IllustrationMY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SHOWING A RESIDUE ON FRONT DASH ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. IT HAS WORSENED TO POINT WHERE A GLARE FROM SUNLIGHT REFLECTION DISRUPTS FIELD OF VISION WHILE DRIVING. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DASHBOARD MELTING IN WARMER CLIMATES WITH HIGHER QUANTITY OF SUNLIGHT. *TR
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
Visibility/wiper complaints
168 reportsMY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO DASHBOARD MELTING. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND GIVES OFF A GLARE DURING THE DAYTIME WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND BLINDS MY VISION WHEN I DRIVE DURING THE DAY. PLEASE NISSAN FIX THIS ISSUE. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATERIALS USED WHEN MANUFACTURING A VEH…
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MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO DASHBOARD MELTING. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND GIVES OFF A GLARE DURING THE DAYTIME WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND BLINDS MY VISION WHEN I DRIVE DURING THE DAY. PLEASE NISSAN FIX THIS ISSUE. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATERIALS USED WHEN MANUFACTURING A VEHICLE. CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS CONCERNS AND FIX MY DASHBOARD. *TR
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN MELTING FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AND IS NOW CAUSING SUCH A LARGE AND INTENSE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING DAYTIME HOURS AND AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING UNDER LIGHTS. THE DASHBOARD IS CONSTANTLY STICKY AND COMES OFF IN CHUNKS WHEN YOU TOUCH IT. I HAVE SEARC…
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THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN MELTING FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AND IS NOW CAUSING SUCH A LARGE AND INTENSE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING DAYTIME HOURS AND AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING UNDER LIGHTS. THE DASHBOARD IS CONSTANTLY STICKY AND COMES OFF IN CHUNKS WHEN YOU TOUCH IT. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAVE EVEN REPORTED ISSUES/POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAGS. IT WASN'T UNTIL TODAY WHEN I SEARCHED AGAIN, HOPING OTHERS MAY HAVE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, THAT I FOUND A THREAD ON FACEBOOK (HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NISSANUSA/POSTS/10152938385130375) DISCUSSING ACTIONS TO TAKE TO BETTER THIS SITUATION. ONE NISSAN OWNER SUGGESTED FILING A COMPLAINT HERE. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED QUOTES FROM NISSAN DEALERSHIPS RANGING FROM $300 TO OVER $2500 WHEN NISSAN KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT AND IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY CAUSED BY THE CAR OWNERS. PLEASE HELP US FIX THIS SITUATION. *TR UPDATED 5/4/2016*JS
I LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE, FL AND THE DASHBOARD IN MY CAR APPEARS TO BE MELTING. THE GLARE THIS CAUSES CAN BE VERY BAD AND DANGEROUS. I'VE HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH SEEING OUT OF THE CAR IN THE EVENINGS BECAUSE OF THE GLARE. *TR
DASHBOARD IS SHINY FROM PLASTICIZERS (?) LEACHING OUT OR BREAKING DOWN CAUSING GLARE THAT IS OBSTRUCTING VISION CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. THIS GLARE OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVERS VIEW ENOUGH TO MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE TO PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND OCCUPANT OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NEARLY 1/3 OF THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED, LEAVING A STICKY RESIDUE THAT CAUSES EXTREME AND SUDDEN REFLECTION OF SUNLIGHT, INCLUDING DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC - IT IS SIMPLY A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MECHANIC, WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, HAS STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE (EVEN OLD VEHICLES) WITH MEL…
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NEARLY 1/3 OF THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED, LEAVING A STICKY RESIDUE THAT CAUSES EXTREME AND SUDDEN REFLECTION OF SUNLIGHT, INCLUDING DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC - IT IS SIMPLY A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MECHANIC, WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, HAS STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE (EVEN OLD VEHICLES) WITH MELTING AS EXTENSIVE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS BEFORE IT CAUSES A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
MY WIFE AND I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE DASHBOARD OF OUR CAR IS MELTING. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY BECAUSE THE GLARE OFF OF THE SHINY MELTED SURFACE CAN DECREASE THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE PERFECTLY CLEAR. IT IS A HAZARD, ESPECIALLY DURING SUNNY DAYS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND I NOTICE MANY OTHER CAR…
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MY WIFE AND I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE DASHBOARD OF OUR CAR IS MELTING. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY BECAUSE THE GLARE OFF OF THE SHINY MELTED SURFACE CAN DECREASE THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE PERFECTLY CLEAR. IT IS A HAZARD, ESPECIALLY DURING SUNNY DAYS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND I NOTICE MANY OTHER CAR'S OWNER EXPERIENCING THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THE MELTING IS GETTING WORSE AND NISSAN DON'T WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND EVERYONE AROUND. *TR
DASHBOARDS MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IMPAIRS DRIVING ABILITY. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE ON THE ROAD, I CANNOT SEE WHERE I AM DRIVING. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SL, I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. MY DASH IS "MELTING" AND HAS BECOME A SHINY, STICKY BLACK MESS THAT CREATES AN INCREDIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I'M AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I WANT TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I FOUND IT ANNOYIN…
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I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SL, I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. MY DASH IS "MELTING" AND HAS BECOME A SHINY, STICKY BLACK MESS THAT CREATES AN INCREDIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I'M AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I WANT TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I FOUND IT ANNOYING THAT THE DASH WAS MELTING, I'VE HAD OTHER CAR DASHES CRACK IN THE HEAT, BUT NOT MELT. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE DASH IS SO SHINY NOW IT CAN BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE A YEAR OR SO AGO. I'VE SELECTED JAN 1, 2014 ARBITRARILY. IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME THAT THE ISSUE REALLY STARTED BEING A PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH IS MELTING. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN FACING THE SUN AND A SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ITEM. *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.