2008 Nissan Altima Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Altima. Part of Generation 4 — 2007–2012.

20072009
Complaints
1,375
per 10K Sold
50.6
US Sales
271,668
Crashes
73
Fires
22
Injuries
40
Fatalities
2
Recalls
1

Worst 2008 Nissan Altima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1208 complaints

Structural Problems

Avg mileage:74,922 mi
Crash-related:1
#2168 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

Avg mileage:81,854 mi
Fires:1
#3122 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:82,475 mi
Crash-related:18
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Nissan Altima.

Structural Problems
208
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,922
Wipers & Visibility
168
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
81,854
Airbags
122
complaints
Crashes
18
Fires
—
Avg Miles
82,475
Body Structure
101
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
89,889
Electrical Faults
87
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
4
Avg Miles
81,286
Transmission / Drivetrain
69
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
108,499
Hydraulic Brakes
56
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,247
Engine Problems
54
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Avg Miles
101,459
Steering Defects
37
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,967
Brakes
33
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
72,669
Unintended Acceleration
33
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
1
Avg Miles
85,470
Seat-Related Issues
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
49,787
Air Bags:Frontal
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
19,997
Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
119,576
Suspension Failures
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,707
Visibility
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,786
Engine & Cooling
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
64,342
Wheel Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
77,266
Electronic Stability Control
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
157,000
Automatic Transmission
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,673
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,711
Seat Belt Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
108,766
Tire Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,677
Latches / Locks
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
45,000
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,034
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

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.

Recalls for 2008 Nissan Altima

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~7,948 vehicles.

10V401000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~7,948 affected

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.

Other Nissan Altima Years

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2008 Nissan Altima — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Nissan Altima reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1,375 NHTSA complaints, 73 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Structural Problems with 208 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Nissan Altima?
Top reported problems: Structural Problems (208 complaints, avg 74,922 mi); Wipers & Visibility (168 complaints, avg 81,854 mi); Airbags (122 complaints, avg 82,475 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Nissan Altima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 79,443 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Nissan Altima include 73 crash-related reports, 22 fire reports, 40 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 7,948 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Nissan Altima?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (structural problems) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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