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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.

About this comparison →

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

Engine complaints

50 reports
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38,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

MOST OF THE 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA CARS DO HAVE A PUSH BUTTON FOR THE IGNITION TO START. IN ORDER TO START THE CAR'S ENGINE, THE DRIVER WOULD NEED TO LIGHTLY PRESS THE BRAKES BEFORE PRESSING THE BUTTON. I PURCHASED THE BRAND-NEW CAR BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2010 AND I AM STILL THE ONLY OWNER. IN FEBRUARY 2014 WITH APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILE…

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MOST OF THE 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA CARS DO HAVE A PUSH BUTTON FOR THE IGNITION TO START. IN ORDER TO START THE CAR'S ENGINE, THE DRIVER WOULD NEED TO LIGHTLY PRESS THE BRAKES BEFORE PRESSING THE BUTTON. I PURCHASED THE BRAND-NEW CAR BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2010 AND I AM STILL THE ONLY OWNER. IN FEBRUARY 2014 WITH APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES, THE IGNITION STARTED TO STOP WORKING. AFTER A FEW STRUGGLES, THE IGNITION BUTTON WOULD FINALLY ALLOW ME TO START THE ENGINE. THEN THE PROBLEM GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD SUCK IN SO HARD THAT I WOULD BE UNABLE TO "PRESS" THE BRAKES ANYMORE IN ORDER FOR THE IGNITION BUTTON TO "ENABLE" SO I CAN START THE ENGINE. AT ONE POINT LAST WEEK, THE CAR REFUSED TO START BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES AND I WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSH THE CAR BACK AND FORTH IN THE MIDDLE OF A MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU ROUTE IN BALTIMORE, MD. MY ROOMMATE HAD TO TAKE LEAVE IN ORDER TO COME AND HELP ME OUT. AFTER 2 HOURS OF STRUGGLING, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE "BRAKES LIGHT" ON AND THE IGNITION WOULD FINALLY BECOME ENABLED AND WE WERE ABLE TO START THE ENGINE. WE DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN BOWIE, MD AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. NISSAN ABOUT THIS AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MANY DRIVERS AND THAT THE "BRAKE SWITCH" IS CAUSING IT. AT THE END, MY WARRANTY COMPANY HAD TO PAY MORE THAN $800 AND I HAD TO PAY ALMOST $300 OUT OF MY POCKET JUST FOR THIS ISSUE. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SAW SO MANY DRIVERS ARE COMPLAINING THE SAME THING AND THAT NISSAN IS REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" THAT THEY COULD MAKE A PROFIT OUT OF THE REPAIRS CHARGES. MANY DRIVERS HAD TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $1,000 JUST FOR THIS "COMMON ISSUE" AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT NHTSA & DOT ARE AWARE OF THIS ONGOING ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569419

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10562718

31,000 miles · Jan 5, 2014
EnginePower Train

WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR CARS CVT TRANSMISSION SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2010. THE TRANSMISSION, WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, GOES INTO A SAFE MODE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO LOOSE ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US SEVERAL TIMES,USUALLY AFTER LONG TRIPS (70 MILES OR MORE) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED IN PA…

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WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR CARS CVT TRANSMISSION SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2010. THE TRANSMISSION, WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, GOES INTO A SAFE MODE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO LOOSE ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US SEVERAL TIMES,USUALLY AFTER LONG TRIPS (70 MILES OR MORE) AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED IN PARKING LOTS OR JUST STOPPING TO MAKE A TURN. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE NISSAN DEALER 2-TIMES AND BOTH TIMES THEY REMOVED OIL,CLAIMING THE EXCESS OIL CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO OVERHEAT WHICH PUT IT INTO THE SAFE MODE. ON DEC. 31,2013 WE WERE ON A RETURN TRIP OF 70 MILES OR SO WHEN WE EXITED THE FREEWAY. WE CAME TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND UPON TRYING TO ACCELERATE,THE TRANSMISSION ONCE AGAIN WENT IN THE SAFE MODE,HINDERING OUR ABILITY TO ACCELERATE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION. WE SLOWLY DROVE THE SHORT DISTANCE HOME PARKING THE CAR. IN THE PAST,WE PARKED THE CAR ALLOWING IT TO COOL SO IT WOULD "RESET" BUT THIS TIME THE CAR REMAINED IN THE SAFE MODE THE NEXT DAY. WE HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN. NISSAN CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND OUR CAR IS READY FOR PICKUP. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILS WITHOUT WARNING AND UPON DOING SO MAKES IT ACCELERATE VERY,VERY SLOWLY WHICH PUTS US IN GRAVE DANGER. I WILL NOT PUT MY GRAND KIDS IN THIS DEATH TRAP NOR DOES MY WIFE WANT TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE SEEN THE MANY,MANY INTERNET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME CVT PROBLEM. IF I OR MY WIFE GET KILLED TRYING TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS,THIS WILL BE THE REASON WHY. WHEN I PICK UP OUR CAR JAN 6TH,2014,I PLAN TO DRIVE IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO SEEK A TRADE IN ON A CAMRY. THIS NISSAN IS GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558525

41,287 miles · Oct 29, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

IF I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET THE CAR STARTED, WILL I SOON HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP?????? VEHICLE NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO 6/15/2013. JUST THOUGHT THE KEY NEEDED TO BE CHARGED. BUT ON THIS DATE I PULL UP AT A HOTEL, CHECKED IN AND WENT TO MOVE THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. SAT F…

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IF I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET THE CAR STARTED, WILL I SOON HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP?????? VEHICLE NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO 6/15/2013. JUST THOUGHT THE KEY NEEDED TO BE CHARGED. BUT ON THIS DATE I PULL UP AT A HOTEL, CHECKED IN AND WENT TO MOVE THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. SAT FOR AN HOUR OR TWO. REPLACED BATTERY A FEW WEEKS PRIOR SO IT WASN'T THAT. HAD TO BE TOWED TO A PEPBOYS. TOO LATE FOR A DEALERSHIP, A SATURDAY EVENING, AND I WAS OVER 5 HOURS FROM HOME. THE CAR WAS DROPPED OFF ACROSS FROM THE BAYS THEREFORE THEY WERE UNABLE TO CONNECT THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. AFTER SETTING FOR A COUPLE MORE HOURS IT FINALLY CRANK. THEY SAID IT WAS THE STARTER, AS OF TODAY I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE STARTER. IN AUGUST IT DID IT AGAIN TWICE WHILE MY 16 YR WAS DRIVING IT TO SCHOOL. A COUPLE OF TIMES IN SEPTEMBER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 10/14/2013, THEIR DIAGNOSIS WERE: REPLACE BRAKE SW, SUB HARNESS, AND TIE STRAPS. AND NOW ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS WANT START WITHOUT PUMPING THE BRAKES. I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES THE CAR NOW BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY GIVING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550064

33,000 miles · Sep 24, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

THIS VEHICLE STALLS OR LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN DURING LONG TRIPS, ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER DURING PROLONGED DRIVING (SEVERAL HOURS). IT SEEMS TO DO WELL IF KEPT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, BUT AS SOON AS THE CAR MAKES A STOP OR SLOWS DOWN, IT COMPLETELY STALLS OR ACCELERATES WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY AT INSUFFICIENT SPEE…

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THIS VEHICLE STALLS OR LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN DURING LONG TRIPS, ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER DURING PROLONGED DRIVING (SEVERAL HOURS). IT SEEMS TO DO WELL IF KEPT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, BUT AS SOON AS THE CAR MAKES A STOP OR SLOWS DOWN, IT COMPLETELY STALLS OR ACCELERATES WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY AT INSUFFICIENT SPEED. IT IS A DANGEROUS TRAFFIC HAZARD. THE NISSAN DEALER EXPRESSED SURPRISE WHEN I CALLED HIM REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A BATCH OF POOR GASOLINE. AFTER WE EXPERIENCE ANOTHER POWER FAILURE, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER RUNNING TESTS, OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, BUT WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION ANALYZED AND SERVICED, AND THE BATTERY CABLES CHECKED. THE CAR RECENTLY LOST POWER AGAIN ON A TRIP FROM MONTANA TO CALIFORNIA. IT LOST POWER AT STOP SIGNS OR WHEN I HAD TO DECELERATE AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE. AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF FOR THE EVENING, IT DID NOT START THE NEXT MORNING, AT FIRST. LATER IT STARTED AND DROVE FINE. I SEE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHER NISSANS LOSING POWER OR STALLING. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD TELL ME WHAT STEPS YOU ARE TAKING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545266

40,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013
EnginePower Train

THERE WERE 3 INCIDENTS. FIRST, I WAS DRIVING ON THE WASHINGTON BELTWAY, IN OCTOBER 2012. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS TERRIFIED. SECOND, I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT AROUND 50 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. I GAVE IT GAS BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS …

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THERE WERE 3 INCIDENTS. FIRST, I WAS DRIVING ON THE WASHINGTON BELTWAY, IN OCTOBER 2012. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS TERRIFIED. SECOND, I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT AROUND 50 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR. I GAVE IT GAS BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER. THIRD, I WAS ONCE AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY, TRAVELING AT SPEED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NON RESPONSIVE TO THE ACCELERATOR. I COASTED AND EVENTUALLY IT DID RESPOND. THE 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA IS EQUIPPED WITH THE CVT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ALL AROUND THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I AM READING ABOUT PEOPLE BEING SCARED FOR THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY DRIVE THESE CARS--HTTP://WWW.AUTOGUIDE.COM/AUTO-NEWS/2012/05/SHOULD-YOU-BUY-A-CAR-WITH-A-CVT-TRANSMISSION PEOPLES' LIVES ARE IN DANGER WHEN THEY DRIVE THESE VEHICLES. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO SOMETHING ASAP TO HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541873

39,590 miles · Dec 13, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

WENT OUT TO START VEHICLE ,NO START...TOWED TO DEALER ,DENIED UNDER WARRANTY,MADE ME PAY FOR REPLACEMENT..DEALER TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALER TO PERFORM INSTALL OF STEERING LOCK ASSAY. AND MISC HARDWARE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10488746

10,602 miles · Dec 13, 2012
Air BagsEngineExterior Lighting

ENGINE PING NOISE FROM ENGINE AT TIMES REALLY LOUD NOISE GOT WORSE THEN MORE PROBLEMS HAPPENED OVER TIME AT A STOP CAR WAS ACCELERATING LIKE IF WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME,NEXT CAR WOULD COME TO A STOP THEN LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN A FEW MPH THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND…

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ENGINE PING NOISE FROM ENGINE AT TIMES REALLY LOUD NOISE GOT WORSE THEN MORE PROBLEMS HAPPENED OVER TIME AT A STOP CAR WAS ACCELERATING LIKE IF WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME,NEXT CAR WOULD COME TO A STOP THEN LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN A FEW MPH THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND ONCE DOWN HILL THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR ALSO ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT CLEAR AN INTERSECTION , I ALSO GOT VIDEO FOOTAGE OF INCIDENT ,DEALER KEEPS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THE CAR IS SAFE EVEN AFTER THEY SAW THE VIDEO THEY SAY THE COMPUTER SHOWS NOTHING THEN A RECORDER WAS INSTALLED IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS ACCELERATED BY ITSELF THE RECORDER BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE RECORDER WAS TAKEN OFF AND THE MAIN NISSAN COMPANY CALLED ME AND SAID THAT THE INFORMATION ON THE RECORDER WAS ACCIDENTALLY ERASED. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I HAD IT THIS IS MY MAIN CONCERN BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE WINDOWS NOT ROLLING DOWN TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNING ON AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING THE DEALER IS NOT HELPING NEITHER NISSAN DIRECT AND AT THIS POINT IM CONCERNED OF MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10488730

12,000 miles · Aug 13, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470460

47,038 miles · Aug 13, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,038.

NHTSA ODI #10470362

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.

Go deeper into Nissan Altima problems