2008 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN ALTMA SEPT 17,2007. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS GO OFF WHILE A PASSENGER IS SEATED AND RIDING IN THE AUTO. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE. WHEN MY WIFE IS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, HER LIFE IS IN DANGER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10207922 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES (TIRE SIZE 235/55R17 99 H). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD VIBRATING SOUND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY. UPON INSPECTION, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE SIDEWALL ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 324 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80. UPDATED 01/29/08. *LJ

Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212958 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TURNS ITSELF OFF SPORADICALLY WHEN I (160 LBS) OR MY HUSBAND (190 LBS) SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NISSAN STATED THAT MY AIRBAG SENSOR WAS OPERATING AS PER SPECIFICATION. THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE SWITCH TO FORCE THE AIRBAG TO INFLATE DURING A CRASH. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIRBAG MAY TURN ITSELF OFF WHEN SMALL ADULTS ARE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, BUT OFFERS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS SITUATION. DOES THIS MEAN THAT NISSA…

Owner-reported narrative. 24 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216021 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND THE FRAGMENTS CASCADED ON TO THE CONTACT. HE HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE GLASS REMOVED FROM HIS FACE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,600. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN UPDATED 05/19/08

Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222188 at NHTSA ↗

MY NIECE TOOK OUR ALTIMA TO CALIFORNIA (LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME). THE CARS BELT WAS BROKEN WHEN THE TENSIONER PULLEY BROKE OFF OF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL AND OVERHEATED THE ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN IN MOSSEY NISSAN'S SHOP IN EL CAJON FOR THREE WEEKS NOW DUE TO BACK ORDERED PARTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222324 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-12-28 (December 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: 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.

Reported: 2008-07-31 (July 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: 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.

Reported: 2008-10-07 (October 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: 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.

Reported: 2010-09-10 (September 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: 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.