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, Sep 4, 2013
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. I USE WINDSHIELD VISORS AND I DON'T USE HARSH CLEANERS/CHEMICALS ON MY DASHBOARD FOR CLEANING. IT IS A DEFECT FROM PRODUCTION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. *JB
Structure, Aug 27, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH BOARD MELTED AND CREATED A GLARE OVER THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 03/31/14*LJ UPDATED 04/01/14
Structure, Aug 8, 2013
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING, LOOKS LIKE IT IS WET IN CERTAIN SPOTS AND THE GLARE IS VERY UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE DRIVING. I DID NOT USE ANY CHEMICALS ON THE DASHBOARD SUCH AS ARMOR ALL (I SAY I DID NOT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD DONE) I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ONLINE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. SEEMS LIKE IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND I CAN NOT AFFORD 1200 TO CHANGE MY DASHBOARD. THANK YOU, *TR
Structure, Aug 1, 2013
A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHILE CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD WAS STICKY IN A SMALL AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THINKING IT WAS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CLEANED I APPLIED AN ADHESIVE REMOVER BUT HAD NO POSITIVE RESULTS. NOW THAT WE ARE IN THE DEAD HEAT OF SUMMER, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND HAS NOW SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER SIDE ALONG WITH CREATING AN UNBELIEVABLE GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD. NOW, WHEN I TOUCH IT, PIECES OF THE MATERIAL STICK TO MY FINGER. THAT WAS REAL EYE OPENER TO LOOK INTO IT AND SEE IF IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER NISSAN OWNERS. WITH ONLY A FEW MINS. OF RESEARCH I'M FINDING THAT IT'S WIDELY COMMON, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FL. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A CRACK THAT SPANS ABOUT 15 INCHES ALONG THE BRIDGE OF THE DASHBOARD JUST ABOVE THE GAUGES. THIS ISN'T THE NISSAN QUALITY WE HEAR ABOUT! TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! *TR
Structure, Jul 13, 2013
DASH OF VEHICLE BECAME STICKY TO THE TOUCH-SEEMED MELTED. THIS CAUSES A SHEEN THAT WHEN REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD FORMS AN UNSAFE GLARE WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Structure, Jun 7, 2013
MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT WITH THE RISING TEMPERATURES THIS SUMMER AND IS SPREADING AND GETTING WORSE AS THE TEMPERATURE RISES...... WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS THEY USED TO MANUFACTURE THE DASHBOARD... <<<< IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE >>>> AND HAS DEVELOPED A SHEEN THAT IS REFLECTING A LARGE GLARE BACK AT THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON SUNLIT DAYS. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, May 27, 2013
I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IMPAIRS DRIVING ABILITY. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE ON THE ROAD, AND VISIBILITY CAN OFTEN BECOME AN ISSUE WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH. *TR
Structure, May 4, 2013
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. THE DASHBOARD WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND THE GLARE IS VERY BAD. I HAVE NOT ADDED ANY SOLVENTS OR CHEMICALS TO THE DASHBOARD. I FIND IT HARD TO DRIVE ON SUNNY DAYS DUE TO MY WINDSHIELD REFLECTING THE GLARE CAUSED BY THE MELTING DASHBOARD. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE IN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM YET THE ONLY ONE IS TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AND I IMAGINE THIS WOULD JUST HAPPEN AGAIN DUE TO THE MATERIAL THE DASHBOARD IS MADE FROM. I WOULD HOPE NISSAN RECALLS THESE DASHBOARDS AND MAKES NEW ONES. I HAVE ALSO LOOKED INTO THIS AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Apr 4, 2013
THE DASHBOARD IN MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING. I HAVE NEVER APPLIED ANY CHEMICAL CLEANING SOLUTIONS TO THE DASHBOARD AND I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. THE INTENSE GLARE FROM THE MELTING DASH BOARD IS SO INTENSE THAT I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. THE NISSAN CLAIMS DEPARTMENT STATES THAT THE MELTING DASHBOARD IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO OF NEVER SEEN A DASHBOARD MELT. AN INTERNET INFORMATION SEARCH FOR "2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASHBOARD MELTING" REVEALS NUMEROUS OTHER 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Dec 26, 2012
AFFECTED AREA OF VEHICLE :DASHBOARD THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 7/14/2012. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 36889 MILES. PURCHASED AS A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE. ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER, WE NOTICED THAT THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD BY THE WINDSHIELD MATERIAL STARTED TO MELT. THE MATERIAL, IS LIKE A FOAM THAT GETS HOT, STICKY AND STARTS TO MELT. IT CAN START A FIRE ANY MINUTE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, LOCATED AT SEMORAN BLVD IN ORLANDO, FL, THE SAME PLACE WE BOUGHT THE CAR TWO MONTHS BEFORE. THE STAFF AT THE DEALERSHIP PROCEEDED TO INFORM ME THAT, AFTER SEVERAL VISITS, THAT THEY NEVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN AUTHORIZED SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED US THAT FOR THE NISSAN MODEL FOR THAT YEAR 2008 THE MATERIAL USED WAS NOT THE STANDARD ONE. WE ARE REACHING OUT TO NISSAN TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE COVER BY THE MANUFACTURER AND PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD TO MY FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL. IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM NISSAN IN 10 DAYS WE ARE GOING TO GO TO BBB AND THE GOVERNMENT. *TR UPDATED 02/06/13
Structure, Oct 5, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD FILL UP WITH WATER AND LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE DRAIN HOLES WERE CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE UNCLOGGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
Structure, Sep 10, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FILLED UP WITH WATER WHENEVER IT RAINED. THE CONTACT STATED ALSO STATED THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A DISH WASHER WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE OTHER DOORS HAVE EXHIBITED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE PLUGS IN THE DOOR WERE CLOGGED WHICH FAILED TO LET THE WATER OUT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND LET THE WATER RUN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE SPEAKERS ON THE DOOR TO MAKE A BUZZING NOISE. THIS IS A DEFECT BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE MECHANICS OF THE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24000.