Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Nissan Altima
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Nissan Altima has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,031 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #10V401000 PORTABLE AUTOMOTIVE GPS PRODUCTS/OVERHEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V521000 OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V363000 TRANSVERSE LINK BOLT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V599000 BODY CONTROL MODULE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 312 complaints
- Unknown or Other 199 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 168 complaints
- Air Bags 142 complaints
- Electrical System 90 complaints
- Power Train 80 complaints
Of the 1,031 complaints on file, 54 report a crash and 13 a fire; across all 1,031 complaints, owners report 34 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Nissan Altima has an average reliability rating based on 1,030 owner complaints and 4 recalls. The most common issues relate to structural integrity and visibility. The recall data focuses on navigational systems and airbags, suggesting moderate concerns. While the complaint count is substantial, the varied components affected show no overwhelming trend, indicating an average reliability outlook with some areas of concern.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| structure | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | common |
| visibility/wiper | Unknown | $100–$500 | common |
| air bags | Unknown | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
| electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake system inspections
- Coolant flushes
- Transmission fluid changes
- Tire rotations and balancing
- Battery checks and replacement
- Spark plug replacements
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Dashboard warning lights
- Unusual airbag light activity
- Windshield wiper failure
- Structural noises or rattles
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Nissan Altima at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.