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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

Power Train complaints

73 reports
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160,000 miles · Aug 10, 2018
Power Train

TAKATA RECALL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER AND WITH NO WHERE SAFE TO PULL OVER CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE TOOK SO LONG TO GET UP TO SPEED I THOUGHT SOMETHING TERRIBLE WAS GOING TO HAPPENED. WHEN I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE I PULLED OVER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED. I RESTARTED T…

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TAKATA RECALL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER AND WITH NO WHERE SAFE TO PULL OVER CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE TOOK SO LONG TO GET UP TO SPEED I THOUGHT SOMETHING TERRIBLE WAS GOING TO HAPPENED. WHEN I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE I PULLED OVER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND DECIDED TO TRY AGAIN AND IMMEDIATELY IT STARTED SHUTTERING AND NO POWER I INSTANTLY PULLED OVER CALL MY HUSBAND AND THEN CALLED A TOWING SERVICE. I'VE READ SINCE THIS HAPPENED ITS MORE COMMON AND DANGEROUS THAN I EVER IMAGINED..

NHTSA ODI #11119270

131,000 miles · Apr 27, 2018
Power Train

PROBLEM: ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY AND CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO HIGHER GEAR PREVENTING CAR FROM GOING MORE THAN 20 MPH ON A 75 MPH HIGHWAY. NISSAN TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED 100% UNDER THE WARRANTEE EXTENSION IF THE CAR HAD BEEN WITHIN THE 120,000 L…

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PROBLEM: ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY AND CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO HIGHER GEAR PREVENTING CAR FROM GOING MORE THAN 20 MPH ON A 75 MPH HIGHWAY. NISSAN TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED 100% UNDER THE WARRANTEE EXTENSION IF THE CAR HAD BEEN WITHIN THE 120,000 LIMIT. OUR CAR WAS JUST 8% OVER THAT LIMIT BUT NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT HELP IN ANY WAY. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND DOUBLED THE WARRANTEE BUT THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE GOING TO DO. THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE CAUSING THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS TO FAIL AT 120,000 MILES ARE CAUSING THEM TO FAIL AT 131,000 MILES IN MY CASE. NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPAIRING THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MANDATED. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11090379

170,000 miles · Apr 11, 2018
Power Train

CVT TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GAVE OUT TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS GOING 65 ONE MINUTE AND THEN LOST COMPLETE POWER. STARTED SEARCHING ONLINE FOR MORE INFO ONLY TO FIND HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM ALL MODELS AND YEARS FROM 2007 TO 2016! MY VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN …

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CVT TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY GAVE OUT TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS GOING 65 ONE MINUTE AND THEN LOST COMPLETE POWER. STARTED SEARCHING ONLINE FOR MORE INFO ONLY TO FIND HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM ALL MODELS AND YEARS FROM 2007 TO 2016! MY VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN A SPECIAL WARRANTY ISSUED BY NISSAN BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT IT'S ONLY VALID UNDER 120K MILES. NOW I HAVE NO CAR, NO MONEY TO FIX THIS ONE OR BUY ANOTHER. THE UNRELIABILITY HAS RUINED MY LIFE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO GET BY. SADLY, THE FEAR OF WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITH MY FUTURE IS ONLY SECOND TO THE FEAR I FELT THIS MORNING WHEN THE CAR I'VE POURED A LOT OF MONEY INTO AND TAKE TREMENDOUS CARE OF ALMOST GOT ME KILLED. NO DASH LIGHTS. NO WARNING. NO PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. FINE ONE DAY, COMPLETELY UNDRIVABLE THE NEXT. I WAS ON 83 NORTH IN MD AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A SEMI DOING 70+ MPH IN THE LEFT LANE.

NHTSA ODI #11084589

126,000 miles · Aug 2, 2017
Power Train

WHEN I DRIVE IT VERY FAR, IT SLOWS DOWN AND WON'T GO FASTER THAN ABOUT 50MPH. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND LET IT COOL OFF BEFORE IT WILL GO FASTER.

NHTSA ODI #11012405

112,000 miles · May 7, 2017
Power Train

ONE DAY ON THE FREEWAY THE CARS RPMS WAD GOING UP AND DOWN WITHOUT ME PRESSING OR TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH. THAT WAS I NOTICED FIRST. THE A COUPLE DAYS LATER CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD INTO REVERSE. I WENT AND GOT A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WOULDNT MOVE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND THE C…

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ONE DAY ON THE FREEWAY THE CARS RPMS WAD GOING UP AND DOWN WITHOUT ME PRESSING OR TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH. THAT WAS I NOTICED FIRST. THE A COUPLE DAYS LATER CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD INTO REVERSE. I WENT AND GOT A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WOULDNT MOVE. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND THE CAR WONT MOVE. MY SLIP LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON NOW. CAR GAVE ME A CODE OF PO725 ENGINE SPEED SENSOR INPUT CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. I HAVE REPLACED IT AND THE CAR STILL WONT MOVE.

NHTSA ODI #10984150

120,000 miles · Feb 17, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY DEFECT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING ABOUT 65/70 MPH. I HAD TO BREAK, DUE TO TRAFFIC. I PRESSED ON THE GAS, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND, THE CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE AT ALL. I RELEASED THE GAS AND PRESSED AGAIN...STILL THE SAME THING. THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF VERY FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO PUT…

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THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY DEFECT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING ABOUT 65/70 MPH. I HAD TO BREAK, DUE TO TRAFFIC. I PRESSED ON THE GAS, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND, THE CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE AT ALL. I RELEASED THE GAS AND PRESSED AGAIN...STILL THE SAME THING. THIS IS IN THE MIDDLE OF VERY FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON, AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN... THEN SUDDENLY AS I WAS RELEASING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS...IT FORCEFULLY ACCELERATED CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS, TO KEEP ME FROM HITTING THE CAR IN FROM OF ME. I HAD TO CAREFULLY COAST MY WAY TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS I WAS IN THE FAST LANE CLOSEST TO THE MEDIAN. IT STILL WOULDN'T COMPLETELY ACCELERATE, IT KIND OF SCOOTED OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER ABOUT 3 TRIES IT STARTED, AND I COULD DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO REPLICATE THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. IT'S SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AND AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO GET IT TOWED ANYWHERE TO BE LOOKED AT. IT'S SUCH A SHAME THAT AS SOON AS YOU PAY A CAR OFF, AND YOU ARE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THAT YOU START TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT A NISSAN, BECAUSE THEY WERE KNOWN FOR THEIR LONGEVITY.... I WILL NEVER BUY NISSAN AGAIN. I LOOK ON THE SITES TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, AND HAVE NOT FOUND ONE. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME. I'M A SINGLE MOM, WITH TWO KIDS. ONE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE OTHER IN COLLEGE. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR NOTE.

NHTSA ODI #10955235

134,596 miles · Feb 6, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AFTER DRIVING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS IN WARM WEATHER OR UPHILL, CAR BEGINS TO LOOSE POWER AND BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT GIVE MORE POWER AND I NEED TO PULL OVER AND WAIT ANYWHERE FROM 15 MINUTES TO AN HOUR FOR THE CAR TO RESET ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI #10949894

134,000 miles · Dec 16, 2016
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR ON US HIGHWAY 20, I WAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. I HEARD A BANG, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATE . WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CALLED FOR A TOW. NISSAN SERVICE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID A BAND INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD SNAPPED. THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND…

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WHEN DRIVING MY CAR ON US HIGHWAY 20, I WAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. I HEARD A BANG, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATE . WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CALLED FOR A TOW. NISSAN SERVICE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID A BAND INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD SNAPPED. THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND I DO HAVE MY CAR REGULARLY SERVICED AT NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10935886

114,411 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Power Train

I AM SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE CVT- BACK IN AUG 2015 I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND WAS TRAVELING HOME AND NOTICED WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE SCARY PART WAS THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON-I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ALONE AND SCARED AND …

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I AM SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE CVT- BACK IN AUG 2015 I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND WAS TRAVELING HOME AND NOTICED WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE SCARY PART WAS THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON-I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ALONE AND SCARED AND HAD 300 MILES TO GO. WHAT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN 6 HOURS TOOK ME 11 HOURS BECAUSE I HAD STOP EVERY 30-45 MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED NISSAN HAD TO GO THROUGH THE STEPS BEFORE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION- BUT AT WHAT COST- WHEN SOMEONE DIES- THEY INSTALLED A CVT OIL COOLER KIT -WELL GUESS WHAT ? 1 YEAR AND 3 MONTHS LATER ON MY FIRST LONG DISTANCE TRIP SINCE LAST YEAR. THE SAME EXACT THING OCCURRED EXCEPT I HAVE 600 MILES BEFORE I GET HOME. I WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALONE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THANK GOD THE TRUCK BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME OR I INJURY SOMEONE ELSE DUE TO THIS ISSUE NISSAN CONTINUES TO IGNORE. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, COULD NOT GET A RENTAL BECAUSE IT WAS A SUNDAY AND THEY WERE CLOSED. SO NOW I'M IN AN UNKNOWN AREA WAITING TO SEE WHAT NISSAN DOES THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10924664

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WAS PUTTING MY CAR IN REVERSE AND WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS IN STEAD OF REVERSE THE MOVE FORWARD, PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10909471

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