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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 →

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.

53 crash reports13 fire reports26 injury reports

Steering complaints

37 reports
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72,000 miles · Apr 29, 2014
Steering

THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585422

146,311 miles · Apr 20, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT DEALERSHIP. UPON DRIVING BACK HOME THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I RECEIVED THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE DASH AND COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR START THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN A NEW BATTERY TO THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND ALSO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE. STILL WOULD NOT START. NOTHING WARNS YOU OF THIS IS…

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HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT DEALERSHIP. UPON DRIVING BACK HOME THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I RECEIVED THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT ON THE DASH AND COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL OR START THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN A NEW BATTERY TO THE INTELLIGENT KEY AND ALSO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE. STILL WOULD NOT START. NOTHING WARNS YOU OF THIS ISSUE AND GLAD THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR PART FAILED. ON THE FOLLOWING DATE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ON MONDAY THE 7TH THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILURE. SAME DAY I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO FIND OUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS NOR WOULD THEY OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE OR RECALL THIS PART AS THEY HAVE ON OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10583853

11,100 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Steering

I TOOK MY CAR TO WASH AND SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON I JUST HEARD A NOISE RIGHT AFTER THAT MY RESET TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON, THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND SET WAS FLASHING, I TRIED TO CANCEL IT BUT IT WOULDN'T THEN LUCKILY I SHOULD SAY WHEN I GOT HOME MY AC JUST TURNED OFF AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON THE…

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I TOOK MY CAR TO WASH AND SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON I JUST HEARD A NOISE RIGHT AFTER THAT MY RESET TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON, THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND SET WAS FLASHING, I TRIED TO CANCEL IT BUT IT WOULDN'T THEN LUCKILY I SHOULD SAY WHEN I GOT HOME MY AC JUST TURNED OFF AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON THEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT WOULDN'T START THEN THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT TURNED ON AND I IT WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE THE EITHER KEY. MY PHONE WAS CHARGING AND IT WAS ALSO DAMAGED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. I'VE VERY UPSET. I HAD TO TOW IT IN TO THE DEALER SHIP TO GET IT DIAGNOSED HAD TO PAY 95.00 FOR IT PLUS NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THIS: -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: [XXX] SENT: MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 12:20 PM TO: SUBJECT: REPAIR QUOTE THE REPAIRS FOR 2008 ALTIMA ARE LISTED BELOW STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY & SCREWS 834.22 LABOR CHARGES 286.20 TAXES & DISPOSAL FEES -95.89 TOTAL - 1216.31 THIS IS ABSURD, I DID MY RESEARCH AND I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535070

69,500 miles · Jun 14, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

I DROVE MY CAR YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS. I HAVE NOTICED THIS "KEY" SYMBOL ON DASH WARNING LIGHT INDICATING I NEEDED TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE CAR IN ORDER TO START THE CAR FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THERE IS NO DIAGNOSTIC CODE AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AT NISSAN THAT IT WAS JUST INDICATING LOW BATTERY ON THE KEY…

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I DROVE MY CAR YESTERDAY WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS. I HAVE NOTICED THIS "KEY" SYMBOL ON DASH WARNING LIGHT INDICATING I NEEDED TO INSERT THE KEY INTO THE CAR IN ORDER TO START THE CAR FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THERE IS NO DIAGNOSTIC CODE AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AT NISSAN THAT IT WAS JUST INDICATING LOW BATTERY ON THE KEY REMOTE (EVEN THO I JUST REPLACED THE BATTERY IN NOVEMBER). I WENT TO START MY CAR THIS MORNING AND ALTHOUGH THE DASH LIGHTS UP, THE CAR WILL NOT START. I TRIED TO JUMP START IT AND STILL WOULDN'T START. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE DASH LIGHTS UP, BUT THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL. THERE ISN'T A FAST CLICKING SOUND LIKE IT COULD BE THE STARTER. THE KEY DOESN'T WORK TO UNLOCK THE DOORS OR THE TRUNK EITHER. APPARENTLY THIS IS AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY STEERING LOCK UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519855

66,000 miles · May 9, 2013
Electrical SystemSteeringCrash

I HAD ONLY ONE ISSUE WITH MY 08 ALTIMA. THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT RECOGNIZE EITHER OF THE KEY-FOBS FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE NO REASON. IT DID NOT SEEM TO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY, TEMP., OR WEATHER. I EVEN REPLACED THE BATTERIES OF THE KEY-FOBS AND THE CARS BATTERY AS WELL. (WHICH WAS SUGGESTED AS THE FIRST TRY TO REMEDY THIS PR…

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I HAD ONLY ONE ISSUE WITH MY 08 ALTIMA. THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY NOT RECOGNIZE EITHER OF THE KEY-FOBS FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE NO REASON. IT DID NOT SEEM TO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY, TEMP., OR WEATHER. I EVEN REPLACED THE BATTERIES OF THE KEY-FOBS AND THE CARS BATTERY AS WELL. (WHICH WAS SUGGESTED AS THE FIRST TRY TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM). ON MAY 3, 2013 WITH ABOUT 66,000 MILES OR SO (STILL A BABY AS FAR AS CAR MILEAGE GOES) I HAD NO ISSUES STARTING THE CAR OR WITH IT RECOGNIZING THE KEY-FOB. THE 'ISSUE" HAPPENED AS I WAS MAKING A LANE CHANGE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR CAUSING US (2 CHILDREN AND MYSELF) TO CRASH. MY CAR WAS TOTALED... AND AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING OR RIDING IN ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. I'M CERTAIN HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HWY WHEN THIS OCCURRED WE WOULD HAVE DIED AND OTHERS INJURED/DEAD AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511342

60,000 miles · May 6, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH-TO-START SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT RAN AN INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH-TO-START SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT RAN AN INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10510853

129,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013
Power TrainSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE BELTS THAT WERE USED IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEAL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE BELTS THAT WERE USED IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504153

45,000 miles · Feb 21, 2013
Steering

BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND FOUND THAT I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499595

39,837 miles · Feb 9, 2013
Electrical SystemSteering

DROVE CAR TO WORK. AFTER 3 HOURS OF WORK WENT TO START CAR, WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR BUT COULD NOT START CAR. CHANGED BATTERIES IN SMART KEY, STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED US THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, A $1400 DOLLAR REPAIR. I CALLED 1-800-NISSAN1 AND ARGUED WITH THEM FOR D…

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DROVE CAR TO WORK. AFTER 3 HOURS OF WORK WENT TO START CAR, WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR BUT COULD NOT START CAR. CHANGED BATTERIES IN SMART KEY, STILL WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED US THAT IT WAS THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, A $1400 DOLLAR REPAIR. I CALLED 1-800-NISSAN1 AND ARGUED WITH THEM FOR DAY'S. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS BUT I'M STUCK WITH $311 IN LABOR COSTS, AND WE LOST OUR CAR FOR NINE DAY'S..NISSAN REFUSED TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE REIMBURSED. NISSAN WILL NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AS IT IS THE SAME PARTS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10497593

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2012
Steering

NOV 15, 2012 - HARRISON, NJ - STEERING I OWN A 2008 SALVAGE NISSAN ALTIMA. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL SO THE VEHICLE TO COASTED TO A STOP. I NOTICED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE ADDING MORE POWER STEERING FLUID, H…

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NOV 15, 2012 - HARRISON, NJ - STEERING I OWN A 2008 SALVAGE NISSAN ALTIMA. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL SO THE VEHICLE TO COASTED TO A STOP. I NOTICED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE ADDING MORE POWER STEERING FLUID, HE NOTICED THE FLUID LEAKING DIRECTLY FROM THE POWER STEERING FLUID COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING RACK FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,040 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000, I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO AUTHORIZE DEALER YET BUT SINCE IT'S A SALVAGE VEHICLE MOST LIKELY I'LL BE PAYING THE REPAIR OUT MY PACKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484854

Official recalls

4

10V401000 · 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

1

PE11020 · 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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