2010 Nissan ALTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
380 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
53,128 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 271 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 380 complaints (18.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 58 | 15.3% |
| Braking behavior | 57 | 15.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 35 | 9.2% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 3.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 70 |
| Electrical System | 69 |
| Power Train | 62 |
| Air Bags | 55 |
| Engine | 50 |
| Suspension | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 27 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 22 |
Unknown Or Other: 70; Electrical System: 69; Power Train: 62; Air Bags: 55; Engine: 50; Suspension: 29; Service Brakes: 27; Visibility/Wiper: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 63 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 58 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 53 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 53 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 63; 25,000 to 49,999: 58; 50,000 to 74,999: 53; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 53; 150,000 and above: 15
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (63). 109 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 | 20 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 56 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 43 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 37 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2010: 20; 2011: 20; 2012: 21; 2013: 18; 2014: 56; 2015: 33; 2016: 43; 2017: 26; 2018: 37; 2019: 33; 2020: 14; 2021: 16; 2022: 11; 2023: 16; 2024: 9; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 58 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 57 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 35 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10317571 · 2010-04-09 (April 9, 2010)
2010 NISSAN ALTIMA MAKING A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. CONSUMER STATES THE NOISE HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE VEHICLE IS COLD, AND AT SPEEDS 30 MPH AND LESS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS SO BAD, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRAG/SPUTTER. THE SLIPPING WAS SOMETIMES ACCOMPANIED BY A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE UNDERBODY WHICH LASTED FOR 3-4 SECONDS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER EXPERI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10317571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320490 · 2010-03-17 (March 17, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABRUPTLY VEERING TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER; THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD AND RESISTANT TO DRIVER INPUT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND A REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE ACCORDINGLY. THE DRIVER SUFFERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10327713 · 2010-04-27 (April 27, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WHILE PULLING INTO AN UPHILL PARKING SPOT AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LARGE CEMENT PILLAR AND CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BODYSHOP AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 850. UPDATED 06/25/10 UPDATED 07/27/10*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS ABNORMAL ACCELERATION, DUE TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, OR DRIVE BY WIRE. THERE WERE NO CODES. UPDATED 09/15/10
Owner-reported narrative. 850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335038 · 2010-06-07 (June 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RENTED THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING IN A FLASH FLOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS SWEPT INTO WATER AND SUBMERGED. ALL OF THE POWER IN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS OR WINDOWS FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE POLICE AND WAS ADVISED TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE, SHIFT INTO PARK AND THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK; HOWEVER, WHEN SHE PERFORMED THE PROCDURE, THE DOORS DID NOT UNLOCK. A BYSTANDER OPENED THE FRONT DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. NONE OF THE OTHER DOORS WOULD OPEN FR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10335038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10336484 · 2010-06-15 (June 15, 2010)
MY BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA A/C STOP WORKING JUST FOR NOT REASON AFTER DRIVING IT FOR LIKE 20 MINUTES BUT I THOUGHT WAS ALRIGHT THE OUT OF NOWHERE THE ENGINE START TO OVERHEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE H, MY CAR IS AN BRAND NEW ALTIMA 2.5 S 4 CYLINDERS AND I JUST BOUGHT IT ON MAY 12TH, IN KAILUA KONA HAWAII (WWW.KONAAUTO.COM), I GOT SCARED BECAUSE WAS TOO HOT AND IT COULD BURNT SOMEONE ELSE FACE OR EVEN BLOW OUT, IT HAPPENED ALREADY 2 TIMES, THEY SAID THAT IS A BELT BUT NO CAR WITH ALMOST 700 MILES ON IT HEATS UP OUT OF NOTHING. I WOULD ACTUALLY GUYS L…
Owner-reported narrative. 698 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341935 · 2010-07-08 (July 8, 2010)
I OWN A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA, BOUGHT IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I WAS REAR-ENDED TODAY BY A LARGE PICKUP TRUCK WHICH FORCED ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS WELL AND MY AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY FACE ACTUALLY JUST TOUCHED MY STEERING WHEEL! I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT UNLESS THE CAR IS HIT IN PRECISELY THE RIGHT POINT NEAR A SENSOR THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY!! I HAVE NEVER HEARD SUCH A STUPID EXCUSE AND AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IF MY CAR GETS "TOTALED" OF GOING WITH A DIFFERENT MAKE - NOT NISSAN! I CAN ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,336 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342591 · 2010-07-12 (July 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344348 · 2010-07-16 (July 16, 2010)
2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES TO INQUIRE ABOUT KEYLESS IGNITION *TGW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10344348 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V358000 · Suspension
Reported: 2009-09-16 (September 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: 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).
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V193000 · Structure
Reported: 2010-05-07 (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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V401000 · Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
Reported: 2010-09-10 (September 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗