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#BS-2008-NISALT-73F4

2008 Nissan AltimaProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,380 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1,380
Crashes
74
Fires
22
Recalls
4
TSBs
117
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,380 complaints, 74 crashes, 22 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 10.2x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

dashboard is melting

61 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX
2

transmission failure

36 complaints • Severity 8.9/10

$X,XXX
3

whining noise while driving

22 complaints • Severity 7.4/10

$X,XXX
4

ac compresser gone bad

6 complaints • Severity 8.7/10

$X,XXX
5

brake switch sub harness shorted out

6 complaints • Severity 8.3/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the StructureHIGH

208 owners reported structure issues — failures commonly reported around 72K miles.

!Inspect the VisibilityMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

153
0–30K
199
30–60K
221
60–90K
176
90–120K
91
120–150K
76
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (221 reports) • Median: 72K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Structure (208 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Structure208 (15%)
Other200 (14%)
Visibility182 (13%)
Airbags122 (9%)
Structure:body101 (7%)
Brakes91 (7%)
Electrical87 (6%)
Drivetrain69 (5%)

2008 Nissan Altima: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Structure Issues

Structure complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2008 Nissan Altima, with 208 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 72,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 72K-mile mark.

Visibility Issues

Visibility complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2008 Nissan Altima, with 182 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to visibility-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2008 Nissan Altima, with 122 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:body Issues

Structure:body complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2008 Nissan Altima, with 101 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
07
39
08
40
09
51
10
61
11
45
12
112
13
279
14
213
15
139
16
96
17
77
18
54
19
65
20
32
21
31
22
14
23
13
24
11
25
5
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2008 Nissan Altima. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

07V599000Jan 2008

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION: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.

08V363000Aug 2008

SUSPENSION

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.

08V521000Nov 2008

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

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).

10V401000Sep 2010

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

PE11020ClosedOpened May 2011 · closed Mar 2012

Brake Master Cylinder Internal Leak

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

The worst model year for the Nissan Altima is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2008 Nissan Altima vs. Class Average (Subcompact Cars)

This vehicle

1,380

Class avg

136

10.2x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical subcompact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,380 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Nissan Altima Model Years

202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993
View all Nissan Altima years →

2008 Nissan Altima: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Nissan Altima?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2008 Nissan Altima is related to the structure, with 208 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2008 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1,380 complaints, 74 crash reports, and 22 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 10.2x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2008 Nissan Altima problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2008 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes, the 2008 Nissan Altima has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Nissan Altima problems start?
Based on 916 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 72,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2008 Nissan Altima data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,380 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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