2010 Nissan Altima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 381 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Altima model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 25 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 37 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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.
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
Campaign 10V401000 on NHTSA.gov
StructureMay 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.
IF SEVERAL STRUCTURAL WELDS ARE OUT OF SPECIFICATION ON A SINGLE VEHICLE, IT MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE VEHICLE CRASH PERFORMANCE.
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.
Campaign 10V193000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionSep 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.
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.
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).
Campaign 09V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
381 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jul 8, 2010, crash
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 ONLY IMAGINE IF ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN HAD BEEN IN THE CAR. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE CHECKED OUT AND THANKFULLY I AM "OK" ALTHOUGH MY BACK IS IN PAIN AS WELL AS MY NECK! THEY SAID I MAY HAVE TO RETURN FOR AN MRI IF IT GETS WORSE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 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 LIKE YOU TO PUT ATTENTION TO ALL THE REVIEWS CUZ PEOPLE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE A/C IN ALTIMAS 2010, ALSO THERE IS A NOISE EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT I TURN THE CAR ON LIKE WATER RUNNING IN THE DASH. *TR
Structure, Jun 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 FROM THE OUTSIDE. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SUFFERED A BACK INJURY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 27, 2010, crash
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
Suspension, Power train, Apr 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 EXPERIENCED. *JB
Steering, Suspension, Air bags, Mar 17, 2010, crash
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 SUFFERED FROM MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND TIRES WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT A RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE SUSPENSION BUT UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V358000: SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,800.