2008 Nissan Altima Reliability
The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1,047 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with other Altima model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Altima's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,047
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
58
Complaints citing a crash
14
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Nissan Altima complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2007 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 312 | 30% |
| Unknown or other | 199 | 19% |
| Visibility / wipers | 189 | 18% |
| Air bags | 143 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 98 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 93 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 81 | 8% |
| Engine | 57 | 5% |
2008 Nissan Altima recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07V599000 | Dec 28, 2007 | Electrical system — ignition / module | On certain passenger vehicles that have had the body control module (bcm) replaced during service at a dealership, the tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) may have been inadvertently deactivated due to an issue with the dealer service software. If the tpms… |
| 08V363000 | Jul 31, 2008 | Suspension | Nissan is recalling 1,018 my 2008 Altima vehicles. The left side front suspension transverse link bolt may not have been tightened to specification. This condition could cause the bolt to become loose while the vehicle is being driven. |
| 08V521000 | Oct 7, 2008 | Air bags | Nissan is recalling 204,361 my 2007-2008 Altima, Altima hybrid, 350z, 350z roadster, my 2008 Altima coupe, rogue, my 2009 murano, and infiniti my 2007-2008 g35 sedan, my 2008 g37 coupe and ex35 passenger vehicles equipped with continental automotive systems'… |
| 10V401000 | Sep 10, 2010 | Equipment — electrical / navigational system(global positioning system) | Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected gps units can overheat. |
How the 2008 compares with nearby Altima years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Altima analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 824 | 4 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2007 | 498 | 3 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2008 (this page) | 1,047 | 4 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2009 | 1,601 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 | 393 | 3 | Electrical system | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Nissan Altima
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Nissan Altima can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Nissan Altima reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1,047 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with other Altima model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Altima's typical year, while the 2007 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2008 Nissan Altima problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Nissan Altima are body structure (312), unknown or other (199), visibility / wipers (189), air bags (143). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Nissan Altima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 Nissan Altima, including 07V599000 (electrical system — ignition / module) and 08V363000 (suspension). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Nissan Altima compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 498 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2009 has 1,601 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2008 has 1,047 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Nissan Altima?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Altima research
Other Nissan Altima model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 Altima, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.