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2010 Nissan Sentra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Nissan Sentra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 116.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

105 reports with mileage · 39 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 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2025
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

Driving and all the sudden went from 20mph to not even 5mph was able to limp it to a mechanic who said the trans cvt was most likely the problem didnt know nissans has that issue of a fail safe.. thankfully wasn't on a busy road going 80. Have also hurd knocking under the hood a couple times before were couldn't get that figure…

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Driving and all the sudden went from 20mph to not even 5mph was able to limp it to a mechanic who said the trans cvt was most likely the problem didnt know nissans has that issue of a fail safe.. thankfully wasn't on a busy road going 80. Have also hurd knocking under the hood a couple times before were couldn't get that figured out.

NHTSA ODI #11671211

169,630 miles · Sep 7, 2022
EnginePower Train

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH and slowing down due to traffic; after slowing down and attempting to accelerate the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off to the side of the highway and the vehicle …

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The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH and slowing down due to traffic; after slowing down and attempting to accelerate the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off to the side of the highway and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was turned off and towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the stepper motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 169,630.

NHTSA ODI #11483320

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2020
Power Train

ISSUE WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE KNOCK SENSOR SENDING WRONG INFORMATION TO THE ECU CAUSING THE ENGINE TO ADJUST TIMING. I'VE GONE THROUGH 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. NISSAN SAYS THEY'RE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND KNOW OF NO FIX. GOING THROUGH FORUMS, IT APPEARS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP E…

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ISSUE WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE KNOCK SENSOR SENDING WRONG INFORMATION TO THE ECU CAUSING THE ENGINE TO ADJUST TIMING. I'VE GONE THROUGH 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. NISSAN SAYS THEY'RE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND KNOW OF NO FIX. GOING THROUGH FORUMS, IT APPEARS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP ENGINE FROM OVER COMPENSATING THE TIMING IS TO ISOLATE THE KNOCK SENSOR FROM THE ENGINE WITH A RUBBER O RING. I HAVE DONE THE REPAIR, BUT CAN ONLY USE PREMIUM FUEL OR RISK CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IT ONLY APPEARS TO HAPPEN TO THE 2007 TO 2012 SE-R SPEC-V (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). I HAVE REPLACED ALL WIRING HARNESSES, ECU, SENSORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT TENDS TO HAPPEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF TURNING CAR ON. GOES AWAY SOMETIMES AND REAPPEARS SUDDENLY. ENGINE BUCKS AND CONVERTER TURNS BRIGHT RED. HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018 AND IS RECORDED ONLINE FORUMS AS FAR BACK AS 2008. ONE EXAMPLE: HTTPS://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/THREADS/2010-SENTRA-SER-SPEC-V-BOGGING.335872/

NHTSA ODI #11385354

70,000 miles · Jul 10, 2020
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER WHO OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER MOTHER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEBRUN NISSAN (396 GRANT AVE, AUBURN, NY 13021),…

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TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER WHO OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER MOTHER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEBRUN NISSAN (396 GRANT AVE, AUBURN, NY 13021), AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #11338635

80,000 miles · Dec 16, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. AT VARIOUS TIMES, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. AT VARIOUS TIMES, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT CALLED BENTON NISSAN OF HOOVER (1640 MONTGOMERY HWY, HOOVER, AL 35216, (205) 938-6103) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11289499

117,000 miles · Aug 26, 2019
Power Train

UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION GEAR CONTROL WAS LOCKED IN THE P POSITION. THE RELEASE WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO PLACE THE CAR INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. HAD TO HAVE A NEW GEAR CONTROL ASSEMBLY ORDERED AND REPLACE THE EXISTING ONE. THE CAR WAS ONLY 117,000 MILES ON IT. THE COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR WERE $992 DOLLARS.

NHTSA ODI #11246368

87,624 miles · Jun 13, 2019
EnginePower TrainSteering

CVT TRANSMISSION WENT AT 76,000 MILES, COLUMN ASSEMBLY SHAFT LOWER NEEDS REPAIR AT 87000 MILES CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WENT AT 44000 MILES REPLACED AND ARE GOING AGAIN AT 87000 MILES, CAR BURNS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND HAVE NO OIL LEAK OR DEFECTIVE PARTS

NHTSA ODI #11219886

120,000 miles · Jul 30, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT TURN OFF ON ME WHILE 40 MILES AN HOUR

NHTSA ODI #11114513

144,000 miles · Mar 22, 2017
Power Train

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN AND I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE CAR MADE A NOISE AND JERKED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE FROM THERE. I COULDN'T EVEN SHIFT TO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE CAR WAS STUCK IN A NEUTRAL POSITION, SO I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OFF TO THE SIDE. AFTER GETTING A TOW TO THE NEAREST SHOP, THEY DETERMINED THE TRA…

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I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN AND I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE CAR MADE A NOISE AND JERKED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE FROM THERE. I COULDN'T EVEN SHIFT TO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE CAR WAS STUCK IN A NEUTRAL POSITION, SO I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OFF TO THE SIDE. AFTER GETTING A TOW TO THE NEAREST SHOP, THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT NISSAN HAD BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. (CVT) AND THEY EVEN EXTENDED THE TRANS WARRANTY TO 120K. (I HAVE 144K ON THE CAR) I DID CONTACT NISSAN TO SEE IF THEY WOULD MAKE A SMALL EXCEPTION. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE A NISSAN DEALER CONFIRM THE CVT WAS BAD. I DID SO AND THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS BAD. AFTER I REPORTED BACK TO NISSAN THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THE COST TO GET IT REPLACED IS ABOUT $4200

NHTSA ODI #10967865

98,000 miles · Jul 8, 2016
Power Train

WHILE DRIVE ON INSTERSTATES AT 65-70MPH FOR 45MINS CVT GOES INTO "SAFE MODE" BC IT IS TOO HOT, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CARS SPEED TO NOT EXCEED 60 MPH ON A 70MPH INTERSTATE, AND CAR DECREASES FROM 60MPH IF TRYING TO GO UP HILLS. WHICH IS GOING TO RESULT IN MANY ACCIDENTS..

NHTSA ODI #10883586

Official recalls

3

11V579000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Dec 15, 2011

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MR20 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2010, TO MAY 22, 2010, AND JULY 8, 2010, TO OCTOBER 25, 2010. THE ZINC COATING APPLIED TO THE TERMINAL STUD BOLT WAS THICKER THAN SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER IT STOPPED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND COVER, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JANUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

10V555000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Nov 12, 2010

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED WITH A DIFFICULT OR NO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN PN NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

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.

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.