2008 NISSAN ALTIMA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Altima. This model year has 1,028 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Structural Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2008 Nissan Altima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Structural Problems
Uncategorized Issues
Visibility/Wiper
Considering a 2008 Nissan Altima?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Nissan Altima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Problems | 312 | 5 | 2 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 199 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 168 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 142 | 19 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 92 | 8 | 2 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 90 | 5 | 4 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 80 | 5 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 75 | 3 | 8 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 57 | 3 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 37 | 4 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 35 | 10 | 1 | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 24 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 20 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 8 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 7 | 4 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Gasoline | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electric | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,028 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Like many others in this make/model, dashboard is melting, resulting in glare onto windshield, off-gassing of chemicals, and concerns that airbags may not properly deploy. Inspected only by vehicle repair technician, but available for inspection by others at any time.
Passenger air bag indicator light has been on for 2 years and have been unable to locate issue. All air bag systems test good except error code for passenger side air bag.
Had to have AC system repaired three times for the same issue. Evaporator/Heater Core needed to be replaced twice along with other repairs to AC system. Nissan would not back up evaporator repair.
Suspension and steering issues purchased many new tires throughout the yrs to find out it had suspension issues. There are 4 recalls listed on my insurance policy that describes exactly what's been wrong with my car since purchased. When calling nissan and checking your data base…
At first, the passenger airbag off light always turn on when a person sit on the seat(never turn off). Then few months later the Airbag light on dashboard starts flashing with no reason, 1 long 5 shorts.
I bought this used from a private owner, on consignment at a used car lot Pinellas County FL May 2020. The previous owner installed a dashboard mat to cover up the melting, cracking dashboard, after 5 years of ownership, the dashboard is in serious degraded condition worse when I…
After driving over a hour or so the rpm will stick at 3 and the mph will not go over 60. The car occasionally lose power as well. I have already had the throttle body and the alternator recently done.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The contact called the dealer and made an appointment; however, the contact was informed that the part might not be available for the appoin…
The dashboard of the car melted that causes a very bright glare.
The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at approximately 80 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff, and the contact lost control of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. As a result, the contact crashed into a concret…
Dashboard material defective melted sticky and very reflective. No idea how toxic could be.
Leaking power stearing fluid. The seems to be an issue with fuel system. No light just does not seem to accelerate properly.
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 …
The dash is melting from the heat and is very sticky. It’s really unsafe due to the glare that affects the driver vision. It has already caused me to have one near miss when a tractor pulled into road and I was unable to see him until the last second. Then I jerked the steering m…
The drive train I believe it’s called Or transmission is malfunctioning and yes it is available for inspection upon request Our safety was put in risk when the vehicle started driving at a low speed and would not accelerate eventually stopping completely The problem hasn’t been…
Parked car due to electrical and transmission issues had left it for a couple hours to receive assistance and the car was gone it had no plates because I was attempting to register the car that same day
215/60R16 This is the second tire that failed at the sidewall needing to be replaced. First failed after less than 4000 miles. And the second w sidewall failure at about 10,000 miles of use. i have photographed the second tire failure. Seems odd that out of five brand new tires h…
The dashboard is sticky and melted down. Also has cracks from the heat.
Passenger airbag warning light is blinking Took to repair shop and tech said OCS is bad and needs replacing Code B1018 comes up I do not understand why there is not a recall because this is a safety Issue
The hood under car is messed up and makes noises while driving. I heard there was a recall on the hoods underneath. I need fixed as I live on disability. Tire light won't go off sensor is not working right.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2008 Nissan Altima.
Recalls for 2008 Nissan Altima
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2008 Nissan Altima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2008 Nissan Altima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Nissan Altima reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1,028 NHTSA owner complaints, 53 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Structural Problems (312 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Altima?▾
#1: Structural Problems (312 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (199 complaints). #3: Visibility/Wiper (168 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Nissan Altima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2008 Nissan Altima?▾
The 2008 Nissan Altima has 53 crash-related complaints and 13 fire reports out of 1,028 total NHTSA complaints. 33 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2008 Nissan Altima have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2008 Nissan Altima. The largest issue: SUSPENSION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2008 Nissan Altima?▾
The 2008 Nissan Altima has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Structural Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2008 Nissan Altima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.