2008 Nissan ALTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,028 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 684 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 208 of 1,028 complaints (20.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 129 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 80 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 51 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 41 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 208 |
| Unknown Or Other | 199 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 168 |
| Air Bags | 122 |
| Structure:Body | 101 |
| Electrical System | 87 |
| Power Train | 69 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 56 |
Structure: 208; Unknown Or Other: 199; Visibility/Wiper: 168; Air Bags: 122; Structure:Body: 101; Electrical System: 87; Power Train: 69; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 56
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 101 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 114 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 160 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 119 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 139 |
| 150,000 and above | 51 |
Under 25,000: 101; 25,000 to 49,999: 114; 50,000 to 74,999: 160; 75,000 to 99,999: 119; 100,000 to 149,999: 139; 150,000 and above: 51
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (160). 344 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
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: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 129 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 80 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10238491 · 2008-08-16 (August 16, 2008)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH OF 2008, AFTER 2000 MILES I HEARD THE BRAKES START TO SQUEAK, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AUGUST 8TH AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES, THEY DID AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE CALIPERS REPLACED, I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS TOLD NO, THERE IS A BULLETIN THOUGH. I THOUGHT THAT OTHER OWNERS SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP AND THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240150 · 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)
FIRST DAY FOR PICK UP, HEADLIGHT POP, FIX IT THE NEXT DAY, TOOK 90 MINUTES JUST TO FIX ONE HEADLIGHT, AFTER 6 WEEKS, CAR TURNS OFF WHEN DRIVING ONE OF THE MOST BUSIEST HWY AND THE STEERING LOCKS; ONLY WAY TO START IT IS BY PUTTING IT TO "PARK" HOLD BRAKES DOWN ALL THE WAY THEN PUSH THE BUTTON AND COMING FROM THAT, IT WAS NOT SAFE AT ALL, DRIVERS WERE HONKING AND SWERVING JUST TO MANEUVER AWAY FROM ME, CALLED DEALERSHIP TO WHERE I PURCHASE CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM, TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAD TURNED OFF 4 TIMES ON THE SAME HWY AND THANK GOD IT TURN…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,475 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216658 · 2008-02-01 (February 1, 2008)
I HEARD A NOISE WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FELL OFF BUT THE CAR ONLY HAD 600 MILES ON IT SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A ROCK OR SOMETHING IN THE ROAD THAT GOT KICKED UP. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER MY ACCESSORY BELT THAT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING, THE WATER PUMP, THE ALTERNATOR AND THE TENSIONER PULLEY FLEW OFF. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO THE DEALER I FOUND OUT THAT THE PULLEY BROKE OFF WHICH CAUSE THE BELT TO COME OFF. I HAD THE TENSIONER PULLEY AND THE BELT REPLACED, BUT NOW IT SEEMS IT MAY HAVE CAUSE ANOTHER PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255260 · 2009-01-15 (January 15, 2009)
DRIVERS SEAT CUSHION MOVES SIDE TO SIDE WHEN MAKING TURNS. STARTED AT ABOUT 5,000 MILES AND GETS WORSE WITH TIME. TAKEN CAR TO DEALER THREE TIMES, FIRST TIME SUPPOSEDLY WAS FIXED AND THE NEXT TWO TIMES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY TECH AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. APPEARS SEAT COULD BRAKE DURING ACCIDENT. THE SEAT CAN BE MOVED BY SHIFTING BODY WEIGHT. DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SEAT FRAME IS LOOSE FROM THE FLOORBOARD BUT JUST THE CUSHION IS NOT SECURE TO THE SEAT FRAME. I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT MANY TIMES ON FORUMS AND FROM OTHER OWNERS I KNOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216478 · 2008-01-30 (January 30, 2008)
TENSIONER FROM ENGINE THAT CREATES TENSION TO THE BELT FELL OFF WHILE I MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 887 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213262 · 2007-12-31 (December 31, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY MAKES A NOISE WHILE PARKED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO DISCONNECT AND RECONNECT THE BATTERY UNTIL THE PART ARRIVES IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE NAME OF THE PART THAT NEEDS REPLACING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE ABOVE 40 MPH . UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229215 · 2008-05-29 (May 29, 2008)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND I COULD HEAR NOISE UNDER THE CAR, ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH LIT UP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, COOLANT LIGHT, BATTERY, I THEN LOST POWER STEERING AND LOST ACCELERATION, CARS WERE SPEEDING BY ME AND I COASTED TO THE OFF RAMP. I GOT TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT SERVICE DEPT WAS CLOSED BECAUSE IT WAS SUNDAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED AND SAID THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. MY HUSBAND WENT TO GET THE CAR AND THEY HAD SAID THAT IT WAS THE RETENTIONER …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325826 · 2010-04-15 (April 15, 2010)
ON OCCASION/RANDOMLY THE CLUTCH ON THE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR WHICH DOES NOT ENABLE THE DRIVER TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE PAST TO REPAIR BUT THE SAME SITUATION HAS ARISEN. NOT HAVING ABILITY TO SHIFT CAN STALL THE VEHICLE AND REDER IT INOPERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, ON AN OFF-RAMP, IN AN INTERSECTION, ETC. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374100 · 2011-01-04 (January 4, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR HESITATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN MARCH 2010 WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WITH A SALVAGE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264233 · 2009-04-06 (April 6, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAY. AS A RESULT, A PIECE OF METAL BECAME LODGED IN THE FUEL TANK AND WAS HANGING DOWN. THE FAILURE CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHATEVER HE STRUCK CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCATION AND LACK OF PROTECTION OF THE FUEL TANK A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15000. UPDATED 04-28-09 CW THE DRIVERS SID…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320784 · 2010-03-18 (March 18, 2010)
I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, WAS REAR ENDED BY A FORD EXPLORER, WHICH THEREFORE MADE ME REAR END THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. THE DRIVER NEVER PUT ON THEIR BRAKES. THE BACK GLASS SHATTERED, MY TRUNK WAS IN MY BACKSEAT, GAS TANK EXPOSED. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. GUESS THE FRONTAL HIT WASN'T HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOY, WHICH THEREFORE HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT CAUSED ME TO HAVE A 3CM LACERATION ABOVE RIGHT EYE, WHICH REQUIRED CLOSING. THE REAR SIDE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BUT DIDN'T!! I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320784 at NHTSA ↗