RoadVitals

2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Apr 8, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes525.0%
  • Engine420.0%
  • Driver assistance420.0%
  • Electrical315.0%
  • Visibility15.0%
  • Exterior lighting15.0%
  • Transmission15.0%
  • Airbags15.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID AND AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP FOR A SIGNAL. THE PEDAL WENT DOWN WITHOUT SLOWING THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF ITS TRAVEL AT WHICH TIME THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT, THE ABS, VDC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTINUED HOME WITHOUT TROUBLE UNTIL I WAS COMING INTO THE GARAGE AT WHICH TIME THE SAME THING HAPPENED.I HAVE CHECKED AND FOUND OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED WITH NO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID 10985586 · filed May 14, 2017

HI, I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONING BECAUSE OF AN UNRELIABLE BRAKE LIGHTS SWITCH. I BECAME AWARE OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WAS INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR NISSAN ALTIMA 2007-2008 OWNERS, BUT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. I HAVE A THREE MONTH OLD BABY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IN A REAR END COLLISION. PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS ISSUE GETS ADDRESSED BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT OCCURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH! *TR

NHTSA ID 10545667 · filed Sep 27, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. OBD2 CODE WAS P0303 AND INTERMITTENTLY CODE P0300 INDICATING CYLINDER #3 AND MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRING. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL GARAGE. INSTALLED NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WITH NISSANS GUIDANCE,THEY PERFORMED UPPER INTAKE CLEANING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON FOR SAME CODES. NOTIFIED NISSAN AND BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AS ADVISED. DEALER REPLACED COIL PACK #3 AND PERFORMED FUEL INDUCTION CLEANING. CEL CAME BACK UP AND DEALER RECOMMENDED REMOVAL OF HEAD TO INSPECT FOR WARPAGE AFTER ALREADY SPENDING $1200 ON THIS ISSUE. NISSAN SAID THEY COULDN'T LET ME KNOW IF ANY OR NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ON THE ISSUE UNTIL I PAY ANOTHER $600 TO INSPECT THE HEAD WHEN A COMPRESSION TEST SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED WHEN NISSAN FIRST WORKED ON THE VEHICLE. OVERALL, NOT SATISFIED WITH NISSAN FOR DROPPING THE BALL ON AN OBVIOUS RECALL UNDER SERVICE BULLETIN NTB-10-056. *TR

NHTSA ID 10605621 · filed Jun 24, 2014

A CARBON BUILDUP IN THE CYLINDER HEAD CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND DURING INITIAL START UP AND STUTTER/SHAKE DURING ACCELERATION. THIS BUILD UP IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. IT CAUSE MULTIPLE UNSAFE INSTANCES WHEN TRYING TO MERGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND SAFELY NAVIGATE IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE TO NISSAN AND THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE HEAD BUT ARE UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THE ISSUE. THIS OCCURRED ON OUR VEHICLE WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10564384 · filed Feb 14, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRAVELING SOUTH INTERSTATE 95 PASSING LANE ON CURVE @ EAST LYME CT. CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED RAPIDLY. ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO DEPRESSION. I COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY COAST INTO RIGHT LANE & NO BREAKDOWN LANE ON MY SIDE. CARS BEHIND ME, APPARENTLY BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED, DROVE RIGHT TO MY BUMPER & BEGAN HONKING. WHEN SURPRISINGLY THE ACCELERATOR RESPONDED FROM COMPLETE HALT , RIGHT LANE CLEARED AND I MOVED THROUGH IT IMMEDIATELY ONTO EXIT RAMP. I WAS BAFFLED & CAR WAS RESPONDING SO I ROUNDED INTO EAST LYME STOP & SHOP PARKING LOT WITH BLINKERS ON. AFTER COMPOSING MYSELF, I CONTINUED HOME ON BACK ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. TWO WEEKS LATER LEAVING MY DEVELOPMENT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 30 (SLIGHT UPHILL) AND SAME THING HAPPENED WITH MY WIFE PRESENT; VEHICLE BEHIND WAS ALERTED BY HAND SIGNALS TO PASS. AFTER ACCELERATOR RECOVERED FUNCTION WITHIN MINUTES (SLOWER THAN PREVIOUS INCIDENT) I CONTACTED NISSAN REPAIR GROSSMAN'S OLD SAYBROOK FROM HOME. THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. I SAID IS IT SAFE? THEY SAID I COULD CONTACT AAA. I CALLED A FRIEND WITH A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER WHICH INDICATED A "TRANSMISSION MODULE" FAILURE. THEN, AT NISSAN, SHOP FOREMAN CLAIMED THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO DASH INDICATOR OR TROUBLE CODE WITH HIS DEVICE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. 1/4 MILE AWAY, THE CAR STALLED IN MIDDLE OF LARGE INTERSECTION MAKING A TURN BLOCKING EVERYONE. WHEN IT RECOVERED, I RETURNED AND HE AGAIN CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND KEPT ASKING ME WHERE I BOUGHT IT. I TOLD HIM IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, UNTIL A MECHANIC OVERHEARD AND CONVINCED HIM TO ALLOW INVESTIGATION. MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGED CODE. TEST DRIVE NOTHING HAPPENED. SHOP FOREMAN REFUSED TO NOTE "ACCELERATOR FAILURE" & WROTE POWER FAILURE. THEY RIDICULED WHEN TOLD ONLINE SEARCH "ACCELERATOR FAILURE" GETS HITS. SHOP HAS IT SINCE SEPTEMBER 15TH TO DATE WITHOUT NOTICE? OPTIONS?

NHTSA ID 10783741 · filed Oct 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A WALL AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FLOOR MAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,700. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,800. UPDATED 2/20/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BODY WORK WAS COMPLETED. UPDATED 02/21/13

NHTSA ID 10491681 · filed Jan 7, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

NISSAN DEALER IS SAYING I MUST REPLACE PART # 48700-9N00B, THIS SAME PART IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ALTIMA 2009-2012. CAN I GET A NEW VERSION OF THESE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10693178 · filed Mar 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE STARTED SPORADICALLY. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED UNTIL THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE STARTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR CABLES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000....UPDATED 10/17/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE START ENGINE BUTTON FAILED ABOUT 30 TIMES, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED AAA KNEW EXACTLY WHAT CABLES TO TIGHTEN UNDER THE STEERING. UPDATED 10/17/12

NHTSA ID 10470788 · filed Aug 15, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

NISSAN 2008 ALTIMA HYBRID WINDOWS ROLL DOWN (DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE) BY THEMSELVES AFTER THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF AND WE LEAVE THE CAR LOCKED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10367938 · filed Nov 27, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

HI, I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONING BECAUSE OF AN UNRELIABLE BRAKE LIGHTS SWITCH. I BECAME AWARE OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WAS INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR NISSAN ALTIMA 2007-2008 OWNERS, BUT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. I HAVE A THREE MONTH OLD BABY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IN A REAR END COLLISION. PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS ISSUE GETS ADDRESSED BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT OCCURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH! *TR

NHTSA ID 10545667 · filed Sep 27, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA, WHEN PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ROLLED INDEPENDENTLY AND COLLIDED WITH AND DAMAGED A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND LOCKED AND I WAS WALKING AWAY WHEN I NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. FOLLOWING THE CRASH I UNLOCKED THE CAR, STARTED THE CAR AND MOVED IT FROM THE SCENE. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT EXAMINED BY THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND NO DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BRAKES OR OTHER SYSTEMS. THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE 2 POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS. THE FIRST THAT THE CAR WAS NOT PROPERLY SET INTO PARK AND THAT THE SLIGHT INCLINE KEPT THE DRUM OF THE BRAKE MOVING SUCH THAT IT DIDN'T SET. THE SECOND IS THAT THEY THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT IN CARS WITH THE INTELLIGENT KEYS. THE CAR CAN BE STOPPED WHEN THE CAR IS STILL IN GEAR AND SINCE THERE IS NO KEY TO REMOVE THERE IS NO SAFETY FEATURE TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM LEAVING THE CAR IN GEAR AND LEAVING THE VEHICLE. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I ALWAYS USE THE PARKING BRAKE. SOMETHING THAT I INTEND TO DO. I WAS NOT IN THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE THAT MY CAR HIT HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO LODGE A COMPLAINT FOR THE RECORD AND REQUEST THAT THERE BE SOME SORT OF REVIEW OF CASES LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10274184 · filed Jun 17, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY. THE CONTACT CALLED PAUL MILLER NISSAN AT (203) 335-3181 (LOCATED AT 5420, 930 KINGS HWY E, FAIRFIELD, CT 06825) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID 11194588 · filed Apr 8, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .