Problems · by component
2008 Nissan Altima steering problems
37 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Altima cite steering, 4% of all 1,031 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
37
4% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Suspension and steering issues purchased many new tires throughout the yrs to find out it had suspension issues. There are 4 recalls listed on my insurance policy that describes exactly what's been wrong with my car since purchased. When calling nissan and checking your data base my vin # has never had any recalls for these issues but is obvious this make and model has been affected as well. Please look into this some more car is not safe and we were sold a lemon from day 1. Going back and forth to dealership lies and mechanics to find out it's always been a suspension issue I don't know the exact terms but suspension and some type of electric issue just as the recalls stated on my insurance policy description. Please advise or help Nissan make this right to keep our streets and cars safe while on the road. I need to gather all documents from places I've gone in for these very same issues of recalls shown. Financially this has been a burden investing in a used car to just have to fix right away with these same exact issues of recalls listed but to say our vehicle was not affected by those recalls is ridiculous it's obvious I been dealing with the same exact…”
“MY CAR HAS A SLOW TAKE OFF AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO DRIVE PROPERLY LIKE IT HAS TO WARM UP . THE POWER STEERING LEAKS OUT AND I DON'T NO WHY.MY SENSORS FOR CHECK ENGINE IS ON AND I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO GET IT CHECKED AND IT'S A SENSOR AND JUST NEED A TUNE UP BUT THE TIRE SENSOR STAYS ON AFTER I PUT AIR IN THE TIRES IT SO MANY SMALL THINGS THAT CAN TURN INTO BIG ISSUES.”
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN A DIRT ROAD AND MY CAR DIED I TRIED TO START IT BACK UP BUT IT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING I CAN'T TURN ON ANY LIGHTS UNLOCK OR LOCK THE CAR NOTHING. SHOWS A LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT LOOKS LIKE THE KEY FOB AND LOOKED IT UP AND IT SAYS THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN CAN CAUSE THE ISSUES AND HAS A RECALL”
“2008 NISSAN ALYIMA WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS PARKED ON THE STREET OVERNIGHT IN FRONT OF RESIDENCE AS IS MOST NIGHTS AFTER BEING DRIVEN DURING THE DAY TO WORK. THE NEXT MORNING OPEN CAR DOOR WITH FOB AND PUSHED KEY IGNITION BUTTON AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THE KEY SYMBOL POPPED UP ON THE DASH. TRIED REPEATEDLY TO PUSH BUTTON AND CAR REFUSED TO START. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED IT WAS ENGINE COLUMN STEERING LOCK. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NISSAN ALTIMAS AND OTHER MODELS; HOWEVER, 2008 ALTIMAS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND SHOULD BE.”
“THE POWER START KEY ISNT TURNING ON THE CAR, IT ALLOWS YOU TO ENTER THE CAR BUT THE START TAKES VARIOUS ATTEMPTS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE LOCK STEERING FEATURE MALFUNCTIONS.”
“ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK COLUMN HAS FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. THIS PART IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 2010 NISSAN ALTIMAS BURN 2008 HAS NOT BEEN EVEN ADDRESSED. THIS FAILED PART .HAD LEFT ME STRANDED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE LOCK NO LONGER WORKED. FAILED UNIT HAD BEEN QUOTED AT $1100 REPAIR COST.”
Showing 6 of 37 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.