Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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).
Glare off dash board is blinding on sunny days. Dashboard is melting, the melted dash reflection is distraciton/ binding on sunny days, and smell from dash is not pleasant. Not knowing actual product that is melting is concerning since melting plastics and vinyl can be toxic. Took car out for ride on sunny day had to pull over because of glare dashboard. Tried to contact Nissan about any products to resurface and contain the melted mess an smell. They offered no solutions besides take in to local dearliship. Not shelling out 500 dollars for nationally known defective material. You can contact any quality managment firm or producer that have working knowledge with plastics and vinyl to confirm that this is a major quality defect. I can not even find out what actual material was used to cover for soft dash.
The dashboard is defective and breaking down chemically. The chemical compound that the dashboard is made of is not resistant to sunlight causing it to crack break down and become very shiny. Not only does this admit harmful toxins that can be breathed in by the passengers, more dangerously it creates a glare on the windshield making it difficult to see through the window. This can impair vision resulting in an accident by the driver. In addition from what I understand the airbag is under this piece of equipment which is degrading and faulty.
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 dashboard covering has deteriorated to the point it is sticky and shiny. Sun glare on the dash reflects off the windshield making it difficult to see. This is a known defect of this Make, Model and Year. State of Florida settled with the manufacturer and owner's cars were repaired.
My vehicle was purchased used in North Carolina October 2015 and after about 3 years I noticed my dash became very sticky. In the last year there is now I glare from the dash on my windshield. I just recently discovered this is a manufacturer's defect that was only covered in FL.
The dashboard of my 2008 Altima coupe is melting and impairing the visibility. It is unsafe to drive because you can not see what is in the road in front of you. It has been an ongoing problem for years but is getting worst. Research has shown that this problem has been known to Nissan and the government, but neither thinks it warrants a safety recall. There are several class action lawsuits but none seem to apply to residences of alabama. My late husband contacted a layer in california involved in one of the lawsuits but did not pursue because he did not trust lawyers. I have been busy fighting cancer but lost the battle, and my husband. I contacted Nissan today to see if there is anything they can do to remedy this problem. …
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. …
The dashboard of my 2008 ultima has melted into a shiny rubber causing serious visibility issues while driving during sunny bright days. I resorted to putting a plastic rectangle to cover the reflection on my morning commute, but now that plastic is stuck and semi-permanently attached to the dashboard from the stickiness. The attached pictures were taken on my driveway. Notice the reflection of the rock wall and white garage on the left side of the dashboard. During morning or afternoon sunny conditions, the glare becomes unbearable. This issue seems to be very prevalent specifically with a 2008 model year Altima. Not 2007 and not 2009 so clearly it's a defect and a hazardous one too visually. Also there are unknown consequences of the fowel tar like order within the interior of the car most prominently present afte the car sits closed for a while.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced severe vibration after being started and while being operated. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine mount bolt was stripped and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. In addition, the sun roof detached from the vehicle independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a bolt missing in the sun roof and, due to weather conditions, caused corrosion of the sun roof. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact heard an abnormal sound from the sun roof area. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
The dashboard is melting that causes the surface to be extremely shinny which in return when the sunlight glares through it makes it very difficult to see through the windshield. I do know that florida owners won a case against Nissan to have there dashboard replaced that cost them $250.00. But the state of north carolina states the statue of limitations is only 7 years. I talked with an attorney about taking on a case against Nissan to have ours replaced, but no taker because of the statue of limitations. Also, I noticed that texas has a pending suit against Nissan for the residents with the same complaints. I have 2 pictures attached for your review. I really appreciate your assistance and I hope I have an answer within 30 days. Thank you.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2008 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 188 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2008 Nissan Altima, 18% of the model year's 1,030 complaints. The component named most often is sun/moon roof assembly (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Nissan Altima window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof 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 window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.