2008 Nissan Altima Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,031 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 Nissan Altima, 1% of the 1,031 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Problem is intermittent. Car will be in motion on highway flat land/uphill/downhill any land and my car will intermittently loose power its a 2008 Altima 2.5s I will have no choice but to stop my car on the side of the highway in a deadly and heavily used canyon with not many places available to pull your car over. If there is it's very tight. When I pull over I shut it off for about a minute or two then I start it back up while in park I gently press the gas to accelerate it a little and nothing happens. The RPM stick wont move. …”
NHTSA complaint #11329984, filed 2020-06, 184,000 miles“I parked my 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 se in front of my house took groceries into the house I return to the car and it would not start. The key symbol was on. I can without pressing the brake change modes just wont start.”
NHTSA complaint #10621865, filed 2014-08, 69,000 miles“I drove my car yesterday without any incidents. I have noticed this key symbol on dash warning light indicating I needed to insert the key into the car in order to start the car for the past several months. There is no diagnostic code and I was told by the dealership at Nissan that it was just indicating low battery on the key remote (even tho I just replaced the battery in november). I went to start my car this morning and although the dash lights up, the car will not start. I tried to jump start it and still wouldn't start. …”
NHTSA complaint #10519855, filed 2013-06, 69,500 miles“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). …”
NHTSA complaint #10452468, filed 2012-03, 40,000 miles“First day for pick up, headlight pop, fix it the next day, took 90 minutes just to fix one headlight, after 6 weeks, car turns off when driving one of the most busiest hwy and the steering locks; only way to start it is by putting it to park hold brakes down all the way then push the button and coming from that, it was not safe at all, drivers were honking and swerving just to maneuver away from me, called dealership to where I purchase car to fix the problem, told them that the car had turned off 4 times on the same hwy and thank god it turned off on a straight away not while turning…”
NHTSA complaint #10240150, filed 2008-08, 3,475 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10032306Nov 27, 2013Nissan: exterior lamp fogging. Occasionally water is noticed in the exterior lamps. This is generally not due to a defect. All current exterior lamp assemblies are vented to the…
- 10032992Apr 27, 2010Nissan: xenon head lamp service. A xenon headlamp is not functioning because of an issue inside the headlamp assembly (an internal issue). In most cases, replacement of a bulb or…
- 10024181Jan 11, 20082007-2008 altima; speedometer issues and/or abs and brake light on.
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 13 | 6% |
| 2017 | 18 | 5% |
| 2016 | 42 | 8% |
| 2015 | 270 | 28% |
| 2014 | 299 | 27% |
| 2013 | 442 | 19% |
| 2012 | 5 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 7 | 2% |
| 2009 | 9 | 1% |
| 2008 | 9 | 1% |
| 2007 | 4 | 1% |
| 2006 | 9 | 1% |
| 2005 | 13 | 1% |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% |
| 2003 | 17 | 2% |
| 2002 | 41 | 4% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% |
| 1997 | 4 | 4% |
| 1996 | 4 | 4% |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% |
| 1994 | 2 | 2% |
| 1993 | 3 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2008 Nissan Altima
312 complaintsOther or unknown
201 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
188 complaintsAir bags
142 complaintsBrakes
93 complaintsElectrical system
90 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
80 complaintsEngine
54 complaintsSteering
37 complaintsVehicle speed control
35 complaintsSeats
24 complaintsEngine cooling
21 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Nissan Altima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology