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2010 Nissan Altima

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Nissan Altima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 231.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

271 reports with mileage · 109 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports9 fire reports20 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

74 reports
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120,000 miles · Feb 10, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO A CORNER THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND LOSES ALL POWER AND ABILITY TO STEER. THE FIRST TWO OCCASIONS OCCURRED WHERE I COULD SIMPLY PLACE THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THE LAST OCCURRENCE 2/9/17 HAPPENED AS DES…

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I HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN INTO A CORNER THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND LOSES ALL POWER AND ABILITY TO STEER. THE FIRST TWO OCCASIONS OCCURRED WHERE I COULD SIMPLY PLACE THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THE LAST OCCURRENCE 2/9/17 HAPPENED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE WAS TURNING INTO AN ALLEY GOING LESS THAN 20MPH WHEN CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, THE CAR TURNED ON BUT WHEN PUSHING THE GAS THE CAR WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE WRECKER TRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR ONTO THE TOW TRUCK BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT UP THE BED AS IT DIDNT HAVE ANY POWER TO DRIVE UP THE BED. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO CODES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED. THEY STATED IT WAS RUNNING JUST FINE, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZZARD AS THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NOTICE WHEN THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND LOSE POWER STEERING. THIS COULD EASILY BE A HUGE ACCIDENT IF OCCURS ON THE FREEWAY. I WOULD LIKE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CAR. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF OTHER NISSAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS (ALL REPORTING THAT NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES PROMPTED DURING DIAGNOSING).

NHTSA ODI #10953914

72,000 miles · Jan 4, 2017
Electrical System

FRONT WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN BY THEMSELVES

NHTSA ODI #10939709

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2016
Electrical SystemService Brakes

OVER THE YEARS IVED HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRANKE AND ENGINE OF MY 2010 ALTIMA. THE PANEL LIGHTS UP BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK. PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON ONLY LOCKS THE BRAKE.NO WARNING SIGNALS EITHER THE CAR JUST DIES ON YOU IVED PAID OVER 700 EVERYTIME IT NEEDS REPAIR, IM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY CAR AND WILL NEVE…

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OVER THE YEARS IVED HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRANKE AND ENGINE OF MY 2010 ALTIMA. THE PANEL LIGHTS UP BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK. PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON ONLY LOCKS THE BRAKE.NO WARNING SIGNALS EITHER THE CAR JUST DIES ON YOU IVED PAID OVER 700 EVERYTIME IT NEEDS REPAIR, IM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY CAR AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10935484

87,625 miles · Sep 29, 2016
Electrical System

THE VEHICLE COULD NOT START WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE, 'THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP, AND 'THE ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK, (NO CRANK, NO START), (HYBRID 'READY' WILL NOT LIGHT), AND 'THE IGNITION PUSH BUTTON IS NOT RESPONSIVE (NO ACTION OCCURS WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED ADDITIONAL TIMES). THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE T…

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THE VEHICLE COULD NOT START WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE, 'THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP, AND 'THE ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK, (NO CRANK, NO START), (HYBRID 'READY' WILL NOT LIGHT), AND 'THE IGNITION PUSH BUTTON IS NOT RESPONSIVE (NO ACTION OCCURS WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED ADDITIONAL TIMES). THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS

NHTSA ODI #10910691

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2016
Electrical System

I HAVE NUMEROUS STARTING PROBLEMS AND THE VDC,ABS, AND SLIP LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE 4 OR 5 TRIES UNTIL THE VEHICLE STARTS WITH THE PUSH BUTTON START. THE BATTERY,ALTERNATOR AND STARTER HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE NUMEROUS LIGHTS THAT COME ON W…

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I HAVE NUMEROUS STARTING PROBLEMS AND THE VDC,ABS, AND SLIP LIGHT COME ON WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE 4 OR 5 TRIES UNTIL THE VEHICLE STARTS WITH THE PUSH BUTTON START. THE BATTERY,ALTERNATOR AND STARTER HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE NUMEROUS LIGHTS THAT COME ON WHILE DRIVING PRESENT A PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10884523

12,000 miles · Jul 12, 2016
Electrical SystemPower TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH OUT OF PARK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED AFTER BEING RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO ENGAGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 15 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH OUT OF PARK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED AFTER BEING RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO ENGAGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 15 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FOB ACTIVATED BY ITSELF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND CAUSED THE DOORS TO UNLOCK AND THE POWER WINDOWS TO ROLL DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10884286

76,523 miles · Jun 13, 2016
Electrical System

TAKATA RECAL. WE PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. OUR 2ND ALTIMA. HAD PROBLEMS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE CAR. IT WOULDN'T START. BRAKES WOULDN'T EVEN COMPRESS. REPLACED BATTERY AND WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS. SAME ISSUE CONTINUED. CABIN LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, NEW BATTERY BUT STILL NOT STARTING. HAD STARTER REPLACED AND WORKED FOR A WHI…

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TAKATA RECAL. WE PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. OUR 2ND ALTIMA. HAD PROBLEMS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE CAR. IT WOULDN'T START. BRAKES WOULDN'T EVEN COMPRESS. REPLACED BATTERY AND WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS. SAME ISSUE CONTINUED. CABIN LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, NEW BATTERY BUT STILL NOT STARTING. HAD STARTER REPLACED AND WORKED FOR A WHILE AGAIN. SAME ISSUE AGAIN. GET STUCK IN RANDOM PLACES. SOME DAYS IT STARTS, OTHERS IT DOESN'T. CALLING FOR A JUM START DOESN'T WORK EITHER. UNRELIABLE AND UNSTABLE. CALLED DEALERSHIP, MOSSY NISSAN. THEY WANTS OVER $200 JUST FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEN COULD BE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. ALSO SAID BREAK HARNESS/SWITCH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. VDC LIGHTS ALSO COME ON AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS. NISSAN SHOULD HANDLE ALL REPAIR EXPENSES. CAR WAS STATIONARY AT ALL TIMES IT WOULDN'T START. THIS WEEK IS WOULDN'T START 3 TIMES. LAST WEEK IT WAS 5 TIMES. THE WHOLE MONTH WAS 17 TIMES OUT OF 31 DAYS. PLEASE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10873786

150,000 miles · Mar 21, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM IS FAULTY AND WILL NOT LET THE CAR START. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHERE FAILURE OCCURRED. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PART BUT NEVER ISSUED A RECALL SO THAT IT COULD BE FIXED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY NISSAN. …

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THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM IS FAULTY AND WILL NOT LET THE CAR START. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHERE FAILURE OCCURRED. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS NISSAN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PART BUT NEVER ISSUED A RECALL SO THAT IT COULD BE FIXED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY NISSAN. PEOPLE ARE BEING STRANDED BECAUSE THEIR CAR WILL NOT START BUT SEEMS NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM UNTIL THEY ARE STRANDED. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NISSAN HAS ADMITTED IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. I FOR ONE WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. THINGS BREAK, AND PARTS FAIL, BUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS VERY VERY COMMON ON 2009-2011 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI #10850911

48,000 miles · Feb 22, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND CREATED A GLOSSED FINISH THAT IMPAIRED THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY WHILE THE SUN WAS SHINNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERIOR MATERIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND CREATED A GLOSSED FINISH THAT IMPAIRED THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY WHILE THE SUN WAS SHINNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERIOR MATERIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #10837572

76,087 miles · Feb 12, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,087.

NHTSA ODI #10825830

Official recalls

3

10V401000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)

Sep 10, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V193000 · Structure

May 7, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 7, 2010 THROUGH APRIL 13, 2010. SOME OF THE FRONT SIDE MEMBER ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WELDED TO SPECIFICATION DUE TO A TOOL MAINTENANCE ERROR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF SEVERAL STRUCTURAL WELDS ARE OUT OF SPECIFICATION ON A SINGLE VEHICLE, IT MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE VEHICLE CRASH PERFORMANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

09V358000 · Suspension

Sep 16, 2009

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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