Nissan Altima Complaints (2008)
1,047 consumer complaints on file.
- #10458923May 18, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. IT LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAUSING THE BOOSTER TO FAIL. WHEN RELEASED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD STAY DEPRESSED MOMENTARILY AND THEN POP UP ABRUPTLY AND THEN WHEN DEPRESSED AGAIN THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10455795April 19, 2012AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION, WHICH CONTAINED THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT, WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V521000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10455315April 16, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008, NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 45,500 MILES DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN EARLY 2008. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY WIFE COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START. THEN ON NOV. 4, 2011, I WITNESSED THE FAILURE MYSELF. AFTER CONTACTING THE TEXAS AAA MOTOR CLUB AND HAVING THEM COME AND VERIFY THAT THE CAR'S BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED AND COULD RUN THE STARTER, THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION BEING TAKEN. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REPORT COMPLAINT WAS ENTERED AS: "CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT TIMES". ON THE INVOICE IT STATES "CAUSE: BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILED - NOT SENDING SIGNAL TO BCM FOR START".' THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS LISTED AS A "25320-AX00C SWITCH ASM"'. THE COST OF THE SWITCH WAS $39.17 WITH $52.50 LABOR. PRIOR TO REPAIR, I WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF THE $91.67 SWITCH INSTALLATION, OR THE INSTALLATION OF A DIFFERENT SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND A REPLACEMENT CABLE HARNESS FOR APPROXIMATELY $250.00. I CHOSE THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH OPTION BECAUSE THE FIRST SWITCH LASTED 45,500 MILES, AND IF THE SECOND SWITCH LASTED THAT MANY MILES, IT WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED UNTIL AROUND THE 90 OR 95 THOUSAND MILE MARK. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10455440April 16, 2012LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10452468March 20, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO ACTIVATE BRAKE-LIGHTS,WHICH ALSO INHIBITS STARTER.IF BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK ONCE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN REPAIRING THING FOR 50 YEARS AND AM 99.9% SURE THE PINS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCHES ARE HANGING UP INSIDE THE BORES,SINCE WEDGING SNOW SCRAPER AGAINST BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHING PLUNGERS UNTIL THEY POPPED ALL THE WAY OUT ALLOWS STARTING. PHONING A NISSAN DEALER'S PARTS DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED AVAILABILITY THEN GAVE ME A PRICE OF $39.17 FOR SWITCH(ES). NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO HUNCHING UNDER THE DASH,I TALKED TO SERVICE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH TO INSTALL.AN "IMPROVED BRAKE WIRING HARNESS"IS NEEDED FOR "RARE" OCCURRENCES AT COST OF $238 AND LABOR OF $149.WHEN I ASKED IF THIS MIGHT BE A RECALL OR UNDER WARRANTY HE SAID"COULD NOT MAKE ANY MONEY" THAT WAY. IF IT IS A DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION PROBLEM NISSAN SHOULD EAT THE COST.INTERNET SEARCH HAS SOME DEALER RECOMMENDING PUSHING HARDER ON PEDAL OR POUNDING-PULSING.SOME REPLACED SWITCHES SHOWED PITTING OF CONTACTS{TOO MUCH CURRENT TOO OFTEN?} DO DOZENS OF CARS HAVE TO GET REAR-ENDED BEFORE ACTION TAKES PLACE??????????????????????? OR DOES MY WIFE HAVE TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START AND SHE WILL LOSE HER JOB? *JS *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10451213March 12, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN GOING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY STARTING ON JANUARY 10, 2012. DEFINITELY MORE COMMON ON DAYS WITH TEMPS AT FREEZING OR BELOW. LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT ONCE CAR WARMED UP, BUT WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER USING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. BRAKES DID SEEM TO STOP OKAY, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A FEW TIMES VERY RECENTLY THAT THEY MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. CHECKED/ADDED BRAKE FLUID SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS. HAD CAR SERVICED AT LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. COST WAS $100 OUT OF POCKET -- REMAINDER COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AS MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 41,494 MILES ON IT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10451315March 12, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PURSUANT TO APPEARANCE OF BRAKE WARNING LIGHT VEHICLE TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10449096February 23, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE FOOT BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10447207February 8, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE AT THE NISSAN DEALER FOR A OIL CHANGE AND TO CHECK UP MY BRAKES PAD BECAUSE THE CAR FEEL WEIRD WHEN BRAKING. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY BRAKE PADS ARE GOOD BUT MY MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING . I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE BECAUSE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY BRAKES LIGHT HASN'T CAME ON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE IF THIS IS A DEFECT FROM MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT AND THEY HAVE MORE THAN 400,000 CARS REPORT IT THEIR SYSTEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10446739February 5, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, SUGGESTING I NEED TO ADD BRAKE FLUID. I'VE READ THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO SPEND A LOT TO REPLACE A LEAKY MASTER CYLINDER. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10445042January 24, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED BRAKE LIGHT AND VDC/SLIP LIGHTS TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. MY CAR HAS 54,000 MILES. THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AT 31,000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MY BRAKE PADS AND REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AT THAT TIME. THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED HORRIBLY SINCE THE PADS WERE REPLACED. NOW HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A PART BECAUSE APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY, MANY NISSAN OWNERS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444759January 22, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE HAND-BRAKE WASN'T ON AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEM DURING BRAKING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO PAY THE $560 FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE RISKS WITH YOUR BRAKES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10444777January 22, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AT 10000 (APRIL 2009) AND 43000 (JANUARY 2012) MILES, AND REPLACED. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, WHICH IS A HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. BECAUSE BRAKE MUST BE APPLIED FOR ENGINE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO NOT START. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10440449December 19, 2011POWER TRAIN
I HAVE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN "DRAGGING" IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. THE GEARS SHIFT AS NORMAL BUT THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE. EVEN IN 3-6 GEARS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE CLUTCH THAT IS WORN OUT. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY WARNING SIGN SHOWING. NORMALLY A CLUTCH BURNS OUT AND THE PEDAL WILL FALL FLAT TO THE FLOOR. IN THIS CASE NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2009 WITH 11000 MILES ON. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A JETTA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION SINCE JANUARY 2005 WITH NO SUCH PROBLEMS. MY RESEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439166December 9, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS ILLUMINATED SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM WITH THE MANUFACTURER IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439172December 9, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. CAR WAS IN MOTION. BRAKES WERE NOT IN USE WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. $476.00 REPAIR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW OR INFERIOR WORKMANSHIP/PARTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10439181December 9, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE SENSOR MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438172December 2, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID OUT THE BACK OF THE CYLINDER INTO THE VACUUM HOUSING. THE LEAK WAS NOT NOTICEABLE ON THE GROUND OR ON THE MOTOR. HADN'T NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GETTING LOWER AND LOWER. THERE IS A SMALL BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME. IT'S THE SAME LIGHT THAT COMES ON WHEN YOU APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS MASKED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM AS WE THOUGHT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT NEEDED TO THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL AND INSTEAD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438004December 1, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MASTER CYLINDER LEAK, HAD TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER OR IT COULD HAVE LEAD TO A BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437440November 28, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS RECEIVED ON BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 4
- Deaths:
- 0