Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard was melting due to extreme heat. The contact stated that there was a glare reflecting off the dashboard and onto the windshield which would obstruct her vision while driving. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and it was stated that they could repair the dashboard. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the dashboard had melted and was sticky. There were also cracks on the dashboard. The failure caused a glare on the front windshield, which obstructed her view of the roadway while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
2008 Nissan Altima: Noticed this year a shiny gleam on the dashboard. This windshield gets hazy. The dashboard is melting, it is sticking and shiny. When a fingernail is pressed, it will actually sink into the dashboard and leave a mark. The dashboard cannot take any cleaning or friction. When the dashboard is touched it leaves fingers sticky. Became more of an issue this year now that I have a grandchild. MY other vehicle is a mini cooper 2 door which is not feasible to hold a car seat and baby. I now have the carseat in the Nissan and now it has become more of a problem because i cannot use the other car as alternative transportation when I have my grandchild. It is very difficult to drive with the glare it causes, and it is a safety issue not only for me but for others. When the sun is out and it is hot (this summer) it is worst and causes the windshield to get hazy. …
Problem - Car dashboard is melting and becoming sticky due to heat. Safety - Severe glare from the black dashboard on the windshield makes it a safety risk to drive on the roads during day time. Potential health hazard due to melting dashboard material and any harmful gases from dashboard material while driving the car with heater or AC ON. This is a known issue to Nissan and a class action lawsuit was filed and settled in the state of FL.
My 2008 Nissan Altima's dash is degrading and has caused a sticky residue to form on it. This stickiness is very shiny and causes a glare to occur on the windshield. I live in Kentucky and when the sun is shining, and actually basically anytime driving, the glare makes it nearly impossible to see. I almost hit another vehicle because I could not see but instead went off the road to avoid a collision. This is very unsafe.
The dashboard in this vehicle similar to other Nissan models that have already been recalled is cracked, sticky, shiny and glossy. It's dangerous to have cracks in the dashboard in case of airbag deployment. The glossy shiny dashboard creates a blinding glare and is extremely dangerous while driving. It creates a glare that makes the front windshield appear black and unable to see through.
The dash board is melting. There is a sticky substance coming form the dash board that causes a significant glare from the sun. I contacted Nissan consumer affairs and filed a complaint reagrding my dashy board (complaint #19437322) and a representative named "marisol" advised me that Nissan would not be replacing or repairing my dash board at not expense to me. Thsi is an obvious manufacturers defect and May owners of the 2008 Nissan are experasincing teh same unsafe conditions associated with the dash board melting.
While driving on i95 the car shut off and was steered very difficultly to the off ramp and the side of the road. Smoke started to come out of the front of the car and I exited the car and the car proceeded to be engulfed in flames burning the front half of the car to the front seats. Fire rescue arrived to put out the fire.1116
The dashboard on my 2008 Nissan Altima coupe has melted (possible plasticizer migration) and it has become very difficult to drive because of the glare it produces on the windshield, this lead to me to veer off the road and into the embankment. The Nissan dealer told us that they have seen a lot of dashes on the Altima with this problem in florida, but there is nothing they can do because it is out of the initial factory warranty and they claim the Nissan extended warranty does not cover it. Several florida residents who own 2008-Altima coupes are experiencing the same problem. This appears to be a manufacturers defect and has really become a serious safety hazard. I respectfully request you're help in this matter. I can provide pictures if necessary. …
My 2008 Nissan Altima dash board is melting. I live in miami fl. And brought my 2008 Altima new from a local dealer. Around 2010, I started to notice the deterioration of the dash board. I thought the problem was related to a cleaning product. However, based on my recent research over the internet and personal observation of other 2008 Altima's own by others, the melting dash board is a pervasive problem. This problem is a real safety issue that Nissan should be resolving by recalling there vehicles that have this problem. The dash board is so shiny that it inter-fears with the driver's vision while driving. When the sun is shining, the dash reflex the sun directly in the face of the driver. I reached out to Nissan (case# [redacted]) they explained that it is nothing they can do because the car is out of warranty and refuse to repair or resolve the issues. …
Body complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2008 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 312 complaints about the body & structure of the 2008 Nissan Altima, 30% of the model year's 1,030 complaints. The component named most often is body (101 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Nissan Altima body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2008 Nissan Altima, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Altima body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.