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2008 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Altima years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Altima are substantially higher than the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

685 reports with mileage · 343 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 312 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 168 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

53 crash reports13 fire reports26 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

142 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2021
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

Air bag light on dash board. Which I don’t know if it’s related to the melting windshield issue. Top of dashboard melting and causing severe reflection on windshield and I almost ran someone over because of the severe windshield glare due to melting dashboard causing blinding reflection. Nissan defect is a liability and neglig…

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Air bag light on dash board. Which I don’t know if it’s related to the melting windshield issue. Top of dashboard melting and causing severe reflection on windshield and I almost ran someone over because of the severe windshield glare due to melting dashboard causing blinding reflection. Nissan defect is a liability and negligence which needs to be recalled. This is not a cosmetic issue!!! It is a great safety hazard and easily cause a fatal accident since due to the manufacturer’s defect it is unsafe to drive. This needs to be recalled because they will be held accountable if someone dies.

NHTSA ODI #11435289

220,000 miles · Sep 10, 2021
Air BagsCrashInjury

The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. During the crash, the front passenger-side airbag did not deploy and the front passenger sustained a fractured nose, a concussion, and bruises. A police report was taken at the…

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The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. During the crash, the front passenger-side airbag did not deploy and the front passenger sustained a fractured nose, a concussion, and bruises. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer(unknown) and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.

NHTSA ODI #11432475

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2021
Air Bags

UNKNOWN I have a red flashing light on my right dashboard. Owners manual said to call dealership because of faulty airbags.

NHTSA ODI #11421477

55,000 miles · Jun 15, 2021
Air Bags

The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000 (Air Bags). The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer for maintenance and was informed that the Vin was not included in the recall. The contact then stated that the passenger air bag off warning light was illuminated …

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The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000 (Air Bags). The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer for maintenance and was informed that the Vin was not included in the recall. The contact then stated that the passenger air bag off warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #11421002

109,430 miles · Feb 11, 2021
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FAILED TO REGISTER THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS IN USE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE RELATED TO TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FAILED TO REGISTER THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS IN USE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. TWIN CITY NISSAN (3247 ALCOA HWY, ALCOA, TN 37701, (865) 970-4132) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED AND THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,430.

NHTSA ODI #11395751

150,000 miles · Jul 2, 2020
Air BagsCrash

MY HUSBAND WAS JUST IN HIS FIRST WRECK THIS PAST WEEK OR SO IN OUR NISSAN ALTIMA 2008 2.5 S, AND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WE HAD NOTICED OUR PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAD CAME ON OUT OF NO WHERE.*DT WELL, IT DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HE GOT INTO THE ACCIDENT. EVERY OTHER AIR BAG EXCEPT THE PASSENGER ONE DEPLOYED. EVEN THE ONES IN OUR SEATB…

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MY HUSBAND WAS JUST IN HIS FIRST WRECK THIS PAST WEEK OR SO IN OUR NISSAN ALTIMA 2008 2.5 S, AND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WE HAD NOTICED OUR PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAD CAME ON OUT OF NO WHERE.*DT WELL, IT DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HE GOT INTO THE ACCIDENT. EVERY OTHER AIR BAG EXCEPT THE PASSENGER ONE DEPLOYED. EVEN THE ONES IN OUR SEATBELT AREA DIDN'T DEPLOY ALL THE WAY. THE WRECK HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY. THE MAN MY HUSBAND REAR ENDED WAS YIELDING TO TURN LEFT. MY HUSBAND WAS GOING 35-40MPH.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11337192

186,000 miles · Mar 5, 2020
Air BagsSeat Belts

SUPPLEMENTAL SAFETY AIRBAG SEATBELT THE LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING AND DOES NOT GO OFF THIS A SAFETY ISSUE I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONING

NHTSA ODI #11316412

104,000 miles · Oct 12, 2019
Air BagsVisibility/wiper

PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR FREQUENTLY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT. DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A RECALL AND THAT IT WAS REPAIRED ON MY VEHICLE, BUT IT CLEARLY HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND MELTED TO THE POINT THAT WHEN IT'S BEING DRIVEN IT REFLECTS UP …

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PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT SENSOR FREQUENTLY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT. DOESN'T MATTER IF THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A RECALL AND THAT IT WAS REPAIRED ON MY VEHICLE, BUT IT CLEARLY HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND MELTED TO THE POINT THAT WHEN IT'S BEING DRIVEN IT REFLECTS UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE.

NHTSA ODI #11268084

133,194 miles · Jul 30, 2019
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS BLINKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF YUBA CITY (1340 BRIDGE ST, YUBA CITY, CA 95993, (530) 923-4548) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS BLINKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF YUBA CITY (1340 BRIDGE ST, YUBA CITY, CA 95993, (530) 923-4548) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 36535317 AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V521000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,194.

NHTSA ODI #11240640

109,000 miles · Jul 23, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY, SHE BECAME DISTRACTED AND HIT AN OAK TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BODILY AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A DRIVEWAY, SHE BECAME DISTRACTED AND HIT AN OAK TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BODILY AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #11234289

Official recalls

4

10V401000 · 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

08V521000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:software

Oct 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).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

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).

Consequence: 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.

Air Bags

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).

Consequence: 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.

08V363000 · Suspension

Jul 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

07V599000 · Electrical System:ignition:module

Dec 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE11020 · Brake Master Cylinder Internal Leak

Opened May 23, 2011 · Closed Mar 14, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

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 replaced under warranty did not have a leak condition.These replacements may have resulted from brake MIL illumination due to pad wear.For most of the warranty claims, in a few cases where a master cylinder leak was found, Nissan's testing showed that the leaks were extremely slow and would require thousands of miles or months of driving before brake performance could be affected.After an extensive study of replaced master cylinders for a presumed leak, Nissan was unable to identify any concern with the parts or design of the subject components that could affect brake performance. Nevertheless, Nissan does recognize a concern with premature brake MIL illumination and has decided to address this problem by conducting a voluntary service campaign covering approximately 1.17 million model year 2007 through 2012 Altima vehicles (up to June 25, 2011 production, the date of Nissan's running change for the longer life brake pad).Nissan's owner letter for the service campaign states, As your brake pads wear over time, the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir will drop and may cause the brake warning lamp to illuminate.?Although this is a normal condition, there has been concern that the brake warning light illumination may be caused by a slow fluid leak over time.Nissan's service campaign will inspect the brake pads and test the master cylinder for leakage.If leakage is detected, Nissan will replace the master cylinder at no charge.If excessive pad wear is observed, customers will be notified and will be responsible for repairs.For more details concerning Nissan's service campaign, see the PE11-020 file on www.Safercar.gov. Based on the low failure rate for confirmed master cylinder leakage in the subject vehicles and the low probability that the condition would affect brake performance, this investigation is closed.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems