NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Nissan Altima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
DASHBOARD HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE/MELT AND HAS TURNED INTO A SHINY, REFLECTIVE GOO. IT IS REFLECTING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND AT THE RIGHT ANGLE CAN BE COMPLETELY BLINDING. THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF MULTIPLE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES AND NO MANUFACTURER RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. *TR
NEARLY 1/3 OF THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED, LEAVING A STICKY RESIDUE THAT CAUSES EXTREME AND SUDDEN REFLECTION OF SUNLIGHT, INCLUDING DURING HIGH SPEED DRIVING. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC - IT IS SIMPLY A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MECHANIC, WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, HAS STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE (EVEN OLD VEHICLES) WITH MELTING AS EXTENSIVE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS BEFORE IT CAUSES A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED BRAKE LIGHT AND VDC/SLIP LIGHTS TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. MY CAR HAS 54,000 MILES. THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AT 31,000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MY BRAKE PADS AND REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AT THAT TIME. THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED HORRIBLY SINCE THE PADS WERE REPLACED. NOW HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A PART BECAUSE APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY, MANY NISSAN OWNERS. *TR
I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INCIDENCES WHERE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE & TRYING TO START THE CAR (BY THE PUSH START IGNITION) THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER. ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE WILL TURN ON (RADIO, POWER WINDOWS, AIR, ETC) BUT THE CAR WILL NOT START. I'VE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT ALWAYS PASSES AS A GOOD BATTERY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2008 NISSAN ALTIMAS. FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, IT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH A BRAKE CABLE. WITH AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE SEEN ON THIS, HOW COME THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ISSUED? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THERE WAS A GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT REFLECTED TO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE CONTACTS FRONTAL VIEW TO BECOME IMPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, SUGGESTING I NEED TO ADD BRAKE FLUID. I'VE READ THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO SPEND A LOT TO REPLACE A LEAKY MASTER CYLINDER. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. *TR
THE DASHBOARD FIRST STARTED GETTING STICKY AND THEN IT STARTED PROGRESSING REALLY FAST WITH THE ALL OVER MELTING AND SINKING IN. THE GLARE WAS SO BAD THAT I FIRST PUT A TOWEL ON IT TILL IT WAS STUCK AND I HAD A HARD TIME REMOVING IT AFTER I GOT A DASHBOARD COVER. NOW I CAN SEE CRACKS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND THE SIDE BY THE RADIO. THE SMELL IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. I'M REALLY EMBARRASSED ABOUT ANYONE RIDING IN MY CAR EVER THOUGH IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE. I'M HOPING THE CAR MANUFACTURE GETS ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THAT THEY WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I KNOW I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN AND WHEN YOU ARE COMPARING THE PRICE OF A NEW CAR COMPARED TO WHAT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM WOULD BE. IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO GO AHEAD AN FIX THE PROBLEM FOR THE OWNERS OF THE CAR.. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN GOING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY STARTING ON JANUARY 10, 2012. DEFINITELY MORE COMMON ON DAYS WITH TEMPS AT FREEZING OR BELOW. LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT ONCE CAR WARMED UP, BUT WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER USING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. BRAKES DID SEEM TO STOP OKAY, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A FEW TIMES VERY RECENTLY THAT THEY MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. CHECKED/ADDED BRAKE FLUID SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS. HAD CAR SERVICED AT LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. COST WAS $100 OUT OF POCKET -- REMAINDER COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AS MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 41,494 MILES ON IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING CAUSING THE SUN TO GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SUNLIGHT REFLECTED FROM THE POLISHED DASHBOARD AND WAS CAUSING AN EXCESSIVE GLARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND AS A RESULT ITS PUTTING A GLARE ON MY WINDSHIELD WHICH AT TIMES MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. *TR
THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE HAND-BRAKE WASN'T ON AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEM DURING BRAKING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO PAY THE $560 FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE RISKS WITH YOUR BRAKES. *TR
I AM ANOTHER VERY FRUSTRATED MELTING DASHBOARD OWNER AS THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME TIME AND IS GETTING WORSE. THE DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY(IF YOU LEAVE SOMETHING ON THE DASHBOARD FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME IT BECOMES STUCK). THE DASHBOARD IS ALSO SHINY AND PRODUCES A GLARE. WHEN YOU DRIVE INTO THE SUN. THE GLARE MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SEE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUMES AND POTENTIAL CARCINOGENS BEING OMITTED THAT MAY POSE ADDITIONAL HEALTH RISKS TO MYSELF AND PASSENGERS. I STOPPED BY MY LOCAL SOUTH FLORIDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS BASICALLY OUT OF LUCK AS IT IS PAST THE WARRANTY PROVIDED(?) BY NISSAN.
I PURCHASED MY 2008 NISSAN ALITMA BRAND NEW IN FLORIDA. THE DASHBOARD HAS MELTED AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. IT HAS CREATED A HORRIBLE GLARE AND IT INHIBITS MY VISION. NOT TO MENTION IT IS UNSIGHTLY AND IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN A STICKY, CRUMBLY SURFACE. MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE COST AS I AM OUT OF MY WARRANTY. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $1,000.00 OR EVEN $1.00 TO GET IT FIXED AS IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS LONG AGO. I MOVED TO KENTUCKY 3 YEARS AGO AND IT'S MELTING HERE ALSO.
DASHBOARD IS MELTING. GLARE MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE . SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
DASH OF VEHICLE BECAME STICKY TO THE TOUCH-SEEMED MELTED. THIS CAUSES A SHEEN THAT WHEN REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD FORMS AN UNSAFE GLARE WHEN DRIVING. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. CAR WAS IN MOTION. BRAKES WERE NOT IN USE WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. $476.00 REPAIR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW OR INFERIOR WORKMANSHIP/PARTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS ILLUMINATED SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM WITH THE MANUFACTURER IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
I HAVE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN "DRAGGING" IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. THE GEARS SHIFT AS NORMAL BUT THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE. EVEN IN 3-6 GEARS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE CLUTCH THAT IS WORN OUT. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY WARNING SIGN SHOWING. NORMALLY A CLUTCH BURNS OUT AND THE PEDAL WILL FALL FLAT TO THE FLOOR. IN THIS CASE NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2009 WITH 11000 MILES ON. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A JETTA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION SINCE JANUARY 2005 WITH NO SUCH PROBLEMS. MY RESEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE SENSOR MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS RECEIVED ON BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID OUT THE BACK OF THE CYLINDER INTO THE VACUUM HOUSING. THE LEAK WAS NOT NOTICEABLE ON THE GROUND OR ON THE MOTOR. HADN'T NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GETTING LOWER AND LOWER. THERE IS A SMALL BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME. IT'S THE SAME LIGHT THAT COMES ON WHEN YOU APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS MASKED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM AS WE THOUGHT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT NEEDED TO THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL AND INSTEAD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, AND EVEN A FEW SECONDS RIGHT AFTER STOPPING, THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON, SOMETIMES BLINKING. AFTER CHECKING THAT MY PADS WERE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF ALTIMA OWNERS THAT WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS. I CHECKED MY MC BUT FOUND NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. HOWEVER, I NOTICED THAT MY FLUID LEVEL WAS ON THE MINIMUM LINE. AFTER HAVING A CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOK AT IT, HE ADVISED ME THAT THE MC WAS FAULTY AND WAS LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. AFTER READING THAT ARE MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES, AND POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED CASES, I FEEL THAT NISSAN HAS AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE FAULTY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACE THE FAULTY PART FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
MASTER CYLINDER LEAK, HAD TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER OR IT COULD HAVE LEAD TO A BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
PURCHASED USED NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 V6 ENGINE VEHICLE WITH 18K MILES ON 10/29/11. ON A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO BRAKE THE CAR FELT AS IF I WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF IT AND ACCELERATED. HOWEVER ON 11/14/2011, I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AS USUAL SLOWLY TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP AND MADE AN INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE THE MORE IT REVVED UP. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ANY POINT. AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY. THE SERVICE MAN PLACED IT ON THE COMPUTER AND ALL KINDS OF RED LIGHTS FLICKERED. HE SAID SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT WE DON'T NO WHAT. THEY SEEMED TO BE AT A LOST. FINALLY I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO DRIVE IT TO TRY TO RECREATE THE OCCURRENCE. CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER 3 DAYS. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A CAR TO DRIVE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS PURCHASE. CERTIFIED VEHICLE WITH A WRAP AROUND SERVICE WARRANTY WILL HOPEFULLY SAVE US EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS. IN ANY CASE I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL. I WANT TO TRADE IT AND REQUEST A BUY BACK IF THIS MATTER IS NOT RESOLVED. HAVING THE MECHANIC TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES. OUR 11 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. NO CAR IS WORTH THE RISK OF DRIVING DANGEROUSLY. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. AT AROUND 33,500 MILES I NOTICED MY BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON. I PROMPTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD A LEAK IN IT. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE WARRANTY ON IT EXPIRED AT 30,000 MILES. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE AROUND $450. BEWILDERED BY THE COST AND UPSET THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT SO CLOSE PAST WARRANTY I LEFT AND HAD A FRIEND WHO WORKS AT A AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACE IT W/ A GENUINE NISSAN PART FOR $240. I ATE THE COST OF REPAIR THINKING IT WAS BAD LUCK AND MOVED ON. MY ALTIMA IS NOW AT 78,000 MILES AND ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKE LIGHT IS COMING ON. I'M POSITIVE THAT ONCE AGAIN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE VISITED THE WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2007-NISSAN-ALTIMA-DISCUSSION-2-5-3-5/298430-WARNING-MASTER-CYLINDER-PROBLEM-MUST-READ-10.HTML AND ALSO SAW THAT NHTSA HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. I WOULD LIKE MY ALTIMA RECALLED OR TO BE COMPENSATED FOR BOTH REPAIRS. (THIS LETTER HAS ALSO BEEN SENT TO NISSAN USA. AWAITING FEEDBACK). *TR
BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. THE FAULTY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INTERNALLY INTO THE BOOSTER. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITH A NEWER MODEL ALTIMA WITH UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008, NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 45,500 MILES DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN EARLY 2008. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY WIFE COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START. THEN ON NOV. 4, 2011, I WITNESSED THE FAILURE MYSELF. AFTER CONTACTING THE TEXAS AAA MOTOR CLUB AND HAVING THEM COME AND VERIFY THAT THE CAR'S BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED AND COULD RUN THE STARTER, THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION BEING TAKEN. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REPORT COMPLAINT WAS ENTERED AS: "CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT TIMES". ON THE INVOICE IT STATES "CAUSE: BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILED - NOT SENDING SIGNAL TO BCM FOR START".' THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS LISTED AS A "25320-AX00C SWITCH ASM"'. THE COST OF THE SWITCH WAS $39.17 WITH $52.50 LABOR. PRIOR TO REPAIR, I WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF THE $91.67 SWITCH INSTALLATION, OR THE INSTALLATION OF A DIFFERENT SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND A REPLACEMENT CABLE HARNESS FOR APPROXIMATELY $250.00. I CHOSE THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH OPTION BECAUSE THE FIRST SWITCH LASTED 45,500 MILES, AND IF THE SECOND SWITCH LASTED THAT MANY MILES, IT WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED UNTIL AROUND THE 90 OR 95 THOUSAND MILE MARK. *JS
MY BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT AND RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE 2008 ALTIMA. THEY CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THE FAULTY PART THEN WHY NOT A RECALL AS WITH THE SENTRA?? $550 TO REPAIR AN ISSUE KNOWN BY NISSAN TO BE A FAULTY PART. THAT IS JUST CROOKED. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP, IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT CAR EXCEPT THE ISSUE THAT APPEARS TO HAPPEN TO MANY OF THEIR DASHBOARDS. THEY BEGIN TO MELT FROM JUST GENERAL DAILY EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. IT HAS CREATED A GLARE THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES. I SPOKE WITH TWO TECHNICIANS AT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND THEY HAVE AGREED THAT IT MUST BE THE MATERIAL USED THAT YEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. UPON TAKING THIS ISSUE UP WITH NISSAN THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PIECE, AND HAVE NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE AND THE MATERIAL THAT THEY PLACED IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN AND WILL NOT ESCALATE UNTIL UNFORTUNATELY SOMEONE GETS INTO A ACCIDENT DUE TO THE MATERIAL THEY USED ON THIS DASHBOARD. NISSAN, I FEEL SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATERIAL USED AND REPLACE THE PIECE NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT OTHERS, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS TERRIBLE BUT THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AT THIS POINT. *TR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC-FOUNDATION COMPONENTS-MASTER CYLINDER : AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING WITH A BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON, CROWN NISSAN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INTO THE POWER BOOSTER, LOWERING THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. TOTAL CHARGES WERE $684.55 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 41,321 HIGHWAY MILES DRIVEN LIGHTLY. IT APPEARS TO BE A SIMILAR SITUATION AS THE 2007 AND 2008 NISSAN SENTRA AND ALTHOUGH THE TWO MODELS DO NOT SHARE THE SAME PARTS, THE MANUFACTURER IS LIKELY TO BE THE SAME. THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ISSUE.
THIS WAS A ONE VEHICLE CRASH (TOTAL LOSS) THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK CAUSING OUR CAR TO STRIKE A BRICK WALL (ALSO EMERGENCY BRAKES DID NOT WORK). NONE OF THE VEHICLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WHICH DEPLOYED ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROX. 11:45 PM, 22 OCTOBER 2011. NO DRUGS AND OR ALCOHOL WERE INVOLVED. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED FROM A LEXUS DEALER AND THE SAME COMPANY OWNS A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHICH CONFIRMED THAT ALL NISSAN RECALL ITEMS WERE COMPLIED WITH. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS TO PROVE THAT THERE IS STILL SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 BRAKES AND AIR BAGS TO ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE PERSONALLY TALKED WITH[XXX] ABOUT THIS AND LEFT A VOICE MAIL WITH [XXX] AT THEIR NHTSA OFFICE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THIS CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TOWING AND COLLISION FACILITY HERE IN INDIANA AND SOLD TO A PARTS SALVAGE COMPANY. I WAS TRYING TO HAVE SOMEONE INSPECT THIS CAR BEFORE IT WAS DESTROYED, BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT IS NOW TO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
BRAKE LIGHT WARNING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *TR
THERE IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKER, MODEL AND YEAR. THE "MELTING DASHBOARD". THE MATERIAL USED TO MAKE THE RUBBER-TYPE DASHBOARD BEGINS TO "MELT". THE SURFACE IS STICKY AND CAUSES VERY BAD WINDSHIELD SUN GLARE, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE DOCUMENTED PHOTOS AND COMMENTS FROM OTHER CAR OWNERS. *TR
MASTER CYLINDER FOUND TO BE LEAKING. WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON. *TR
MASTER CYCLINDER WAS LEAKING. PARKING BREAK LIGHT WOULD STAY ON, BUT SOMETIMES GO OFF. VERY SIMILAR TO PE11020. I HAVE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS DETAILING THE LEAK AND THE REPAIR. *TT
I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKES SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY, AND AROUND THE SAME TIME A BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND SAID MY MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A PENDING INVESTIGATION OF 07 & 08 NISSAN ALTIMAS AND A BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK, AND THAT THE SAME MODEL YEAR NISSAN SENTRAS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THAT SAME REASON. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WAS A $550 FIX. *TR
I TOOK MY 2008 ALTIMA IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ABOUT 1 WEEK BEFORE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 MY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASHBOARD--IT WASN'T A CONSISTENT AND NOT EVERY TIME I WAS DRIVING CAR. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BRAKE FOR THIS TO OCCUR. AT DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM ABOUT ISSUE AND THEY LOOKED INTO IT. AFTER SERVICING MY CAR I WAS INFORMED THAT MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO NEEDED BACK BRAKES. I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE CAR, BECAUSE THE BRAKES MIGHT NOT WORK. I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED!! I ONLY HAVE 27000 MILES ON MY 2008 ALTIMA. OF COURSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2007 & 2008 ALTIMA'S. NISSAN HAS A RECALL FOR THE SENTRA (?) VEHICLE THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED. I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS ISSUE BEING LOOKED INTO. *TR
2008 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN BELT TENSIONER BOLTS FAILED. ONE BOLT STILL LOCATED IN THE TENSIONER PULLEY HOLE ALONG WITH A PIECE OF EITHER THE BACK TIMING COVER OR THE LOWER ENGINE COVER. FIRESTONE AND NISSAN CLAIM TO BE ASTONISHED HOW THIS HAPPENED. DAMAGES ARE NOW ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE RANGE OF $3,900 WITH 20 HOURS OF LABOR TO REMOVE THE ENGINE AND REPLACE THE COVER. *TR
THE DASHBOARD IN MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IS BADLY MELTED AND CONTINUES TO MELT. VERY STICKY AND ANYTHING THAT GETS ON IT WILL STICK TO IT INCLUDING BUGS! I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING TO A VINYL DASHBOARD BECAUSE I'VE OWNED SEVERAL CARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A PROBLEM NEITHER HAD I EVER SEEN THAT IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I SEARCHED ON LINE AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I SHOWED IT TO A FRIEND WHO SAID IT WASN'T NORMAL AND I SHOULD LOOK TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NONE.I DID DISCOVER MY DASHBOARD ISN'T VINYL BUT SEEMS TO BE MADE OF A HARD FOAM WHICH MELTS AND SCRATCHES EASILY. THE GLARE FROM THAT DASHBOARD IS UNREAL AND UNSAFE. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHT (AND IT DOES IN PENSACOLA, FL) I HAVE TO TRY TO FIND A SPOT IN THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THERE IS NO GLARE IN ORDER TO PROPERLY SEE THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD. THIS IS DEFINITELY A ROAD HAZARD AND SAFETY CONCERN AND I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY NHTSA OR NISSAN TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT.
DASH MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MELTED AND BECOME SHINY, STICKY, AND REFLECTIVE WHEN EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT. THIS IS A DRIVING AND SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE REFECTION ON WIND SHIELD, VISION IS SEVERELY IMPAIRED. I CONTACT NISSAN AND THEY USED "PASSED WARRANTY" EXCUSE; EVEN AFTER I EXPLAINED IT HAPPEN YEARS AGO AND WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY DEALER I PURCHASED CAR TO "CONTACT NISSAN". I DID, AND THEY ADVISED THAT WAS NOT COVERED.
BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND GOING OFF SPONTANEOUS THROUGH OUT EACH DRIVE TIME AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON LONGER AS TIME PASSED. TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC AS HE TOO WAS PUZZLED WHY MY FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW SINCE THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE WORKING GREAT IT WAS DETERMINED MY BRAKE FLUID WAS "SOMEHOW" LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER THAT HOLDS THE FLUID INTO THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED TO HAVE THE MASTER BRAKE VALVE REPLACED AT A COST OF $456. I QUESTIONED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND IF IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WAS JUST HAPPENING AND NO THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS. I WAS ADVISED IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE FIXED TODAY BUT WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED BUT THEY WOULD TOP OFF THE FLUID AND I WOULD BE GOOD, BUT FOR HOW LONG THEY COULDN'T TELL ME. IN RESEARCHING I SEE I AM NOT THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE AND PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST. I WANTED TO LOG MY EXPERIENCE IN HOPES NISSAN WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT IS RELATED TO A CATASTROPHE! *TR
ALL FOUR OF MY POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU WILL THINK THE DOOR IS LOCKED BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND ROB OR HARM ME OR SOMEONE IN MY CAR. ALSO WHEN IT IS PARKED AND YOU THINK IT IS LOCKED SOMEONE COULD STEAL YOUR CAR OR SOMETHING FROM YOUR CAR. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM HOW CAN A NISSAN SERVICE REP TELL ME THAT HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD FILL UP WITH WATER AND LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE DRAIN HOLES WERE CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE UNCLOGGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
THE DASHBOARD IS BASICALLY MELTING. IT BEGINS AS JUST STICKY, HOWEVER IT IS REALLY SLOWLY MELTING AND BREAKING DOWN. IT CREATES A BAD GLARE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND IT'S REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY NISSAN. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN FLORIDA. I FIRST STARTED TO NOTICE MY DASHBOARD HAD A STICKY RESIDUE IN JULY 2011. IT HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE EVERYDAY. I HAVE ALSO BEGIN TO NOTICE MY DASHBOARD IS ALSO CRACKING. I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. THE VISIBILITY HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN. THERE ARE TIMES WHERE I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE ROAD DUE TO THE GLARE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO LOOKED AT IF NOT RECALLED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM LOS ANGELES TO LAS VEGAS. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO CROSS THE CALIFORNIA LINE INTO NEVADA, MY CAR STARTED SOUNDING LIKE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE. WE LOST SPEED AND I TRIED SHIFTING MY CVT TRANSMISSION INTO MANUAL MODE. THE SPEEDS WOULD NOT CHANGE. AFTER MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP. I PUT THE CAR ON REVERSE AND THEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CAR WOULD MOVE, BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT CHANGE. AS SOON AS I ARRIVE TO VEGAS, MY CAR LOST ALL SPEED AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE IN DIRECT OR REVERSE. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE CAR. I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY TO TOW THE CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER, THE CAR WOULD TURN ON, THE ENGINE WAS WORKING, BUT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT TURN ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE EITHER IN DIRECT OR REVERSE. I BOUGHT THE NISSAN ALTIMA BRAND NEW FROM THE BUENA PARK NISSAN DEALER IN CALIFORNIA. THE CAR HAS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND I EVEN TOOK THE CAR TO GET THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT 48,000 MILES. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 72,345 MILES IN IT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN VEGAS, ANOTHER PERSON CAME IN WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. HER VEHICLE HAD 75,000 MILES AND IT HAD BEEN SERVICED AT THE VEGAS DEALER DAY PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. *TR
MY 2008 ALTIMA WITH PUSH BUTTON START HAS FAILED TO START TWICE. ONCE AT 25,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 50,000 MILES. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER TOOK THE SWITCH APART AND THE CONTACTS WERE PITTED. *TR
I RECENTLY HAD A SERVICE CALL WITH MY NISSAN DEALER TO FIX A INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUE (PUSH BUTTON START) ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT SINCE NISSAN DOES NOT BELIEVE IT WARRANTS A RECALL. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. GIVEN THAT THIS IS INTERMITTENT THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO START YET LATER NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS FUNCTIONING. WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH THE ISSUE HAS GONE AWAY. *TR
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CLUTCH STICKS TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL IT UP. EACH TIME THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT THEY HAVE PROVIDED NO REMEDY. I EXPRESSED SEVERAL TIME OF HOW IT HAS PUT ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE DRIVING AND GOT THE SORRY BOUT YOUR LUCK TUNE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED IT RESULTED IN MY WIFE HAVING A WRECK IN THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE FILED TWO COMPLAINTS WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND GET THE SAME TREATMENT. *KB