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1,028 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. 2 active recall campaigns on file.
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.
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.
If the bolt were to come out, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
Driving on under-inflated tires is unsafe and could result in a crash.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.2 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 6.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
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.