Your vehicle report
2008 Nissan Altima
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 1,031
- Received Nov 2007 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Dashboard melts, becomes sticky and glares461 complaints · 45% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbag warning light stays on48 complaints · 4.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Glass shatters or cracks without impact40 complaints · 3.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #10V401000Nissan 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.
- Recall #08V521000Nissan 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).
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Dashboard melts, becomes sticky and glaresFirst signal: May 2013
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 54 crashes, 13 fires, 34 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Unintended acceleration despite braking
- CVT transmission fails or loses power
- Transmission fails or loses power while driving
1 more problem
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
- Airbag warning light stays on
- Passenger airbag sensor wrongly shows off
- Airbags fail to deploy in crashes
1 more problem
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
- Dashboard melts, becomes sticky and glares
- Glass shatters or cracks without impact
- Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag
1 more problem
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 30 |
| 2010 | 47 |
| 2011 | 55 |
| 2012 | 32 |
| 2013 | 83 |
| 2014 | 200 |
| 2015 | 160 |
| 2016 | 107 |
| 2017 | 72 |
| 2018 | 59 |
| 2019 | 41 |
| 2020 | 42 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 4 |
| Total | 1,031 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard melts, becomes sticky and glares | 461 | 45% | 111.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: May 2013 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.2% |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 48 | 4.7% | – | NHTSA recall #08V521000 |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 40 | 3.9% | – | |
| Passenger airbag sensor wrongly shows off | 35 | 3.4% | – | NHTSA recall #08V521000 |
| Brake master cylinder leaks fluid and fails | 31 | 3.0% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 30 | 2.9% | – | |
| CVT transmission fails or loses power | 23 | 2.2% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 18 | 1.8% | – | |
| Brake lights fail or stay on | 16 | 1.6% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 15 | 1.5% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 15 | 1.5% | – | |
| Dashboard cracks near passenger airbag | 13 | 1.3% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 13 | 1.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 12 | 1.2% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 12 | 1.2% | – | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 12 | 1.2% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 12 | 1.2% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 11 | 1.1% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 10 | 1.0% | – | |
| Brakes make grinding or squealing noise | 10 | 1.0% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #10V401000September 10, 20107,948 vehicles affected
equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #08V521000October 7, 2008204,361 vehicles affected
air bags; electrical system: software
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #08V363000July 31, 20081,018 vehicles affected
suspension
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #07V599000December 28, 2007114 vehicles affected
electrical system: ignition: module
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.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2008 Nissan Altima.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN