YearToAvoid

2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid ranks 2nd-worst of 5 model years, with a complaint index of 75 and 16 NHTSA complaints, mostly tied to Engine (44%) and Brakes (31%) problems, plus one recall for the electrical system.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
75/100
#2 of 5 Altima Hybrid years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
16
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2010
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
34
35 city / 33 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine7 (44%)
  2. Brakes5 (31%)
  3. Electrical System4 (25%)
  4. Airbags1 (6%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain1 (6%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers1 (6%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners describe brakes that fail to respond with normal force and instead travel to the floor, sometimes leading to a crash.
  • Some report the ABS warning light turning on followed by a loud metallic noise and vibration from a damaged front brake sensor.
  • Several owners say the car kept running unexpectedly after they thought they had shut it off, in one case for hours.
  • Engine complaints include check-engine lights tied to intermittent multiple-cylinder misfiring, which one dealer linked to carbon buildup from frequent stop-start cycling.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling on its own while parked and locked, resulting in a collision with a parked car.
  • Electrical issues include sporadic starting problems traced to brake sensor cables and intermittently failing brake light switches.
2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month1Jun 2009Mar 2010Feb 2011Aug 2012Aug 2013Feb 2014Mar 2015May 2017
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2009 to Apr 2019; peak Jun 2009 (1).

2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 08V521000Oct 7, 2008Electrical System204,361 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    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.

    Remedy: 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 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
35 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
34 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,900
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Altima Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020072008200920102011
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Caution5027134
2008Avoid7516134
2009Avoid10054034
2010Good2512034

All Nissan Altima Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Altima Hybrid carries a complaint index of 75, the second-highest among the 5 model years with data, and is rated Avoid relative to other Altima Hybrid years.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid?
NHTSA complaint data shows Engine issues account for 44% of complaints and Brakes account for 31%, with median failure mileage of 52,500 for engine and 13,500 for brakes.
Does the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 08V521000, covering an electrical system issue affecting the occupant classification system signal.
How does the 2008 Altima Hybrid compare to other model years?
The 2008 model's complaint index of 75 is worse than 2007 (50), 2010 (25), and 2011 (0), but better than 2009, which has the highest index at 100.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2008 Altima Hybrid at 34 mpg combined (35 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,900.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.