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severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
If the bolt were to come out, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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.
STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES 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 - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin provides information to identify: - A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty. - A strut or shock absorber that has slight oil seepage, a condition which is considered normal, does not affect strut/shock absorber operation or performance, and does not require replacement. - A strut or shock absorber that should be replaced due to rod resistance/noise issues. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: AXLE BOLT AND TORQUE INFORMATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2008 Altima suspension complaints reveal manufacturing defects confirmed by Nissan's own engineer. One brand-new vehicle had rear strut mounting studs sheared off and missing on day one; a factory engineer confirmed they weren't torqued properly at manufacture. Another bottomed out repeatedly despite bolt replacement, with the dealership unable to identify the root cause.
Rear coil springs broke into pieces during highway driving, the fragments puncturing tires with no prior warning. Multiple owners report rear sway bars that snapped cleanly or fractured at the end, with corrosion suggesting the breaks originated from internal defects rather than impact. One owner noted the bar was hollow.
The most serious complaint involved a steering wheel that locked up at 80 mph, causing loss of control and a crash into a concrete barrier at 130,000 miles; the owner sustained a concussion and whiplash. Another owner's lug nuts all sheared off the front driver's wheel, causing wheel detachment at 113,000 miles.
Nissan's response has been mixed. The company declined warranty coverage when dealers couldn't recreate failures in-shop. Some owners noted the vehicle VIN wasn't included in NHTSA Campaign 08V363000 despite referencing suspension issues. Owners consistently report out-of-pocket repair costs and long dealership disputes.
Same Nissan Altima suspension reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010
Rear suspension strut mounting studs sheared off or missing, with the Nissan engineer confirming inadequate torque from the factory.
When: One day of ownership (brand new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Rear suspension coming apart; Missing strut mount studs; Sheared strut mount studs
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan planned to repair rather than replace vehicle; dealership identified assembly defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan engineer investigated and confirmed studs were not torqued properly from manufacturer
Vehicle bottoms out repeatedly even on minor bumps; dealer replaced two bolts per Nissan direction but problem persisted; subsequent bottoming suggests incomplete repair or ongoing structural issue.
When: One day of driving; bottoming continued after bolt replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bottoming out on road bumps; Steering erratic and unsafe; Poor handling compared to test drive vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Two bolts replaced by dealer at Nissan direction; repair did not resolve bottoming; Nissan declined to warranty further work without recreating exact failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan declined warranty coverage when dealership could not recreate exact problem
Both rear coil springs fractured into pieces while driving on highway, the broken pieces contacted and punctured the tires.
When: Highway driving; springs had deteriorated despite recent brake inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden tire deflation; Broken spring pieces visible; Spring fragments contacting tires
Repairs/costs cited: Springs failed catastrophically; owner states brakes and inspection were done a few months prior with no warning of spring failure
Rear sway bar snapped or fractured, typically observed during routine service. Multiple owners report hollow bars that failed during normal highway driving with no accident or impact.
When: Discovered during routine service; one owner reports primarily freeway driving with no hard turns before failure
Symptoms owners cite: Sway bar snapped; Visible fracture with corrosion at break point; No warning signs before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owners reported costs not covered by extended warranty; one service advisor agreed manufacturing defect was likely cause; hollow bar construction noted
Steering wheel became stiff and unresponsive at approximately 80 mph, resulting in loss of vehicle control and crash into concrete barrier. Referenced NHTSA Campaign 08V363000 (Suspension) as possibly related.
When: Approximately 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden steering wheel stiffness; Complete loss of control; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle deemed total loss and discarded; not diagnosed for failure; owner sustained concussion, whiplash, and nose injury
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner referenced NHTSA Campaign 08V363000 (Suspension) as possibly related; manufacturer not notified at time
All lug nuts on the front driver's side wheel sheared off during a left turn into a parking lot, causing wheel detachment.
When: Approximately 113,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wheel detached from vehicle; All lug nuts sheared off
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to home; wheel found underneath vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle VIN not included in NHTSA Campaign 08V363000 (Suspension); no repair made
Rear control arm required replacement on vehicle purchased used; discovered during post-purchase inspection along with multiple other suspension and brake components.
When: Discovered immediately upon purchase inspection of used vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Control arm wear requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Rear control arm replacement needed along with shocks, brakes, and rotors; dealer extended 90-day warranty but company had no record of contract
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 62,000 and 124,000 miles, with the median around 111,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 62,000; a quarter make it past 124,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.