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
Air bags, Structure, Jul 14, 2015
THE DASHBOARD OF MY CARD ITS MELTING , I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAY THERE ITS NO RECALL BUT I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAITS JUST LIKE MINE , WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN ACCIDENT START HAPPENING WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOY THATS MY CONCERN
Structure, Jul 14, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND CAUSED A GLARE FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. ..UPDATED 02/01/16 *BF UPDATED 11/15/2017*CN
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 10, 2015, crash
THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING. THERE IS A STICKY SUBSTANCE COMING FORM THE DASH BOARD THAT CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT GLARE FROM THE SUN. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND FILED A COMPLAINT REAGRDING MY DASHY BOARD (COMPLAINT #19437322) AND A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED "MARISOL" ADVISED ME THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT BE REPLACING OR REPAIRING MY DASH BOARD AT NOT EXPENSE TO ME. THSI IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND MAY OWNERS OF THE 2008 NISSAN ARE EXPERASINCING TEH SAME UNSAFE CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DASH BOARD MELTING.
Structure, Jun 26, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND CONTINUED TO MELT AT A RAPID PACE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A STICKY SUBSTANCE EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A GLARE AND THE VISIBILITY OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISION. THERE WAS ALSO A CHEMICAL BEING RELEASED AND INHALED BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AS A RESULT OF THE MELTING DASHBOARD, 85% OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH A THIN BUBBLY FILM, WHEN DRIVING IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. UPDATED 07/18/16.*JB
Structure, Jun 25, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STICKY SUBSTANCE EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A GLARE AND THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS OBSTRUCTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,740. UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ
Structure, May 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. MA 08/13/15 UPDATED 12/1/2015*JS
Structure, Visibility/wiper, May 7, 2015
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SHOWING A RESIDUE ON FRONT DASH ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. IT HAS WORSENED TO POINT WHERE A GLARE FROM SUNLIGHT REFLECTION DISRUPTS FIELD OF VISION WHILE DRIVING. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DASHBOARD MELTING IN WARMER CLIMATES WITH HIGHER QUANTITY OF SUNLIGHT. *TR
Structure, May 3, 2015
A FEW MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 ALTIMA WAS MELTING ESPECIALLY AROUND THE AIR VENTS. THERE'S ALSO A BURN SMELL COMING FROM THE SHINY AREA. IT'S BECOMING HARD TO SEE DURING THE DAY DUE TO GLARE FROM THE SHINY AREA. ALSO I DID NOTICE MY AC SYSTEM WAS MAKING STRANGE NOISES AND WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHEN I TURNED IT ON. SOMETIMES IT BLOWS WARM AIR AND HAS COMPLETELY DIED RECENTLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO MENTIONED THAT HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE A MELTING DASHBOARD IN HIS 20+ YEARS OF REPAIRING CARS. HE RAN A DYE TEST ON THE AC AND STRANGELY THERE WAS NO FREON LEAK. HE HAD TO DRAIN ALL THE FREON SO THAT I CAN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF IN CASE I TRIED TO START THE AC. I WILL HAVE TO SPEND $1000 JUST FOR THE AC ALONE..... MECHANIC RECOMMENDED I CONSULT NISSAN REGARDING THE MELTING DASHBOARD. *TR
Structure, Apr 25, 2015
DASH HAS BEEN MELTING AND CONTINUING TO GET WORSE.. THE GLARE IS SO BAD I'M BLINDED. IT IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN.. RECALL!! PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS. *TR
Structure, Apr 23, 2015
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S STARTED SHOWING A RESIDUE ON FRONT DASH ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. IT HAS WORSENED TO POINT WHERE A GLARE FROM SUNLIGHT REFLECTION DISRUPTS FIELD OF VISION WHILE DRIVING. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DASHBOARD MELTING IN WARMER CLIMATES WITH HIGHER QUANTITY OF SUNLIGHT. I'VE RESEARCHED SOME OF THE REASONS WHY AND IT APPEARS IT IS DUE TO LOWER GRADE FORMULATION OF PLASTIC USED IN THIS MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER MANUFACTURERS. *TR
Structure, Apr 19, 2015
THE DASHBOARD HAS BEGAN TO SEEP LIQUID OUT OF THE RUBBER THAT THEY USE AND IS MAKING THE GLARE FROM THE DASH ON THE WINDSHIELD EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING THE DAY WITH THE GLARE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Structure, Apr 16, 2015
THE DASHBOARD ON THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE MELTING. THE SURFACE HAS BECOME SHINY AND CAUSES A GLARE WHEN LIGHT HITS IT. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Apr 15, 2015
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO DASHBOARD MELTING. THE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND GIVES OFF A GLARE DURING THE DAYTIME WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND BLINDS MY VISION WHEN I DRIVE DURING THE DAY. PLEASE NISSAN FIX THIS ISSUE. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATERIALS USED WHEN MANUFACTURING A VEHICLE. CARE ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS CONCERNS AND FIX MY DASHBOARD. *TR
Structure, Apr 10, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS A STRONG GLARE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE IN THE DAY AND IT'S VERY STICKY. I REALLY LOVE MY CAR BUT I'M VERY UNHAPPY THAT THIS HAPPENED. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX IT! *TR
Structure, Apr 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE SUN REFLECTED OFF THE DASHBOARD AND CAUSED A GLARE, WHICH MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND LEFT A WET, STICKY RESIDUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Structure, Mar 20, 2015
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH STRONGLY AFFECTS DRIVER VISIBILITY. *TR
Structure, Mar 12, 2015
MELTING DASH, GLARE ON WINDOW HARD TO SEE THINGS IN FRONT OF CAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING INTO SUN. *TR
Structure, Mar 6, 2015
DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE MELTING. IT IS STICKY AND REFLECTS OFF WINDSHIELD. WHILE DRIVING THIS REFLECTION IS DISTRACTING. *TR
Structure, Mar 5, 2015
DASHBOARD IS MELTING- PART OF IT HAS A SLICK LOOKING SURFACE AND PART IS JUST COLLECTING DUST AND DIRT. THE GLARE IT CREATES IS A DRIVING HAZARD AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEATH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOXINS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DETERIORATING MATERIAL- *TR
Air bags, Structure, Mar 4, 2015
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND DETERIORATING. EXTREMELY STICKY AND SHINY. VERY GLARY IN BOTH NIGHT AND DAYTIME DRIVING. IT'S A REAL VISIBILITY ISSUE. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT MAY POSSIBLY BE AFFECTED ALSO. NISSAN AGREED TO REPLACE THE DASH BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE LABOR COST WHICH WAS ALMOST $300. THIS DASHBOARD WAS CONSTRUCTED OF INFERIOR MATERIALS AND NISSAN KNOWS IT. THAT IS WHY THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART. *TR
Structure, Mar 2, 2015
THE DASHBOARD ON MY SON'S 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS MELTED. *TR
Structure, Feb 27, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS PRODUCING A STICKY SUBSTANCE. DEALER TELLS ME THE SUBSTANCE IS GLUE BECAUSE THE DASH IS MELTING. NISSAN WILL NOT HELP IN ANYWAY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS IMPECCABLE SERVICE RECORDS. I AM CONCERNED THE SUBSTANCE CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH BECOMES A SAFETY CONCERN AND I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AS TO WHAT WE ARE INHALING WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED FOR FAULTY PARTS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO TEST THESE DASHBOARDS AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. I AM FORCED TO PAY $2300 TO REPLACE OR RISK POSSIBLE HEALTH CONCERNS OR LORD FORBID A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT DUE TO GLARE.. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 25, 2015
THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEEN MELTING FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AND IS NOW CAUSING SUCH A LARGE AND INTENSE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING DAYTIME HOURS AND AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING UNDER LIGHTS. THE DASHBOARD IS CONSTANTLY STICKY AND COMES OFF IN CHUNKS WHEN YOU TOUCH IT. I HAVE SEARCHED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAVE EVEN REPORTED ISSUES/POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAGS. IT WASN'T UNTIL TODAY WHEN I SEARCHED AGAIN, HOPING OTHERS MAY HAVE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, THAT I FOUND A THREAD ON FACEBOOK (HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NISSANUSA/POSTS/10152938385130375) DISCUSSING ACTIONS TO TAKE TO BETTER THIS SITUATION. ONE NISSAN OWNER SUGGESTED FILING A COMPLAINT HERE. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED QUOTES FROM NISSAN DEALERSHIPS RANGING FROM $300 TO OVER $2500 WHEN NISSAN KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT AND IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY CAUSED BY THE CAR OWNERS. PLEASE HELP US FIX THIS SITUATION. *TR UPDATED 5/4/2016*JS
Structure, Feb 23, 2015
THE DASHBOARD OF MY ALTIMA IS MELTING AND HAS BEEN MELTING. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE WHEN DRIVING, IN FACT HAS ALMOST GOTTEN ME IN MULTIPLE WRECKS. IS IT STILL SAFE ENOUGH NOT TO BE RECALLED? WHEN THE SUN HITS THE WINDSHIELD I CAN HARDLY SEE. YOU'D RATHER RISK LIVES RATHER THAN HAVE THE MANUFACTURE REPLACE A FAULTY COSMETIC PART THEY PUT ON THE MARKET. *TR
Structure, Feb 22, 2015
THE CARS DASH BOARD IS MELTING SO BAD THE GLARES FROM THE SUN MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE. *TR