Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 74 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 74, in the owner's own words
After driving over a hour or so the rpm will stick at 3 and the mph will not go over 60. The car occasionally lose power as well. I have already had the throttle body and the alternator recently done.
Leaking power stearing fluid. The seems to be an issue with fuel system. No light just does not seem to accelerate properly.
Was driving and heard a knocking sound similar to taps coming from the engine. Pulled over turned car off and turned it back on and knocking sound stopped. Drive about another mile and black smoke came out the vents. Pulled over and got out of vehicle. By the time I was out of the vehicle the car was on fire. By the time the fire department arrived car was completely engulfed. No check engine light was on and car gave no previous warning as to what could have happened.
I purchased a crankshaft from CarID and had a friend replace it with the old one in my 2008 Nissan Altima. Immediately after the repair, I noticed my steering power was gone. I had them put in the old crankshaft and regained my steering. I told CarID that the part was either defective or the wrong part despite their website claiming otherwise. They told me it wasn't under warranty and refused to refund or exchange the crankshaft. Well, this isn't a warranty issue, this is a defective part issue. On their own website they list the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which my situation falls under. Their part (WVE® 5S11487 - Crankshaft Position Sensor) led to the failure of my steering. I called WVE, who said they do not sell directly to CarID and the part was most likely bought from a third party, hence the lack of warranty. The last I heard from CarID on this issue, they told me they would assist within 24-72 hours. That was 7 days ago. I emailed them a follow-up email yesterday that has gone ignored as well. CarID has not only shown any interest in resolving this issue amicably but shown willful disregard for the danger that their defective parts pose to their customers.
In 2018 I was driving back home from Derby, Kansas to Denver, Colorado in the middle of summertime, and my air conditioner started blowing hot air and the AC did not need to be charged. This was in my 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe that I purchased in April 2008 with 4 miles on it and have taken amazing care of it and still have it to this day and is in excellent condition other than these issues. About an hour later, my car starting making a revving noise when I accelerated but my car was not accelerating and I would have to pull off on the side of the road, in 100 degree weather, no air conditioning, with my dogs, and wait for 30 minutes and then I could start driving for about 10 minutes, and then I had to repeat this all the way back to Denver. A normally 8 hour trip took me over 20 hours due to this. I have to rent a car now I go out of town because I am not going to pay to fix whatever is wrong with it when this is obviously a major problem because there have been so many reports. I drive it when going on short trips so its driven, but its pretty much been non-reliable since 2018. I hope there is a thorough investigation of this and a recall is done because this is crazy and was not safe at all to drive and it actually still happens when it is hot out and I drive more than 30 minutes. No error lights come on and all gagues are normal and no mechanics can seem to figure it out so I can't get it fixed. I will never buy a brand new car again because a used one will last longer, and definitely not a Nissan or anything affiliated or has parts made buy them.
When I start my car and let it warm up, then reverse then put it in drive, I put my foot on the gas and the RPMS SHOOT UP TO 3 to 4 RPMS, I have to remove my four from the gas then my car is very slow and stays at 2 1/2 - 3 RPMS for several miles . Checked Fluids etc and still have the same issue with it every day. Also my passenger air bag is always off , no matter if someone who is 50 lbs or 250 lbs it is always off and I can not get it to come on . Finally when using my turn signals my blinkers work but never go off unless I manually do it myself. And I fo not get a warning sound telling me that my blinker is still on . It will stay on for hours if I do not notice it and I am driving long distance.
While driving down the highway at about 60 mph the vehicle shut off and has not restarted in almost 2 weeks. There was no indication or warning of any engine trouble prior to it shutting off. Luckily, I was getting off an exit and nobody was injured. Had I NOT been exciting the highway, there would have most certainly been a MULTI vehicle accident with severe injuries and possibly even death because of the high speeds. Once the car was completely stopped and off towards the shoulder I tried to restart but got a fast clicking noise, but wouldn't start. Let the car sit for a little tried to jump start it, but now the key indicator was being displayed which means the car wasn't recognizing the key even in the slot. This leads me to believe the security system/ immobilizer could've been what caused it to shut off. The car has not been looked at yet. Still waiting for Nissan dealer to diagnose it.
PURCHASED 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA ON MARCH 6, 2021 FROM THE CAR HOUSE IN BUTLER, NJ. SINCE THE MOMENT I DROVE OFF THE LOT, MULTIPLE LIGHTS TURNED ON WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE ALTERNATOR AND MULTIPLE 02 SENSORS. THE NEXT DAY I HAD A GARAGE DO AN INSPECTION AND IT TURNED OUT THE CAR NEEDED A REAR CONTROL ARM, SHOCKS, BRAKES AND ROTORS IN ADDITON TO THE LIGHTS. THE DEALER SAID THAT I HAD A 90 DAY WARRANTY BUT WHEN I CALLED THE COMPANY THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE CONTRACT. THE DEALER FIXED THE SENSORS AND ALTERNATOR SUPPOSEDLY, BUT HAVEN'T CONTACTED ME BACK ABOUT FIXING THE OTHER ISSUES AND EVERY TIME I CALL THEY HANG UP.
PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE SLOWS/STALLS WHEN DRIVEN IN HIGH HEAT WEATHER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW/STALL.
PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAR WILL BE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY FLAT LAND/UPHILL/DOWNHILL ANY LAND AND MY CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY LOOSE POWER ITS A 2008 ALTIMA 2.5S I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP MY CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IN A DEADLY AND HEAVILY USED CANYON WITH NOT MANY PLACES AVAILABLE TO PULL YOUR CAR OVER. IF THERE IS IT'S VERY TIGHT. WHEN I PULL OVER I SHUT IT OFF FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO THEN I START IT BACK UP WHILE IN PARK I GENTLY PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE IT A LITTLE AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE RPM STICK WONT MOVE. I HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN AN OFF RAMP ONTO THE FREEWAY AND I WONT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER GAIN A SAFE AND LEGAL SPEED TO ENTER ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED HIGHWAY WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER, ALMOST CAUSED A HUGE DEADLY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS HOWEVER THE CAR RPM STICK WENT UP AND DOWN THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER A FEW "ATTEMPTS" FROM THE ENGINE IT WENT FROM ME FEELING THE CAR ALMOST FORCEFUL ENGINE SHUT OFF WITH THE LOSE OF ACCELERATING AND UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND HEARING THE CAR ALMOST DIE AND WENT FROM ME DECELERATING HARD AT 40 MPH ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL OFF RAMP FREEWAY AT 40 MPH TO ALL OF A SUDDEN TAKING OFF AS IF THE CAR WAS A ROCKET AND DIDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MAINTAINING SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 9 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED AND HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR WILL NOT TYPICALLY HAVE THIS ISSUE IF I MAKE A SHORT IN TOWN TRIP OR A FEW ERRANDS IN TOWN NO FASTER THAN 30MPH SPEEDS AND NO HARD IT FAST ACCELERATION ON FLAT LAND. I LOST THE PAPERWORK FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP HOWEVER CAN EASILY OBTAIN IT SHOWING THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPAIR COSTING AROUND 1300. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN AFTER BEING CLEARED WILL THROW THE SAME P024 ERROR CODE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR BOUGHT AND AM UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE IT WITHOUT A DEADLY OUTCOME.
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
NY EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS HAVING TROUBLE I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S BEEN A RECALL BUT CANNOT FIND ANYTHING RECENT. MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ISN'T READING CORRECTLY EITHER AND I'M SCARED I'M GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD THERE'S A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM IT ACCORDING TO THE SHOP THAT CHECKED MY CAR. I'VE KEPT UP WITH ALL MAINTAINCE I AM UNSURE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
AT 120000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THIS 2.5 L ENGINE. WE PAID $3,000 TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED 10 MONTHS AGO. NOW THE CAR IS USING ABOUT 1 GALLON OF OIL EVERY 3 WEEKS AND WE FOUND THAT CYLINDER 3 HAS PISTON RINGS THAT ARE SHOT. OUR DEALERSHIP CONFIRMS THAT THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I NOTICED THAT THE 2006 MODEL ALTIMA WITH A 2.5 L ENGINE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BECAUSE THE CAR USES EXCESSIVE OIL AND AN ENGINE FIRE MAY RESULT. OUR NEWER MODEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE NEARLY RUNS OUT OF OIL EVERY MONTH AND IS VERY HOT. DO WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH NISSAN? ANYONE ELSE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS?
MY NISSAN 2008 ALTIMA STARTED STALLING WHILE I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC. IT WAS HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND WAS RANDOM. I TOOK MY CAR INTO NISSAN, AFTER REALIZING THERE WAS A CVT TRANSMISSION RECALL FOR THIS CAR. THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT REPORT ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODE. THEY TOLD ME TO COME BACK, WHEN THE CAR STALLED AND THEY COULD GET THE NECESSARY CODE, SINCE THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM THE CODE WOULD BE IN THE SYSTEM. I HAD REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO NISSAN CORPORATE AND GOT CASE NUMBER. ON MAY 7, 2018, NISSAN FOUND THE CODE AND THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD CVT TRANSMISSION. NISSAN DETERMINED TO PAY HALF THE COST OF REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION. ON MAY 18,2018, I PICKED UP MY CAR AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED BACK AND THE MANAGER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY HIGH FLUIDS AND TO DRIVE THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. WELL, I STALLED WHILE DRIVING INTO TRAFFIC TWO MORE TIMES OVER THE WEEKEND. I CALLED NISSAN CORPORATE TO SAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AND AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. I'M DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR AND NISSAN IS NOT HELPING ... AT LEAST FOR NOW
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AT 120K PLUS MILES. THE LAST TWO OR THREE OIL CHANGES MY CAR HAS REQUIRED AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF OIL. I'VE CHECKED A FEW ONLINE FORUMS AND THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH NISSAN VEHICLES. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE TODAY AND I CONFIRMED THAT MY ENGINE OIL WAS LOW AND THIS WAS AFTER 4K MILES BETWEEN CHANGES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
LOUD BANG AND OIL COOLER BUSTED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH, IT STARTED SMOKING AND THEN FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I PULLED OVER TURNED OF THE IGNITION AND GOT OUT AND THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH BUTTON SYSTEM FAILED TO START THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED WHEN THE PUSH BUTTON WAS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FOB DID NOT START THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOWARD BENTLY BUICK GMC (1230 HUNTSVILLE HIGHWAY, FAYETTEVILLE, TN 37334, PHONE: 931-433-1585). THE BUICK DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE BUICK DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE BUICK DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE STOP SWITCH MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
LOSS OF POWER. CAN'T DRIVE OVER 60 MPH. RPMS KEEP GOING UP BUT CAR WON'T GO ANY FASTER.
AT AROUND 11:50 PM MONDAY AUGUST 21, 2017 MY SON PARKED HIS NISSAN ALTIMA ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IN FRONT OF A FRIENDS HOUSE WHILE HE RAN IN FOR A BIT BEFORE HEADING HOME, ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER 2 LOUD "POPS" RATTLED THE HOME. THEY STEPPED OUT FRONT TO FIND THAT HIS 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES 20-30 FEET HIGH. AT 00:11 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WORKED TO EXTINGUISHED THE CAR, FINALLY FINDING IT SAFE TO LEAVE AT 01:17. THEY CAR IS OBVIOUSLY A TOTAL LOSS. I AM REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OF THIS RANDOM "EXPLOSION" OF THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO OTHER STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED (POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE CITY ROAD), THIS VERY WELL COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DEVASTATING OUTCOME.
TAKATA RECALL, GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. WERE THERE ANY AIRBAGS IN THE CAR??????
TAKATA RECALL THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS A LARGE CRACK IN IT, LEAKING FUMES INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE PART 6 MONTHS AGO. I'M ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW PART. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS NISSAN ALTIMA'S ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (VERY LOUD EXHAUST). THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES THE METAL TO WEAKEN AND BREAK.
"TAKATA RECALL" LOUD NOISE ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR AND WHINING NOISE WHEN RIDING BRAKES.
TIMING CHAIN
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING CARBON MONOXIDE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD THAT NISSAN IS AWARE OF. NISSAN REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS UNDER WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE HAD 100K MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 4 CYLINDER ALTIMA'S THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO IT'S INHERENT SAFETY CONCERNS. THIS CAN CAUSE OCCUPANTS TO PASS OUT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING DAMAGE AND INJURY TO THIRD PARTY INDIVIDUALS. NISSAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR ALL ISSUES SURROUNDING A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE A MILEAGE LIMITATION IMPOSED. SIMPLY STATED AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHOULD NOT EXHIBIT CRACKING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE. THIS IS A SOUTHERN CAR WITH NO EVIDENCE OF RUST ON THE EFFECTED PART. PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
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.
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