2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid recalls and problems

The 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid has 1 safety recall and 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Nissan dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
16
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid recalls

Recall 08V-521: Electrical System, Air Bags

Reported Oct 7, 2008 · 204,361 vehicles affected · NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Problem: Nissan is recalling 204,361 my 2007-2008 altima, altima hybrid, 350z, 350z roadster, my 2008 altima coupe, rogue, my 2009 murano, and infiniti my 2007-2008 g35 sedan, my 2008 g37 coupe and ex35 passenger vehicles equipped with continental automotive systems' occupant classification system (Ocs) control units. A varistor in the OCS control unit located in the passenger seat cushion may have been manufactured out of specification. Under certain conditions, this could cause an interruption of signal between the OCS and the air bag control unit (Acu).

Risk: This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will test the signal between the OCS and acu systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed. If necessary, the seat cushion (Containing OCS hardware) will be replaced with a new one manufactured to specification. The recall began on november 4, 2008. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Service Brakes3
Engine3
Power Train1
Service Brakes, Electric1
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Visibility1
Engine and Engine Cooling1
Exterior Lighting1
Air Bags1

Most reported parts

  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
  • Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 38,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes · at 89,754 miles · reported May 14, 2017
I have a 2008 nissan altima hybrid and AM having problems with the brakes. I was driving the car when I stepped on the brakes to stop for a signal. The pedal went down without slowing the car until it was near the bottom of its travel at which time the car came to an abrupt halt, the ABS, vdc and brake warning light came on. I continued home without trouble until I was coming into the garage at which time the same thing happened.I have checked and found others who have had the same problem. Fortunately I was traveling at a low speed with no traffic.
Electrical System · at 83,000 miles · reported Mar 10, 2015
Nissan dealer is saying I must replace part # 48700-9n00b, this same part is under extended warranty on the altima 2009-2012. Can I get a new version of these.
Engine · at 104,500 miles · reported Jun 24, 2014
Check engine light came on. Obd2 code was p0303 and intermittently code p0300 indicating cylinder #3 and multiple cylinder misfiring. Took the car to local garage. Installed new spark plugs and with nissans guidance,they performed upper intake cleaning. Check engine light came back on for same codes. Notified nissan and brought car to dealer as advised. Dealer replaced coil pack #3 and performed fuel induction cleaning. Cel came back up and dealer recommended removal of head to inspect for warpage after already spending $1200 on this issue. Nissan said they couldn't let me know if any or no…
Engine · at 35,000 miles · reported Feb 14, 2014
A carbon buildup in the cylinder head causes the vehicle to shake and during initial start up and stutter/shake during acceleration. This build up is due to a design flaw in the cylinder head. It cause multiple unsafe instances when trying to merge with oncoming traffic and safely navigate in normal driving conditions. This is a know issue to nissan and they have redesigned the head but are unwilling to help with the issue. This occurred on our vehicle with only 35,000 miles on it.
Service Brakes · at 68,000 miles · reported Sep 27, 2013
Hi, I recently discovered that the brake lights are intermittently malfunctioning because of an unreliable brake lights switch. I became aware of the issue because the push button ignition was intermittently failing. After a little bit of research I found out that it is a known issue for nissan altima 2007-2008 owners, but was never addressed by nissan. I have a three month old baby that could have been severely injured in a rear end collision. Please make sure this issue gets addressed before any accident occurs. Thank you so much!

Other Nissan Altima Hybrid years

Compare all Nissan Altima Hybrid years · All Nissan models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid: 08V-521 (electrical system, air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (3 reports), followed by vehicle speed control (3). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 38,000 miles.

Are Nissan recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Nissan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.