Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 32 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 32, in the owner's own words
The passenger side air bag is faulty due to AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT. This has been verified by an independent service center and puts passengers at risk. The airbag will not work without the entire seat being replaced. The airbag light shows that the system is “OFF”. This make and model had a recall issued but my VIN was not included but should have been included.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard had melted and was sticky. There were also cracks on the dashboard. The failure caused a glare on the front windshield, which obstructed her view of the roadway while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard was melting due to extreme heat. The contact stated that there was a glare reflecting off the dashboard and onto the windshield which would obstruct her vision while driving. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and it was stated that they could repair the dashboard. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INFORMED BY A SIBLING THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY THAT THERE WAS A GRAVE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FAMILY MEMBER WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO COME OUT, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND THEN UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
THE DASH IS MELTING AND CAUSES A VERY BAD GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHETHER DRIVING OR PARKED GOING INTO THE SUN.IT IS SO BAD YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOU.THIS IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY NISSAN OF ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 2551 THE NALLEY WAY, ATLANTA, GA 30360, (678) 825-6749) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.
GLUE IS BLEEDING THRU THE DASH ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT IS CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE, SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO LEAN OVER TO FIND A SPOT THAT DOES NOT AFFECT MY VISION OF THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF OR COMING TOWARDS ME. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND LEFT UNATTENDED WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A WRECK. I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER PROBLEMS, THE FRONT SEATS ARE LOOSE AND SLID WHEN I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKESFEEL AND I AM NOT AT ALL COMFORTABLE THAT IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT THIS WOULD ATTRIBUTE TO ADDITIONAL INJURY. ALSO, I HAVE HAD THE LOW TIRE SCENSOR REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE TO ONLY HAVE IT COME BACK ON AT WHICH TIME I FOUND OUT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MODEL, WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE HAD THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, INSTEAD OF TAKING MY MONEY. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT ALL THREE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPORTED TO NISSAN ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY ARE NOT RECALLS AND ARE EXTREMELY HIGH IN COST OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THEM FOR TWO YEARS TO NO AVAIL. THEY SENT ME TO A DEALER IN TOWN AT ONE POINT WHO REITERATED TO ME VERBATIM WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THEM ONLINE AFTER HE GAVE THE DASH A QUICK LOOK. I LIVE IN LOUISIANA, I TRAVEL TO TEXAS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. THAT IS WHEN THE PROBLEM WITH THE DASH STARTED. NO WAY TO CLEAN, IT IS ONE BIG STICKY MESS AND ONLY GETTING WORSE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THEY WERE HAPPY TO TAKE MY MONEY, THE LEAST THEY COULD DO IS FIX KNOWN PROBLEMS. TOYOTA RECALLED ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME BLEEDING GLUE DASH PROBLEM. NISSAN SHOULD BE AS FORTHCOMING WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS, WON'T BUY ANOTHER, WILL SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE RESALE VALUE OF THIS ONE. SHAME ON NISSAN! MY FORMAL COMPLAINT SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED!
MY PASSANGER AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING WHEN SOMEBODY IS SITTING IN THE SEAT IT IS STILL OFF WHEN DRIVING, THEIR WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS BUT WHEN I CALL NISSAN ITS NOT MY MODEL
THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I HAD TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED LAST MONTH TO DRIVE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND TO ACCESS THE NAVAL BASE FOR WORK. I FAILED THE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF IT AND HAD TO PAY $705 FOR A NEW SEAT. I SAW A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD BY NISSAN RECALL DEPARTMENT MY CAR WASN'T COVERED. HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE? I AM REQUESTING A REFUND AS THE ISSUE WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN 2008.
A PASSENGER SITTING CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO FLASH AND TURNS OFF THE AIRBAG? IF THE SEAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME OCS CONTROL UNIT, MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL IN NOVEMBER 2008 THAT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN? NISSAN CONCLUDED I SHOULD PAY THE DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT. *TR
WHEN AN ADULT IS SETTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL PERIODICALLY GO ON. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR YEARS. ST. CHARLES NISSAN TECH FOUND OCCUPANT SENSOR FAILURE TO BE CAUSING THE ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL INVOLVING THIS ISSUE, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V521000. MY CAR'S VIN IS NOT PART OF THE OPEN RECALL, HOWEVER, SINCE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE, I WONDERED IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED AT WHAT VIN THEY STOPPED IN THE RECALL.
THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THAT IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE CAR COMPUTER.IT IS SHOWING A YELLOW LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE CAR IS ON. STATIONARY OR DRIVING.
THE SEAT IS LIFTED AND SLIDING ESPECIALLY WHEN I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. IT IS UNSTABLE AND SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT I READ WITH NISSAN SEATS AND I AM AFRAID.
NISSAN: DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK INOPERATIVE WITH INTELLIGENT KEY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NOT SO MUCH ONE SPECIFIC INCIDENT BUT A FEW OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE SEAT MOVES SIDE TO SIDE AND SEEMS TO BE OFF TRACK. THE INTERNET MENTIONS MANY INSTANCES OF SEAT PROBLEMS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A CAR SEAT CAN BE A PROBLEM, I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND KNOW MANY FOLKS WHO OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER EVER HEARD OF A SEAT BEING A PROBLEM EVER. BUT I'M GOING TO BE CHARGED $89.95 TO "DIAGNOSE" A SEAT PROBLEM THAT APPARENTLY IF ISN'T AFFECTED BY THE TECH BULLETIN COULD PAY UPWARDS OF $1500 FOR A CAR SEAT. 2ND ISSUE IS MY REAR DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. FIRST IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR AND THE LOCK STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE KEY FOB AND INTERNAL LOCK BUTTON. WEEK AND A HALF LATER THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. LOOKING UP THIS ON THE INTERNET IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR NISSAN'S. THE DEALER CONVENIENTLY IS GOING TO CHARGE ME TWO (2) DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES OF $89.95 TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DOOR LOCKS (AGAIN NOT 1 CHARGE FOR BOTH BUT TWO SEPARATE CHARGES). THE INTERNET SAYS ACTUATORS WHICH I'LL UPDATE LATER AFTER THIS WEEK IF THAT'S THE ISSUE. I'D THINK THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THESE TWO CLAIMS FOR A POTENTIAL RECALL TO SAVE CONSUMERS FROM BE FLEECED FOR WHAT APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT ISSUES THAT AREN'T WEAR AND TEAR ISSUES AND APPEAR TO BE DEFECTS. *TR
MY ALTIMA COUPE HAS A MELTING DASHBOARD THAT CAUSES VISIBILITY ISSUES BY GLARING INTO MY WINDSCREEN. IT IS MELTED AND BUBBLY. ALSO MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT CUTS ON AND OFF DUE TO MY PASSENGER SEAT BRACKET BEING FAULTY. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM NISSAN ON A WAY TO RESOLVE THESE SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING ON 3 OF THE 4 DOORS. DEPENDING ON DAY, SOMETIMES ONE OR MORE LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USING KEY FOB OR WHEN USING POWER LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER DOOR. AT OTHER TIMES, ONE OR MORE LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN WHEN USING KEY FOB OR WHEN USING POWER LOCK BUTTON ON DRIVER DOOR. I AM FEARFUL THAT AFTER A CRASH I WILL TRY TO UNLOCK DOORS TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO FOUND MY DOORS UNLOCKED WHEN RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE, EVEN AFTER HITTING THE LOCK BUTTON WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. I AM FEARFUL THAT A CAR THIEF OR MURDERER MAY HAVE ACCESS TO MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE TRIED TO ACCESS MY VEHICLE QUICKLY IN DANGEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I'VE HAD TO TRY MULTIPLE TIMES TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. *TR
THE AUTOMATIC DOOR SYSTEM IN THIS CAR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL, ALL 4 DOOR DO NOT LOCK OR OPEN. IT HAS TO BE DONE MANUALLY. *TR
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT DISPLAYING OFF ...STAYED OFF WHEN ANYONE HEAVIER THAN 50LBS SAT IN IT..I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL INVOLVING THIS SITUATION FOR MY MODEL..2008 NISSAN ALTIMA..I TOOK IT TO WOODBURY NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 1000 DOLLARS THEY WOULD FIX IT?!!! THIS WAS TOTALLY AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER AND I CONTACTED THE NORTHEAST REGIONAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEM TO TELL ME THE SAME THING?!!! I RECENTLY WENT ON THIS SIGHT TO FIND THAT THE RECALL IS EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS? PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS SITUATION RECTIFIED AS IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCT THAT THEY MAKE OR PRODUCTS INSTALLED IN THEYRE VEHICLES...THANK YOU VERY MUCH [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT ALWAYS DETECT AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT ON" LIGHT COMES ON, SOMETIMES FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND ON AGAIN, WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THAT SEAT. THE SYMPTOMS APPEAR TO BE IDENTICAL TO CAMPAIGN 08V521000, BUT NISSAN SAYS MY VIN IS NOT EFFECTED. THE AIRBAG HAS NOT DEPLOYED, SO I HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW IF IT WILL WORK OR NOT, BUT SINCE THERE IS A PARTIAL RECALL UNDERWAY FOR THIS VERY THING, I BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
ALL FOUR OF MY POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU WILL THINK THE DOOR IS LOCKED BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND ROB OR HARM ME OR SOMEONE IN MY CAR. ALSO WHEN IT IS PARKED AND YOU THINK IT IS LOCKED SOMEONE COULD STEAL YOUR CAR OR SOMETHING FROM YOUR CAR. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM HOW CAN A NISSAN SERVICE REP TELL ME THAT HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. *JS
2008 NISSAN ALTIMA DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ARE BAD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE DOORS MIGHT NOT OPEN IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR
DRIVERS SEAT MOVES SIDE TO SIDE AND FRONT TO BACK WHILE DRIVING. NISSAN ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER A TECHNICAL BULLETIN WAS CREATED, BUT THE ISSUE STILL REMAINS. DEALER NOW SAYS THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH ITS WORSE NOW THAN IT WAS ORIGINALLY. *TR
I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE A MAJOR CAR DEFECT OF MY NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. ON 09/25/2009 I WAS DRIVING ON BRUCKNER EXPRESSWAY CLOSE THE EXIT 52 TO BRONX RIVER PARKWAY. I WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 45 TO 50 MPH, THE BREAKS STOPPED WORKING, I TAPPED THE BREAKS CONTINUOUSLY AND STILL THEY DID NOT WORK AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL STARTING TURNING UN-CONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT, THEN TO THE LEFT. I TRIED TO PRESS ON THE BREAKS AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO SINCE THE BREAKS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WERE NOT WORKING. THE CAR HIT THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER ON THE LEFT AND THEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT. I BELIEVED THAT WAS THE END OF MY LIFE AND MY PASSANGER'S LIFE. AFTER ABOUT A MILE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR SO I CAN AVOID TECHNICAL AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. BUT I WAS NOT LUCKY BECAUSE MY ONE YEAR OLD NISSAN ALTIMA COUPLE HAD A MAJOR MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE . NOW ALL SAID AND DONE, IT HAS BEEN 10 DAYS THAT I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH NISSAN OF USA AND NISSAN OF GARDEN CITY. FOR THESE LONG TEN TRAUMATIZED DAYS THE ONLY ANSWER I GOT FROM NISSAN IS THAT THE CAR WILL BE INSPECTED AND THAT NISSAN IS GOING TO LET ME KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR. NISSAN DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER OR FUNDS TO RENT A CAR. IT HAS BEEN 10 DAYS THAT I HAVE BEEN RENTING CARS OR TAKING CABS PAYING FROM MY POCKET TO MAKE IT TO WORK. I AM OUT OF FUNDS AND NISSAN DOES WANT TO RESPOND TO THE ISSUE. I KNOW THAT THE CAR HAS A MAJOR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. I WILL NOT DRIVE THAT CAR AGAIN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. I DO NOT WANT THAT CAR TO BE DRIVEN FROM ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE I AM VERY SURE THAT CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED CAREFULLY SO NISSAN CAN LEARN FROM THIS MISTAKE AND PREVENT FUTURE SIMILAR ACCIDENTS THAT CAN TURN DEADLY. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN MISTAKES. I HOPE NHTSA WILL BE ABLE TO HELP IN THIS ISSUE. *TR THANK YOU, ALMA ULDEDAJ
DRIVERS SEAT MOVES SIDE TO SIDE, TYPICALLY WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. NISSAN SAYS THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS, HOWEVER, THE FIX HAS YET TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS VERY ALARMING WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING YOUR SEAT TO SHIFT. NOW THE SEAT MOVES FORWARD/BACKWARD WHEN ACCELERATING ALONG WITH THE SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENTS. NISSAN HAS HAD THE CAR AT LEAST 3 TIMES TRYING TO CORRECT ISSUE AND NOW SAYS IT MUST BE THE WAY NISSAN DESIGNS THEIR SEATS. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CARS IN MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE FIRST CAR SEAT THAT HAS MOVED. I DO NOT SEE HOW THE SEAT CAN BE SAFE IF IT MOVES WHILE DRIVING. I'M WORRIED THAT IF I HAVE TO BRAKE SUDDENLY OR AM IN AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT WILL COME OFF TRACK. *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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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