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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2023
SuspensionUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

When parked letting the car warm up constant shaking kinda a rough ideal at times. From park to reverse it shifts hard the to drive its ok I guess then on the go it's like driving a boat on land loud knocking sounds seems like the tires are flat or about to explode off the car really nerve-wracking

NHTSA ODI #11549994

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2023
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

At some point on the highway the car throttles down to less than 60 mph. Mashing the gas pedal to the floor results in nothing happening. This causes a dangerous road situation with the slower speed, but the worst part is when it suddenly begins to accelerate again, potentially hitting the car in front of you unexpectedly. No …

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At some point on the highway the car throttles down to less than 60 mph. Mashing the gas pedal to the floor results in nothing happening. This causes a dangerous road situation with the slower speed, but the worst part is when it suddenly begins to accelerate again, potentially hitting the car in front of you unexpectedly. No mechanic can reproduce the effect as it only takes place after driving on the highway for an hour or so.

NHTSA ODI #11535771

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2022
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

Was driving home on a rather busy highway, had my cruise control set at 65 mph, then the cruise control just shut off, no warning indications, no alerts, just poof off. It caused my car to lose speed instantly and caused a great deal of concern for both myself and everyone around me, this is now the second time this has happen…

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Was driving home on a rather busy highway, had my cruise control set at 65 mph, then the cruise control just shut off, no warning indications, no alerts, just poof off. It caused my car to lose speed instantly and caused a great deal of concern for both myself and everyone around me, this is now the second time this has happened within a month. Have not had time to take it to a dealership yet going to do so next week and see if they cant figure it out.

NHTSA ODI #11462606

96,667 miles · Jul 21, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN LATE 2019, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. I LATER FOUND THAT THE YEAR, MODEL, AND MAKE OF MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL OF THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS, AMONG OTHER SAFTEY ISSUES. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS, THE CONCLUSION WAS MADE THAT IT WA…

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AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN LATE 2019, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. I LATER FOUND THAT THE YEAR, MODEL, AND MAKE OF MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL OF THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS, AMONG OTHER SAFTEY ISSUES. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS, THE CONCLUSION WAS MADE THAT IT WAS INDEED THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND STEPPER MOTOR CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT MY VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD A RECALL REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY PARTS AS OF YET. THE CAR HAS ONLY 96K MILES ON IT. WHEN THE ISSUE ARISES, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO A "SAFE" MODE. THIS MODE CREATES A THROTTLE PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLE CANNOT TRAVEL FASTER THAN 40 MPH WITHOUT A HIGH PITCH WIND UP SOUND AND A CUT IN POWER OF ALMOST 50%.

NHTSA ODI #11340766

10,000 miles · Jul 28, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

AROUND 20 MPH WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP THE RPMS DO NOT GO DOWN AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD OR PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT EVENT- ONCE EVERY 5- 6 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11240147

220,000 miles · Oct 29, 2018
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 20MPH TO 40MPH THE RPMS INCREASE TO 3RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO CHANGE THE GEAR. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE). I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2010. IT HAS 220,000 MILES ON IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND SAW THIS US A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. NISSAN ALSO S…

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WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 20MPH TO 40MPH THE RPMS INCREASE TO 3RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO CHANGE THE GEAR. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE). I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2010. IT HAS 220,000 MILES ON IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND SAW THIS US A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. NISSAN ALSO SENT OUT A BULLETIN NTB10-121B. THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE ISSUE AT THEIR COST. ATTACHED IS THE PDF OF THE BULLETIN.

NHTSA ODI #11143642

120,000 miles · Oct 30, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS DRIVING THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO ACCELERATE. WHATEVER SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING AT THE TIME THE ISSUE KICKS IN IS THE MAXIMUM SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE. STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO RESET THE PROCESS AND YOU CAN DRIVE NORMALLY FOR THE NEXT 15 - 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE PROBLEM …

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AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS DRIVING THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO ACCELERATE. WHATEVER SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING AT THE TIME THE ISSUE KICKS IN IS THE MAXIMUM SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE. STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO RESET THE PROCESS AND YOU CAN DRIVE NORMALLY FOR THE NEXT 15 - 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE PROBLEM RESURFACES. LOOKING ONLINE INDICATES THIS A COMMON ISSUE FOR NISSAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM 2007 - 2010. THE ISSUES SEEMS TO SURFACE ONCE THE VEHICLES HIT 80,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IN MY CASE IT PREVENTED ME FROM DIVING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WHILE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11041104

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

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.

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