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
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 18, 2014
I PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP, IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT CAR EXCEPT THE ISSUE THAT APPEARS TO HAPPEN TO MANY OF THEIR DASHBOARDS. THEY BEGIN TO MELT FROM JUST GENERAL DAILY EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. IT HAS CREATED A GLARE THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES. I SPOKE WITH TWO TECHNICIANS AT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE AGREED THAT IT MUST BE THE MATERIAL USED THAT YEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. UPON TAKING THIS ISSUE UP WITH NISSAN THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PIECE, AND HAVE NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE AND THE MATERIAL THAT THEY PLACED IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN AND WILL NOT ESCALATE UNTIL UNFORTUNATELY SOMEONE GETS INTO A ACCIDENT DUE TO THE MATERIAL THEY USED ON THIS DASHBOARD. NISSAN, I FEEL SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATERIAL USED AND REPLACE THE PIECE NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT OTHERS, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS TERRIBLE BUT THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AT THIS POINT. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 16, 2014
DASHBOARD HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE/MELT AND HAS TURNED INTO A SHINY, REFLECTIVE GOO. IT IS REFLECTING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND AT THE RIGHT ANGLE CAN BE COMPLETELY BLINDING. THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF MULTIPLE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES AND NO MANUFACTURER RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Feb 4, 2014
THE CAR: 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE 3.5 SE. IN 2012 I NOTICED THE DASHBOARD WAS GETTING SHINY, AND HAD A MELTED FEELING TO IT. I HAD TO BUY A DASH COVER TO KEEP THE GLARE AWAY, IF FACING THE SUN WHILE DRIVING. NOW IN 2014 THE DASH IS CRACKED ALL OVER AND STICKY. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. NOT ONLY IS IT A SAFETY HAZARD, I MAKES RESELLING THE CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. DEALER QUOTE FOR NEW DASH PANEL, $2500.00. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jan 23, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS IMPAIRING THE CONTACT'S VISION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 20, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT FROM THE SUN MELTED THE DASHBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD WAS BLINDING TO THE CONTACT WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND NO REASON WAS PROVIDED FOR THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 18, 2013
DASHBOARD HAS BEEN MELTING CREATING A SHINY COAT THAT REFLECTS TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DIMINISHING VISIBILITY AND CREATING POTENTIAL HAZARDS, SPECIALLY DURING THE DAY AS IT OMITS A BLINDING SUN GLARE. THE CAR NO LONGER HAS NISSAN WARRANTY AND CONSIDERING THE HAZARD AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH THE ISSUE NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF DASHBOARDS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 10, 2013
DASHBOARD OF THIS VEHICLE IS EMITTING A STICKY, SHINY, SUBSTANCE, WHICH LIKELY INDICATES DETERIORATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE DASHBOARD, MAKING DRIVING HAZARDOUS, AS IT MAKES VISIBILITY OUT THE WINDSHIELD DIFFICULT. THE STICKY SUBSTANCE IS HIGHLY REFLECTIVE, MAKING DRIVING IN THE SUN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2013
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE AND THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WE WILL ALL FILE COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THIS ISSUE. THE DASHBOARD MELTING IS CAUSING A REFLECTION ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND MAKING IT SEE. I AM TRYING TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM THIS ISSUE. I STARTED TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS MINUTE. I AM RESEARCHING OUT NOW BECAUSE IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. LOCATION: FLORIDA ( MOST OF THE CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM ARE LOCATED IN FLORIDA AND TEXAS). *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 5, 2013
SINCE 6/2013 THE DASHBOARD OF THIS VEHICLE IS EMITTING A STICKY, SHINY, SUBSTANCE, WHICH LIKELY INDICATES DETERIORATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE DASHBOARD, MAKING DRIVING HAZARDOUS, AS IT MAKES VISIBILITY OUT THE WINDSHIELD DIFFICULT. THE STICKY SUBSTANCE IS HIGHLY REFLECTIVE, MAKING DRIVING IN THE SUN VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO OUR NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION, AND ALTHOUGH THEY INDICATE THAT THEY HAVE OBSERVED THIS SITUATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL/YEAR, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. I ALSO CONTACTED CONSUMER SERVICES WITH NISSAN AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD, EVEN THOUGH IT PRESENTS A HAZARD TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Dec 3, 2013
MY DASHBOARD HAS MELTED CREATING A TERRIBLE GLARE THAT IS NOT JUST DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING BUT DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD DURING THE DAY OR WHEN ON COMING HEADLIGHTS COME TOWARDS ME DURING THE NIGHT. NOT ONLY IS IT TERRIBLY DANGEROUS BUT THE MELTING IS MAKING MY DASH STICKY CAUSING PARKING PASSES TO STICK AND LEAVE RESIDUE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Structure, Visibility/wiper, Nov 8, 2013
DASHBOARD MELTED, CAUSING A BRIGHT VISION-AFFECTING GLARE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. REDUCES VISIBILITY GREATLY, WILL LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BEFORE TOO LONG. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 29, 2013
DASHBOARD HAS STARTED TO MELT IN MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE THAT HAS GREATLY IMPAIRED MY VISION WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD ON A SUNNY DAY. THE GLARE REFLECTED FROM THE MELTING PORTION OF MY DASH IS REFLECTED ONTO MY WINDSHIELD. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Oct 24, 2013
I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT. GARAGE KEEP. VERY NICE CAR. I NOTICED LAST MONTH A SPOT THAT LOOKED LIKED MY DASH MELTED . NOW A MONTH LATER IT HAS SPREAD. I HAVE PUT NOTHING ON IT. IT LOOKS VERY SHINY AND STICKY WHEN TOUCHED. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MATERIAL IS BREAKING DOWN. I CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR ON A SUNNY DAY BECAUSE ALL I SEE IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD IS THE REFLECTION OF MY DASH. I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE THE OTHER DAY HAVING TO SWERVE JUST IN TIME. I COULDN'T EVEN SEE THEM. JUST BLACK SHINY DASH. THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. I HAVE CALLED AND THEY JUST KINDA LAUGH SAYING " I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT" . YOU CAN CLEARLY TELL THE MATERIAL IS BREAKING DOWN . THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND NISSAN SHOULD FIX THIS BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Oct 9, 2013
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING CAUSING GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LIMITED VISIBILITY. *TR
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Sep 19, 2013
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE STARTED MELTING AROUND MAY, 2013. AT FIRST IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE BUT NOW THERE ARE BIG SHINY, STICKY PATCHES ON MY DASHBOARD. THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY THE SUN REFLECTS OFF OF THE MELTED AREAS AND CAUSES A GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT GREATLY REDUCES MY VISIBILITY. BECAUSE OF THAT I TEND TO NOT DRIVE IT OFTEN. ALSO ITS GIVING OFF THE SMELL OF BURNED PLASTIC. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS COMMON IN PLACES LIKE TEXAS, FLORIDA, AND CALIFORNIA. HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NISSANUSA/POSTS/10152938385130375 HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/MY-DASHBOARD-IS-MELTING-T569582.HTML. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jul 25, 2013
2008 ALTIMA COUPE IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA WITH NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS HAS A MELTING DASHBOARD. THE TEXTURED SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED TO A STICKY, SMOOTH, AND REFLECTIVE SURFACE. THE MATERIAL ON THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE ODOMETER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG NEAREST TO THE WINDSHIELD IS STICKY AND REFLECTS SUNLIGHT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A GLARE WHILE DRIVING. SAFETY IS AT RISK DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE PAST GLARE ON WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. GLARE IS CAUSED BY THE SUN REFLECTING OFF OF THE MELTING DASHBOARD POINTS. THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY CHEMICALS WIPED ON THE DASHBOARD DURING OWNERSHIP. *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, 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