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:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,618 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #12

Sep 032016

Altima 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles

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

When driving on long and sometimes short trips, the air flow stops blowing, like a vent was closed. The blower fan motor is still working and the A/C is still working because it is still cold at the vent but there is no air flow.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

problem #11

Apr 242015

Altima 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The vehicle has stalled when driving on several occasions. At 20 mph on local roads, car suddenly stalled and would not accelerate. This happened again on the highway at 65 mph and again when driving at 5 mph in a parking lot. The car had to be towed after each event. Car has been taken to 3 separate dealerships for evaluation but no cause of the malfunction has been determined.

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #10

Mar 152015

Altima

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that smoke started to emit from the hood and unknown fluid was discovered on the engine after inspecting the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to shift out of park. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that a coolant hose clamp needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Conyers, GA, USA

problem #9

Feb 112015

Altima 4-cyl

  • 89,607 miles

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

I have a whining noise under the hood. Whining noise is louder as you accelerate.

- Midway, GA, USA

problem #8

May 122014

Altima 4-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
I was driving on hwy 610 in houston, Texas when the vehicle engine shut off and caught fire. I had gone to the dealership several times initially for a start up key issue, then tires, hub cap, and then the engine shut off on the hwy January 25th 2014, the warranty company noted that there were underlying issues with the vehicle when it was first sold, made a proposal to the dealership, and dealership eventually placed an engine I was told later by a younger gentleman named [xxx] that is was a sued engine. I had taken it home, and next day had issues again. Took it in to get spark plugs changed, but the end result was fire on the hwy way May 12, 2014. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Kingwood, TX, USA

problem #7

Jan 012010

Altima

  • miles
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.

- Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA

problem #6

Oct 162008

Altima 4-cyl

  • 20,000 miles

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

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.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #5

Sep 052011

Altima

  • 68,112 miles
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.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #4

Jun 242011

Altima 4-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
2008 Nissan Altima, purchased November 2007. While traveling on the merritt parkway in conneticut, the service engine light came on, and there was a loss of power. After pulling off to the side of the road, black smoke started coming from the engine compartment and a few seconds later, the car erupted in flames. The car is a total loss and pictures are available if required.

- New City, NY, USA

problem #3

May 152008

Altima

  • miles
I bought a car in March 2009. Last Saturday, May 15 2010, I was driving to my friend graduation, shortly after leaving houston, I started seeing smoke coming from the hood of the car. Alarmed, I pulled my car over as far as I could and decided to step outside to see where the smoke where coming from. I popped the hood, saw flames. I had gotten a few hundred feet away and watch my car burn. Helpless. I do not understand how a car would catch fire by itself.I really believe that the fire wasn't the result of my negligence. I have done all my maintenance and every thing. And now that it happened, I made some research and it turns out that some of the model of Nissan Altima was subject to a recall and it fits the profile sort of speak.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

May 042008

Altima 4-cyl

  • 4,800 miles
I was driving on the highway traveling 65mph when all of a sudden there was a loud popping sound and I could hear noise under the car, all the lights on my dash lit up, check engine light, coolant light, battery, I then lost power steering and lost acceleration, cars were speeding by me and I coasted to the off ramp. I got towed to the dealer but service dept was closed because it was Sunday. The following day the service dept. Called and said the car was repaired. My husband went to get the car and they had said that it was the retentioner belt and that the pulley had sheared off. They said they had a customer the week before with the same problem. We also understand that Nissan was aware of this faulty part.

- Shirley, MA, USA

problem #1

Dec 212007

Altima 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 900 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The vehicle constantly makes a noise while parked. The dealer informed the contact to disconnect and reconnect the battery until the part arrives in January of 2008. The contact was unsure of the name of the part that needs replacing. The current mileage was 1,000 and failure mileage was 900. Updated 01-29-08. The consumer stated the vehicle does not drive above 40 mph. Updated 01/29/08

- Southfield, MI, USA

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