no report yet
Electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk. OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
2008 Nissan AltimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,031 owner complaints about the 2008 Nissan Altima, most often about the structure. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2008 Nissan Altima has problems
1,031 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
312Structure7 crash/fire/injury
168Visibility/wiper2 crash/fire/injury
142Air bags19 crash/fire/injury
90Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
80Power train5 crash/fire/injury
58Service brakes, hydraulic
54Engine
37Steering
35Vehicle speed control
19720 other systems25 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 312 | 7 |
| Visibility/wiper | 168 | 2 |
| Air bags | 142 | 19 |
| Electrical system | 90 | 9 |
| Power train | 80 | 5 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 58 | 4 |
| Engine | 54 | 8 |
| Steering | 37 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 35 | 11 |
| 20 other systems | 197 | 25 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2008 Nissan Altima recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Air bags
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
no report yet
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.
no report yet
Ignition: module
Risk. DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Nissan.
Mileage at failure
When do structure problems start?
65kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 189 structure complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.
19under 30k miles163under 100k miles26100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Service brakes, hydraulic
10 owners mentioned a cost$525median
Middle half: $461 – $558
Air bags
10 owners mentioned a cost$800median
Middle half: $705 – $900
Visibility/wiper
8 owners mentioned a cost$1,930median
Middle half: $963 – $2,125
Structure
8 owners mentioned a cost$1,863median
Middle half: $994 – $2,301
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2008 vs. every other Altima year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Altima median. How we score
12210618092108123871601591,0478832761,0918244711,0311,5473812424262,3151,1149565553952262351627132304471
'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2008 Nissan Altima safety ratings
2008 Nissan Altima 2-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2008 Nissan Altima, and the recalls they led to.
- Brake Master Cylinder Internal LeakNo recall
In owners' words
What Altima owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My 2008 Nissan Altima's dash is degrading and has caused a sticky residue to form on it. This stickiness is very shiny and causes a glare to occur on the windshield. I live in Kentucky and when the sun is shining, and actually basically anytime driving, the glare makes it nearly impossible to see.…
The dashboard of this vehicle has become sticky to the touch and excessively shiny, and appears to be melting in spots, causing glare on the windshield that obstructs vision while driving.
2008 Nissan Altima: Noticed this year a shiny gleam on the dashboard. This windshield gets hazy. The dashboard is melting, it is sticking and shiny. When a fingernail is pressed, it will actually sink into the dashboard and leave a mark. The dashboard cannot take any cleaning or friction. When the…
Own a 2008 Altima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.