← New search

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

70 reports
Clear category filter
101,869 miles · Aug 13, 2018
Power TrainService BrakesUnknown Or Other

DRIVING ON I95 FROM GATLINBURG MY CAR STARTED MAKE A HORRIBLE WHINING NOISIE, SHUCK IT'S HAS DONE BEFORE JUST NOT THIS BAD, IT HAS BEFORE BUT I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND JUST STOPPED AND LET IT SIT AND IT STOPPED . NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYTTIME I GET IN THE CAR. OR THAT I HAVE TO BEG IT GO WHEN IT'S IN GEAR, WHEN I PULL OUT I'D …

Read full complaint

DRIVING ON I95 FROM GATLINBURG MY CAR STARTED MAKE A HORRIBLE WHINING NOISIE, SHUCK IT'S HAS DONE BEFORE JUST NOT THIS BAD, IT HAS BEFORE BUT I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND JUST STOPPED AND LET IT SIT AND IT STOPPED . NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYTTIME I GET IN THE CAR. OR THAT I HAVE TO BEG IT GO WHEN IT'S IN GEAR, WHEN I PULL OUT I'D DOESN'T GO. I'VE NOTICE IF I SLAM IT FROM TO PARK FORCEFULLY TO DRIVE IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE UNTIL THE WHINING AND JERKING START. I KNOW THIS IS A TRANNY ISSUE AND I I KNOW IT'S WARRANTY RORB10 YRS OR 120000 MILES I'M AT 102! AND I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR PLEASE HELP!!!

NHTSA ODI #11119522

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS POOR VISIBILITY WHEN IT IS RAINING, ALTHOUGH I HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS DO NOT IMPROVE, THE WATER STAYS IN THE GLASS IN A WAY THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE LEFT THE AGENCY, BUT I THOUGHT I COULD SOLVE IT WITH SOME PRODUCT, BUT NOTHIN

NHTSA ODI #11084865

180,000 miles · Apr 6, 2018
Unknown Or Other

MY DASH BOARD IS SUPER STICKY/TACKY, AND HAS A GLARE WHEN DRIVING, WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE FRONT PIECES WITH A PRY TOOL, THE DASH PEELS OFF IN CHUNKS AND REMAINS STUCK ON YOUR FINGER/ PRY TOOL LIKE A MELTED WAX. IT'S NOT THE SAME CONSISTENCY AS THE GLOVE BOX, YOU CAN STICK YOUR FINGERNAIL IN IT AND IT LEAVES INTENTIONS, MY PAI…

Read full complaint

MY DASH BOARD IS SUPER STICKY/TACKY, AND HAS A GLARE WHEN DRIVING, WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE FRONT PIECES WITH A PRY TOOL, THE DASH PEELS OFF IN CHUNKS AND REMAINS STUCK ON YOUR FINGER/ PRY TOOL LIKE A MELTED WAX. IT'S NOT THE SAME CONSISTENCY AS THE GLOVE BOX, YOU CAN STICK YOUR FINGERNAIL IN IT AND IT LEAVES INTENTIONS, MY PAINT IS ALSO COMING OFF IN LARGE SPOTS ALL OVER THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11083697

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THERE IS A OIL SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR CONDITION VENT WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN THE HEAT IS ON.THE SMELL IS STRONG .THE ONLY TIME WHEN THE SMELL IS NOT COMING OUT IS WHEN THE AC/HEATER IS OFF OR WHEN I HAVE THE UNIT ON CIRCULATION AND AC ON AT THE SAME TIME.IT DOESN'T MATTER H…

Read full complaint

THERE IS A OIL SMELL COMING THROUGH THE AIR CONDITION VENT WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN THE HEAT IS ON.THE SMELL IS STRONG .THE ONLY TIME WHEN THE SMELL IS NOT COMING OUT IS WHEN THE AC/HEATER IS OFF OR WHEN I HAVE THE UNIT ON CIRCULATION AND AC ON AT THE SAME TIME.IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAR I TRAVEL THE SMELL IS THERE.THE VOLUME CONTROL OF THE AC/HEATER HAS A DELAY OF COMING ON,.I WANT TO KNOW WHY IS THIS CAR DOING THIS ,IT'S A 2010 IT ALSO LOOK LIKE IT HAS SOME WATER DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11083575

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS A VERY BAD GLARE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. THIS CAUSES VISION TO BE VERY POOR AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND OTHER CARS AND PEDESTRIAN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE GLARE. THE ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD IS THE SAME AS THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED AGAINST NISSAN BY A GIRARD G…

Read full complaint

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS A VERY BAD GLARE WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. THIS CAUSES VISION TO BE VERY POOR AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND OTHER CARS AND PEDESTRIAN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE GLARE. THE ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD IS THE SAME AS THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED AGAINST NISSAN BY A GIRARD GIBBS AND NISSAN LOST. BUT IT WAS FOR 2008-2009 MODELS. I TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD IS $2634.

NHTSA ODI #11082098

61,065 miles · Oct 28, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

ON 9/10/17 ABOUT NOON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE LOOKING FOR SERVICE PHONE NUMBER, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, EXITED THE CAR, AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THEN THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI #11040789

72,000 miles · Aug 7, 2017
Unknown Or Other

NOISE COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WHETHER CAR IN MOTION OR STILL WITH AIR STILL COOLING. DEALER HAD NEVER SEEN WHERE AIR COMPRESSOR WAS LOOSE AND ONLY BEING HELD BY BELTS. COULD HAVE CAUSED GREAT ISSUES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. REPLACED AIR COMPRESSOR AT A COST OF OVER $1200.

NHTSA ODI #11013334

34,500 miles · Dec 1, 2016
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING ALSO WITH THE SUN LIGHT CREATE A GLARE IN WINDSHIELD AND BLOCK MY VIEW I THING IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE CAN HAVEN ANYTIME TO DRIVEN SPECIAL IN AFTERNOON WHEN I DRIVING NISSAN SAID IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM I DON'T AGREE SOMEBODY HAVE TO DIED AND WHY TOYOTA DID A RECALL THEY HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929473

61,000 miles · Sep 28, 2016
Unknown Or Other

CAR WILL NOT START. BATTERY IS GOOD. THE KEY FAIL/MALFUNCTION SIGNAL KEEPS BLINKING. NOW CAR IS STUCK IN ON POSITION FROM WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON.

NHTSA ODI #10910204

50,000 miles · Sep 12, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASH IS SO MELTED AND REFLECTS SUN SO MUCH IT I CANNOT SEE WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR 2008 AND 2009 ALTIMAS FOR THIS SAME DEFECT. TOYOTA RECALLED FOR THEIR MELTED DASHBOARD. NHTSA NEEDS TO CARE ABOUT OUR SAFETY AND RECALL ALTIMAS!

NHTSA ODI #10905927

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