The dashboard of the car melted that causes a very bright glare.
- NHTSA ID
- 11631968
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2020
Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 310 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 310, in the owner's own words
The dashboard of the car melted that causes a very bright glare.
My 2008 Nissan Altima's dash is degrading and has caused a sticky residue to form on it. This stickiness is very shiny and causes a glare to occur on the windshield. I live in Kentucky and when the sun is shining, and actually basically anytime driving, the glare makes it nearly impossible to see. I almost hit another vehicle because I could not see but instead went off the road to avoid a collision. This is very unsafe.
The dashboard of this vehicle has become sticky to the touch and excessively shiny, and appears to be melting in spots, causing glare on the windshield that obstructs vision while driving.
2008 Nissan Altima: Noticed this year a shiny gleam on the dashboard. This windshield gets hazy. The dashboard is melting, it is sticking and shiny. When a fingernail is pressed, it will actually sink into the dashboard and leave a mark. The dashboard cannot take any cleaning or friction. When the dashboard is touched it leaves fingers sticky. Became more of an issue this year now that I have a grandchild. MY other vehicle is a mini cooper 2 door which is not feasible to hold a car seat and baby. I now have the carseat in the Nissan and now it has become more of a problem because i cannot use the other car as alternative transportation when I have my grandchild. It is very difficult to drive with the glare it causes, and it is a safety issue not only for me but for others. When the sun is out and it is hot (this summer) it is worst and causes the windshield to get hazy. Not sure if it is leaking chemicals as the dashboard is now soft, shiny and cannot be removed by cleaning. The glare is very dangerous and difficult to drive under the conditions. Thank You, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The dashboard in this vehicle similar to other Nissan models that have already been recalled is cracked, sticky, shiny and glossy. It’s dangerous to have cracks in the dashboard in case of airbag deployment. The glossy shiny dashboard creates a blinding glare and is extremely dangerous while driving. It creates a glare that makes the front windshield appear black and unable to see through.
Problem - Car dashboard is melting and becoming sticky due to heat. Safety - Severe glare from the black dashboard on the windshield makes it a safety risk to drive on the roads during day time. Potential health hazard due to melting dashboard material and any harmful gases from dashboard material while driving the car with heater or AC ON. This is a known issue to Nissan and a class action lawsuit was filed and settled in the state of FL.
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING WHEN IT REACHES A CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE. THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES FARENHEIT.
THE DASHBOARD OF VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A SHINE TO IT THAT REFLECTS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING IN SUN LIGHT OBSTRUCTING VISION OF ROAD. THE DASH ALSO FEELS LIKE IT HAS BECOME STICKY AND SOFT LIKE IT IS MELTING.
DASHBOARD IS MELTING GIVING OFF A DANGEROUS GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO THE GAS GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE ... DOES NOT SHOW THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF GAS TANK ... NEEDLE FLUCTUATES FROM F, 1/2, E.
NOT A SINGLE EVENT... DASHBOARD HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN SOFTER/STICKIER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT IS NOW CRACKED AND IS MELTING NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. IT HAS OFF-GASSED AN UNREMOVABLE FILM ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE GLASS, AND THE CAR HAS SUCH A NOXIOUS SMELL FROM THE FUMES WE NO LONGER FEEL IT'S HEALTHY TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. *TR
DASH MELTING AND STICKY AND CAUSING A GLARE IN THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
THE DASHBOARD HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND THE GLARE IS VERY DISTRACTING. IT IS VERY STICKY AND GETS WORSE AT THE WEATHER GET WARMER. *TR
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTED. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER THE YEARS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD SO I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. NISSAN REFUSES TO REPLACE IT. I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT IS STATIONARY FOR NOW. THE CAR ALSO HAS A FOUL ODOR FROM THE MELTED DASH. *TR
REFLECTIVE DASHBOARD THAT IS MELTING FROM THE SUNLIGHT CAUSING IT TO BE VERY STICKY, GUMMY, & SHINY. CAUSING A BLINDING GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD & EFFECTING MY VISIBILITY TO SEE WHERE I'M DRIVING & I CAN NOT SEE OTHER PERSONS OR VEHICLES. IT A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME OTHER PEOPLE I MEET IN THE ROAD & ALSO A HEALTH HAZARD TO ME FROM HAVING TO BREATH, INHALE THE TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE MATERIAL OF THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE HELP ME WITH VEHICLE THAT I AM HAVING DRIVING HAZARDS WITH. MY NAME IS [XXX], MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] & MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX]. I NEED TO GET HELP GETTING THIS DASHBOARD FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE IT CREATES AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD KILL ME , MY PASSENGERS & WHOM EVER I MEET ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND TURNING TO GOO AND NOW IS ALSO CRUMBLING. I STARTED CONTACTING NISSAN CORP APPROX 3 YEARS AGO . I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FILE 3 CLAIMS AND ALL HAVE BEEN DENIED. THE DEALERSHIP AGREES THAT THE DASHBOARD IS DEFECTIVE BUT STATES SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY CAN'T HELP. THE DASHBOARD PUTS OFF A GLARE THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY ON SUNNY DAYS. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT A LAWSUIT FILED IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA RESULTED IN THE DASHBOARDS. THERE IS ALSO AN ODOR AT TIMES AND THE VAPOR LEAVES A FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD. YOU CAN'T CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE RAGS OR PAPER TOWELS STICK TO THE GOO. THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY HAZZARD. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN DENIED BY NISSAN. THE NISSAN REP WOULD NOT EVEN ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH HER SUPERVISOR OR ANYONE IN CHARGE. SHE SIMPLY SAID I HAVE PRESENTED YOUR INFORMATION AND OUR DECISION IS FINAL GETTING REPLACED. BASICALLY I WAS TOLD THAT I AM NOT PART OF THE FLORIDA OR TEXAS SUIT SO SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK. NISSAN DID SAY THAT IF I WANTED TO BUY A NEW CAR THEY WOULD OFFER ME A SPECIAL DEAL. REALLY WHY WOULD I BUY SOMETHING FROM A COMPANY THAT KNOWS THE DASHBOARDS ARE DEFECTIVE.
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN MELTING ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO HOWEVER RECENTLY IT STARTED TO MELT MORE AND BECOME STICKY TO THE TOUCH. EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE, THE GLARE THAT SHINES ONTO MY WINDSHIELD FROM THE DASHBOARD IS TERRIBLE, SO BAD THAT IT IS HARD TO SEE AT TIMES. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO HAVE TROUBLE IDENTIFYING THINGS WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND WILL CHARGE $2500 FOR A NEW DASHBOARD.
DASHBOARD MELTING AND PRODUCES GLARE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING IN SUNLIGHT.
WHILE DRIVING ON I95 THE CAR SHUT OFF AND WAS STEERED VERY DIFFICULTLY TO THE OFF RAMP AND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND I EXITED THE CAR AND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO BE ENGULFED IN FLAMES BURNING THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAR TO THE FRONT SEATS. FIRE RESCUE ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.1116
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND THE MATERIAL CREATED A GLARE FROM THE SUN. THE DASHBOARD WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE CONTACT CALLED NISSAN VAN NUYS (LOCATED AT 5425 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401, 818-787-8400) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,316. *LN *TR
MY DASHBOARD HAS MELTED. IT WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, IN THE SUN, ON A COLD WINTERS DAY, WHILE THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND, IN NEW JERSEY. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? ASIDE FROM HOW TERRIBLE IT LOOKS, IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN. THE SURFACE IS STICKY + GLOSSY, THE FUMES + ODOR ARE TOXIC & THE REAL DANGER IS THE BLINDING GLARE REFLECTING UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN THE DAYTIME. WE READ ABOUT THE RECALL IN FLORIDA ONLY, BUT LAST WE CHECKED, THE SUN SHINES ACROSS ALL 50 STATES.
THE DASH OF MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE HAS MELTED SO SEVERELY THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN THE DAYTIME. THE MATERIAL ONCE MELTED BECOMES EXTREMELY STICKY AND DANGEROUSLY REFLECTIVE. WHAT I MEAN BY REFLECTIVE, IS THAT WHEN THE SUN SHINES, IT REFLECTS SO MUCH LIGHT FROM THE DASH TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD RIGHT INTO MY, THE DRIVER, EYES. THE REFLECTIONS ARE EXTREMELY AND DANGEROUSLY BLINDING WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER! NOT TO MENTION THE GLUE LIKE SURFACE THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE DASHBOARD TO TRY REDUCING THE DEADLY REFLECTIONS! THE MANUFACTURE'S DEFECTIVE PRODUCT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO THE DIRECT SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND EVERY OTHER MOTORIST, PEDESTRIANS, ANIMALS ETC.
THE DASHBOARD OF MY VEHICLE IS MELTING AND CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE ESPECIALLY IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN MY VEHICLE FOR YEARS. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A LAWSUIT THAT WAS SETTLED IN FLORIDA WHERE I PREVIOUSLY LIVED BUT NOTHING WAS SENT OUT TO INFORM DRIVERS OF THIS. THE TIME FRAME FOR THAT SETTLEMENT HAS NOW PASSED AND I HAVE MOVED TO ANOTHER STATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND CREATED A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS AFFECTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND THERE WAS A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED AUTONATION NISSAN LEWISVILLE (1601 S STEMMONS FWY, LEWISVILLE, TX, (972) 763-5527) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN COHEN ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENT REQUESTING A RECALL ON HER 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FOR SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD MELTED AND BECAME STICKY. THE DEFECT IMPAIRS THE DRIVERS VISION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED THE EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. *JS
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