YearToAvoid

2008 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA has 104 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 Nissan Altima, 10% of all 1,028 complaints for this model year. That is #7 highest engine complaint count among 21 Altima model years. These complaints report 12 crashes, 9 fires, and 3 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 89,607 miles.

Engine complaints
104
10% of 1,028
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
9
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
89,607 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Nissan Altima engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 31, 2007, latest Apr 7, 2025.

2008 Nissan Altima engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter72007 Q42010 Q22012 Q42015 Q12016 Q42018 Q32021 Q12024 Q3
104 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q4 to 2025 Q2; peak 2017 Q3 (7).

Engine recalls for the 2008 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Altima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005417 (38%)
  2. 2006375 (46%)
  3. 200789 (19%)
  4. 2008104 (10%)
  5. 2009158 (10%)
  6. 201070 (18%)
  7. 201147 (20%)
  8. 2012105 (25%)
  9. 2013206 (9%)
  10. 2014100 (9%)
  11. 201595 (10%)
  12. 2016127 (23%)
  13. 201773 (19%)
  14. 201823 (10%)
  15. 201964 (28%)
  16. 202043 (27%)
  17. 20217 (10%)
  18. 20227 (23%)
  19. 20237 (24%)
  20. 20245 (12%)
  21. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Nissan Altima have engine problems?
NHTSA has 104 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 Nissan Altima, 10% of all complaints for this model year, including 12 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 89,607 miles.
Which Nissan Altima year has the most engine complaints?
The 2005 Nissan Altima has the most engine complaints (417), compared with 104 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 Nissan Altima?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Nissan Altima is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.