The Lemon IndexAll cars · Nissan Altima · 2008
2008 Nissan Altima. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 5
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 23 / 31 / 26 | Regular | $2,400 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 23 / 32 / 26 | Regular | $2,400 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 35 / 33 / 34 | Regular | $1,850 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 | Premium | $3,500 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 | Premium | $3,500 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,000 and 100,000 miles. Median 70,000, from 698 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 65,000 | 45,000–85,800 | 189 |
| Wipers & visibility | 73,000 | 50,000–96,500 | 101 |
| Airbags | 72,000 | 28,500–118,900 | 101 |
| Electrical | 75,700 | 40,000–111,000 | 72 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 105,000 | 62,200–129,200 | 66 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 29% |
| Airbags | 21% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 9% |
| Engine | 9% |
| Electrical | 9% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,046 | 58 | 14 | 27 | 2 | 16 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
10V401000 Sep 2010 Equipment / Electrical / Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
Defect. 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.
Remedy. 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.
08V521000 Oct 2008 Air Bags
Defect. 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.
Remedy. 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.
08V363000 Jul 2008 Suspension
Defect. 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.
Remedy. 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.
07V599000 Dec 2007 Electrical System / Ignition / Module
Defect. 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.
Remedy. 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.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Brake master cylinder internal leak | 2011 | 2012 |
Manufacturer communications 117
Nissan filed 117 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- If continuously variable transmission (cvt) fluid temperature rises above a certain threshold, it
- The cvt fail-safe logic has caused a reduction with the vehicle's maximum speed
- "altima, sentra, and rogue; cvt fail-safe condition service information this bulletin has been…
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Optional | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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