WITH ROUGHLY 56,000 MIL…
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I RECENTLY HAVING ISSUE WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. WHICH AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS, WITH BRAKE LEAKS. I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, WHICH CAUSES CONCERN FOR ME. I HAVE AN 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE WITH ROUGHLY 56,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH ONLY 22K MILES ROUGHLY IN 2009 AND HAVE OTHER ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE RADIO. THE RADIO HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN WHERE MY VOLUME DIAL DOESN'T TURN THE VOLUME UP OR DOWN IT LOCKS BETWEEN THREE VOLUME NUMBERS AND AT TIMES THE SCREEN FADES IN AND OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10428657
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MASTER CYCLINDER WAS LEAKING. PARKING BREAK LIGHT WOULD STAY ON, BUT SOMETIMES GO OFF. VERY SIMILAR TO PE11020. I HAVE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS DETAILING THE LEAK AND THE REPAIR. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10427572
58,000 miles · Sep 23, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MASTER CYLINDER FOUND TO BE LEAKING. WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10426939
58,000 miles · Sep 23, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND GOING OFF SPONTANEOUS THROUGH OUT EACH DRIVE TIME AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON LONGER AS TIME PASSED. TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC AS HE TOO WAS PUZZLED WHY MY FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW SINCE THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE WORKING GREAT IT WAS DETE…
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BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND GOING OFF SPONTANEOUS THROUGH OUT EACH DRIVE TIME AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON LONGER AS TIME PASSED. TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC AS HE TOO WAS PUZZLED WHY MY FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW SINCE THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE WORKING GREAT IT WAS DETERMINED MY BRAKE FLUID WAS "SOMEHOW" LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER THAT HOLDS THE FLUID INTO THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED TO HAVE THE MASTER BRAKE VALVE REPLACED AT A COST OF $456. I QUESTIONED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND IF IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WAS JUST HAPPENING AND NO THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS. I WAS ADVISED IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE FIXED TODAY BUT WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED BUT THEY WOULD TOP OFF THE FLUID AND I WOULD BE GOOD, BUT FOR HOW LONG THEY COULDN'T TELL ME. IN RESEARCHING I SEE I AM NOT THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE AND PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST. I WANTED TO LOG MY EXPERIENCE IN HOPES NISSAN WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT IS RELATED TO A CATASTROPHE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10426856
24,000 miles · Aug 11, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
PURCHASED 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN 2009. CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CERTIFIED. IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HEARING SQUEALING/GRINDING WITH BRAKES. COMPLAINED TO NISSAN AND THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP KEPT ROTATING ROTORS BUT NO RESOLUTION. IN 12/2010 HAD BRAKES CHANGED AT HONCURA AUTO AND THEY USED GENUINE NISSAN PARTS. WITHIN A MONTH, SAME…
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PURCHASED 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN 2009. CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CERTIFIED. IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HEARING SQUEALING/GRINDING WITH BRAKES. COMPLAINED TO NISSAN AND THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP KEPT ROTATING ROTORS BUT NO RESOLUTION. IN 12/2010 HAD BRAKES CHANGED AT HONCURA AUTO AND THEY USED GENUINE NISSAN PARTS. WITHIN A MONTH, SAME THING OCCURRING. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND NISSAN WILL NOT OWN UP TO IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10418592
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I JUST BOUGHT A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA AND MY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT I HAVE A MASTER CYLINDER LEAK. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10414849
60,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA MASTER BREAK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK AFTER AROUND 60K MILES. BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THERE WAS A REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY AND AT AROUND 35-40K MILES I BOUGHT NEW BRAKE PADS DUE TO THIS LOSS OF FLUID THINKING THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER TAKING THE WHEELS OFF I FOUN…
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MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA MASTER BREAK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK AFTER AROUND 60K MILES. BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THERE WAS A REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY AND AT AROUND 35-40K MILES I BOUGHT NEW BRAKE PADS DUE TO THIS LOSS OF FLUID THINKING THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER TAKING THE WHEELS OFF I FOUND THE PADS TO BE JUST FINE AND TOPPED OFF THE FLUID. I HAD NOTED THIS MANY TIMES WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE BUT I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE. DURING ONE OF THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES' THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE LEAKING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413701
Official recalls
4Sep 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.
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.
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.
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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