IllustrationMY ENGINE IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN ACCELARATING AND IT HAS EXCESSIVE BLOWBY WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SAYING CATALYTIC CONVERTER ,EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL GETTING PAST MY PVC SYSTEM IT ONLY HAS 129880 MILES ON IT
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Altima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
630–25K
5825–50K
5350–75K
2975–100K
53100–150K
15150K+
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
What owners actually said
380 reportsDASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CRACKING, CAUSING A STICKY GLARING PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING. NISSAN REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN CONTACTED.
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. YOU CAN'T PUT ANYTHING ON IT OR EVEN TOUCH IT WITHOUT GETTING A VERY STICKY RESIDUE ON YOUR HANDS. IT IS ALSO A MAJOR HAZARD WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUT. WHEN THE SUN HITS THE MELTING PART OF THE DASH, I AM BLINDED. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING & REPLACE THESE DASHBOARDS. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVIN…
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MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. YOU CAN'T PUT ANYTHING ON IT OR EVEN TOUCH IT WITHOUT GETTING A VERY STICKY RESIDUE ON YOUR HANDS. IT IS ALSO A MAJOR HAZARD WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUT. WHEN THE SUN HITS THE MELTING PART OF THE DASH, I AM BLINDED. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING & REPLACE THESE DASHBOARDS. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING ISSUES.APPARENTLY EVERYONE DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE SOUTHERN STATES IS HAVING THIS ISSUE.
2010 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. NUMEROUS COMPLAINS ARE IN ONLINE THREADS BUT NISSAN IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS ISSUE IS EXPEIRENCED IN YEARS FROM 2008 TO 2013. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY NISSAN. ONLY OCCURS IN HOT CLIMATE.
STEERING LOCK INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW IN THE LAST 2 MOS, ALWAYS ON COLD TEMP MORNINGS. LATER THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THE ENGINE WILL START...EXCEPT THIS TIME, LATER THE ENGINE STARTED WITH THE STEERING LOCK LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN RUNNING.
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO MY DASH STARTED TO MELT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SINE ON THE DASH IS MAKING DRIVING REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO SEE THROUGH THE FRONT MIRROR
THE VERY FIRST ISSUE WAS VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE IN AIRPORT TRAFFIC. IT RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY BUT CUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED OUT THE PROBLEM REFUSED TO REPLICATE…
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THE VERY FIRST ISSUE WAS VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE IN AIRPORT TRAFFIC. IT RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY BUT CUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED OUT THE PROBLEM REFUSED TO REPLICATE. THE CURRENT ISSUE NOW IS THAT THE RPM JUMPS UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV UP WHILE VEHICLE DE-ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE SOMETIMES RUNS LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO ENGAGE THE GEAR.
A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE FOR 2010 MODELS ON THE ALTIMA DUE TO MELTING DASHES, EVERYTHING GETS STUCK IF SOMETHING IS PLACED ON THE DASH. PLEASE REPLACE DASHES!
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 2011. MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) READS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. I AM A 6FT 4IN 230 POUND INDIVIDUAL AND THE OCS SYSTEM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE ME WHEN I AM SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS OCCURS…
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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 2011. MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) READS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. I AM A 6FT 4IN 230 POUND INDIVIDUAL AND THE OCS SYSTEM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE ME WHEN I AM SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, STOPED, AND DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I MADE MY NISSAN DEALER AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE THE FIRST RECALL IN 2013 OF THE OCS SYSTEM AND THEY FAILED TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. MY NISSAN DEALER (PETRO NISSAN HATTIESBURG, MS 39402) LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED AND TOLD ME TO IGNORE THE OCS OFF LIGHT ON MY DASH. AFTER FOUR NISSAN ALTIMA OCS RECALLS (03/01/2013, 10/20/2015, 04/26/2016, 12/19/2016) I HAVE GROWN MORE CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF. AS OF 12/04/2018 AT 5:52 P.M. I HAVE DIRECTLY CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. A REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT NISSAN IS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD AS OF MARCH 2018. I CONTINUED TO PRESS NISSAN'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY DEFECT AND AFTER SEVERAL BACK-AND-FORTHS THE REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULED A 'SPECIALIST' TO CONTACT ME TOMORROW 12/05/2018.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN CAR IS ON.
Official recalls
310V401000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.