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, Jan 5, 2015
THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS BEGUN TO MELT CAUSING IT TO BECOME VERY SHINY AND REFLECT SUNLIGHT DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES OR REFLECT OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE WORST THING ABOUT IT IS THAT IS HITS YOU WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT BASED ON THE ANGLE OF THE SUN AND CAUSING DIFFICULTY SEEING OTHER TRAFFIC/PEDESTRIANS. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2015
SOMETIME IN THE FALL OF 2014 I NOTICED AN AREA ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS BEGINNING TO APPEAR "STICKY" LOOKING. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT A DRINK MAY HAVE BEEN SPILLED ON THE DASH WHEN ENTERING/EXITING THE VEHICLE AND THE LINGERING RESIDUE HAD FORMED A COATING. WHEN I GOT HOME I TRIED WIPING THE AFFECTED AREA OF THE DASHBOARD WITH WATER ON A RAG. QUICKLY THE RAG BECAME STUCK TO THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL ITSELF AND COULDN'T BE MOVED IN A WIPING MOTION ANY FURTHER. THE RAG TOOK SOME EFFORT TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE DASHBOARD, AND STICKING TO IT WAS A THICK RUBBERY SUBSTANCE THAT WAS THE SAME COLOR BLACK AS THE DASHBOARD. IT WAS THEN I REALIZED THAT THE DASHBOARD ITSELF WAS MELTING. SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND THE AREA OF MELTED DASHBOARD HAS INCREASED IN SIZE. LARGE SPOTS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES' DASH ARE NOW MELTED, AS WELL AS SMALL AREAS ABOVE THE A/C VENTS. THE MELTED AREAS HAVE A VERY SHINY APPEARANCE THAT CREATES SIGNIFICANT GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. AT CERTAIN ANGLES WITH SUNLIGHT THE GLARE CREATES A LARGE VISUAL DISTRACTION/OBSTRUCTION AND IT IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THE REFLECTION FROM THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD CAN MAKE IT VERY HARD TO SEE PEDESTRIANS, OTHER CARS, TRAFFIC SIGNS; ANYTHING THAT IS IN THE AREA OF WINDSHIELD WITH THE REFLECTED GLARE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. IN ADDITION TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS, I CANNOT PUT ANYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD NOW. EVERYTHING I'VE PLACED ON IT WILL STICK TO THE DASH, AND WILL COME OFF WITH A STICKY BLACK RUBBER COATING ON IT WHEN REMOVED FROM THE DASH. IT'S AWFUL. AND I FEAR THAT THE SUBSTANCE MELTING COULD POSSIBLY BE CARCINOGENIC AND MAKING THE AIR IN THE CAR TOXIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX IT. IT IS 100% A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE MAKE NISSAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE! PLEASE HELP WITH THIS! THANK YOU *TR
Structure, Jan 4, 2015
I BOUGHT MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 2.5 S BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER WITH NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. THIS CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION, BUT THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE DASHBOARD. BUT OVER THE COURSE OF 5 YEARS MY CAR'S DASHBOARD HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY MELTING AND I BELIEVE THAT IF IT IS NOT FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER IT CAN LEAD TO A SAFETY PROBLEM ON ALL CARS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PERSONALLY I HAVE NEVER SEEN A DASHBOARD MELT, SO I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF THIS CAN BE RECALLED AND FIXED BECAUSE HONESTLY ITS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM, NOT A CONSUMERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Structure, Jan 2, 2015
MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE'S DASHBOARD IS MELTING. THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE DASHBOARD SEEMS TO BE INFERIOR AND IT CANNOT ACCOMMODATE THE WEATHER IN FL. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND LOOKS WET. SOMETIMES THIS RESULTS IN A GLARE THAT CAN POSE AS A DRIVING HAZARD. THIS HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO AND I ONLY RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Dec 30, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING CAUSING SEVERE GLARE FROM THE SUN WHICH IS CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE (CANNOT SEE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WITH GLARE PRESENT). *JS
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 29, 2014
I BOUGHT A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN FLORIDA. I FIRST STARTED TO NOTICE MY DASHBOARD HAD A STICKY RESIDUE IN JULY 2011. IT HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE EVERYDAY. I HAVE ALSO BEGIN TO NOTICE MY DASHBOARD IS ALSO CRACKING. I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. THE VISIBILITY HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN. THERE ARE TIMES WHERE I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE ROAD DUE TO THE GLARE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO LOOKED AT IF NOT RECALLED. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 29, 2014
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. WHEN I DRIVE, THE SUN HITS THE DASHBOARD. IT LOOKS LIKE A SHEET OF WATER BECAUSE IT IS MELTED. THE REFLECTION HITS MY EYES AND AFFECTS VISIBILITY. EVERYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE DASHBOARD GETS STICKY AND BLACK MARKS. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THIS RESOLVED WITH NISSAN, BUT THEY REFUSE TO COVER ALL OF THE COSTS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE HUGE LABOR COSTS AND I DO NOT FEE THAT I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR A FACTORY DEFECT. THIS IS NOT ONLY COSMETIC, BUT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 29, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON THIS VEHICLE IS MELTING. THIS IS CAUSING A DANGEROUS GLARE WHILE DRIVING. NISSAN WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. A RECALL NEEDS TO OCCUR. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 19, 2014
DASHBOARD IS STICKY, MELTING AND CAUSING VISUAL GLARE IMPENDING SITE. *TR
Suspension, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 17, 2014
THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED AND IS NOW A SHINY STICKY BLACK SURFACE THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. I DID NOT USE ANY CHEMICALS ON THE DASHBOARD BEFORE THIS STARTED APPEARING. ALSO, THE DASHBOARD EMITS GASES THAT FOG THE WINDOW AND CANNOT BE FIXED BY DEFROST. *TR
Structure, Dec 16, 2014, crash
I JUST BROUGHT THE CAR ON THE 12 AND I NOTICE THAT THE DASHBOARD MELTING. *TR
Structure, Dec 15, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING WITH THIS STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT CAN'T BE WIPED OFF. IT IS SO BAD NOW THERE IS A TERRIBLE GLARE THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Structure, Dec 12, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IT IS CAUSING A DANGEROUS GLARE WHILE DRIVING. NISSAN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS... *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTED CAUSING AN UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION. THE GLARE PUT OFF BY THE STICKY FILM WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING COMPROMISES THE VISIBILITY. *TR
Structure, Dec 7, 2014
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE HAS A STICKY TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE SPREADING OVER MY DASHBOARD. THIS LIMITS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING, DRIVING IN THE SUN IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STREET SIGNS, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU ARE TRYING TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW. I LOVE MY CAR BUT IT IS DANGEROUS! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN OR COVER UP . ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES IT GETS TAR LIKE STUFF ON IT THAT WON'T COME OFF.WHEN PUTTING ON AND TAKING OFF THE SUN SHIELD YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING WITH THE SUN SHADE OR YOU WILL HAVE TAR IN THE INTERIOR OF YOUR CAR AND YOUR CLOTHES. *TR
Structure, Dec 4, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. I LIVE IN FLORIDA SO IT'S CONSTANTLY HOT. SOMETIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING I GET THIS BLINDING GLARE BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD IS REFLECTING THE SUN INTO MY EYES. *TR
Structure, Nov 25, 2014
THE DASHBOARD OF MY ALTIMA IS ALSO GETTING STICKY AND THE GLARE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE EVER TRIED DRIVING WITH SOMETHING LIKE A MIRROR REFLECTING A BRIGHT LIGHT IN YOUR EYES, BUT ITS AN ISSUE. IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THINGS IN A LOT OF CASES; LIKE ANYTIME THE SUN IS OUT. I ALMOST HIT A CHILD TODAY ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THE GLARE WAS DIRECTLY IN MY EYES AND IT HAPPENED ALL OF A SUDDEN. THESE DASHBOARDS SUCK AND NISSAN SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO PRODUCE SAFETY HAZARD RIDDEN THINGS THAT ARE STICKY AND TACKY AND LITERALLY FALLING APART. EVERY TIME SOMETHING NICKS IT CREATES A DENT IN THE DASHBOARD. THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION OR REPLACE IT. *TR
Structure, Nov 23, 2014
DASHBOARD HAS MELTED AND THE GLARE FROM THE SUN REFLECTING OFF OF THE MELTED DASHBOARD MAKES DRIVING A HAZARD. *TR
Structure, Nov 20, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS BEGINNING TO DEGRADE AND BECOME GLOSSY AND HIGHLY STICKY TO THE TOUCH. IT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS AND IS SPREADING. THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 TV STATION NEWS REPORTS WITH VIDEO WHEN YOU GOOGLE "NISSAN ALTIMA STICKY DASHBOARD" . THEY ARE BELOW. HTTP://WWW.WSBTV.COM/NEWS/NEWS/SOME-NISSAN-DRIVERS-COMPLAIN-MELTING-DASHBOARDS/NGRWZ/ HTTP://WWW.WPTV.COM/MONEY/CONSUMER/THE-CENTER-FOR-AUTO-SAFETY-THINKS-MELTING-DASHBOARDS-ARE-A-SAFETY-DEFECT-AND-SHOULD-BE-RECALLED. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Nov 19, 2014
MY DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA APPEARS TO BE MELTING RESULTING IN A STICKY/TACKY TEXTURE. THE DASHBOARD IS CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS POSING A GREAT SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Nov 7, 2014
THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS STARTED MELTING AND CRACKING. THE DASH IS NOW SO SHINY FROM THE MELTING SUBSTANCE, THAT THERE IS A SEVERE GLARE ISSUE WHEN DRIVING ON SUNNY DAYS. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ ROAD SIGNS BECAUSE OF THIS GLARE. THIS MAKES FOR VERY HAZARDOUS DRIVING. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH OCCURS BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE GLARE. *TR
Structure, Nov 3, 2014
MY NISSAN ALTIMA IS DEVELOPING RUST UNDER DRIVER SIDE OF CAR. AND I WAS DENIED STATE INSPECTION SINCE IT WAS HAZARD TO PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE. I SAW SO MANY COMPLAINT WITH SAME MATTERS ON SAME YEAR MODEL NISSAN ALTIMA. I CONTACTED NISSAN TO SEE THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR. AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO LOOK AT IT SINCE IT IS NOT UNDER THERE RECALL PROGRAM. MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE 75000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE RUST DAMAGE TO THE CAR AT THIS POINT OF THE LIFE OF A CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF I CAN GET ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Nov 2, 2014
DASHBOARD SURFACE HAS DEGRADED GRADUALLY.CAUSING A MIRROR EFFECT FROM THE STICKY SURFACE. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE DUE TO THE GLARE FROM THE DASH SURFACE AT TIMES CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I KNOW OF MANY OTHERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA THAT HAVE THE SAME CONDITION. *TR
Structure, Oct 31, 2014
DASHBOARD DEGRADATION. THE DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE 'MELTING' CAUSING A DANGEROUS GLARE. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2014
VEHICLE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS BECOME A HAZARD. *TR