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, Feb 20, 2015
DASH BOARD IS MELTING.... I SEE OTHER HAVE THIS ISSUE! ITS GETTING WORSE! CURRENTLY MOST OF MY THE MELTING SEAMS TO HAVE STARTED AT THE EDGES WHERE CUTS FOR SPEAKERS AND SUCH WERE MADE. BUT BASICALLY ANYTHING THE SITS ON THE DASHBOARD FOR MORE THEN A FEW MIN GETS STUCK AND STICKY. *TR
Structure, Feb 19, 2015
MELTING DASHBOARD. *TR
Structure, Feb 18, 2015
THE FRONT OF THE DASH BOARD ON MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE S IS MELTING AND CAUSING A HUGE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND IS BECOMING A HAZARD TO DAYTIME DRIVING. *TR
Structure, Feb 17, 2015
DASHBOARD MELTED. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 15, 2015
I LIVE IN JACKSONVILLE, FL AND THE DASHBOARD IN MY CAR APPEARS TO BE MELTING. THE GLARE THIS CAUSES CAN BE VERY BAD AND DANGEROUS. I'VE HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH SEEING OUT OF THE CAR IN THE EVENINGS BECAUSE OF THE GLARE. *TR
Structure, Feb 12, 2015
MY DASHBOARD STARTING MELTING ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. I LEFT A MESSAGE ON NISSANS FACEBOOK PAGE AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET IT DIAGNOSED. I DID THAT AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A MELTING DASHBOARD. I SENT ALL THE PAPERWORK BACK TO THEM AND THEY ANSWERED ME BY SAYING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED SO THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS VERY STICKY AND IS LEAVING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND MAKING IT HARD TO SEE. IT IT ALSO CRACKING IN VARIOUS PLACES. NISSAN SHOULD NOT SELL A CAR THAT CANNOT STAND THE SOUTH FLORIDA SUN! I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO TAKE CHARGE AND REPLACE MY DASHBOARD FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING MISTAKE NOT CAUSED BY ME! *TR
Power train, Structure, Feb 12, 2015
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 125000 MILES WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. I CALLED NISSAN USA TO REPORT THE DASHBOARD MELTING PROBLEM AND ALSO REPORT A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. A CASE WAS OPENED AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NISSAN WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IF I HAD 120,000 MILES, BUT WHEN I CALLED TO REPORT THE NOISY TRANSMISSION MY ACTUAL MILES WERE 124400 MILES. THEY CLAIMED THAT I'M NO LONGER UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA 4000 MILES. I HAVE OWNED THREE PREVIOUS NISSAN CARS AND SO FAR I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE CARS. IT IS CLEARLY THAT THE ISSUES IS RELATED TO THE MATERIALS USED AND PARTS USED IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR. I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY MANUFACTURE AND SELL. *TR
Structure, Feb 11, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE HEAT FROM THE SUN, THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS AND WAS MELTING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,874.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 10, 2015
NEARLY 1/3 OF THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED, LEAVING A STICKY RESIDUE THAT CAUSES EXTREME AND SUDDEN REFLECTION OF SUNLIGHT, INCLUDING DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC - IT IS SIMPLY A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MECHANIC, WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, HAS STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE (EVEN OLD VEHICLES) WITH MELTING AS EXTENSIVE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS BEFORE IT CAUSES A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Structure, Feb 9, 2015
DASH BOARD IS MELTING AND POSES A POSSIBLE DANGER WHEN DRIVEN IN THE SUNLIGHT. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Structure, Feb 7, 2015
THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME STICKY AND SHINY CAUSING AN UNSAFE GLARE ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. *JS
Visibility, Structure, Feb 6, 2015
CARS DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE DASHBOARD IS LITERALLY PEELING OFF WHEN TOUCHED. STICKY RESIDUE REMAINS ON THE DASHBOARD AND IT WON'T CLEAN OFF. WHENEVER THE SUN IS OUT, THE SHINY, STICKY DASHBOARD REFLECTS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A BLINDING GLARE. THIS GLARE ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED VISIBILTY. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY NISSAN. *JS
Structure, Feb 6, 2015
I LIVE IN HAWAII AND AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OWNING THIS VEHICLE, THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO MELT CAUSING A VERY BAD GLARE TO THE DRIVER. THE MELTING STARTED SMALL BUT GOT WORSE OVER TIME. I BELIEVE THE GLARE IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY NISSAN TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE NEVER PUT ANY KIND OF PRODUCT, THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF IS THE HOT SUN LIVING IN HAWAII. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS BY NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS IN WARM CLIMATES AS WELL. *JS
Visibility, Structure, Feb 6, 2015
I BOUGHT A NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE FROM AUTO NATION NISSAN IN SOUTH FLORIDA. SINCE THE PURCHASE THE SOUTH FLORIDA SUNLIGHT HAS MELTED MY DASHBOARD, TODAY I NEARLY GOT INTO A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT TRYING TO LOOK AROUND THE GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY THE MELTING DASHBOARD. THE MELTING IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND I'M NOT THE ONLY NISSAN OWNER IN SOUTH FLORIDA EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *JS
Structure, Feb 3, 2015
THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORST. IT IS STICKY ,YOU CANNOT CLEAN OR WIPE. BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE EXTREME GLARE OFF THE SHINY MELTED SURFACE. DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, NISSAN SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ANY DASHBOARD MELT. I AM ALSO NOT SURE IF THERE IS A HEALTH RISK. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 2, 2015
MY WIFE AND I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE DASHBOARD OF OUR CAR IS MELTING. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY BECAUSE THE GLARE OFF OF THE SHINY MELTED SURFACE CAN DECREASE THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE PERFECTLY CLEAR. IT IS A HAZARD, ESPECIALLY DURING SUNNY DAYS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND I NOTICE MANY OTHER CAR'S OWNER EXPERIENCING THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THE MELTING IS GETTING WORSE AND NISSAN DON'T WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND EVERYONE AROUND. *TR
Structure, Feb 2, 2015
I'M ANOTHER FRUSTRATED MELTING DASHBOARD OWNER. STICKY, PARTIALLY SHINY AND GLARE-PRODUCING. WHEN DRIVING IN THE SUN THE GLARE IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO, CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUMES AND POTENTIAL CARCINOGENS BEING OMITTED THAT MAY POSE ADDITIONAL HEALTH RISKS. NISSAN IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS DEFECT DESPITE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AND ACCIDENTS REPORTED. *TR
Structure, Feb 2, 2015
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IS MELTING SO BARELY I THING BECAUSE OF THE SUN AND THE BAD MATERIAL. HOWEVER, IT MAKES DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DURING THE DAY BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTIVE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. MY CAR IS ONLY 39,800 MILES. I NEED HELP FROM NISSAN COMPANY. *TR
Structure, Jan 26, 2015
APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MY DASHBOARD A STICKY SURFACE HAS APPEARED WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND I'M CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO ME OR ANYONE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING THE DAY AS THIS CAUSES A GLARE FROM THE SUN THAT CAN BE DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING AT TIMES. I ALSO DONE KNOW IF I'M BREATHING ANY HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL FROM THIS ISSUE, THERE IS NO REASON FOR MY CAR TO BE HAVING THIS ISSUE AS THIS HAS OCCURRED ON ITS OWN, PLEASE ASSIST AND ADVISE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED BY THE MANUFACTURE SINCE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR MOTTO IN SERVING THEIR CUSTOMER FOR PRODUCTS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. *TR
Structure, Jan 24, 2015
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 21, 2015
I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5SL, I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA. MY DASH IS "MELTING" AND HAS BECOME A SHINY, STICKY BLACK MESS THAT CREATES AN INCREDIBLE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I'M AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I WANT TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. I FOUND IT ANNOYING THAT THE DASH WAS MELTING, I'VE HAD OTHER CAR DASHES CRACK IN THE HEAT, BUT NOT MELT. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE DASH IS SO SHINY NOW IT CAN BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE A YEAR OR SO AGO. I'VE SELECTED JAN 1, 2014 ARBITRARILY. IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME THAT THE ISSUE REALLY STARTED BEING A PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 16, 2015
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH IS MELTING. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN FACING THE SUN AND A SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR
Structure, Jan 15, 2015
DASH BOARD MELTING. *TR
Structure, Jan 15, 2015
DASH BOARD IS VERY STICKY. HAVE CALLED THE DEALER BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE. INVESTED TOO MUCH $$ FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WITH NO ONE TAKING CREDIT AND WANTING TO FIX IT. THE GLARE IS BECOMING AN ISSUE (ESP LIVING IN THE SOUTH WHERE THE SUN SHINES BRIGHTLY) YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 6, 2015
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DASH BOARD IS MELTING. I LIVE IN MIAMI FL. AND BROUGHT MY 2008 ALTIMA NEW FROM A LOCAL DEALER. AROUND 2010, I STARTED TO NOTICE THE DETERIORATION OF THE DASH BOARD. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO A CLEANING PRODUCT. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY RECENT RESEARCH OVER THE INTERNET AND PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF OTHER 2008 ALTIMA'S OWN BY OTHERS, THE MELTING DASH BOARD IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE RESOLVING BY RECALLING THERE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE DASH BOARD IS SO SHINY THAT IT INTER-FEARS WITH THE DRIVER'S VISION WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING, THE DASH REFLEX THE SUN DIRECTLY IN THE FACE OF THE DRIVER. I REACHED OUT TO NISSAN (CASE# [XXX]) THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REFUSE TO REPAIR OR RESOLVE THE ISSUES. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF ENDANGERING THE PEOPLE LIVES, THE WARRANTY LIMITATION SHOULD NOT APPLY. I AM ASKING FOR NISSAN TO CONFIRM A RECALL AND REPLACE MY DASH BOARD. CASE#[XXX] VIN#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR