2008 Nissan Altima recalls and problems

The 2008 Nissan Altima has 4 safety recalls and 1,031 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer.

Recalls
4
Complaints
1,031
Crashes / fires
54 / 13
Injuries / deaths
34 / 2

Recalls may cover only some 2008 Nissan Altima vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2008 Nissan Altima recalls

Recall 10V-401: Equipment

Reported Sep 10, 2010 · 7,948 vehicles affected · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.

Fix: 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.

Recall 08V-521: Electrical System, Air Bags

Reported Oct 7, 2008 · 204,361 vehicles affected · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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).

Risk: This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 08V-363: Suspension

Reported Jul 31, 2008 · 1,018 vehicles affected · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 07V-599: Electrical System

Reported Dec 28, 2007 · 114 vehicles affected · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: 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.

Risk: Driving on under-inflated tires is unsafe and could result in a crash.

Fix: 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.

2008 Nissan Altima problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Structure313
Unknown or Other199
Visibility/Wiper168
Air Bags147
Electrical System90
Power Train80
Service Brakes, Hydraulic59
Engine54
Steering37
Vehicle Speed Control35
Service Brakes33
Seats24

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 101
  • Air Bags › Frontal — 15
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 8
  • Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems — 6
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 4
  • Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger — 4
  • Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 3
  • Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 3

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 70,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2008 Nissan Altima complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Fuel/Propulsion System · reported Oct 27, 2026
I am a senior citizen that owns a 2008 Nissan Altima, 2.5, two door vehicle. I have spent thousands trying to fix a power condition on this car that has become chronic. One mechanic told me what my car has a a known symptom by Nissan and that there has been recalls for it, therefore, I went in the internet and search recalls for 2008 Nissan cars and found out its been known this mechanical problem is known manufacturer. Sadly i never received a notice of recall and I wonder how i was missed! Another issue of this car is that the dashboard is melting for several years and its also a known…
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · at 80,000 miles · reported Oct 5, 2026
The contact's mother owned a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her mother was driving 20 MPH, the brakes suddenly stopped responding when the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle crashed into a pole. The brake pedal was depressed, and the parking brake was activated, but the vehicle failed to respond. The driver sustained injuries to the face with cuts and bruises to the stomach, chest, arms, back and neck pain. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was serviced at a Nissan dealer. The local dealer was notified. The vehicle was totaled. The failure mileage was approximately…
Unknown or Other · reported Apr 25, 2026
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.
Air Bags · reported Oct 30, 2025
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.
Unknown or Other · reported Oct 30, 2025
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.

Other Nissan Altima years

Compare all Nissan Altima years · All Nissan models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Nissan Altima have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2008 Nissan Altima: 10V-401 (equipment), 08V-521 (electrical system, air bags), 08V-363 (suspension), 07V-599 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Nissan Altima?

Owners report structure problems most often (313 reports), followed by unknown or other (199). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 70,000 miles.

Are Nissan recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Nissan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.