KnownCarProblems2008 Nissan Altima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,030 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Altima, most often about the body and structure (30% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles). It is 6th of 27 Altima model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2008 Nissan Altima problems
Body and structure
312 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels, frame and members.
The dashboard is sticky and melting. The car is garage parked and I use sun shades when it is parked outside. The dash is melting so badly that the glare is blocking my ability to see things on the road.
I have noticed that over the last several months 4-5 months, that my dashboard of my Nissan Altima coupe 2008 is beginning to melt. Initially, the defect appeared as a glossy, shiny hue to the dashboard along the edges but over time, its has now started to melt with severe glossy and sticky residue - the glare from…
Other or unspecified
199 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles.
When driving vehicle I hear a loud whining noise when accelerating at b all times. And when I put the car into neutral the whining drivetrain noise from transmission goes away. I also hear a rattling noise from center exhaust at idol and notice catalytic converter pipe has rusted out near engine flex pipe.
My dashboard has started to melt. It makes the dashboard very sticky as if it is an adhesive product and turns colors. Due to this over time, the view out of the windshield is obstructed by a glare from any light source whether its from the sun or from a street lamp. I do not use any cleaning products other than a wet…
Visibility and wipers
188 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, power window devices and controls.
My 2008 Nissan Altima 2.5sl's dashboard developed a gooey/sticky substance that I can't seem to get off...almost as if it's melting. The problem is the glare from the sun impacts my view as it projects up at the windshield.
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.
Air bags
142 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 71,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, sensor, side/window.
My passenger airbag sensor doesn't always work when a passenger is sitting there. That is while the vehicle is in park, putting it in drive doesn't matter it still says that passenger airbag is off. The only temporary fix is for the passenger to bounce in the seat and it might turn the airbag on and get rid of the…
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.
Brakes
92 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
"brake" indicator light began coming on intermittently while driving. Took the car in for service, found out the brake master cylinder is leaking and needs replaced. Vehicle is a 2008 Nissan Altima and only has 41,000 miles on it. Vehicle was recently in for maintenance service in december 2010, no indication of…
Service brakes, hydraulic-foundation components-master cylinder : after a few days of driving with a brake indicator light coming on, crown Nissan service representative indicated that the master cylinder was leaking into the power booster, lowering the brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. Total charges were…
Electrical
90 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 76,500 miles. Parts named most often: software, ignition.
The "passenger airbag not on" light has been intermittently flashing. It now remains lit (passenger airbag off) when the seat is unoccupied and when a full grown adult sits in the passenger seat. In november of 2012, the airbag light began to flash on the dashboard panel. I took my car into a Nissan dealership for…
Power door locks malfunctioning on 3 of the 4 doors. Depending on day, sometimes one or more locks will not lock when using key fob or when using power lock button on driver door. At other times, one or more locks will not open when using key fob or when using power lock button on driver door. I am fearful that after…
Transmission
80 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, clutch assembly.
5/31/2014, as I was traveling down 75 north towards chattanooga going 80 miles per hour to maintain speed of traffic I noticed that my vehicle started slowing down and would not allow me to accelerate. I had to immediately put my emergency signal on in order to merge over to the far right emergency lane to stop the…
The contact's husband owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to conyers Nissan in conyers, ga where the dealer stated that the vehicle needed a tune-up. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…
Engine
74 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that smoke started to emit from the hood and unknown fluid was discovered on the engine after inspecting the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to shift out of park. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that a coolant hose…
My vehicle's transmission failed after only 90,000 miles. Nissan replaced the transmission for free under their extended CVT warranty program, however, less than a year later, the check engine light came on while making a long distance trip on the interstate. According to Nissan the CVT fluid required for the CVT…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Nissan Altima recalls
Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: software
Risk: This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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).
Suspension
Risk: If the bolt were to come out, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: module
Risk: Driving on under-inflated tires is unsafe and could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake master cylinder internal leak
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe11-020 to investigate possible brake performance loss due to brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder into the brake booster in the subject vehicles.a total of 237 complaints were identified by odi and nissan.the majority of complaints and warranty claims reported that brake malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination as the only symptom of a problem.only 12 complaints alleged any effect on brake performance and in each of these the drivers were able to stop the vehicles without incident.no crash claims could be attributed to the alleged defect. Returned part analysis data provided by nissan showed that most of the master cylinders rep
Questions about the 2008 Nissan Altima
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Altima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (312 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); other or unspecified (199 complaints, typically around 92,000 miles); visibility and wipers (188 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Altima have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 10, 2010 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Nissan Altima?
- It is 6th of 27 Altima model years by number of complaints, with 1,030 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.