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, May 3, 2010
CVT TRANSMISSION IS WARMED UP AFTER APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES OF DRIVING. ONCE WARM, FROM A COMPLETE STOP, I LIGHTLY ACCELERATE TO 20MPH. THE RPMS DROP SLIGHTLY AND MORE ACCELERATION IS NECESSARY TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20MPH. I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS/SURGES THREE TO FIVE TIMES THEN ACCELERATES RAPIDLY. THIS CAUSES YOUR NECK TO SNAP BACK AND THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL. NO ACCIDENT YET BUT IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN. TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALER IN CALIFORNIA WHO CALLED IT A "NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION" AND SENT ME HOME. STILL FIGHTING WITH NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR
Power train, Apr 15, 2010
ON OCCASION/RANDOMLY THE CLUTCH ON THE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR WHICH DOES NOT ENABLE THE DRIVER TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE PAST TO REPAIR BUT THE SAME SITUATION HAS ARISEN. NOT HAVING ABILITY TO SHIFT CAN STALL THE VEHICLE AND REDER IT INOPERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, ON AN OFF-RAMP, IN AN INTERSECTION, ETC. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Power train, Nov 30, 2009
PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA, DROVE THE CAR FOR 3,000 MILES. CVT TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING STRANGE NOISES. TURNED OUT TO BE DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED IT, BUT DID NOT PUT IT BACK TOGETHER PROPERLY. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT EVER SINCE. NOV 30, 2009 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, HAD THEM EXAMINE TRANSMISSION AGAIN FOR A GRINDING NOISE. THEY DID NOT "SEE" ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT ACKNOWLEDGED TRANSMISSION COULD BE DEFECTIVE. CAR IS GOING IN FOR MORE "TESTS". NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS 120,000 MILES FOR CVT'S, HOWEVER I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Electric, Equipment, Other or unspecified, Nov 16, 2009
BRAKES WERE MAKING A NOISE FOR A 2ND TIME; ALREADY REPLACED ONCE WHEN I TOLD ABC NISSAN PHOENIX, AZ (WHERE PURCHASED) THAT AT SPEED LESS THEN 25 MPH MY BRAKES WERE MAKING A NOISE. THE OTHER DAY WENT TO BRAKE AT 14 MPH IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR AND BRAKES LOCKED UP AND HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID A COLLISION (MIND YOU I WAS ONE CAR LENGTH BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME). I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY NISSAN ALTIMA NOW!! THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
Power train, Oct 20, 2009
WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA I CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP GOING UPHILL TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS I TRIED TO PROCEED THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CRANK INTO GEAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN DRIVE POSITION. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING IT I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED FORWARD. *TR