Car Yearsto Avoid

2008 Nissan Altima Problems

What owners have reported about the 2008 Nissan Altima, which problems come up most, at what mileage, and which recalls to check.

From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.

Is the 2008 Nissan Altima a good year?

It's one of the worst years for the Altima. Owners have filed 1,030 complaints with NHTSA, the 4th most of 17 Altima model years. The most reported problems involve the body and structure, wipers and visibility and airbags.

1,030 complaints 4 recalls, 1 fire risk 4th worst of 17 Altima years

Top 2008 Nissan Altima problems

1

Body problems

312 complaints (30%) name the body and structure, most often the body and dashboard.

Complaints 312 · Usually at 47,000–86,000 miles

2

Wiper and visibility problems

188 complaints (18%) name the wipers and visibility, most often the sun / moon roof assembly and power window devices and controls.

Complaints 188 · Usually at 49,000–95,000 miles

3

Airbag problems

142 complaints (14%) name the airbags, most often the frontal and front passenger.

Complaints 142 · Usually at 35,000–119,000 miles · Recall 08V521000

4

Brake problems

93 complaints (9%) name the brakes, most often the antilock / traction control / electronic limited slip and master cylinder.

Complaints 93 · Usually at 25,000–60,000 miles

Which parts fail most

Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.

Body 30%
Unknown or Other 19%
Wipers and Visibility 18%
Airbags 14%
Brakes 9%
Electrical 9%
Transmission 8%
Engine 7%
Steering 4%
Acceleration 3%

Mileage when it failed

Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (674 of 1,030). The amber line is the middle value, about 70,000 miles.

When problems were reported

Complaints by the year the problem happened.

2008 Nissan Altima recalls

Navigational system(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Fire risk

The batteries contained in the affected GPS units can overheat. 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.

Recall 10V401000 · Sep 2010

Passenger air bag may be suppressed

Crash risk

A part in the passenger seat sensor system may have been made out of specification, which can interrupt the signal to the air bag control unit. If that happens, the passenger air bag could be turned off and fail to protect the passenger in a crash.

Fix: The dealer will test the seat sensor signal with a special tool and replace the seat cushion if needed, at no cost to you.

Recall 08V521000 · Oct 2008

Loose suspension bolt can cause loss of steering control

Crash risk

A front suspension bolt on the left side may not have been tightened to specification, so it could loosen while driving. If it came out, the driver could lose control of the vehicle's direction and crash.

Fix: The dealer will tighten the transverse link bolt to specification at no cost to you.

Recall 08V363000 · Jul 2008

Module

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. 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.

Recall 07V599000 · Dec 2007
Check your VIN for open recalls

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Altima years to avoid

Total NHTSA complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so their totals will keep climbing. See the full comparison.

2013 Altima 2,313
2009 Altima 1,547
2014 Altima 1,114
2008 Altima 1,030
2015 Altima 955
2016 Altima 554
2012 Altima 426
2017 Altima 392
2010 Altima 381
2011 Altima 241
2019 Altima 233
2018 Altima 226
2020 Altima 158
2021 Altima 70
2024 Altima 41
2022 Altima 31
2023 Altima 30

2008 Nissan Altima problems by system

Body (312)Wipers and Visibility (188)Airbags (142)

Common questions

Is the 2008 Nissan Altima a reliable year?

It's one of the worst years for the Altima. Owners have filed 1,030 complaints with NHTSA, the 4th most of 17 Altima model years. The most reported problems involve the body and structure, wipers and visibility and airbags.

What are the most common 2008 Nissan Altima problems?

Owners most often report problems with the body and structure, wipers and visibility, airbags and brakes. 312 complaints (30%) name the body and structure, most often the body and dashboard.

At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Altima body and structure problems start?

Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 47,000–86,000 miles, with a middle value near 65,000 miles.

How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Altima have?

4. Navigational system(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) (10V401000); Passenger air bag may be suppressed (08V521000); Loose suspension bolt can cause loss of steering control (08V363000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.

Should I buy a used 2008 Nissan Altima?

Ask for service records covering the body and structure, confirm the recall work was done, and compare with the 2023, 2022 and 2024 models, which have the fewest complaints.

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Counts include each complaint once per model year.