2008 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 1,029 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 53 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 33 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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.
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
Campaign 10V401000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsOct 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).
THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 08V521000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionJul 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.
IF THE BOLT WERE TO COME OUT, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 08V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignition, moduleDec 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.
DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 07V599000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
80 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Apr 23, 2024
The drive train I believe it’s called Or transmission is malfunctioning and yes it is available for inspection upon request Our safety was put in risk when the vehicle started driving at a low speed and would not accelerate eventually stopping completely The problem hasn’t been inspected or confirmed by a dealer or service center There was no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure
Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 26, 2024
Parked car due to electrical and transmission issues had left it for a couple hours to receive assistance and the car was gone it had no plates because I was attempting to register the car that same day
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 7, 2022
In 2018 I was driving back home from Derby, Kansas to Denver, Colorado in the middle of summertime, and my air conditioner started blowing hot air and the AC did not need to be charged. This was in my 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe that I purchased in April 2008 with 4 miles on it and have taken amazing care of it and still have it to this day and is in excellent condition other than these issues. About an hour later, my car starting making a revving noise when I accelerated but my car was not accelerating and I would have to pull off on the side of the road, in 100 degree weather, no air conditioning, with my dogs, and wait for 30 minutes and then I could start driving for about 10 minutes, and then I had to repeat this all the way back to Denver. A normally 8 hour trip took me over 20 hours due to this. I have to rent a car now I go out of town because I am not going to pay to fix whatever is wrong with it when this is obviously a major problem because there have been so many reports. I drive it when going on short trips so its driven, but its pretty much been non-reliable since 2018. I hope there is a thorough investigation of this and a recall is done because this is crazy and was not safe at all to drive and it actually still happens when it is hot out and I drive more than 30 minutes. No error lights come on and all gagues are normal and no mechanics can seem to figure it out so I can't get it fixed. I will never buy a brand new car again because a used one will last longer, and definitely not a Nissan or anything affiliated or has parts made buy them.
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Apr 15, 2021
I JUST PURCHASED MY NISSAN NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS AGO AND I'VE HAD TO HAVE IT IN THE 4-5 SHOPS BECAUSE NOBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS GIVING THE CODE P0335. FINALLY FOUND OUT IT'S THE TIMING CHAIN. I CANT DRIVE MY OWN CAR BECAUSE OF IT AND I FEEL LIKE I GOT ROBBED OF MY MONEY. THE DAM CAR IS STUCK IN LIMP MODE. WE WAS DRIVING ONE DAY AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED REALLY HARD AN LOST POWER DIDNT HAVE A CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
Power train, Oct 25, 2020
I HAVE THE TRANSMITION CODE P7044 (DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER) CAR HAS ONLY 97000 MILES DANGER IS AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT MOVE
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Sep 18, 2020
WE WERE DRIVING ON I-695 IN BALTIMORE AREA WHEN I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT WHILE PRESSING ACCELERATION PADDLE, THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING FORWARD. IT STARTED TO STALL AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED COMPLETELY. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE CURBSIDE BEFORE A COLLISION MAY HAVE OCCURRED. BUT SOMEONE WITH LESS DRIVING CAPABILITIES MAY HAVE ENDED UP IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CAR STALLING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. LATER ON I FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NISSAN DIDN'T CARE AT ALL WHEN I CONTACTED THEM. I GOT TRANSMISSION REPLACED MYSELF. I THOUGHT I SHOULD SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A TRANSMISSION STALLING A VEHICLE AT NEARLY 65 MPH IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSES.
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Aug 13, 2020
THE CVT TRANSMISSION STEP SOLENOID AND THE ACCELERATOR PADDLE NOT WORKING WRITE IT WONT GO ANYWHERE SOMETIMES ONLY LIKE 20 MILES AN HOUR HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN IT OFF AND WAIT 5 TO 10 MIN THEN IT'S OK FOR A LITTLE BIT IF I HIT A BUMP IT ALSO SHUTS OFF CAN U HELP PLEASE ITSBEEN DOING THIS SINCE BOUGHT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL
Power train, May 10, 2020, crash
I HAD PICKED UP A NAIL IN MY TIRE ON MY WAY HOME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT WHICH CAME OUT WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY 94 (TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65MPH) WHICH CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO VEER TO ON COMING TRAFFIC SO. I TRY TO CORRECT IT AND THE MY VEHICLE WASN'T RESPONDING LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULDN'T POWER OUT OF THE PULL FROM THE DEFLATED TIRE SO I HAD TO OVER CORRECT WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SENDING MY INTO A REVEAN AND THEN OVER A 5 WIRE FENCE SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGING MY VEHICLE MORE THAN I WOULD'VE HAD THE TRANSMISSION BEEN OPERATING PROPERLY I HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WELL UNDER THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVAL NOT TO MENTION THAT I RECEIVED A CITATION FOR CARELESS DRIVING BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Aug 12, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOST POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED NISSAN SOUTH AT 678-619-3104 (LOCATED AT 6889 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000.
Power train, Jul 29, 2019
"TAKATA RECALL
Power train, Jan 17, 2019
THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 5000 MILES PER YEAR. AT 5 YEARS/25000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WHILE IN MOTION FAILED, LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE ROAD. THAT TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 10 YEARS/50000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED AGAIN, AGAIN WHILE IN MOTION, LEAVING ME ONCE MORE STRANDED ON THE ROAD. THAT TRANSMISSION ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT IS NOW 12 YEARS/60000 MILES AND TODAY THIS TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP AND MAKE A WHIRRING NOISE. (THIS IS THE DATE I HAVE USED BELOW)
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 19, 2018
NY EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS HAVING TROUBLE I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S BEEN A RECALL BUT CANNOT FIND ANYTHING RECENT. MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ISN'T READING CORRECTLY EITHER AND I'M SCARED I'M GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD THERE'S A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM IT ACCORDING TO THE SHOP THAT CHECKED MY CAR. I'VE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTAINCE I AM UNSURE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
Power train, Sep 24, 2018
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. SUDDENLY THE CAR LOST POWER BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WELL. THE CAR JUST STOPPED AND COULD'T MOVE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA!
Power train, Aug 30, 2018
I HAVE PUT 2 DIFFERENT CVT TRANNYS IN MY 08 ALTIMA COUPE AND BOTH HAVE FAILED AND STUCK HAVING TO DO A 3RD I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AT 80 WHEN IT WENT INTO FAIL SAFE WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OFF WAS STRANDED FOR A SECOND TIME
Power train, Aug 6, 2018
2008 ALTIMA COUPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE WITH VEHICLES CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (CVT). *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD INTO LIMP MODE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JS
Power train, Engine, Jul 26, 2018
AT 120000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THIS 2.5 L ENGINE. WE PAID $3,000 TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED 10 MONTHS AGO. NOW THE CAR IS USING ABOUT 1 GALLON OF OIL EVERY 3 WEEKS AND WE FOUND THAT CYLINDER 3 HAS PISTON RINGS THAT ARE SHOT. OUR DEALERSHIP CONFIRMS THAT THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I NOTICED THAT THE 2006 MODEL ALTIMA WITH A 2.5 L ENGINE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BECAUSE THE CAR USES EXCESSIVE OIL AND AN ENGINE FIRE MAY RESULT. OUR NEWER MODEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE NEARLY RUNS OUT OF OIL EVERY MONTH AND IS VERY HOT. DO WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH NISSAN? ANYONE ELSE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS?
Power train, Jul 26, 2018
2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CVT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TURNED OFF. *JS
Power train, Jul 18, 2018
CVT PROBLEM - WHIRRING NOISE
Power train, Jun 14, 2018
THE CAR SEEMS TO "SLIP GEARS" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE CVT TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE AND MOVE THE CAR AT TIMES. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG NISSAN ALTIMAS OF THIS YEAR. RESEARCHING ONLINE THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR ISSUES. THE CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE AT TIMES WHEN IT IS EXPECTED.
Power train, Jun 13, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE AND WOULD RANDOMLY DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GERALD NISSAN NAPERVILLE (1575 WEST OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2014 PER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S CAMPAIGN FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000.
Power train, Jun 12, 2018
ALL I COULD SAY I WILL NEVER BY A NISSAM CAR. AGAIN IN TILL UR FIX THE PROBLEMS ITS TRANSMISSION EVEY BODY I TALK TO ITS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA
Power train, May 19, 2018
WHILE BEING SHIFTED INTO REVERSE FROM A STOP IN A PARKING SPACE, OUR '08 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 6SPMT MADE A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE FLOOR. THE SHARED BRAKE/CLUTCH RESERVOIR WAS FOUND TO BE DRAINED TO THE LEVEL OF THE CLUTCH TAKEOFF. WHILE THIS PRESENTED NO IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUES, HAD IT HAPPENED WHILE SHIFTING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I CAN IMAGINE IT WOULD BE, TO SAY THE LEAST, HIGHLY DISTRACTING FOR THE TYPICAL DRIVER AND PERHAPS MORE SO FOR A LESS EXPERIENCED ONE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED CLUTCH FAILURES IN OTHER CARS BUT TYPICALLY THE SYSTEM DETERIORATES SLOWLY, UNLIKE THIS SUDDEN FAILURE. I HAVE DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE MYSELF (COMPETENT DIY MECHANIC) AND BASED UPON NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE OR MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE AREA OF THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER OR RESERVOIR, BUT BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE TRANSAXLE, I AM CONFIDENT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER OR AN INTERNAL HYDRAULIC LINE HAS FAILED. THANKS!
Power train, Apr 10, 2018
CVT TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 82,139 MILES. AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY WAS DONE FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF CVT TRANSMISSIONS EXTENDING TO 120,000 MILES. MY DAUGHTERS VEHICLE IS AT 147,000 MILES AND THE CAR JUST ABOUT QUIT RUNNING ON THE INTERSTATE 55 SOUTH ON HER WAY BACK TO COLLEGE. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 200 MILES HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF $3500 AND THE CAR IS NOT WORTH THAT MUCH MONEY. NISSAN DID NOT CORRECT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THEY JUST PUT ANOTHER CVT TRANSMISSION IN THE FIRST TIME. THIS WAS AN UNSAFE AND UNETHICAL PRACTICE. THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NOR GIVE ANY CREDIT BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE ARE TOO MANY MILES ON THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THERE IS ONLY 65,000 MILES ON THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF.
Power train, Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 30, 2018
1) CLEAR COAT AND BLACK PAINT FADING TO PRIMER (YEAR 2017-2018) 2) 124,000 MILES - TRANSMISSION WHINING AS VEHICLE SPEEDS UP ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS (MARCH 22,2018) 3) BLACK DASH HAS MELTED, CANT SEE OUT WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING FACING THE SUN (2017-2018)
Power train, Feb 24, 2018
CVT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 119,00 MILES. SAID WARRANTY WAS OUT AT 10 YEARS ON JAN. 30 2018 GOING TO HAVE TO PAY $4,600.00 TO HAVE REPLACED AND ONLY GIVING WARRANTY FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN.