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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

What owners actually said

380 reports
49,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Air Bags

REPEATED OCCURRENCE OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A NEW RADIO NEEDING TO BE INSTALLED AND THE REAR SPEAKER BLEW. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET TWICE BUT STILL TURNS ON. WARRANTY IS OUT AND DEALER STATED FRONT …

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REPEATED OCCURRENCE OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A NEW RADIO NEEDING TO BE INSTALLED AND THE REAR SPEAKER BLEW. THE LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET TWICE BUT STILL TURNS ON. WARRANTY IS OUT AND DEALER STATED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS REPLACED WHICH IS TOTAL COST OF 1,000. THERE IS RECALL ON THE 2013 2014 MODELS FOR SAME ISSUE. THIS YEAR SHOULD BE ADDED . THE CAR HAS LOW MILES TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621721

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2014
Suspension

THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. I HAVE HEARD SAME NOISE FROM OTHER ALTIMA'S. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE A CRACK IN THE STRUTS FOR THIS MODEL. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619055

18,047 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

CAR HAD INTERMITTENT NO START CONDITION AND INTERMITTENT BRAKE LIGHT OUTAGE. MECHANIC REPLACED FAULTY ORIGINAL STOP LAMP SWITCH 25320-AX00C(N). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618744

100 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS AND THE SLP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OR THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO RECEIVE A JUMP START TO THE BATTERY FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ORD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS AND THE SLP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS OR THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO RECEIVE A JUMP START TO THE BATTERY FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ORDER TO START PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND THE PARK LIGHT SWITCH FAILED. AS A RESULT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

NHTSA ODI #10618742

52,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Engine

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO POWER ON HOWEVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE…

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO POWER ON HOWEVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10617230

53,000 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Electrical System

MY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN I PUSHED THE PUSH BUTTON START AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. LATER THAT DAY THE CAR STARTED. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE DEALER SAID IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO HAVE IT TOWED.YESTERDAY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHED THE START BUTTON. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE…

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MY CAR WOULDN'T START WHEN I PUSHED THE PUSH BUTTON START AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. LATER THAT DAY THE CAR STARTED. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE DEALER SAID IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO HAVE IT TOWED.YESTERDAY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHED THE START BUTTON. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START THE CAR, IT STARTED. IT IS GOING TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED. THE STARTING MECHANISM IS POOR AND UNRELIABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610953

27,400 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Electrical System

MY 2010 ALTIMA HAS A PUSH START IGNITION LAST MONTH WHILE VISITING IN PA THE BRAKE LIGHT, VDC, AND SLIP LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. WE STOPPED AND THEN THE CAR FAILED TO RESTART. WE WERE ABLE TO GET BACK HOME TO NY AND I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RESULT WAS A BAD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. WHICH COMP…

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MY 2010 ALTIMA HAS A PUSH START IGNITION LAST MONTH WHILE VISITING IN PA THE BRAKE LIGHT, VDC, AND SLIP LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. WE STOPPED AND THEN THE CAR FAILED TO RESTART. WE WERE ABLE TO GET BACK HOME TO NY AND I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RESULT WAS A BAD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. WHICH COMPLETES THE CIRCUIT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE PUSH START BUTTON TO ALLOW THE CAR TO START. I RESEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND A FEW DIFFERENT FORUMS ONE BEING NISSANCLUB.COM WHERE I FOUND A NUMBER OF PPL WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER AFFAIRS AND GOT NOWHERE. I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY PPL WITH THE SAME ISSUE ARE NEEDED FOR AN ISSUE LIKE THIS TO BE CONSIDERED A RECALL BECAUSE WITH THAT BEING A DAMAGED PART THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO START THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609949

121,895 miles · Jul 3, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 60 MPH AND THE RPM'S WOULD NOT INCREASE PAST 2000. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 60 MPH AND THE RPM'S WOULD NOT INCREASE PAST 2000. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,895.

NHTSA ODI #10608162

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2014
Child Seat

I HAVE THE EVENFLO CHASE CARSEAT LISTED ON THE EVENFLO RECALL BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED WITH EVENFLO SAYS IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL. IT WAS ON THE RECALL ACCORDING TO THEIR INFORMATION ON THE COMPUTER. I COULD NOT PUSH THE RED BUTTON TO RELEASE THE CROTCH STRAP. NEITHER COULD THE POLICEMAN TRYING TO HELP ME. IT WAS 95 …

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I HAVE THE EVENFLO CHASE CARSEAT LISTED ON THE EVENFLO RECALL BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED WITH EVENFLO SAYS IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL. IT WAS ON THE RECALL ACCORDING TO THEIR INFORMATION ON THE COMPUTER. I COULD NOT PUSH THE RED BUTTON TO RELEASE THE CROTCH STRAP. NEITHER COULD THE POLICEMAN TRYING TO HELP ME. IT WAS 95 DEGREES OUTSIDE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. VERY BAD SITUATION. EVENFLO COMPANY IS NOT HONORING THEIR RECALL. I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM EVENFLO AGAIN. THE EVENFLO REPRESENTATIVE WAS A VERY RUDE AND ARGUMENTATIVE. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2010, MAKE=ALTIMA, MODEL=NISSAN). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605695

28,000 miles · Jun 22, 2014
Power Train

I NEED TO DRIVE FROM MD TO GA EVERY COUPLE OF MONTH. I NOTICED THAT IF I DRIVE MY CAR CONTINUOUSLY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS (ABOUT 3 OR 4 HOURS), THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE FROM A STOP FOR AT LEAST COUPLE OF SECONDS. I HAVE FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE WAS LIKE 2000 RPM. THE CAR BARELY MOVES. IT THEN BECOME NORMAL AFTER ABOU…

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I NEED TO DRIVE FROM MD TO GA EVERY COUPLE OF MONTH. I NOTICED THAT IF I DRIVE MY CAR CONTINUOUSLY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS (ABOUT 3 OR 4 HOURS), THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE FROM A STOP FOR AT LEAST COUPLE OF SECONDS. I HAVE FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE WAS LIKE 2000 RPM. THE CAR BARELY MOVES. IT THEN BECOME NORMAL AFTER ABOUT 3 SECONDS. BECAUSE OF THIS, I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PULL FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WENT TO A NISSAN DEALER TO CHECK WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. BUT THE DEALER (NORRIS NISSAN WEST NEAR BALTIMORE) TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. I THOUGHT THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS LIKE ME AND THE DEALER'S ACTION IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNACCEPTABLE. NOW I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING MY CAR FOR RELATIVELY LONG TRIPS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605076

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