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The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1,028 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 4 active recall campaigns.
The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1,028 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is body at 284 complaints, typically surfacing around 67,191 miles (~$1,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Altima | 1,091 | 2 |
| 2006 Altima | 824 | 4 |
| 2007 Altima | 498 | 3 |
| 2008 Altima (this page) | 1,028 | 4 |
| 2009 Altima | 1,547 | 4 |
| 2010 Altima | 380 | 3 |
| 2011 Altima | 241 | 1 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged critical on this model , showing up around 83,320 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
The sun visors on the altima coupe break and hang straight down in the field of vision. I just ordered my second sun visor and I am waiting for it to arrive. They must be held up out of the way with one hand while driving with the other hand (until you can get it removed). When…
Passenger airbag light comes on when the vehicle is in motion and an adult passenger (150 + pounds) is in the front passenger seat. This occurs intermittently and sometimes corrects itself and sometimes not. When the light is on the passenger is not protected and therefore…
Drivers seat squirms moves and is not rigid. Dealership says they can not replicate the problem. Every time I turn the seat makes noise and sounds squirms like its not properly secure. The passenger airbag light also comes on when a fully grown adult is sitting in it. This…
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 Nissan altima. The vehicle constantly makes a noise while parked. The dealer informed the contact to disconnect and reconnect the battery until the part arrives in january of 2008. The contact was unsure of the name of the part that needs replacing.…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.
If the bolt were to come out, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 1,028 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Nissan Altima has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2008 Nissan Altima is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the powertrain was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 6 fire-related complaints on the engine; Powertrain: 78 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 64,500–130,000 mi; Brakes: 76 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 24,000–58,000 mi; Reliability score 5.8/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the body first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 284 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 67,191 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 5.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 1,028 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is body. Typical failure occurs around 67,191 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is body, with 284 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 67,191 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 83,320 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,028 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.