IllustrationPROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE SLOWS/STALLS WHEN DRIVEN IN HIGH HEAT WEATHER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW/STALL.
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
What owners actually said
1,028 reportsDASHBOARD IS MELTING GIVING OFF A DANGEROUS GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE GAS GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE ... DOES NOT SHOW THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF GAS TANK ... NEEDLE FLUCTUATES FROM F, 1/2, E.
TRANSMISSION REVS OUT AND SLOW TO ACCELERATE
MY HUSBAND WAS JUST IN HIS FIRST WRECK THIS PAST WEEK OR SO IN OUR NISSAN ALTIMA 2008 2.5 S, AND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WE HAD NOTICED OUR PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAD CAME ON OUT OF NO WHERE.*DT WELL, IT DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HE GOT INTO THE ACCIDENT. EVERY OTHER AIR BAG EXCEPT THE PASSENGER ONE DEPLOYED. EVEN THE ONES IN OUR SEATB…
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MY HUSBAND WAS JUST IN HIS FIRST WRECK THIS PAST WEEK OR SO IN OUR NISSAN ALTIMA 2008 2.5 S, AND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WE HAD NOTICED OUR PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAD CAME ON OUT OF NO WHERE.*DT WELL, IT DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HE GOT INTO THE ACCIDENT. EVERY OTHER AIR BAG EXCEPT THE PASSENGER ONE DEPLOYED. EVEN THE ONES IN OUR SEATBELT AREA DIDN'T DEPLOY ALL THE WAY. THE WRECK HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY. THE MAN MY HUSBAND REAR ENDED WAS YIELDING TO TURN LEFT. MY HUSBAND WAS GOING 35-40MPH.*JB
NOT A SINGLE EVENT... DASHBOARD HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN SOFTER/STICKIER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT IS NOW CRACKED AND IS MELTING NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS OFF-GASSED AN UNREMOVABLE FILM ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE GLASS, AND THE CAR HAS SUCH A NOXIOUS SMELL FROM THE FUMES WE NO LONGER FEEL IT'S HEALTHY TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE …
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NOT A SINGLE EVENT... DASHBOARD HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN SOFTER/STICKIER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT IS NOW CRACKED AND IS MELTING NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS OFF-GASSED AN UNREMOVABLE FILM ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE GLASS, AND THE CAR HAS SUCH A NOXIOUS SMELL FROM THE FUMES WE NO LONGER FEEL IT'S HEALTHY TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. *TR
DASH MELTING AND STICKY AND CAUSING A GLARE IN THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAR WILL BE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY FLAT LAND/UPHILL/DOWNHILL ANY LAND AND MY CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY LOOSE POWER ITS A 2008 ALTIMA 2.5S I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP MY CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN A DEADLY AND HEAVILY USED CANYON WITH NOT MANY PLACES AVAILABLE TO PULL YOUR CAR OVER. IF THERE IS…
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PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAR WILL BE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY FLAT LAND/UPHILL/DOWNHILL ANY LAND AND MY CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY LOOSE POWER ITS A 2008 ALTIMA 2.5S I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP MY CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN A DEADLY AND HEAVILY USED CANYON WITH NOT MANY PLACES AVAILABLE TO PULL YOUR CAR OVER. IF THERE IS IT'S VERY TIGHT. WHEN I PULL OVER I SHUT IT OFF FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO THEN I START IT BACK UP WHILE IN PARK I GENTLY PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE IT A LITTLE AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE RPM STICK WONT MOVE. I HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN AN OFF RAMP ONTO THE FREEWAY AND I WONT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER GAIN A SAFE AND LEGAL SPEED TO ENTER ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER, ALMOST CAUSED A HUGE DEADLY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS HOWEVER THE CAR RPM STICK WENT UP AND DOWN THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER A FEW "ATTEMPTS" FROM THE ENGINE IT WENT FROM ME FEELING THE CAR ALMOST FORCEFUL ENGINE SHUT OFF WITH THE LOSE OF ACCELERATING AND UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND HEARING THE CAR ALMOST DIE AND WENT FROM ME DECELERATING HARD AT 40 MPH ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL OFF RAMP FREEWAY AT 40 MPH TO ALL OF A SUDDEN TAKING OFF AS IF THE CAR WAS A ROCKET AND DIDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MAINTAINING SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 9 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED AND HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR WILL NOT TYPICALLY HAVE THIS ISSUE IF I MAKE A SHORT IN TOWN TRIP OR A FEW ERRANDS IN TOWN NO FASTER THAN 30MPH SPEEDS AND NO HARD IT FAST ACCELERATION ON FLAT LAND. I LOST THE PAPERWORK FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP HOWEVER CAN EASILY OBTAIN IT SHOWING THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPAIR COSTING AROUND 1300. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN AFTER BEING CLEARED WILL THROW THE SAME P024 ERROR CODE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR BOUGHT AND AM UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE IT WITHOUT A DEADLY OUTCOME.
THE DASHBOARD HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND THE GLARE IS VERY DISTRACTING. IT IS VERY STICKY AND GETS WORSE AT THE WEATHER GET WARMER. *TR
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTED. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER THE YEARS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD SO I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE IT. I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT IS STATIONARY FOR NOW. THE CAR ALSO HAS A FOUL ODOR FROM THE MELTED DASH. *TR
REFLECTIVE DASHBOARD THAT IS MELTING FROM THE SUNLIGHT CAUSING IT TO BE VERY STICKY, GUMMY, & SHINY. CAUSING A BLINDING GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD & EFFECTING MY VISIBILITY TO SEE WHERE I'M DRIVING & I CAN NOT SEE OTHER PERSONS OR VEHICLES. IT A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME OTHER PEOPLE I MEET IN THE ROAD & ALSO A HEALTH HAZARD TO ME FROM …
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REFLECTIVE DASHBOARD THAT IS MELTING FROM THE SUNLIGHT CAUSING IT TO BE VERY STICKY, GUMMY, & SHINY. CAUSING A BLINDING GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD & EFFECTING MY VISIBILITY TO SEE WHERE I'M DRIVING & I CAN NOT SEE OTHER PERSONS OR VEHICLES. IT A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME OTHER PEOPLE I MEET IN THE ROAD & ALSO A HEALTH HAZARD TO ME FROM HAVING TO BREATH, INHALE THE TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE MATERIAL OF THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE HELP ME WITH VEHICLE THAT I AM HAVING DRIVING HAZARDS WITH. MY NAME IS [XXX], MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] & MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX]. I NEED TO GET HELP GETTING THIS DASHBOARD FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE IT CREATES AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD KILL ME , MY PASSENGERS & WHOM EVER I MEET ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU! 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.