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
1,029 reports, newest first.
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, Feb 26, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR POSSIBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Feb 26, 2015
WAS INFORMED BY OUR NISSAN DEALERSHIP THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS INOPERABLE AIRBAGS DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE FRONT CRASH ZONE SENSOR. OF COURSE, THIS IS JUST AN ASSUMPTION ON THEIR PART. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR EXPERIENCE ANY IMPACT OF ANY NATURE TO CAUSE THIS SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. NISSAN DEALERSHIP RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST, BUT STILL NO CLEAR INDICATION AS TO THERE BEING INOPERABLE AIRBAGS. WAS GIVEN TWO OPTIONS, STARTING WITH ONE OPTION OF REPLACING THE SENSOR IN ITS ENTIRETY AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $525, AND IF THAT DIDN'T WORK, RUNNING ANOTHER DIAG. TEST AT AN ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED COST OF $592. IN AN ATTEMPT FOR SOME ASSISTANCE, A CONSUMER COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ONLY TO BE DENIED ASSISTANCE ON THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. THEIR DECISION WAS BASED SOLELY ON THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT NOT BEING UNDER A WARRANTY. PAYING A $1,000 FOR A "GUESS" IS EXTREMELY STEEP AND UNREASONABLE AND A COST TO WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. DUE TO THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS, AT 45,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED, TO WHICH NISSAN PICKED UP THE TAB FOR DUE TO FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS OF THEIR CVT TRANSMISSIONS. BEING PURCHASED AS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE ONLY TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION BEING COMPLETELY REPLACED AT 45,000 MILES SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE POOR QUALITY OF NISSAN VEHICLES. AT THIS TIME, NISSAN IS REFUSING TO ASSIST.
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
Other or unspecified, Feb 25, 2015
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE HAS BEEN MELTING AND CAUSING VERY DANGEROUS GLARE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. IN 2013 NISSAN EVALUATED MY VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. IT IS GETTING SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE AS TIME GOES ON AND THERE IS ABSOLUTLEY NO WAY TO CLEAN IT SO NOW DUST AND DEBRIS COLLECTS AND STICKS AND IT IS BECOMING A BREATHING HAZARD TO ME. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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
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
Visibility/wiper, Feb 13, 2015
DASHBOARD IS SHINY FROM PLASTICIZERS (?) LEACHING OUT OR BREAKING DOWN CAUSING GLARE THAT IS OBSTRUCTING VISION CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. THIS GLARE OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVERS VIEW ENOUGH TO MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE TO PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND OCCUPANT OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 12, 2015
I HAVE A WHINING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. WHINING NOISE IS LOUDER AS YOU ACCELERATE. *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
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 9, 2015
UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IMMEDIATELY THE CAR RAN HOT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER THAT THEN INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/CATALYST CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND WAS LEAKING. WHICH THEY INFORMED ME WAS VERY DANGEROUS BUT THEY WHERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS WHICH LED TO CRACKED HEADS ON THE MOTOR AND EVENTUALLY TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. WHAT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN? NOT SO MUCH,. *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