RoadVitals

2008 Nissan Altima Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints 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.
19
Latest Apr 7, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 1,028 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 19 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.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 7, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID
11653120
Incident
Apr 7, 2025
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 26, 2024

Parked car due to electrical and transmission issues had left it for a couple hours to receive assistance and the car was gone it had no plates because I was attempting to register the car that same day

NHTSA ID
11574017
Incident
Feb 17, 2024
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed May 23, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported

I pulled into Regions bank parking lot to use ATM machine and before I could even park my car accelerated for no reason. I had my foot on the brake but it just made it go faster. I crashed into the building and airbag deployed. This was the scariest driving experience I’ve ever had. The car is totaled and caused serious damage to bank. I escaped by the grace of God with sprained wrist and elbow and knee abrasions.

NHTSA ID
11465698
Incident
May 15, 2022
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed May 7, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID
11463746
Incident
May 23, 2018
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 13, 2021

MY WIFE'S CAR SHUTDOWN ON HER LAST MONTH AND I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INDICATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD SO I ORDERED A NEW ONE AND THINGS WENT FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND NOW THE FUEL HAND JUST FLUCTUATS UP AND DOWN AND JUST SUDDENLY DROPS TO (E) WHEN IT HAS GAS OR FULL TANK OF GAS IN IT. ALSO THE MILEAGE DISPLAY IS SHOWING INACCURATE READINGS AND BLINKING ON THE DASH ON AND OFF AND MY WIFE IS SCARED NOW TO DRIVE HER 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA ON LONG DRIVES WITH THIS PROBLEM GOING ON!! IT HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION ON A BUSY HWY 278 IN BATESVILLE,MS

NHTSA ID
11402731
Incident
Feb 17, 2021
Mileage
208,000 mi
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Jul 18, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11340110
Incident
Jul 17, 2020
Mileage
117,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 9, 2019

MY CAR IS MAKING A BANGING NOISE WHEN ITS STARTED. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. OTHER ALTIMA VIN#S HAVE BEEN RECALLED, WHY HASNT MINE?

NHTSA ID
11230346
Incident
May 6, 2019
Mileage
45,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 19, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11141381
Incident
Sep 27, 2018
Mileage
119,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 25, 2018

THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO HAS OCCURRED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK.WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP RPMS WILL MOMENTARILY INCREASE TO APPROX 2000 RPM THEN REDUCE TO APPROX 1000. ENGINE. CONTINUES TO RUN SMOOTHLY WITH NO LURCHING OR JERKING. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY ROLLS SLOWLY INTO THE INTERSECTION OR ONTO THE ROADWAY. NO AMOUNT OF MANIPULATION OF THE GAS PEDAL RESULTS IN ANY THROTTLE RESPONSE. PLACING GEAR SHIFTER IN PARK AND SHIFTING BACK TO DRIVE SEEMS TO RESTORE THROTTLE RESPONSE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TODAY THIS OCCURRED WHILE PULLING ACROSS THE EAST BOUND LANES OF HWY 278 TO PROCEED IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. VEHICLE MOVED VERY SLOWLY ACROSS TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRAVELING 65 TO 70 MPH. WILL BE CONTACTING LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER TODAY TO DETERMINE IF ANY CORRECTIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY NISSAN.

NHTSA ID
11090072
Incident
Apr 25, 2018
Mileage
164,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 3, 2015

MY VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD.A TECHNICIAN FOUND EXHAUST MANIFOLD FRONT PIPE LEAKING. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO FOUND OIL COOLER LEAKING AND COVER OF THE ALTERNATOR BROKEN. THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS RECALL ON SEVERAL 2008 NISSAN ALTIMAS. MAYBE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10788020
Incident
Sep 28, 2015
Mileage
98,185 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Apr 6, 2015

PURCHASE CAR 2010 ABS BRAKE CAME ON ALL TIME DEALER TRY TO RESET ABS LIGHT IT WOULD TURN OFF FOR FEW DAYS AND COME MAKE ON THEY DONT NO WHY IT DOING IT :( ITS 2015 AND LIGHT STILL ON. 2014 I WAS ON INTERSTATE GOING 65 MPH THEN ALL SUDDEN MY NISSAN STARTED LOSING POWER FAST WHEN I PUSHED ON GAS WAS NOT READING. HAD TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD AND WE HAD CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND LOOKED FOR ANY LEAKS WHICH ALL WAS GOOD. I HAD GOTTEN AND MY OIL CHANGED BEFORE MY TRIP. SAT ON SIDE INTERSTATE FOR 20 MINS TRY TO RESTART IT STARTED OK JUST HAD NO POWER LIKE GAS WAS NIT FLOWING RIGHT. WAITING ANOTHER 10 MINS TRYING AGAIN. FINALLY GAIN POWER AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. HAD IT CHECKED BY SHOP COULDN'T FINE PROBLEM. THE CAR SOMETIME DON'T TURN OVER ON PUSH START AND I HAVE TO SLAM DOWN ON MY BREAK TO START IT ABOUT 5 TIMES TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT KEEPS STICKING AND NOT TURNING OVER I ALSO HAD TO CHANGE MY BATTERY 3 TIMES FROM 2010 TO 2014 . WHICH THAT'S NOT GOOD. I SEE ALL THESE 2008 NISSANS GETTING RECALLED THEN I LOOK AT THE MY CAR AND HOW MUCH MONEY I HAD TO PAY OUT POCKET FOR THE SAME RECALLS ON OTHER NISSAN . FOUND OUT EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MANY 2008 NISSANS BUT MINE AND THAT IS ONE OF PROBLEMS WRONG ! *TR

NHTSA ID
10703930
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Mar 12, 2015

CAR CRANKS BUT WON'T START. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694004
Incident
Mar 5, 2014
Mileage
148,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 9, 2015

UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IMMEDIATELY THE CAR RAN HOT. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER THAT THEN INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD/CATALYST CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND WAS LEAKING. WHICH THEY INFORMED ME WAS VERY DANGEROUS BUT THEY WHERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS WHICH LED TO CRACKED HEADS ON THE MOTOR AND EVENTUALLY TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. WHAT A SAFE VEHICLE FOR A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN? NOT SO MUCH,. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682360
Incident
Jan 8, 2014
Mileage
87,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed May 16, 2014
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 610 IN HOUSTON, TEXAS WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND CAUGHT FIRE. I HAD GONE TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES INITIALLY FOR A START UP KEY ISSUE, THEN TIRES, HUB CAP, AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ON THE HWY JANUARY 25TH 2014, THE WARRANTY COMPANY NOTED THAT THERE WERE UNDERLYING ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS FIRST SOLD, MADE A PROPOSAL TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP EVENTUALLY PLACED AN ENGINE I WAS TOLD LATER BY A YOUNGER GENTLEMAN NAMED [XXX] THAT IS WAS A SUED ENGINE. I HAD TAKEN IT HOME, AND NEXT DAY HAD ISSUES AGAIN. TOOK IT IN TO GET SPARK PLUGS CHANGED, BUT THE END RESULT WAS FIRE ON THE HWY WAY MAY 12, 2014. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10588951
Incident
May 12, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 4, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED ONCE ON THE VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE FAILED AND WAS DISPLAYING ONE QUARTER OF A TANK LESS THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FORE REPAIRS OR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,100. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON OCTOBER 8, 2012 THE PUT IN ANOTHER NEW FUEL PUMP. THE GAS GAUGE DID IMPROVED BUT, WHEN THE GAS GAUGE SHOULD READ HALF IT WILL SOMETIMES GO IN BETWEEN HALF AND 3/4 FULL. THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT VERY ACCURATE. UPDATED 11/19/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10478648
Incident
Mar 12, 2012
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Sep 21, 2010

GAS PEDAL STOPS WORKING,ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK,STARTED IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR,NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC YET,NISSAN SHOP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG,REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AS BRAKE LIGHT WAS COMING ON,ITS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 40,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10356828
Incident
Aug 24, 2010
Mileage
39,881 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Apr 26, 2009
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WOULD FILL THE INSIDE OF CAR ALSO HAD SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE INSIDE CAR TOOK IT TO PAUL BARNETT NISSAN IN BROOKHAVEN THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM CAR WAS SLUGGISH WHILE DRIVING AND THE RADIO WENT OUT TWICE . THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD BECOME VERY BRIGHT AND DIM WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266777
Incident
Apr 20, 2009
Mileage
26,000 mi
Fuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Apr 6, 2009
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAY. AS A RESULT, A PIECE OF METAL BECAME LODGED IN THE FUEL TANK AND WAS HANGING DOWN. THE FAILURE CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHATEVER HE STRUCK CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCATION AND LACK OF PROTECTION OF THE FUEL TANK A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15000. UPDATED 04-28-09 CW THE DRIVERS SIDE TRACK SEAT WAS SLOW AT MOVING. UPDATED 04/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10264233
Incident
Apr 2, 2008
Mileage
15,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 18, 2008

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND THE GAS CAP. THIS REQUIRES SANDING OF THE FILLER PIPE. THE SAME PROBLEM WAS FIXED LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 41,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE REPEAT REPAIR, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT 2 YEARS WAS A "GOOD" AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THIS REPAIR WHICH USUALLY HAS TO BE REPEATED IN A YEAR OR YEAR AND A HALF. SINCE I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, IT SOUNDS LIKE DEFECTIVE PARTS AND/OR DESIGN TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10238786
Incident
Aug 13, 2008
Mileage
41,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .