2008 Nissan Altima complaints

THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. IT LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAUSING THE BOOSTER TO FAIL. WHEN RELEASED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD STAY DEPRESSED MOMENTARILY AND THEN POP UP ABRUPTLY AND THEN WHEN DEPRESSED AGAIN THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION, WHICH CONTAINED THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT, WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V521000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008, NISSAN ALTIMA WITH 45,500 MILES DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN EARLY 2008. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY WIFE COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START. THEN ON NOV. 4, 2011, I WITNESSED THE FAILURE MYSELF. AFTER CONTACTING THE TEXAS AAA MOTOR CLUB AND HAVING THEM COME AND VERIFY THAT THE CAR'S BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED AND COULD RUN THE STARTER, THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION BEING TAKEN. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE REPORT COMPLAINT WAS ENTERED AS: "CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT TIMES". ON THE INVOICE IT STATES "CAUSE: BRAKE LAMP SWITCH FAILED - NOT SENDING SIGNAL TO BCM FOR START".' THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS LISTED AS A "25320-AX00C SWITCH ASM"'. THE COST OF THE SWITCH WAS $39.17 WITH $52.50 LABOR. PRIOR TO REPAIR, I WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF THE $91.67 SWITCH INSTALLATION, OR THE INSTALLATION OF A DIFFERENT SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND A REPLACEMENT CABLE HARNESS FOR APPROXIMATELY $250.00. I CHOSE THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH OPTION BECAUSE THE FIRST SWITCH LASTED 45,500 MILES, AND IF THE SECOND SWITCH LASTED THAT MANY MILES, IT WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED UNTIL AROUND THE 90 OR 95 THOUSAND MILE MARK. *JS

ALL FOUR OF MY POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU WILL THINK THE DOOR IS LOCKED BUT IT REALLY ISN'T. DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD JUST OPEN THE DOOR AND ROB OR HARM ME OR SOMEONE IN MY CAR. ALSO WHEN IT IS PARKED AND YOU THINK IT IS LOCKED SOMEONE COULD STEAL YOUR CAR OR SOMETHING FROM YOUR CAR. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM HOW CAN A NISSAN SERVICE REP TELL ME THAT HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. *JS

STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO ACTIVATE BRAKE-LIGHTS,WHICH ALSO INHIBITS STARTER.IF BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK ONCE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN REPAIRING THING FOR 50 YEARS AND AM 99.9% SURE THE PINS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCHES ARE HANGING UP INSIDE THE BORES,SINCE WEDGING SNOW SCRAPER AGAINST BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHING PLUNGERS UNTIL THEY POPPED ALL THE WAY OUT ALLOWS STARTING. PHONING A NISSAN DEALER'S PARTS DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED AVAILABILITY THEN GAVE ME A PRICE OF $39.17 FOR SWITCH(ES). NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO HUNCHING UNDER THE DASH,I TALKED TO SERVICE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH TO INSTALL.AN "IMPROVED BRAKE WIRING HARNESS"IS NEEDED FOR "RARE" OCCURRENCES AT COST OF $238 AND LABOR OF $149.WHEN I ASKED IF THIS MIGHT BE A RECALL OR UNDER WARRANTY HE SAID"COULD NOT MAKE ANY MONEY" THAT WAY. IF IT IS A DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION PROBLEM NISSAN SHOULD EAT THE COST.INTERNET SEARCH HAS SOME DEALER RECOMMENDING PUSHING HARDER ON PEDAL OR POUNDING-PULSING.SOME REPLACED SWITCHES SHOWED PITTING OF CONTACTS{TOO MUCH CURRENT TOO OFTEN?} DO DOZENS OF CARS HAVE TO GET REAR-ENDED BEFORE ACTION TAKES PLACE??????????????????????? OR DOES MY WIFE HAVE TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START AND SHE WILL LOSE HER JOB? *JS *KB

BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN GOING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY STARTING ON JANUARY 10, 2012. DEFINITELY MORE COMMON ON DAYS WITH TEMPS AT FREEZING OR BELOW. LIGHT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO OUT ONCE CAR WARMED UP, BUT WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER USING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. BRAKES DID SEEM TO STOP OKAY, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A FEW TIMES VERY RECENTLY THAT THEY MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. CHECKED/ADDED BRAKE FLUID SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS. HAD CAR SERVICED AT LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. COST WAS $100 OUT OF POCKET -- REMAINDER COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AS MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 41,494 MILES ON IT. *TR

PURSUANT TO APPEARANCE OF BRAKE WARNING LIGHT VEHICLE TAKEN TO NISSAN DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER. *TR

THE FOOT BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY DURING DRIVING. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE AT THE NISSAN DEALER FOR A OIL CHANGE AND TO CHECK UP MY BRAKES PAD BECAUSE THE CAR FEEL WEIRD WHEN BRAKING. COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY BRAKE PADS ARE GOOD BUT MY MASTER CYLINDER IS LEAKING . I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE BECAUSE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY BRAKES LIGHT HASN'T CAME ON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE IF THIS IS A DEFECT FROM MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT AND THEY HAVE MORE THAN 400,000 CARS REPORT IT THEIR SYSTEM. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, SUGGESTING I NEED TO ADD BRAKE FLUID. I'VE READ THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO SPEND A LOT TO REPLACE A LEAKY MASTER CYLINDER. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. *TR

LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED BRAKE LIGHT AND VDC/SLIP LIGHTS TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. MY CAR HAS 54,000 MILES. THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AT 31,000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MY BRAKE PADS AND REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AT THAT TIME. THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEAKED HORRIBLY SINCE THE PADS WERE REPLACED. NOW HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A PART BECAUSE APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY, MANY NISSAN OWNERS. *TR

THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE HAND-BRAKE WASN'T ON AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEM DURING BRAKING. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO PAY THE $560 FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE RISKS WITH YOUR BRAKES. *TR

BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AT 10000 (APRIL 2009) AND 43000 (JANUARY 2012) MILES, AND REPLACED. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, WHICH IS A HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. BECAUSE BRAKE MUST BE APPLIED FOR ENGINE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO NOT START. *TR

I HAVE 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN "DRAGGING" IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. THE GEARS SHIFT AS NORMAL BUT THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE. EVEN IN 3-6 GEARS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE CLUTCH THAT IS WORN OUT. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY WARNING SIGN SHOWING. NORMALLY A CLUTCH BURNS OUT AND THE PEDAL WILL FALL FLAT TO THE FLOOR. IN THIS CASE NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2009 WITH 11000 MILES ON. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A JETTA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION SINCE JANUARY 2005 WITH NO SUCH PROBLEMS. MY RESEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS ILLUMINATED SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM WITH THE MANUFACTURER IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. CAR WAS IN MOTION. BRAKES WERE NOT IN USE WHEN LIGHT CAME ON. BRAKES FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY. $476.00 REPAIR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW OR INFERIOR WORKMANSHIP/PARTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE SENSOR MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID OUT THE BACK OF THE CYLINDER INTO THE VACUUM HOUSING. THE LEAK WAS NOT NOTICEABLE ON THE GROUND OR ON THE MOTOR. HADN'T NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GETTING LOWER AND LOWER. THERE IS A SMALL BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME. IT'S THE SAME LIGHT THAT COMES ON WHEN YOU APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THIS MASKED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM AS WE THOUGHT THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT NEEDED TO THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL AND INSTEAD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. *TR

MASTER CYLINDER LEAK, HAD TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER OR IT COULD HAVE LEAD TO A BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS RECEIVED ON BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

WHILE DRIVING, AND EVEN A FEW SECONDS RIGHT AFTER STOPPING, THE BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON, SOMETIMES BLINKING. AFTER CHECKING THAT MY PADS WERE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF ALTIMA OWNERS THAT WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS. I CHECKED MY MC BUT FOUND NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. HOWEVER, I NOTICED THAT MY FLUID LEVEL WAS ON THE MINIMUM LINE. AFTER HAVING A CERTIFIED MECHANIC LOOK AT IT, HE ADVISED ME THAT THE MC WAS FAULTY AND WAS LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. AFTER READING THAT ARE MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES, AND POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED CASES, I FEEL THAT NISSAN HAS AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE FAULTY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACE THE FAULTY PART FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

PURCHASED USED NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 V6 ENGINE VEHICLE WITH 18K MILES ON 10/29/11. ON A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO BRAKE THE CAR FELT AS IF I WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF IT AND ACCELERATED. HOWEVER ON 11/14/2011, I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AS USUAL SLOWLY TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP AND MADE AN INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE THE MORE IT REVVED UP. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ANY POINT. AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY. THE SERVICE MAN PLACED IT ON THE COMPUTER AND ALL KINDS OF RED LIGHTS FLICKERED. HE SAID SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT WE DON'T NO WHAT. THEY SEEMED TO BE AT A LOST. FINALLY I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO DRIVE IT TO TRY TO RECREATE THE OCCURRENCE. CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER 3 DAYS. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A CAR TO DRIVE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THIS PURCHASE. CERTIFIED VEHICLE WITH A WRAP AROUND SERVICE WARRANTY WILL HOPEFULLY SAVE US EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS. IN ANY CASE I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL. I WANT TO TRADE IT AND REQUEST A BUY BACK IF THIS MATTER IS NOT RESOLVED. HAVING THE MECHANIC TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES. OUR 11 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WAS VERY FRI

I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S. AT AROUND 33,500 MILES I NOTICED MY BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON. I PROMPTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD A LEAK IN IT. I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE WARRANTY ON IT EXPIRED AT 30,000 MILES. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE AROUND $450. BEWILDERED BY THE COST AND UPSET THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT SO CLOSE PAST WARRANTY I LEFT AND HAD A FRIEND WHO WORKS AT A AUTO REPAIR SHOP REPLACE IT W/ A GENUINE NISSAN PART FOR $240. I ATE THE COST OF REPAIR THINKING IT WAS BAD LUCK AND MOVED ON. MY ALTIMA IS NOW AT 78,000 MILES AND ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKE LIGHT IS COMING ON. I'M POSITIVE THAT ONCE AGAIN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE VISITED THE WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2007-NISSAN-ALTIMA-DISCUSSION-2-5-3-5/298430-WARNING-MASTER-CYLINDER-PROBLEM-MUST-READ-10.HTML AND ALSO SAW THAT NHTSA HAS OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS. I WOULD LIKE MY ALTIMA RECALLED OR TO BE COMPENSATED FOR BOTH REPAIRS. (THIS LETTER HAS ALSO BEEN SENT TO NISSAN USA. AWAITING FEEDBACK). *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC-FOUNDATION COMPONENTS-MASTER CYLINDER : AFTER A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING WITH A BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON, CROWN NISSAN SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING INTO THE POWER BOOSTER, LOWERING THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. TOTAL CHARGES WERE $684.55 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 41,321 HIGHWAY MILES DRIVEN LIGHTLY. IT APPEARS TO BE A SIMILAR SITUATION AS THE 2007 AND 2008 NISSAN SENTRA AND ALTHOUGH THE TWO MODELS DO NOT SHARE THE SAME PARTS, THE MANUFACTURER IS LIKELY TO BE THE SAME. THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ISSUE.

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF WHILE DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. THE FAULTY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID INTERNALLY INTO THE BOOSTER. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITH A NEWER MODEL ALTIMA WITH UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

CAR HAS DEVELOPED A TERRIBLE WOBBLE OR SHIMMY BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. NISSAN MAINTAINS IT IS IN THE CVT TRANSMISSION . I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO DEALER MANY, MANY TIMES.. NO SOLUTION. BUT, ALL AGREE THE CAR WOBBLES AND SHIMMIES AT 30-40 MPH. I HAVE HAD NISSAN ENGINEERS DRIVE CAR, SAME RESULT;.NOTHING. I HAVE WRITTEN TO NISSAN CORPORATE OFFICES, NO SOLUTION. TOLD BY NISSAN THAT MY DRIVING STYLE MAY BE TOO CONSERVATIVE FOR CAR. TOLD BY NISSAN EXECS TO DRIVE CAR HARDER AND FASTER AND AVOID SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. HOW ABSURD. NISSAN SAYS THERE IS NO SOLUTION, SO LIVE WITH IT. THIS CAR IS A DANGER. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON SNOW AND ICE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. UPDATED IVOQ 12/08/11 *TR

MY BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT AND RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE 2008 ALTIMA. THEY CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THE FAULTY PART THEN WHY NOT A RECALL AS WITH THE SENTRA?? $550 TO REPAIR AN ISSUE KNOWN BY NISSAN TO BE A FAULTY PART. THAT IS JUST CROOKED. *TR

THIS WAS A ONE VEHICLE CRASH (TOTAL LOSS) THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK CAUSING OUR CAR TO STRIKE A BRICK WALL (ALSO EMERGENCY BRAKES DID NOT WORK). NONE OF THE VEHICLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WHICH DEPLOYED ONCE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROX. 11:45 PM, 22 OCTOBER 2011. NO DRUGS AND OR ALCOHOL WERE INVOLVED. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED FROM A LEXUS DEALER AND THE SAME COMPANY OWNS A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHICH CONFIRMED THAT ALL NISSAN RECALL ITEMS WERE COMPLIED WITH. WE HAVE SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS TO PROVE THAT THERE IS STILL SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 BRAKES AND AIR BAGS TO ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE PERSONALLY TALKED WITH[XXX] ABOUT THIS AND LEFT A VOICE MAIL WITH [XXX] AT THEIR NHTSA OFFICE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THIS CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TOWING AND COLLISION FACILITY HERE IN INDIANA AND SOLD TO A PARTS SALVAGE COMPANY. I WAS TRYING TO HAVE SOMEONE INSPECT THIS CAR BEFORE IT WAS DESTROYED, BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT IS NOW TO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY BRAKES SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY, AND AROUND THE SAME TIME A BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON MY DASHBOARD. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND SAID MY MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A PENDING INVESTIGATION OF 07 & 08 NISSAN ALTIMAS AND A BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK, AND THAT THE SAME MODEL YEAR NISSAN SENTRAS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR THAT SAME REASON. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WAS A $550 FIX. *TR

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. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT WARNING COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I TOOK MY 2008 ALTIMA IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. ABOUT 1 WEEK BEFORE OIL CHANGE APPOINTMENT SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 MY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON DASHBOARD--IT WASN'T A CONSISTENT AND NOT EVERY TIME I WAS DRIVING CAR. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BRAKE FOR THIS TO OCCUR. AT DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM ABOUT ISSUE AND THEY LOOKED INTO IT. AFTER SERVICING MY CAR I WAS INFORMED THAT MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO NEEDED BACK BRAKES. I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE CAR, BECAUSE THE BRAKES MIGHT NOT WORK. I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED!! I ONLY HAVE 27000 MILES ON MY 2008 ALTIMA. OF COURSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2007 & 2008 ALTIMA'S. NISSAN HAS A RECALL FOR THE SENTRA (?) VEHICLE THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED. I WOULD APPRECIATE THIS ISSUE BEING LOOKED INTO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD FILL UP WITH WATER AND LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE DRAIN HOLES WERE CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE UNCLOGGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

I RECENTLY HAVING ISSUE WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. WHICH AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS, WITH BRAKE LEAKS. I HAVE NOTICED A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN THE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS, WHICH CAUSES CONCERN FOR ME. I HAVE AN 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SE WITH ROUGHLY 56,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH ONLY 22K MILES ROUGHLY IN 2009 AND HAVE OTHER ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE RADIO. THE RADIO HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN WHERE MY VOLUME DIAL DOESN'T TURN THE VOLUME UP OR DOWN IT LOCKS BETWEEN THREE VOLUME NUMBERS AND AT TIMES THE SCREEN FADES IN AND OUT. *TR

MASTER CYCLINDER WAS LEAKING. PARKING BREAK LIGHT WOULD STAY ON, BUT SOMETIMES GO OFF. VERY SIMILAR TO PE11020. I HAVE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS DETAILING THE LEAK AND THE REPAIR. *TT

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. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND GOING OFF SPONTANEOUS THROUGH OUT EACH DRIVE TIME AND CONTINUED TO STAY ON LONGER AS TIME PASSED. TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC AS HE TOO WAS PUZZLED WHY MY FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW SINCE THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE WORKING GREAT IT WAS DETERMINED MY BRAKE FLUID WAS "SOMEHOW" LEAKING OUT OF THE CONTAINER THAT HOLDS THE FLUID INTO THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND IT AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED TO HAVE THE MASTER BRAKE VALVE REPLACED AT A COST OF $456. I QUESTIONED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND IF IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WAS JUST HAPPENING AND NO THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS. I WAS ADVISED IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE FIXED TODAY BUT WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED BUT THEY WOULD TOP OFF THE FLUID AND I WOULD BE GOOD, BUT FOR HOW LONG THEY COULDN'T TELL ME. IN RESEARCHING I SEE I AM NOT THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE AND PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST. I WANTED TO LOG MY EXPERIENCE IN HOPES NISSAN WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT IS RELATED TO A CATASTROPHE! *TR

MASTER CYLINDER FOUND TO BE LEAKING. WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON. *TR

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. *TR

I RECENTLY HAD A SERVICE CALL WITH MY NISSAN DEALER TO FIX A INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUE (PUSH BUTTON START) ON MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT SINCE NISSAN DOES NOT BELIEVE IT WARRANTS A RECALL. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. GIVEN THAT THIS IS INTERMITTENT THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO START YET LATER NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS FUNCTIONING. WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH THE ISSUE HAS GONE AWAY. *TR

MY 2008 ALTIMA WITH PUSH BUTTON START HAS FAILED TO START TWICE. ONCE AT 25,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 50,000 MILES. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER TOOK THE SWITCH APART AND THE CONTACTS WERE PITTED. *TR

PURCHASED 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA IN 2009. CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CERTIFIED. IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HEARING SQUEALING/GRINDING WITH BRAKES. COMPLAINED TO NISSAN AND THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP KEPT ROTATING ROTORS BUT NO RESOLUTION. IN 12/2010 HAD BRAKES CHANGED AT HONCURA AUTO AND THEY USED GENUINE NISSAN PARTS. WITHIN A MONTH, SAME THING OCCURRING. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND NISSAN WILL NOT OWN UP TO IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, SINCE IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM LOS ANGELES TO LAS VEGAS. WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO CROSS THE CALIFORNIA LINE INTO NEVADA, MY CAR STARTED SOUNDING LIKE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE. WE LOST SPEED AND I TRIED SHIFTING MY CVT TRANSMISSION INTO MANUAL MODE. THE SPEEDS WOULD NOT CHANGE. AFTER MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP. I PUT THE CAR ON REVERSE AND THEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE AGAIN. THE CAR WOULD MOVE, BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT CHANGE. AS SOON AS I ARRIVE TO VEGAS, MY CAR LOST ALL SPEED AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE IN DIRECT OR REVERSE. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE CAR. I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY TO TOW THE CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALER, THE CAR WOULD TURN ON, THE ENGINE WAS WORKING, BUT THE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT TURN ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE EITHER IN DIRECT OR REVERSE. I BOUGHT THE NISSAN ALTIMA BRAND NEW FROM THE BUENA PARK NISSAN DEALER IN CALIFORNIA. THE CAR HAS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND I EVEN TOOK THE CAR TO GET THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT 48,000 MILES. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 72,345 MILES IN IT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN VEGAS, ANOTHER PERSON CAME IN WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. HER VEHICLE HAD 75,000 MILES AND IT HAD BEEN SERVICED AT THE VEGAS DEALER DAY PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA AND MY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT I HAVE A MASTER CYLINDER LEAK. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM . *TR

MY 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA MASTER BREAK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK AFTER AROUND 60K MILES. BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THERE WAS A REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY AND AT AROUND 35-40K MILES I BOUGHT NEW BRAKE PADS DUE TO THIS LOSS OF FLUID THINKING THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER TAKING THE WHEELS OFF I FOUND THE PADS TO BE JUST FINE AND TOPPED OFF THE FLUID. I HAD NOTED THIS MANY TIMES WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE BUT I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE. DURING ONE OF THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES' THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE LEAKING BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHEN IT WAS ENGAGED. THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE RIBS AND A CONTUSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MALFUNCTION WITH THE CLUTCH OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY CLUTCH STICKS TO THE FLOOR AND I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL IT UP. EACH TIME THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT THEY HAVE PROVIDED NO REMEDY. I EXPRESSED SEVERAL TIME OF HOW IT HAS PUT ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE DRIVING AND GOT THE SORRY BOUT YOUR LUCK TUNE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED IT RESULTED IN MY WIFE HAVING A WRECK IN THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE FILED TWO COMPLAINTS WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND GET THE SAME TREATMENT. *KB

I HAD NOTICED FOR ABOUT A WEEK THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR ON MY DASH BOARD KEPT COMING ON. ON MONDAY 6/27/2011 I TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER. THERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER ASSEMBLY HAD LEAKED BRAKE FLUID MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEY REPLACED WITH A NEW BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, BOOSTER ASSEMBLY, AND OTHER PARTS. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR AND I RETURNED TO DRIVE MY CAR AWAY ON 6/29/2011. TOTAL COST WITH PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX WAS $608.62 . I HAVE KEPT THE RECEIPT IN MY RECORDS. I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR GO OFF SEVERAL TIMES FROM WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW TO WHEN THIS LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED. I"M ASSUMING IN THE PAST THEY JUST TOPPED OFF THE BRAKE FLUID DURING REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE BRAKES HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY TOUCHY AND OVERLY TIGHT TO THE TOUCH. WITH THE REPAIR THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT AS TIGHT BUT STILL VERY RESPONSIVE. AS A RESULT OF THIS SLOW LEAK OVER THE YEARS I ALWAYS NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WOULD BE LOW AS WELL AND THAT DID NOT SEEM CORRECT FOR A NEW CAR. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND I AM THE ONLY OWNER. SINCE THE BREAKING LIGHT INDICATOR HAD BEEN A NORMAL OCCURRENCE MANY TIMES I AM SURPRISED THAT MY NISSAN TECHNICIAN DID NOT THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE BREAKING SYSTEM AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST YEARS. I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND PAID FOR THE COST OUT OF MY PERSONAL FUNDS. I AM HOPING IF THERE IS A RECALL I WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE I AM CLA

FROM A COMPLETE STOP, PLACED FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, PUT TRANSMISSION INTO FORWARD, RELEASED FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO REVERSE WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT INTO A PARKED CAR. TEN DAYS LATER, FROM A COMPLETE STOP, PLACED FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, PUT TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE, RELEASED FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT INTO A TREE. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH DIFFERENT DRIVERS. TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY AT 42K MILES. CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR