CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver s
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Nissan Altima body problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver s
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION If a CD/DVD Player incident is noted, a possible cause may be improper CD/DVD disc care, condition, or usage. This bulletin provides updated CD/DVD Player operation instructions to avoid potential incidents/customer concerns caused by improper care and usage of CD/DVD discs. To aid in solving customer concerns, use the guidelines in this bulletin when speaking to customers or inspecting incident vehicles. - Customers must not use discs that are warped, scratched, chipped, cracked, have abnormal edges or are otherwise damaged. Damaged or poor condition discs may cause the Player internal mechanism to jam or have optical pick-up errors. NOTE - Do not make a Warranty claim a
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Altima dashboard fails in two primary ways: it becomes sticky and degrades into a gelatinous material that spreads across the panel, or it develops cracks along seams and randomly across the surface, with chunks sometimes breaking away around the instrument cluster. Both failures occur regardless of garage storage, window tinting, or heat exposure—owners report the problem in Florida, Louisiana, and other climates. The degraded dashboard creates a significant safety hazard by reflecting sunlight onto the windshield, causing glare that blocks visibility of oncoming traffic. Owners report nearly being hit because of this glare.
Nissan dealerships confirm the dashboard will continue to worsen and that replacement is the only solution, but the manufacturer has refused warranty coverage on most vehicles, citing out-of-warranty status. A class-action settlement covered 2008–2009 model years in Florida and Texas, leaving 2007 owners unprotected. Replacement quotes reach $2,400. Additionally, owners report rear sway bars fracturing unexpectedly even on low-mileage vehicles, and corrosion perforation through the body is not covered under Nissan's warranty.
Same Nissan Altima body reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Dashboard degradation—melting/stickiness/gooey material
Dashboard surface becomes sticky, soft, and decomposes into a gelatinous 'pond of goo' material that spreads across the dashboard panel. The sticky substance accumulates and continues to worsen over time.
When: 65,000–164,161 miles; owners report it can develop regardless of garage storage, heat exposure, or maintenance practices
Symptoms owners cite: Sticky, soft dashboard surface; Gooey, viscous material pooling on dashboard; Material spreads outward over days to weeks; Impossible to clean once degraded
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealership quoted $2,400 for dashboard replacement; owners cite dealership advice that replacement is the only fix
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refers complaints to dealerships, advises out-of-warranty status, refuses replacement on some vehicles where maintenance was not performed at a Nissan dealer. Class action lawsuits settled for 2008–2009 model years in Florida and Texas; 2007 owners excluded from settlement.
Dashboard degradation—cracking
Dashboard develops cracks that form along seams and panel edges, and also appear randomly across the surface. Pieces of dashboard material chunk off around the instrument cluster. Cracking is independent of heat exposure level or vehicle storage method.
When: 65,000–164,161 miles; occurs in garage-kept vehicles with sun shades and in various climates
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks along seams and edges; Random cracking across dashboard surface; Chunks of material falling off around gauge cluster; Dashboard appears lifted in some areas
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealership response was to refer customers to claim process or advise repair is out of warranty; dashboard replacement quoted at dealership prices
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan advised contact to take vehicle to dealer for diagnostic testing but did not perform diagnosis or repair; classified as out-of-warranty condition
Dashboard glare hazard
Melted or degraded dashboard material reflects sunlight onto windshield, creating intense glare that obstructs driver visibility of oncoming traffic and road conditions. Glare is most problematic during daytime driving.
When: Occurs concurrent with dashboard degradation; reported at mileages ranging 65,000–164,161
Symptoms owners cite: Reflection of sunlight from dashboard onto windshield; Glare obstructs visibility of oncoming traffic; Glare intensifies during daytime driving; Drivers report near-accident incidents
Repairs/costs cited: No repair method other than dashboard replacement documented in narratives
Rear sway bar fracture
Rear sway bar breaks or fractures, causing the component to hang or dangle from the vehicle frame. One owner specifically notes the sway bar is hollow construction, which may contribute to premature failure.
When: Low-mileage vehicle (6,000 miles per year cumulative); failure not correlated with driving intensity or weather exposure
Symptoms owners cite: Sway bar hangs visibly from undercarriage; Visual detection only upon close inspection or when parked on incline; No warning lights or performance indicators
Repairs/costs cited: Described as very expensive repair; hollow sway bar construction noted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan advised this is not covered under warranty and has issued no recalls
Body corrosion and perforation
Rust perforation develops through the vehicle body panels, compromising structural integrity. Nissan corrosion warranty does not cover the damage.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Rust perforation through body panels
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan will not honor corrosion warranty claim
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2007 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2007 Nissan Altima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 63,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 63,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.