2008 Nissan Altima: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Nissan Altima: 4 recalls, 1030 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #07V599000 · 2007 · 114 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 is turned off, it would not alert the driver to a decrease in the tire pressure as designed.
Why it matters: Driving on under-inflated tires is unsafe and could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will check the TPMS function and reactivate it if necessary. The recall began on January 18, 2008.
Suspension Vehicle recall #08V363000 · 2008 · 1,018 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the bolt were to come out, the driver May experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the transverse link bolt to specification free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2008.
Electrical, Airbags Vehicle recall #08V521000 · 2008 · 204,361 vehicles
What's wrong: A varistor in the ocs control unit located in the passenger seat cushion May have been manufactured out of specification. Under certain conditions, this could cause an interruption of signal between the ocs and the air bag control unit (acu).
Why it matters: This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will test the signal between the ocs and acu systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed. If necessary, the seat cushion (containing ocs hardware) will be replaced with a new one manufactured to specification. The recall began on November 4, 2008.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V401000 · 2010 · 7,948 vehicles
What's wrong: The batteries contained in the affected gps units can overheat.
Why it matters: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on September 16, 2010.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 13 mention a fire, 34 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (312): the most common themes are noise or vibration (4), door / lock issues (4), leaks (4).
- Other / unknown (199): the most common themes are noise or vibration (9).
- Visibility/Wiper (168): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Airbags (142): the most common themes are warning light on (34), fails to deploy (19).
The 2008 Nissan Altima has 1030 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 34 Altima model years for complaints (2.3× the average Altima year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (200 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 70,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (471 complaints, 3 recalls), 2009 (1547 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 32 | 26 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | Premium |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Nissan Altima.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Nissan Altima. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Nissan Altima problems?
Owners have filed 1030 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (312), other / unknown (199), visibility/wiper (168).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Nissan Altima get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Nissan Altima repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.