Nissan Altima Complaints (2008)

1,047 consumer complaints on file.

#10436478November 20, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING, AND EVEN A FEW SECONDS RIGHT AFTER STOPPING, THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON, SOMETIMES BLINKING. AFTER CHECKING THAT MY PADS WERE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF ALTIMA OWNERS THAT WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS. I CHECKED MY MC BUT FOUND NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. HOWEVER, I NOTICED THAT MY FLUID LEVEL WAS ON THE MINIMUM LINE. AFTER HAVING A CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOK AT IT, HE ADVISED ME THAT THE MC WAS FAULTY AND WAS LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. AFTER READING THAT ARE MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES, AND POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED CASES, I FEEL THAT NISSAN HAS AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE FAULTY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACE THE FAULTY PART FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435697November 15, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PURCHASED USED NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 V6 ENGINE VEHICLE WITH 18K MILES ON 10/29/11. ON A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO BRAKE THE CAR FELT AS IF I WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF IT AND ACCELERATED. HOWEVER ON 11/14/2011, I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AS USUAL SLOWLY TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP AND MADE AN INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE THE MORE IT REVVED UP. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ANY POINT. AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY. THE SERVICE MAN PLACED IT ON THE COMPUTER AND ALL KINDS OF RED LIGHTS FLICKERED. HE SAID SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT WE DON'T NO WHAT. THEY SEEMED TO BE AT A LOST. FINALLY I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO DRIVE IT TO TRY TO RECREATE THE OCCURRENCE. CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER 3 DAYS. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A CAR TO DRIVE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS PURCHASE. CERTIFIED VEHICLE WITH A WRAP AROUND SERVICE WARRANTY WILL HOPEFULLY SAVE US EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS. IN ANY CASE I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL. I WANT TO TRADE IT AND REQUEST A BUY BACK IF THIS MATTER IS NOT RESOLVED. HAVING THE MECHANIC TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES. OUR 11 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WAS VERY FRIGHTENED. NO CAR IS WORTH THE RISK OF DRIVING DANGEROUSLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435077November 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. AT AROUND 33,500 MILES I NOTICED MY BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON. I PROMPTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD A LEAK IN IT. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE WARRANTY ON IT EXPIRED AT 30,000 MILES. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE AROUND $450. BEWILDERED BY THE COST AND UPSET THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT SO CLOSE PAST WARRANTY I LEFT AND HAD A FRIEND WHO WORKS AT A AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACE IT W/ A GENUINE NISSAN PART FOR $240. I ATE THE COST OF REPAIR THINKING IT WAS BAD LUCK AND MOVED ON. MY ALTIMA IS NOW AT 78,000 MILES AND ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKE LIGHT IS COMING ON. I'M POSITIVE THAT ONCE AGAIN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE VISITED THE WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2007-NISSAN-ALTIMA-DISCUSSION-2-5-3-5/298430-WARNING-MASTER-CYLINDER-PROBLEM-MUST-READ-10.HTML AND ALSO SAW THAT NHTSA HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. I WOULD LIKE MY ALTIMA RECALLED OR TO BE COMPENSATED FOR BOTH REPAIRS. (THIS LETTER HAS ALSO BEEN SENT TO NISSAN USA. AWAITING FEEDBACK). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435740November 7, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC-FOUNDATION COMPONENTS-MASTER CYLINDER : AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING WITH A BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON, CROWN NISSAN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INTO THE POWER BOOSTER, LOWERING THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. TOTAL CHARGES WERE $684.55 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 41,321 HIGHWAY MILES DRIVEN LIGHTLY. IT APPEARS TO BE A SIMILAR SITUATION AS THE 2007 AND 2008 NISSAN SENTRA AND ALTHOUGH THE TWO MODELS DO NOT SHARE THE SAME PARTS, THE MANUFACTURER IS LIKELY TO BE THE SAME. THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434406November 6, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. THE FAULTY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INTERNALLY INTO THE BOOSTER. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITH A NEWER MODEL ALTIMA WITH UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433861November 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN, STEERING
CAR HAS DEVELOPED A TERRIBLE WOBBLE OR SHIMMY BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. NISSAN MAINTAINS IT IS IN THE CVT TRANSMISSION . I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO DEALER MANY, MANY TIMES.. NO SOLUTION. BUT, ALL AGREE THE CAR WOBBLES AND SHIMMIES AT 30-40 MPH. I HAVE HAD NISSAN ENGINEERS DRIVE CAR, SAME RESULT;.NOTHING. I HAVE WRITTEN TO NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICES, NO SOLUTION. TOLD BY NISSAN THAT MY DRIVING STYLE MAY BE TOO CONSERVATIVE FOR CAR. TOLD BY NISSAN EXECS TO DRIVE CAR HARDER AND FASTER AND AVOID SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. HOW ABSURD. NISSAN SAYS THERE IS NO SOLUTION, SO LIVE WITH IT. THIS CAR IS A DANGER. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON SNOW AND ICE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. UPDATED IVOQ 12/08/11 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433701October 31, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT AND RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE 2008 ALTIMA. THEY CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THE FAULTY PART THEN WHY NOT A RECALL AS WITH THE SENTRA?? $550 TO REPAIR AN ISSUE KNOWN BY NISSAN TO BE A FAULTY PART. THAT IS JUST CROOKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433112October 28, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS
THIS WAS A ONE VEHICLE CRASH (TOTAL LOSS) THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK CAUSING OUR CAR TO STRIKE A BRICK WALL (ALSO EMERGENCY BRAKES DID NOT WORK). NONE OF THE VEHICLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WHICH DEPLOYED ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROX. 11:45 PM, 22 OCTOBER 2011. NO DRUGS AND OR ALCOHOL WERE INVOLVED. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED FROM A LEXUS DEALER AND THE SAME COMPANY OWNS A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHICH CONFIRMED THAT ALL NISSAN RECALL ITEMS WERE COMPLIED WITH. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS TO PROVE THAT THERE IS STILL SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 BRAKES AND AIR BAGS TO ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE PERSONALLY TALKED WITH[XXX] ABOUT THIS AND LEFT A VOICE MAIL WITH [XXX] AT THEIR NHTSA OFFICE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THIS CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TOWING AND COLLISION FACILITY HERE IN INDIANA AND SOLD TO A PARTS SALVAGE COMPANY. I WAS TRYING TO HAVE SOMEONE INSPECT THIS CAR BEFORE IT WAS DESTROYED, BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT IS NOW TO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10432342October 21, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKES SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY, AND AROUND THE SAME TIME A BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND SAID MY MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A PENDING INVESTIGATION OF 07 & 08 NISSAN ALTIMAS AND A BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK, AND THAT THE SAME MODEL YEAR NISSAN SENTRAS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THAT SAME REASON. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WAS A $550 FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430817October 19, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT IS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND IT USES EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL, 2 TO 3+ QUARTS EVERY 1000 TO 2000 MILES. IT IS THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE, NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5L ENGINE, THAT WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE IN 2006. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE, ON WEB BOARDS AND COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA, ONLY TO HAVE THE DEALER TELL THEM THAT THE DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXCEEDED AND THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT THE CUSTOMERS' EXPENSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ENGINE MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT NISSAN IS TRYING NOT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430688October 18, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LIGHT WARNING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428794October 5, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I TOOK MY 2008 ALTIMA IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ABOUT 1 WEEK BEFORE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 MY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASHBOARD--IT WASN'T A CONSISTENT AND NOT EVERY TIME I WAS DRIVING CAR. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BRAKE FOR THIS TO OCCUR. AT DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM ABOUT ISSUE AND THEY LOOKED INTO IT. AFTER SERVICING MY CAR I WAS INFORMED THAT MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO NEEDED BACK BRAKES. I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE CAR, BECAUSE THE BRAKES MIGHT NOT WORK. I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED!! I ONLY HAVE 27000 MILES ON MY 2008 ALTIMA. OF COURSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2007 & 2008 ALTIMA'S. NISSAN HAS A RECALL FOR THE SENTRA (?) VEHICLE THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED. I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS ISSUE BEING LOOKED INTO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428812October 5, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD FILL UP WITH WATER AND LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE DRAIN HOLES WERE CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE UNCLOGGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428657October 4, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY HAVING ISSUE WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. WHICH AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS, WITH BRAKE LEAKS. I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, WHICH CAUSES CONCERN FOR ME. I HAVE AN 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE WITH ROUGHLY 56,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH ONLY 22K MILES ROUGHLY IN 2009 AND HAVE OTHER ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE RADIO. THE RADIO HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN WHERE MY VOLUME DIAL DOESN'T TURN THE VOLUME UP OR DOWN IT LOCKS BETWEEN THREE VOLUME NUMBERS AND AT TIMES THE SCREEN FADES IN AND OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427572September 27, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MASTER CYCLINDER WAS LEAKING. PARKING BREAK LIGHT WOULD STAY ON, BUT SOMETIMES GO OFF. VERY SIMILAR TO PE11020. I HAVE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS DETAILING THE LEAK AND THE REPAIR. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426858September 23, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I QUESTION THIS EVERYTIME I TAKE MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BACK TO 2008 AND EVERYTIME I GET THE SAME ANSWER "IT'S NORMAL, IT'S JUST THE HEAT SHIELD PLATE HEATING UP AND COOLING DOWN. IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE SAFETY & FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT". IT'S AMAZING I PAID $30K FOR A CAR THAT RATTLES ON REGULAR BASIS AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. YOU WOULD THINK AFTER THE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS NISSAN COULD ATLEAST COME UP WITH A FIX! THEY SAY IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE FUNCTION/SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE BUT I BEG TO DIFFER, I GET HESITATIONS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. IF THIS WAS "NORMAL" THEN EVERY CAR SOLD WOULD MAKE THIS NOISE BUT THEY DON'T SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT NORMAL AND A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426856September 23, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND GOING OFF SPONTANEOUS THROUGH OUT EACH DRIVE TIME AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON LONGER AS TIME PASSED. TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC AS HE TOO WAS PUZZLED WHY MY FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW SINCE THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE WORKING GREAT IT WAS DETERMINED MY BRAKE FLUID WAS "SOMEHOW" LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER THAT HOLDS THE FLUID INTO THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED TO HAVE THE MASTER BRAKE VALVE REPLACED AT A COST OF $456. I QUESTIONED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND IF IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WAS JUST HAPPENING AND NO THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS. I WAS ADVISED IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE FIXED TODAY BUT WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED BUT THEY WOULD TOP OFF THE FLUID AND I WOULD BE GOOD, BUT FOR HOW LONG THEY COULDN'T TELL ME. IN RESEARCHING I SEE I AM NOT THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE AND PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST. I WANTED TO LOG MY EXPERIENCE IN HOPES NISSAN WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT IS RELATED TO A CATASTROPHE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426939September 23, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MASTER CYLINDER FOUND TO BE LEAKING. WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425409September 14, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425129September 12, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2008 NISSAN ALTIMA SEDAN BELT TENSIONER BOLTS FAILED. ONE BOLT STILL LOCATED IN THE TENSIONER PULLEY HOLE ALONG WITH A PIECE OF EITHER THE BACK TIMING COVER OR THE LOWER ENGINE COVER. FIRESTONE AND NISSAN CLAIM TO BE ASTONISHED HOW THIS HAPPENED. DAMAGES ARE NOW ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE RANGE OF $3,900 WITH 20 HOURS OF LABOR TO REMOVE THE ENGINE AND REPLACE THE COVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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