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: structure
312 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jun 21, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING, GETTING SHINY AND STICKY. THE SUN REFLECTS OFF THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, OBSCURING VISION. THIS CREATES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, MY VISION WAS PRETTY MUCH BLINDED. HAD THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME ELECTED TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN AT THAT TIME, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jun 17, 2014
I NOTICED IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT. IT IS GETTING WORSE AND IT MAKES A GLARE OFF MY WINDSHIELD. THE GLARE IS SO BAD THAT I CAN BARELY SEE OUT MY FRONT WINDOW!! *TR
Structure, Jun 16, 2014
AROUND JUNE 1, 2012, I NOTICED A FEW SPOTS THAT LOOKED SHINY ON MY DASHBOARD IN THE MIDDLE SECTION ABOVE THE AIR VENTS. I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT AT FIRST. HOWEVER, IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, LITTLE BY LITTLE. BY JUNE, 2013 IT STARTED TO PROJECT A GLARE ON THE FRONT WINDOW WHEN THE SUN HIT IT . LIVING IN FLORIDA, IT CAN BE BLINDING AT TIMES. MY HUSBAND NOTICED THAT IT WAS STICKY TO THE TOUCH. IN MAY 2013, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA AND NEEDED TO TAKE OFF WORK FOR CHEMO AND RADIATION. I CALLED FERMAN NISSAN IN OCT.TO INQUIRE IF ANY OTHER OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PERSON I SPOKE WITH DISMISSED ME AND SAID IT WOULD BE OVER 1000 TO REPLACE AND I WAS PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. I SAID I WAS CONCERNED IF TOXIC FUMES COULD BE RELEASED WHEN THE DASH IS HEATED, AND HE SAID NO AND TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IN FEB. WHEN I WAS FINISHED WITH MY TREATMENTS, I BEGAN INQUIRING WITH NISSAN CORPORATE. I AM WORRIED THAT THE DASH COULD BE TOXIC FOR ME, WHEN THE DASH HEAT UP, NOT TO MENTION THE DANGEROUS GLARE. I WAS TOLD TO GET A QUOTE FROM THE DEALER, WHICH I DID ON FEBRUARY, 11, 2014. IT SAID "DASH LOOKS LIKE IT'S MELTING." ESTIMATE 1619.46 PLUS TAX AND SUPPLIES TO REPLACE DASH. WHEN I FAXED NISSAN CORPORATE, THEY STILL DID NOTHING AFTER MAKING ME GET THE QUOTE. I WAS SO FRUSTRATED . THEN ACTION NEWS 10 DID A SEGMENT ON THE MELTING DASH PROBLEM AND EXPOSED THE FACT THAT THE ISSUE IS VERY COMMON. PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS SITUATION, AS I AM WORRIED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR THIS WAY IN THE HOT FLORIDA SUN. *TR
Structure, Jun 16, 2014
MY DASHBOARD IS ENTIRELY MELTED! YOU CAN'T EVEN PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT OR ELSE IT WOULD MAKE A PERMANENT INDENTION. FROM THE DASHBOARD MELTING IT CREATES A GLARE THAT REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
Structure, Jun 16, 2014
MY DASHBOARD ON MY CAR IS MELTING AND I DON'T THINK ANYTHING NECESSARILY HAPPENED TO CAUSE IT - I JUST NOTICED IT WAS STICKY AT FIRST. IT'S NOW TO THE POINT WHERE WHEN THE SUN HITS IT I HAVE TO ADJUST MY LINE OF SIGHT AROUND THE GLARE FROM IT. I WAS TOLD TO REPORT THIS HERE. *TR
Structure, Jun 16, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD A STICKY RESIDUE ON IT AND FELT AS IF IT WAS MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
Structure, Jun 16, 2014
MY NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE INTERIOR DASHBOARD IS MELTING. IT IS VERY VERY SHINY, AND VERY STICKY ALL ACROSS THE AREAS ADJACENT TO THE WINDSHIELD AREA. THE GLARE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH. IN FLORIDA THAT IS MUCH OF THE DAYLIGHT HOURS WHEN THE SUN IS THE MOST INTENSE.IT IS VERY UNSIGHTLY AS WELL. THIS BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2013. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE. THIS CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT A LARGE PART OF THE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING APPLIED TO THE DASH. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jun 9, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL MELTED DASHBOARDS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. LINK: HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/MY-DASHBOARD-IS-MELTING-T569582-150.HTML. *TR
Structure, Jun 9, 2014
THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING AND GETTING GOOEY AND STICKY FOR MONTHS. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTING SPARKLING REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD DURING CERTAIN DAYS WHEN IT IS VERY SUNNY AND THE SUN SHINES DIRECTLY AT WINDSHIELD. THE DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO NISSAN (DEALERSHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AND THE CORPORATE OFFICE) BUT THE COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR REPAIRING IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, DESPITE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND THE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Structure, Jun 3, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING!!!!!!! AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM THE AC VENTS, BUT IT JUST GOT WORSE & WORSE. I COULDN'T CLEAN IT EVEN WITH A WET RAG IT WAS SO STICKY THAT IT JUST STUCK TO IT. I KEPT A WINDSHIELD PROCTOR IN THE WINDOW AND IT STARTED TO MELT INTO THE DASH. IT GOT SO BAD IT WAS A HAZARD TO TRY AND DRIVE. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO MY DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED AT IT AND FINALLY SAID "YES, YOUR DASHBOARD IS MELTING". I WAS TOLD TO CALL CONSUMER AFFAIRS. AFTER MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH, VOICEMAIL CHASING AND ARGUING THAT THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE MY DASH DUE TO THEIR DEFECT THAT IS CAUSE FOR AN ACCIDENT. A HAZARD, AND NOW BEING UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD INITIALLY THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT WASN'T A WARRANTY ITEM. EVENTUALLY THEY AGREED TO REPLACE( I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY), BUT THAT THE COST OF LABOR HAD TO BE DEALT WIT MY DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF $560. CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAID THEY WILL ONLY PAY FOR THE PART. FINALLY DISCUSSED WITH DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT PART WAS IN, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WASN'T ORDERED. AN ORDER WAS SUPPOSEDLY PLACED ON 5/13/14 AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS. TODAY IS JUNE 3. 2014 AND I'M STILL WAITING! JUST SPOKE WITH PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THE PART IS ON BACKORDER WITH NO OTHER INFORMATION OF WHEN IT COULD POSSIBLY COME IN! SO MUCH FOR THE HELP! I PROBABLY WILL NOT EVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN, AND IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE MY CAR. *TR
Structure, May 30, 2014
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD BECOME STICKY AND WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 2.5S IS MELTING. THE MELTING STARTED AROUND THE EDGES OF THE SPEAKER GRILL AND THE TOP PART OF THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TRIED TO REMOVE THE RESIDUE WITH DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. THE MELTING HAS PROGRESSED TO A POINT WHERE IT IMPAIRS MY VISION DUE TO THE REFLECTION OF SUN ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. I AM ONLY ONE OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED WITH THIS ISSUE. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE FOR THE WORDS "MELTING" "DASHBOARD" AND "ALTIMA" WILL POP UP MORE THAN A DOZEN THREADS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MOST OF THEM ARE FROM SATES WHERE THE TEMPERATURES ARE REGULARLY HOT. *TR
Structure, May 26, 2014
DASHBOARD MELTING. WINDSHIELD COVERED WITH HUGE REFLECTING GLARE IMPAIRING VISION. AIRBAGS MAY NOT OPERATE FROM WITHIN STICKY MOLTEN SUBSTANCE THE DASHBOARD IS COVERED WITH. (2008 ALTIMA COUPE 2.5). *TR
Structure, May 23, 2014
MELTING DASHBOARD. *TR
Structure, May 22, 2014
THE DASH APPEARS TO BE MELTING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PRETTY WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AS EVIDENT IN SEVERAL NISSAN ONLINE FORUMS. MY DASH HAS BECOME SOFT, STICKY AND SHINY IN SEVERAL VERY LARGE SPOTS. IF THIS WERE JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE, I WOULDN'T BE POSTING HERE. THIS IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DASH CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH WITHOUT THE USE OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. AT A MINIMUM, I JUST WANT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL REMOVE OR REDUCE THE GLARE BY DULLING THE SHINY SPOTS. *TR
Structure, May 15, 2014
MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING FOR YEARS NOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST DUE TO THE SUN AND LACK OF CLEANING IT, BUT READING ONLINE IT IS BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL NISSAN CHOSE TO MAKE THE DASHBOARD OUT OF. I CAN BARELY SEE THE ROAD AT TIMES WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHT. *TR
Structure, May 11, 2014
DASHBOARD LEAKING GLUE LIKE MATERIAL CAUSING GLARE ON WINDSHIELD GLASS. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO GLARE. SAFETY COMPROMISED. *TR
Structure, May 9, 2014
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE DASH IS MELTING SEVERELY. I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS A TAR PIT, WHICH HAS SPREAD OVER HALF THE DASH. DURING THE DAY YOU SEE THIS MELTING DASH REFLECTING IN THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD, WHICH IS DANGEROUSLY OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. ( SERIOUSLY ) !!!!!!!! ALSO I'M AWARE THERE'S MANY CAR OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THESE DASHES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED. THANK YOU !!!!!!! *TR
Structure, May 3, 2014
THE DASHBOARD SEEMS TO BE MELTING AND CRACKING THROUGHOUT. *TR
Structure, May 3, 2014
I STARTED TO NOTICE STICKY SPOTS AN MY DASH ABOUT 12 MONTHS AGO. NOW IT IS COVERING MOST OF THE DASH. THIS IS CREATING A PROBLEM WHEN I AM DRIVING DURING THE DAY .IF I AM DRIVING TOWARDS THE SUN THE GLARE COMING OFF OF THE DASH IS ALMOST BLINDING. THIS MAKES IT A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED AS A RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURE. *TR
Visibility, Structure, May 3, 2014
I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2008. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM NISSAN IN KENDALL MIAMI, FL. LAST YEAR I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT WHAT HAS SEEMED LIKE A REGULAR WEAR FROM THE CAR, HAS TURNED INTO A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A GLARE WHEN THE SUN HITS THE DASH MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE CLEARLY. I KNOW IT SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT MY DASH IS MELTING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AS I COULD POTENTIALLY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY TEMPORARY SOLUTION WE HAVE FOUND IS TO PURCHASE A CUSTOM MADE DASHBOARD. HOWEVER, I DON'T SEE WHY NISSAN HAS NOT HELPED. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT SINCE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY, I'M OUT OF LUCK. I'VE HAD ATTORNEYS OFFERING TO START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BEING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT ALL I WANT IS TO HAVE MY DASH REPLACED AND THAT'S IT. IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT NISSAN WOULD STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR
Structure, May 1, 2014
MELTING DASHBOARD WHEN SUN HITS CANT SEE DUE TO GLARE VERY UN SAFE. *TR
Structure, Apr 30, 2014
MY NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD IS MELTING IN THE SUN AND HEAT HERE AND I HAVE TINTED WINDOWS AND USE A SUNSHADE. THIS IS BECOMING A SAFETY CONCERN. *JS
Structure, Apr 30, 2014
MY WHOLE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. I HAVE A GLARE FROM THIS THAT OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY. *JS
Structure, Apr 27, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING IT SEEMS TO BE REAL STICKY THE GLARE FROM IT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD IT'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR