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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
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56,800 miles · Jan 28, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY AT PLANET NISSAN. ON SATURDAY 1/24/15 THE LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT I'VE HEARD SOME KNOCKING AND THE STEERING MAKES A RUBBING SOUND. SO FAR THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH I FILED A COMPLAINT HERE, AND WAS REIMBURSED, BUT BEFORE REIMBURSEMENT THEY TOLD …

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MONDAY AT PLANET NISSAN. ON SATURDAY 1/24/15 THE LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT I'VE HEARD SOME KNOCKING AND THE STEERING MAKES A RUBBING SOUND. SO FAR THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH I FILED A COMPLAINT HERE, AND WAS REIMBURSED, BUT BEFORE REIMBURSEMENT THEY TOLD ME MY VIN DID NOT MATCH. SO I FIND THAT QUESTIONABLE. I'VE PUT ON NEW STRUTS ON THE FRONT AND REAR. NISSAN SAID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTS ARE CRACKED WHICH IS NOT COVERED. I'VE BEEN ON LINE AND SEE THAT 2010 MODELS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE NOT LOCATED THE RUBBING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I'VE CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER DEPARTMENT AND AM AWAITING A REPLY. SO FAR THE MASTER CYLINDER, STRUTS FRONT AND BACK, THE TRANSMISSION, AND NOW THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTS. ON A CAR WITH THIS LITTLE MILEAGE, I DON'T FEEL SECURE IN THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER NISSAN. I THINK THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE STRUT MOUNTS. I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR BEFORE. I WOULD SAY VERY POOR WORKMANSHIP. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PAYING THE CAR OFF AS I OWE VERY LITTLE AT THIS TIME AND I KEEP MY CARS A LONG TIME, BUT FEEL I HAVE A LEMON AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. AS MUCH AS WE PAY FOR CARS TODAY THERE SHOULDN'T BE SO MANY PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10679462

250 miles · Jan 11, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

AS CAR ACCELERATES TO 20 MPH, THERE IS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT/UNDERCARRIAGE AREA. NOISE WAS NOTICED THE FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE. THE CAR NOW HAS 7,500 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER, THE LEAD TECH HAD ME RIDE WITH HIM TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE--IT HAPPENED. HE THEN TO…

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AS CAR ACCELERATES TO 20 MPH, THERE IS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT/UNDERCARRIAGE AREA. NOISE WAS NOTICED THE FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE. THE CAR NOW HAS 7,500 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER, THE LEAD TECH HAD ME RIDE WITH HIM TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE--IT HAPPENED. HE THEN TOOK ME FOR A RIDE IN A NEW MODEL ON THE LOT AND IT SEEMED TO PRODUCE THE SAME NOISE. HE ENDED THE RIDE AND DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. HE TOLD ME I WAS THE 4TH PERSON TO COME IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. HE STATED IT WAS THE ABS COMPLETING A SELF CHECK CYCLE...WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE VERY NOISY. THIS IS VERY HARD TO ACCEPT ON A NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE. IT'S VERY EMBARRASSING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376313

3,000 miles · Jul 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2010 ALTIMA BOUGHT IN MARCH 2010 THAT HAS STARTED TO JERK WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IT IS NOT DRIVING NORMAL BUT AFTER TALKING TO NISSAN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND …

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I HAVE A 2010 ALTIMA BOUGHT IN MARCH 2010 THAT HAS STARTED TO JERK WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IT IS NOT DRIVING NORMAL BUT AFTER TALKING TO NISSAN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I JUST RECEIVED A CALL THAT STATES THAT THEIR ENGINEER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM I'M EXPERIENCING IS NORMAL AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUING TO GET WORSE AND NOW I'M WORRIED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE COULD LOSE POWER. I DO NOT FEEL THAT CONTINUING TO DRIVE MY CAR IN THIS CONDITION IS SAFE. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE THESE COMPLICATIONS WHEN I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW SO I'M SURE THIS ISN'T A NORMAL CONDITION. MY MOTHER HAS THE SAME CAR BOUGHT TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT MINE AND IT DOES NOT HAVE THIS CONDITION. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NISSAN CONSUMER DEPARTMENT BUT AND VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE URGENCY IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344859

698 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

MY BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA A/C STOP WORKING JUST FOR NOT REASON AFTER DRIVING IT FOR LIKE 20 MINUTES BUT I THOUGHT WAS ALRIGHT THE OUT OF NOWHERE THE ENGINE START TO OVERHEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE H, MY CAR IS AN BRAND NEW ALTIMA 2.5 S 4 CYLINDERS AND I JUST BOUGHT IT ON MAY 12TH, IN KAILUA KONA HAWAII (WWW.KONAAUTO.COM), I GOT SCA…

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MY BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA A/C STOP WORKING JUST FOR NOT REASON AFTER DRIVING IT FOR LIKE 20 MINUTES BUT I THOUGHT WAS ALRIGHT THE OUT OF NOWHERE THE ENGINE START TO OVERHEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE H, MY CAR IS AN BRAND NEW ALTIMA 2.5 S 4 CYLINDERS AND I JUST BOUGHT IT ON MAY 12TH, IN KAILUA KONA HAWAII (WWW.KONAAUTO.COM), I GOT SCARED BECAUSE WAS TOO HOT AND IT COULD BURNT SOMEONE ELSE FACE OR EVEN BLOW OUT, IT HAPPENED ALREADY 2 TIMES, THEY SAID THAT IS A BELT BUT NO CAR WITH ALMOST 700 MILES ON IT HEATS UP OUT OF NOTHING. I WOULD ACTUALLY GUYS LIKE YOU TO PUT ATTENTION TO ALL THE REVIEWS CUZ PEOPLE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE A/C IN ALTIMAS 2010, ALSO THERE IS A NOISE EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT I TURN THE CAR ON LIKE WATER RUNNING IN THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336484

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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