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: visibility/wiper
168 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Jan 6, 2015
DURING THE PAST YEAR OR SO, MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE HAS BEEN DEVELOPING A VERY STICKY AND EXTREMELY SHINY SURFACE ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH IS UNWASHABLE AND WHEN SUNLIGHT IS REFLECTED OFF IT, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I THOUGH I WAS THE ONLY ONE BUT READING UP ON IT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. PLEASE HELP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS TO FIX THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT, NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT FOR OTHER 2008 ALTIMA DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND AND FELLOW NEIGHBORING CARS ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU!
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
Visibility/wiper, Jan 5, 2015
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA, PURCHASED IN 2010. AT PURCHASE, THE DASH BOARD APPEARED TACKY, BUT WAS INTACT AND THE ORIGINAL COLOR OF FLAT/MATT BLACK. OVER TIME THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME GLOSSY BLACK AND VISCOUS (AS IF IT WERE MELTING). THE GLOSSY NATURE HAS BECOME A GLARE ISSUE, REFLECTING THE LIGHT AND AT TIMES IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. AFTER A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH, I SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE ALTIMA MODEL, ESPECIALLY 2007-2009, AS WELL AS OTHER NISSAN/INFINITI MODELS YET NISSAN USA REFUGES TO ACKNOWLEDGE CULPABILITY. I ALSO HAVE FOUND THAT A CLASS ACTION SUITE HAS BEEN FILES IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ([XXX] V. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.). THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OF THIS ISSUE AS OF YET, WHILE MAZDA AND TOYOTA HAVE ISSUED RECALL NOTICES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A COSTLY REPLACEMENT ($2000+) AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL NOTICE AS IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MIXTURE AND IS AN ISSUE FOR PASSENGER SAFETY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *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, 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, 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
Visibility/wiper, Dec 8, 2014
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AROUND THE VENTS AND OTHER AREAS. THIS IS CAUSING A DANGEROUS GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. *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
Visibility/wiper, Nov 18, 2014
STARTING APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, MY DASHBOARD BEGAN MELTING. THIS HAS PRODUCED A STICKY, SHINY SUBSTANCE ON MY DASH THAT IN TURNS REFLECTS THE SUN ONTO MY WINDSHIELD. IT IMPAIRS THE FIELD OF VISION AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY. I HAVE NOTIFIED NISSAN OF THIS ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE STATED THEY DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A DEFECT. *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
Visibility/wiper, Nov 4, 2014
DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE "MELTING". THE DASH HAS BECOME STICKY AND SHINY. THE SHINE FROM THE MELTING DASHBOARD CREATES A GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD. THIS GLARE HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS INTERFERED WITH MY DRIVING ABILITY. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THE SUN SHINES ALL YEAR. THIS GLARE IS NO DOUBT A SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE RECALLED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN HQ AND BOTH PLACES WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR THIS WITHOUT CHARGING $. *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, Visibility/wiper, Oct 30, 2014
VEHICLE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS BECOME A HAZARD. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2014
MY DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE IS MELTING AND CAUSING A EXTREME GLARE WHILE DRIVING. I'VE GONE TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR MY MELTING DASHBOARD. THERE IS NO WAY TO REDUCE THE GLARE! THIS IS NOT THE CONSUMER'S FAULT... THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT! *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 26, 2014
DASHBOARD MELTING CAUSING GLARE MAKING VISIBILITY SOMEWHAT HAMPERED. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 21, 2014
AFTER ABOUT 3 YEARS THE DASH STARTED MELTING. IT GETS WORSE EACH YEAR. THE MATTE FINISH ON THE DASH IS NOW A STICKY, SHINY MESS THAT SHINES A BAD GLARE ON WINDSHIELD IN SUNLIGHT AND UNDER STREET LIGHTS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THE LIGHT HITS IT AT THE RIGHT (WRONG) ANGLE. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE FOR THIS SAME YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. NISSAN WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, OFFERED TO REPLACE FOR $1200 BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY CREATED BY NISSAN CHOOSING POOR MATERIAL TO CONSTRUCT THE DASH. SOMEONE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 14, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING. GLARE MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE . SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Oct 13, 2014
MY CAR HAS STICKY,MELTING DASHBOARD THAT CREATES A GLARE ON WINDSHIELD AND AFFECTS VISIBILITY. I AM ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE AIRBAG BEING COMPROMISED DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 8, 2014
DASHBOARD APPEARS TO BE MELTING. IT IS STICKY AND SHINY AND PIECES LIFT OFF WITH ANYTHING THAT IS PLACED ON THE DASH. THE EFFECT CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT GLARE IN THE SUNLIGHT THAT AFFECTS DRIVER LINE OF SIGHT. DETERIORATION HAS ALSO CAUSED MULTIPLE CRACKS IN DASH SURFACE THAT MAY POTENTIALLY AFFECT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 21, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING IN ALL OVER, THE MATERIAL IN THE DASHBOARD IS NOW VERY SHINY AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ON A SUNNY DAY (IT'S FLORIDA). DEALERSHIP SAYS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL BY NISSAN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAUSES A REFLECTION ON MY WINDSHIELD SEVERELY IMPAIRING MY VISIBILITY. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 20, 2014
DASHBOARD IS MELTING IN ALL OVER, THE MATERIAL IN THE DASHBOARD IS NOW VERY SHINY AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE ON A SUNNY DAY (IT'S FLORIDA). DEALERSHIP SAYS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL BY NISSAN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAUSES A REFLECTION ON MY WINDSHIELD SEVERELY IMPAIRING MY VISIBILITY AND THERE IS A SOMEWHAT HAZARDOUS SMELL COMING FROM THE MELTING MATERIAL. *TR