"How reliable is the 2008 Nissan Altima?"

"Based on 1373 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Nissan Altima has a median complaint mileage of 71000 miles. The most common issue is STRUCTURE."

"What are common problems with the 2008 Nissan Altima?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Nissan Altima is STRUCTURE, accounting for a significant portion of the 1373 total complaints filed."

2008 Nissan Altima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1373 complaints

1373

Total Complaints

71,000mi

Median Mileage

STRUCTURE

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

40,000 25th Percentile

71,000 Median Mileage

108,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STRUCTURE

208

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

197

VISIBILITY/WIPER

167

AIR BAGS

122

STRUCTURE:BODY

101

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POWER TRAIN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ENGINE

STEERING

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN ALTMA SEPT 17,2007. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS GO OFF WHILE A PASSENGER IS SEATED AND RIDING IN THE AUTO. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE. WHEN MY WIFE IS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, HER LIFE IS IN DANGER. *TR"

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES (TIRE SIZE 235/55R17 99 H). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD VIBRATING SOUND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY. UPON INSPECTION, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE SIDEWALL ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPAR..."

"TL*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..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

STRUCTURE 208 complaints

25th: 45,000 mi Median: 65,000 mi 75th: 84,500 mi

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 197 complaints

25th: 65,000 mi Median: 93,000 mi 75th: 118,500 mi

VISIBILITY/WIPER 167 complaints

25th: 50,000 mi Median: 72,750 mi 75th: 95,750 mi

AIR BAGS 122 complaints

25th: 47,625 mi Median: 75,732 mi 75th: 118,820 mi

STRUCTURE:BODY 101 complaints

25th: 49,000 mi Median: 70,000 mi 75th: 95,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 393 TX: 168 GA: 85 CA: 68 LA: 45 NJ: 37 VA: 35 NY: 35 AL: 34 IL: 34

Who Files Complaints?

1.7%

Original Owners

98.3%

Second+ Owners

Nissan Altima — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1993	150	122,000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	25
1994	120	126,000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	37
1995	216	110,500	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	49
1996	117	83,075	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	27
1997	141	120,000	AIR BAGS	40
1998	141	120,000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	20
1999	110	88,500	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	29
2000	199	84,000	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	34
2001	201	69,500	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	29
2002	1321	87,000	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	41
2003	1099	86,300	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	61
2004	334	71,000	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	18
2005	1358	85,000	STRUCTURE:BODY	71
2006	1043	90,000	STRUCTURE:BODY	58
2007	597	65,000	SUSPENSION	39
2009	2149	78,000	STEERING	55
2010	538	51,603	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	40
2011	317	72,000	POWER TRAIN	18
2012	575	75,000	POWER TRAIN	39
2013	2970	62,000	AIR BAGS	104
2014	1376	62,500	EXTERIOR LIGHTING	74
2015	1188	51,000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING	61
2016	778	57,692	POWER TRAIN	43
2017	498	55,000	POWER TRAIN	32
2018	314	36,000	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	16
2019	326	14,000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	40
2020	266	21,171	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	27
2021	96	41,000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	11
2022	50	-	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	8
2023	33	5,300	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	8
2024	55	-	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	13

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28