2010 Nissan SENTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
69,316 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 105 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 49 of 144 complaints (34.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 23.6% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 10.4% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 6.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 49 |
| Engine | 35 |
| Air Bags | 31 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 8 |
Electrical System: 49; Engine: 35; Air Bags: 31; Power Train: 17; Unknown Or Other: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Steering: 9; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 6
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 39 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 16; 2011: 5; 2012: 11; 2013: 9; 2014: 11; 2015: 14; 2016: 17; 2017: 12; 2018: 11; 2019: 18; 2020: 8; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 34 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10367653 · 2010-11-22 (November 22, 2010)
CAR WOULD NOT START. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION AND TO JUST TIGHTEN IT. I HAD MY HUSBAND TIGHTEN IT AND IT DID START. THIS HAPPENED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES AFTER THIS. THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND WAS WITH ME AND HE WAS ABLE TO JGGLE THE CABLE AND WE DID GET THE CAR STARTED. RECENTLY I WAS OUT ALONE SHOPPING LATE AT NIGHT COMING FROM THE MALL AND THE CAR AGAIN WOULD NOT START. HAD MY BROTHER IN LAW COME TO MY RESCUE. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER SHIP TODAY TODAY AND I …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10367653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369447 · 2010-12-07 (December 7, 2010)
MY CAR NISSAN SENTRA 2010 BROKE DOWN ON PARKING LOT AT MY WORKPLACE (LACK OF ELECTRICITY) ON NOV 30, 2010. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT AWARE ABOUT A RECALL FOR POSITIVE CABLE TO CAR'S BATTERY. WITH MY COLLEAGUES AT WORK WE TRIED TO USE JUMPING CABLES TO START THE ENGINE. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS CAR WAS TOWED TO KENDRICK'S NISSAN IN LAFAYETTE INDIANA. THE NEXT DAY DEALER'S TECHNICAL ADVISER TOLD ME THAT ECM IS BROKEN AND IT LOOKS THAT I BURNED IT DURING RE-START ENGINE ATTEMPT USING WRONGLY (REVERSING) CABLES. HE ADDED THAT I BROKE A WARRANTY AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372725 · 2010-12-28 (December 28, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V555000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10421318 · 2011-08-24 (August 24, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMED WITH OIL AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,875.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10421318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10362936 · 2010-10-29 (October 29, 2010)
AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 50 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 65-70 MPH AND EXITING TO A FULL STOP, ENGINE WOULD REV UP AS USUAL BUT ONLY MOVE 1 MPH. TRANSMISSION NOT FULLY ENGAGED. THIS PUTS ONE IN HARMS WAY WITH NO ABILITY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. OCCURRED IN ALL GEARS. ONLY WAY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL WAS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN A ROW ON SAME DAY (10/13/2010). DOES NOT HAPPEN IN NORMAL SUBURBAN DRIVING OR SINCE THAT DAY BECAUSE CAR NOT TAKEN ON HIGHWAY SINCE (OR BEFORE 10/13/2010). DEALER (LEITH NISSAN APEX NC) WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371924 · 2010-12-21 (December 21, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. SHE THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND CHECKED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT, THINKING MAYBE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKING THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE, SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AGAIN AND TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND CONSEQUENTLY, SHE HIT ANOTH…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313738 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
MY NEW NISSAN SENTRA 2010S VERY QUICKLY VEERS TO THE LEFT AT 50-65 MPG IN THE HIGHWAY. I DID NOT STEP MY FOOT ON ACCELERATOR NOR BRAKE AT THAT TIME. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES OCCASIONALLY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR ON JAN 2010. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361784 · 2010-10-22 (October 22, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 10-15 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT FLIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES AND THEN LANDED ON THE ROAD NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $1,000 IN DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10781873 · 2015-10-14 (October 14, 2015)
WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR AND BEGIN TO DRIVE IT, IT MAKES A REALLY LOUD NOISE. IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TURN EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. ALSO WHEN I AM ACCELERATING IN THE FREEWAY OR IN THE STREET THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I ACCELERATE IT STAYS IN THE SAME SPEED. I TOOK IT IN TO PEPBOYS AUTO CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS AN INTERNAL NOISE AND THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CAR CAN LOCK WHILE IM DRIVING OR TURNING AND IN TURN CAN CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT , SO THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10781873 at NHTSA ↗