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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

Service Brakes complaints

27 reports
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24,000 miles · May 30, 2015
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

AS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO "GRAB" AND TOO EXTRA PRESSURE. STOP WAS RATHER SLOW, AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES APPEARED TO KICK IN (BY ROUGH, STACCATO SHAKING TYPICAL OF THEM APPLYING). ONLY BY PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD DID I PREVENT SMASHING INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. DRY, SUNNY FLORIDA CONDITIONS, NO …

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AS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO "GRAB" AND TOO EXTRA PRESSURE. STOP WAS RATHER SLOW, AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES APPEARED TO KICK IN (BY ROUGH, STACCATO SHAKING TYPICAL OF THEM APPLYING). ONLY BY PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD DID I PREVENT SMASHING INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. DRY, SUNNY FLORIDA CONDITIONS, NO SAND OR SLIPPING AT ALL, JUST SLOW, ODD BRAKING. THEN THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE REVVING A BIT - FASTER IDLING THAN NORMAL WHILE AT THE STOP LIGHT. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SPEEDING HERE, OR SUDDEN BRAKING, JUST A NORMAL APPROACH TO A KNOWN STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES, THEN DID NOT REPEAT FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. THEN, WHEN IT DID REPEAT, I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT. ALWAYS AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, ALWAYS IN DANGER OF SMASHING INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME OR ENTERING TOO FAR INTO THE INTERSECTION IF I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STOP. THEY WERE COMPLETELY PUZZLED, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT BECAUSE, AS I SAID, IT IS VERY SPORADIC. AN ISPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING. THEY LAUGHED AT ME, SAYING IT WAS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO KICK IN IF THERE IS NO SKIDDING. OK, SO WHAT WAS IT THEN? IT SURE AS HECK SEEMED LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES! (I COME FROM UP NORTH AND HAVE EXPERIENCED ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KICKING IN ON SNOW COVERED ROADS...) SINCE THE INITIAL REOCCURRENCE, IT WENT SEVERAL MONTHS, ABOUT SIX, WITH NO ISSUES OR REPEATS, THEN JUST THE OTHER DAY, IT DID IT AGAIN TWICE MORE. I SUSPECT IT COULD BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH COMPUTER CONTROLS, RATHER THAN THE BRAKES THEMSELVES, BUT I AM NO MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI #10722409

55,600 miles · May 17, 2015
Electrical SystemService Brakes

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. AT THE PRESENT TIME THE ABS LIGHT, SLIP AND VDC ARE NOW ILLUMINATED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BLINK IF THERE IS A PROBLEM DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS OR IT IS SLIPPERY. I HAVE READ …

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. AT THE PRESENT TIME THE ABS LIGHT, SLIP AND VDC ARE NOW ILLUMINATED AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BLINK IF THERE IS A PROBLEM DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS OR IT IS SLIPPERY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO TURNOVER AND START. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FURTHER AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #10716936

53,953 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Service Brakes

MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOPPED IT OFF WITH OIL AND IT WENT HOME. THIS WAS ON SUNDAY. I TOOK IT IN MONDAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND I HAD IT REPLACED FOR $612.73. I CALLED NISSAN AS I FOUND THERE WERE SOME COMPLAINTS AND FOUND A SITE WHERE NISSAN WAS REIMBURSING CUSTOMERS. THEY CHECKED MY…

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MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOPPED IT OFF WITH OIL AND IT WENT HOME. THIS WAS ON SUNDAY. I TOOK IT IN MONDAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND I HAD IT REPLACED FOR $612.73. I CALLED NISSAN AS I FOUND THERE WERE SOME COMPLAINTS AND FOUND A SITE WHERE NISSAN WAS REIMBURSING CUSTOMERS. THEY CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER AND TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT ELIGIBLE. THIS IS TOO NEW OF A CAR WITH HARDLY ANY MILES ON IT. NOW THEY SAY MY FRONT STRUTS NEED REPLACING. I NEVER HAD TO REPLACE STRUTS ON MY OLD MAZDA UNTIL IT HAD VERY HIGH MILEAGE ON IT. I AM NOT PLEASED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668733

42,657 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes

THE CAR FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND THE ENTIRE HARNESS SUB FAILED. I HAD TO TOW AWAY THE CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN SHOWROOM AND WAS CHARGED $440 TO REPLACE HARNESS-SUB, SWITCH ASSY STO, BAND HOSE PLUS LABOR. PS: THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT NISSAN WONT REFUND MY MONEY. HOW CAN A VEHICLE JUST UNDER 50K FAIL F…

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THE CAR FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND THE ENTIRE HARNESS SUB FAILED. I HAD TO TOW AWAY THE CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN SHOWROOM AND WAS CHARGED $440 TO REPLACE HARNESS-SUB, SWITCH ASSY STO, BAND HOSE PLUS LABOR. PS: THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT NISSAN WONT REFUND MY MONEY. HOW CAN A VEHICLE JUST UNDER 50K FAIL FOR SUCH A THING IF NOT FOR A BAD FACTORY HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667789

50,000 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND EVERYDAY FOR THE PAST WEEK, THE CAR WILL NOT START DURING IGNITION DUE TO THE INABILITY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO START IS TO REPEATEDLY HIT THE BRAKES WHILE PRESSING THE START BUTTON. IT NEVER CONSISTENTLY WORKS BUT EVENTUALLY STARTS. AFTER STARTING, THE ABS, VDC,…

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SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND EVERYDAY FOR THE PAST WEEK, THE CAR WILL NOT START DURING IGNITION DUE TO THE INABILITY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO START IS TO REPEATEDLY HIT THE BRAKES WHILE PRESSING THE START BUTTON. IT NEVER CONSISTENTLY WORKS BUT EVENTUALLY STARTS. AFTER STARTING, THE ABS, VDC, AND SLIP WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING WITH THIS MODEL FROM OTHER OWNERS. THIS POSES A SERIOUS RISK TO HEALTH PARTICULARLY IN TIMES WHERE ONE MAY NEED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. MORE OFTEN, IT IS AN EXTREME INCONVENIENCE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS WANT TO CHARGE OVER $500 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND SYSTEMATIC. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS MANY ALTIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FRUSTRATION THAT I HAVE ENDURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664209

67,500 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes

I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA BEING UNABLE TO START WHEN THE REQUIRED BRAKE/START BUTTON IS USED. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AND THE START BUTTON PUSHED, THE ACC LIGHT COMES ON THEN, IF PUSHED AGAIN, THE ON LIGHT COMES ON (OVER THE START BUTTON). THEN WHEN PUSHED AGAIN, THE SY…

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I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA BEING UNABLE TO START WHEN THE REQUIRED BRAKE/START BUTTON IS USED. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AND THE START BUTTON PUSHED, THE ACC LIGHT COMES ON THEN, IF PUSHED AGAIN, THE ON LIGHT COMES ON (OVER THE START BUTTON). THEN WHEN PUSHED AGAIN, THE SYSTEM SHUTS OFF. BY TRYING SEVERAL TIMES AND PUMPING THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY START. SINCE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THE CAR'S PARTS/SYSTEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO HAVE NISSAN REPLACE THE FAULTY PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654887

37,000 miles · Nov 3, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND MY STABILITY CONTROL TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN AND I COULD NOT TURN IT BACK ON. AT THE TIME THAT IT TURNED OFF MY PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, EVENTUALLY IT TURNED OFF BUT FLASHED ON TWO MORE TIMES AS I WAS DRIVING UP HILL. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO TURN THE VDC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) BACK…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND MY STABILITY CONTROL TURNED OFF ON ITS OWN AND I COULD NOT TURN IT BACK ON. AT THE TIME THAT IT TURNED OFF MY PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, EVENTUALLY IT TURNED OFF BUT FLASHED ON TWO MORE TIMES AS I WAS DRIVING UP HILL. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO TURN THE VDC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652068

20,000 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA - MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH PUSH BUTTON START FAILED TO START. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SEEMED FINE. I HAD JUST PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THE ABS, VDC AND SLIP WARNING LIT WHILE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING FUSES, KEY FOB BATTERIES, ETC. I ATTEMPTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND IT FINALLY STARTED. DROVE IMMEDIATE…

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NORFOLK, VIRGINIA - MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA WITH PUSH BUTTON START FAILED TO START. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SEEMED FINE. I HAD JUST PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THE ABS, VDC AND SLIP WARNING LIT WHILE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING FUSES, KEY FOB BATTERIES, ETC. I ATTEMPTED TO PUMP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND IT FINALLY STARTED. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AND HARNESS WHICH MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $550.00. HE SEEMED TO KNOW WITH OUT OF EVEN LOOKING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WHEN I QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT SUCH AN EXPENSIVE SWITCH, HE ONLY SAID "THIS HAPPENS A LOT WITH THIS MODEL." THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED AT NISSAN'S EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10648866

20,000 miles · Sep 29, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER THE PUSH TO START BUTTON WAS INSTALLED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER BEING DRIVEN AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VDS, SLIP, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. AFTER THE PUSH TO START BUTTON WAS INSTALLED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER BEING DRIVEN AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VDS, SLIP, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DEPRESS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10640002

63,000 miles · Sep 24, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

WHEN YOU TRY TO START VEHICLE YOU PUSH ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE PEDAL DOESN'T GO DOWN 1/16 OF AN INCH. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WONT EVEN COME ON. IF YOU PUSH THE START BUTTON IT WILL ONLY GO TO THE ACCESSORY THEN OFF. WHEN I ASKED SERVICE MANAGER AT NELSON NISSAN IN BROKEN ARROW, OK AND I QUOTE "HE SAID YOU HAD TO HAVE KEY ON BEFORE …

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WHEN YOU TRY TO START VEHICLE YOU PUSH ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE PEDAL DOESN'T GO DOWN 1/16 OF AN INCH. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WONT EVEN COME ON. IF YOU PUSH THE START BUTTON IT WILL ONLY GO TO THE ACCESSORY THEN OFF. WHEN I ASKED SERVICE MANAGER AT NELSON NISSAN IN BROKEN ARROW, OK AND I QUOTE "HE SAID YOU HAD TO HAVE KEY ON BEFORE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON"... I AM LIKE REALLY!!! THE BRAKE LIGHTS UMM NO THEY SHOULD COME ON ANYTIME YOU PUSH THE BRAKE IF THE KEY IS ON OR NOT. PLEASE HELP US AMERICAN'S AND OTHER HARD WORKING TAX PAYING PEOPLE GET OUR CARS FIXED. WE PAID GOOD HARD EARNED MONEY FOR THEM AND NOW ALL WE HAVE IN A LEMON IN ARE GARAGE. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOU TIME, GOD BLESS YOU! AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638829

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