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.
Suspension, Mar 28, 2019
RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE STRUT INSULATOR MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK. CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION.
Engine, Mar 23, 2019
MY ENGINE IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN ACCELARATING AND IT HAS EXCESSIVE BLOWBY WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SAYING CATALYTIC CONVERTER ,EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL GETTING PAST MY PVC SYSTEM IT ONLY HAS 129880 MILES ON IT
Other or unspecified, Feb 21, 2019
DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND CRACKING, CAUSING A STICKY GLARING PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING. NISSAN REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN CONTACTED.
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2019
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING. YOU CAN'T PUT ANYTHING ON IT OR EVEN TOUCH IT WITHOUT GETTING A VERY STICKY RESIDUE ON YOUR HANDS. IT IS ALSO A MAJOR HAZARD WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUT. WHEN THE SUN HITS THE MELTING PART OF THE DASH, I AM BLINDED. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING & REPLACE THESE DASHBOARDS. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING ISSUES.APPARENTLY EVERYONE DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE SOUTHERN STATES IS HAVING THIS ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Feb 11, 2019
2010 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE DASHBOARD IS MELTING. NUMEROUS COMPLAINS ARE IN ONLINE THREADS BUT NISSAN IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS ISSUE IS EXPEIRENCED IN YEARS FROM 2008 TO 2013. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY NISSAN. ONLY OCCURS IN HOT CLIMATE.
Steering, Engine, Jan 25, 2019
STEERING LOCK INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW IN THE LAST 2 MOS, ALWAYS ON COLD TEMP MORNINGS. LATER THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THE ENGINE WILL START...EXCEPT THIS TIME, LATER THE ENGINE STARTED WITH THE STEERING LOCK LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN RUNNING.
Structure, Jan 20, 2019
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO MY DASH STARTED TO MELT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SINE ON THE DASH IS MAKING DRIVING REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO SEE THROUGH THE FRONT MIRROR
Power train, Dec 19, 2018
THE VERY FIRST ISSUE WAS VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE IN AIRPORT TRAFFIC. IT RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY BUT CUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED OUT THE PROBLEM REFUSED TO REPLICATE. THE CURRENT ISSUE NOW IS THAT THE RPM JUMPS UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV UP WHILE VEHICLE DE-ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE SOMETIMES RUNS LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO ENGAGE THE GEAR.
Other or unspecified, Dec 17, 2018
A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE FOR 2010 MODELS ON THE ALTIMA DUE TO MELTING DASHES, EVERYTHING GETS STUCK IF SOMETHING IS PLACED ON THE DASH. PLEASE REPLACE DASHES!
Air bags, Dec 4, 2018
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE 2011. MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) READS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. I AM A 6FT 4IN 230 POUND INDIVIDUAL AND THE OCS SYSTEM FAILS TO RECOGNIZE ME WHEN I AM SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, STOPED, AND DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I MADE MY NISSAN DEALER AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE THE FIRST RECALL IN 2013 OF THE OCS SYSTEM AND THEY FAILED TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE. MY NISSAN DEALER (PETRO NISSAN HATTIESBURG, MS 39402) LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED AND TOLD ME TO IGNORE THE OCS OFF LIGHT ON MY DASH. AFTER FOUR NISSAN ALTIMA OCS RECALLS (03/01/2013, 10/20/2015, 04/26/2016, 12/19/2016) I HAVE GROWN MORE CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF. AS OF 12/04/2018 AT 5:52 P.M. I HAVE DIRECTLY CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE. A REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT NISSAN IS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD AS OF MARCH 2018. I CONTINUED TO PRESS NISSAN'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY DEFECT AND AFTER SEVERAL BACK-AND-FORTHS THE REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULED A 'SPECIALIST' TO CONTACT ME TOMORROW 12/05/2018.
Air bags, Nov 30, 2018
MY AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN CAR IS ON.
Power train, Nov 14, 2018
VEHICLE WILL NOT GO PAST 60 MPH, THEN WITHIN 24 HOURS WOULD NOT GO PAST 40 MPH, WITHIN 24 MORE HOURS, VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH AND HAS EXTREME POWER LOSS. WAS EVALUATED BY TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO CONFIRMED THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING.
Other or unspecified, Nov 8, 2018
I HAVE BEEN HAVING STALLING ISSUES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR. TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP HERE WHERE I LIVE ON 12/17 FOR THE ISSUE ONLY RECEIVED A CHANGE OF FLUID NO ERROR CODES. SPENT ALMOST 300.00 THAT DAY. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN ON 1/18 FOR THE SAME ISSUE, NOT EVEN A MONTH APART. WAS TOLD THAT FROM THE VIDEO I SHOWED THE NISSAN WORKER IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION GOING BAD. I HAD TO PAY 110.00 TO HOOK IT UP TO THE MACHINE THIS DAY. AFTER LEAVING MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A WEEK I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT HONOR THE 120,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR PULL ANY ERROR CODES. THEY PERFORMED AN UPDATE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH THEY STATED WAS NEEDED AND THAT "SHOULD" FIX THE ISSUE. FAST FORWARD TO 11/3/18 LESS THAN 3000 MILES LATER IT'S STALLING AGAIN AND WON'T GO PAST 5 MPH WITH THE GAS PADDLE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR ON A FLAT SURFACE STREET. I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME AND IT WAS AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL OF THIS AND HAVE VIDEOS TO PROVE EVERYTHING THAT I SPEAK OF. THERE WAS A TIME WHERE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN TO 50 AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD TO TRY TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY 18 WHEELERS ZOOMING PAST ME. THAT IN ITSELF IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN FOR ME.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 29, 2018
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BUCKING TOOK TO NISSAN DEALER WAS TOLD 1 IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUGS PAID TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BUT ALSO HAD MENTIONED IT SMELT LIKE RAW EGGS TO THE DEALER. A FEW MONTHS LATER SAME THING TOOK TO DEALER SAID ANOTHER IGNITION COIL I APPROVED FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE REMAINING 3 IGNITION COILS SO I WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AND AGAIN I TOLD THEM THAT IT SMELT LIKE RAW EGGS. NOW THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON AND THE CODE IS FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. WAS TOLD THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WENT OUT IN APRIL. I WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS. ALL THE ISSUES WAS WHEN DRIVING AT BOTH HWY SPEEDS AND CITY SPEEDS
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Oct 29, 2018
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 20MPH TO 40MPH THE RPMS INCREASE TO 3RPM AND THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO CHANGE THE GEAR. IT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE). I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2010. IT HAS 220,000 MILES ON IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND SAW THIS US A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. NISSAN ALSO SENT OUT A BULLETIN NTB10-121B. THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THE ISSUE AT THEIR COST. ATTACHED IS THE PDF OF THE BULLETIN.
Air bags, Oct 17, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DEALER (CORAL SPRINGS NISSAN, 9350 W ATLANTIC BLVD, CORAL SPRINGS, FL 33071, 954 755-5600 EXT 3101) WERE NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V521000 (AIR BAGS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE THE SAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A RECALL AND OUT OF WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,388. *TT*JB
Air bags, Sep 24, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A POTHOLE AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "AIR BAG OFF" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. PRIORITY NISSAN RICHMOND (16301 PRIORITY WAY, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA 23834, (804) 414-0550) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 210,000.
Other or unspecified, Sep 20, 2018, fire
CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING...COMPLETELY BURNED UP
Steering, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Aug 21, 2018
MY CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED 4 TIMES FOR VARIOUS DEFECTS AS WELL AS THE NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 THAT I HAD.
Suspension, Aug 21, 2018
MECHANIC FOUND CRACKED STRUTS AND ADVISED IS A DANGER TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM (09V358000) FOR MY YEAR AND VEHICLE TYPE. MY VIN INCLUDED IN RECALL. WHY? THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR IS $940 + A $140 DIAGNOSTIC. THE CAR IS JERKY AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. I AM NOW CONFINED TO ONLY DRIVE LOCALLY UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE $1K COST TO REPAIR. WHY IS MY CAR NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL?
Steering, Aug 19, 2018
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE. UPON ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. MY KEY LIGHT WAS/IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, CAR GOES INTO THE ON POSITION BUT DOES NOT START VEHICLE. UNABLE TO TURN OFF AFTER PUSHING THE "START BUTTON".
Visibility/wiper, Aug 18, 2018
THE DASH IS MELTING AND STICKY, CAUSING IT TO BE SHINY. THIS CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE, CAUSING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 14, 2018
2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING, NOT JUST ME. (SEE NHTSA ID # 10899578). I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES, SOMETIMES WITH MY SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT IS THE CAR TURNS OFF COMPLETELY WHILE COMING TO STOP, WHEN STOPPED, AND/OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP. ALL SYSTEMS TURN OFF INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO STEER AND STOP. AFTER TURNING OFF, THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY TURN BACK ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIME BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, SINCE IT HAD A RECALL AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY, TO SEE IF IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT, AS THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF THIS MORNING, 8/14/18, WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON A MAIN CITY STREET. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BECAUSE THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED OFF AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT SEEM TO WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE CAR DID NOT TURN BACK ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 13, 2018
DRIVING ON I95 FROM GATLINBURG MY CAR STARTED MAKE A HORRIBLE WHINING NOISIE, SHUCK IT'S HAS DONE BEFORE JUST NOT THIS BAD, IT HAS BEFORE BUT I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND JUST STOPPED AND LET IT SIT AND IT STOPPED . NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYTTIME I GET IN THE CAR. OR THAT I HAVE TO BEG IT GO WHEN IT'S IN GEAR, WHEN I PULL OUT I'D DOESN'T GO. I'VE NOTICE IF I SLAM IT FROM TO PARK FORCEFULLY TO DRIVE IT SEEMS TO WORK FINE UNTIL THE WHINING AND JERKING START. I KNOW THIS IS A TRANNY ISSUE AND I I KNOW IT'S WARRANTY RORB10 YRS OR 120000 MILES I'M AT 102! AND I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR PLEASE HELP!!!
Engine, Aug 11, 2018
MY VEHICLE SLOWS SEVERELY DOWN WHEN I DRIVE IN STEEP HILLS..