CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Altima has a defect trend of CVT transmission failure showing up around the 100,000 mile mark.

It's an expensive repair at nearly $4,000 average repair cost. For more information see Nissan Altima CVT defect info on NissanProblems.com.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
18 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
17 / 1
Average Mileage:
59,604 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Nissan Altima seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #119

Dec 192023

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Passenger airbag warning light is blinking Took to repair shop and tech said OCS is bad and needs replacing Code B1018 comes up I do not understand why there is not a recall because this is a safety Issue

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #118

Sep 282023

Altima

  • miles
While pulling into a parking spot and coming to a halt, I put the car into park mode. My foot was still on the brake. Instantly the engine went into "overdrive" and lurched forward over a parking curb and through heavy brush and finally came to a stop after hitting a pine tree. The engine was still screaming and the tires still spinning until I hit the off button. I had my foot on the brake the entire time to no avail. The heavy brush slowed the car somewhat. The airbags didn't deploy. I had several witnesses and they all stated they saw my brake lights on. I plowed approx. 50 feet through the brush before hitting the tree. I was the only one involved and was not hurt. This was Thurs. Sept. 28, 2023. It was in a state park and no police report made. Park Ranger took down info.

- Murrells Inlet, SC, USA

problem #117

May 092022

Altima

  • miles
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.

- Cave Springs, AR, USA

problem #116

Aug 292022

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The passenger air bag has failed. If my passenger has an accident, the air bag will fail to deploy and could be seriously injured. When I took the car in Nissan confirmed the bag was not operational. The insurance company was notified. I had the dealership check the warning message.

- Enterprise, AL, USA

problem #115

Jan 042022

Altima

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while at a stop light the front passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger-??s side seat cushion sensor had failed. The dealer updated an unknown software; however, the failure reoccurred persistently. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side seat cushion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

- Richmond, VA, USA

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problem #114

Feb 182022

Altima

  • miles
When I start my car and let it warm up, then reverse then put it in drive, I put my foot on the gas and the RPMS SHOOT UP TO 3 to 4 RPMS, I have to remove my four from the gas then my car is very slow and stays at 2 1/2 - 3 RPMS for several miles. Checked Fluids etc and still have the same issue with it every day. Also my passenger air bag is always off, no matter if someone who is 50 lbs or 250 lbs it is always off and I can not get it to come on. Finally when using my turn signals my blinkers work but never go off unless I manually do it myself. And I fo not get a warning sound telling me that my blinker is still on. It will stay on for hours if I do not notice it and I am driving long distance.

- Mullica Hill, NJ, USA

problem #113

Oct 032013

Altima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air bag light on dash board. Which I don-??t know if it-??s related to the melting windshield issue. Top of dashboard melting and causing severe reflection on windshield and I almost ran someone over because of the severe windshield glare due to melting dashboard causing blinding reflection. Nissan defect is a liability and negligence which needs to be recalled. This is not a cosmetic issue!!! It is a great safety hazard and easily cause a fatal accident since due to the manufacturer-??s defect it is unsafe to drive. This needs to be recalled because they will be held accountable if someone dies.

- East Islip, NY, USA

problem #112

Aug 202021

Altima

  • 220,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. During the crash, the front passenger-side airbag did not deploy and the front passenger sustained a fractured nose, a concussion, and bruises. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer(unknown) and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.

- Derry, NH, USA

problem #111

Jun 012021

Altima

  • miles
UNKNOWN I have a red flashing light on my right dashboard. Owners manual said to call dealership because of faulty airbags.

- Denham Springs , LA, USA

problem #110

Dec 312020

Altima

  • 109,430 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while the front passenger's seat was occupied, the occupant classification system failed to register that the seat belt was in use. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic and was informed that there was a possible recall on the vehicle related to the failure. Twin city Nissan (3247 alcoa hwy, alcoa, tn 37701, (865) 970-4132) was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The dealer diagnosed that the passenger's side air bag failed and that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,430.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #109

Jun 222020

Altima 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My husband was just in his first wreck this past week or so in our Nissan Altima 2008 2.5 S, and prior to the accident we had noticed our passenger air bag light had came on out of no where. Well, it didn't deploy when he got into the accident. Every other air bag except the passenger one deployed. Even the ones in our seatbelt area didn't deploy all the way. The wreck happened on a highway. The man my husband rear ended was yielding to turn left. My husband was going 35-40mph.

- Defuniak Springs, FL, USA

problem #108

Mar 052020

Altima

  • 186,000 miles
Supplemental safety airbag seatbelt the light keeps blinking and does not go off this a safety issue I took it to dealer and they said it is not a safety issue. I have a seatbelt malfunctioning

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

problem #107

Oct 092019

Altima

  • 104,000 miles
Passenger airbag seat sensor frequently does not recognize if a passenger is in the front seat. Doesn't matter if the car is moving or not. Was told this was a recall and that it was repaired on my vehicle, but it clearly has not been fixed. Dashboard is sticky and melted to the point that when it's being driven it reflects up onto the windshield making it very difficult to see.

- Sandusky, OH, USA

problem #106

Aug 142018

Altima

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while she was attempting to exit a driveway, she became distracted and hit an oak tree at approximately 30 mph. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained several bodily and head injuries that required medical attention. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

- Tehachapi, CA, USA

problem #105

Jan 202019

Altima

  • 125,000 miles
One day driving on a normal day on the highway, when my air bag light on the dash started to blink repeatedly, it hasnt stopped since. Car has a clean title and air bags were never deployed.

- Ozone Park, NY, USA

problem #104

Jun 082019

Altima

  • miles
On Saturday morning on the 8th of June 2019, I went to start my car. After I did so both of my airbag lights stayed on. Even while driving down the road the lights stay on until the car is turned off. I called the Nissan dealership of South strand Nissan in myrtle beach, SC on June 10, 2019 and they said there could be multiple reasons for the issues, that I needed to go and have the car looked at. I do not remember the agents naklme, and I do not have the money to have them fix a problem that I honestly believe should never be an issue if th3Y and the NHTSA did their job right with quality/safety control.

- Conway, SC, USA

problem #103

Dec 272018

Altima

  • 135,000 miles
With an adult in the front passenger seat, the passenger airbag off light occasionally illuminates. If the passenger lifts all their weight off the seat cushion the light goes out.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #102

Dec 282018

Altima

  • miles
Diagnostic scan was ran and supplemental inflatable restraint system came back with 4 codes stating: Occupant sensor unit fail X2 crash zone sensor unit fail and comm fail

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #101

Jan 152014

Altima

  • miles
Takata recall my passenger side airbag light has been blinking since 2014. The car was purchased new from the dealership. I called Nissan at the time and they told me they would pay 40% of the repair. I told them I will not pay for an airbag replacement especially wince the takata recall was so prevalent. The dealership stated it would cost over $800 to repair the airbag (information I can send you, if necessary). I had a passenger in the vehicle several weeks ago and was almost in 't-boned' by another driver on the passenger side who ran a stop light. I contacted Nissan and they stated they were unable to assist me in this matter because it was out of warranty and your department needs to issue the recall. So I now am asking for your assistance, so I can finally have a defective airbag replaced. I do realize I am not on any recall list but I can show documentation that the airbag has not functioned in over four years. I will gladly help in any information you may need. Respectfully submitted...

- Nampa, ID, USA

problem #100

May 122018

Altima

  • 211,000 miles
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.

- Duluth, GA, USA

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