2010 Nissan Sentra

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 144 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Sentra model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 144

Of the 2010 reports, 11 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system50 reports · 35% of complaints
Owner complaints144Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system50
  2. Engine35
  3. Air bags31
  4. Power train18
  5. Other or unspecified13
  6. Vehicle speed control11
  7. Steering9
  8. Electronic stability control (ESC)8

Recalls and investigations

  1. Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v battery, cablesDec 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).

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 11V579000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v battery, cablesNov 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.

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 10V555000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. 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

Representative owner complaints: electronic stability control (esc)

8 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 20, 2020

    MY 2010 NISSAN SENTRA (WAS STATIONARY EACH TIME) FAILED TO START SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT BEGAN STARTING FOR A WEEK.THEN ONE MORNING IT FAILED TO START AGAIN. I CLEANED BOTH THE CABLE ENDS ON THE BATTERY AND EACH POST. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STARTED AND LASTED A FEW DAYS AND THE SAME PROBLEMS ARISES AGAIN. THIS TIME THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. PUT A CODE MACHINE ON THE CAR AND RECEIVED A CODE FOR CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR OR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I HAVE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT GET GOOD CONNECTION AND CREATE FAILURE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER BUT THE NHTSA SYSTEM IS NOT RESPONDING. COULD PLEASE RESPOND TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE IS ON THE RECALL LIST?

  2. Steering, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 29, 2019

    WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND IT STARTED MAKING A HUMMING NOISE THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO THE RIGHT AND IT DID THIS TWICE AND I ALMOST CRASHED

  3. Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 25, 2019

    AFTER 4 DAYS OF NOT DRIVING MY CAR, MY CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DON'T DRIVE MY CAR, (THE FOUR DAYS). I HAVE TO JUMP START MY CAR. I HAVE BOUGHT NEW BATTERIES. I HAVE HAD MY ALTERNATOR CHECKED.

  4. Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 14, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT WAS TIME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY AND, THREE HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V579000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY TERMINAL AND COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TT*JB

  5. Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 30, 2018

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

  6. Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 18, 2016

    POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CAUSED IRREGULAR VOLTAGE AND BURN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE ECM TO BURN/DIE CAUSING CAR TO STOP WHILE ON MOVEMENT.

  7. Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 17, 2016

    I JUST PURCHASED MY 2010 NISSAN SENTRA USED FROM REPUTABLE CAR DEALERSHIP 3/4/16. ON 7/10/2016 MY BATTERY DIED AND WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND COULD NOT BE RECHARGED. ON 10/4/16 I WAS WAITING ON MY DAUGHTER TO GET OFF OF WORK. THE CAR STARTING TRYING TO DIE OUT. I TURNED OFF VEHICLE CHECKED ALL MY LUBRICANTS AND RADIATOR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. SHE GOT IN WAS IN PROCESS OF BACKING UP CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS(DASH LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHTS,AND ALL THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS) STARTED FLASHING CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS HESITATING AND DIED OUT. COULD NOT GET TO CRANK. USED JUMPER BOX TO CHECK BATTERY WAS NOT COMPLETELY DEAD. WE PUSHED VEHICLE BACK INTO PARKING PLACE AND LET BATTERY CHARGE. CAR WOULD START BUT NOT CATCH. FEW DAYS LATER BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD. READ ABOUT RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH MY VEHICLE. LOOSE POSITIVE CABLE TERMINAL CAUSING DROP IN VOLTAGE ESSENTIALLY DAMAGING ECM. VEHICLE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS IS ECM IS DEAD AND NEEDS REPLACED, POSITIVE TERMINAL CABLE NEEDS REPLACED. COST OF REPAIR $1250.00 AND NOW I AM HAVING TO PAY TO FIX REPAIRS. PER NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN CORPORATE MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEREFORE WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THEM. DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT ESPECIALLY WHEN DIAGNOSIS IS EXACTLY WHAT RECALL OF 33,803 VEHICLES WAS FOR. *TR

  8. Power train, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 9, 2013

    AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF LOW GEAR. AT 35 MPH, I WAS AT ABOUT 6,000RPMS IN DRIVE. I CONFIRMED THE OVERDRIVE OFF BUTTON IS NOT ENGAGED, NOR IS IT IN "L", AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS OFF. WHEN IT HAS BEEN COOLED OFF FOR ABOUT 3+ HOURS, IT WILL DRIVE FAIRLY NORMAL FOR ABOUT 10-12 MINUTES UNTIL WARMED UP, THEN IT ALL STARTS AGAIN. EVEN ONCE IT IS COOLED OFF, THERE IS A SLIGHT DRAG ON POWER AND IT WILL BEGIN TO HAVE ERRATIC SHIFTING (SIMILAR TO A REGULAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING) AFTER A FEW MINUTES ON TAKE OFF IT FEELS LIKE THE PARKING BRAKE IS ON, BUT IT IS NOT. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON, THE VDC CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON, AND ANOTHER LIGHT THAT IS ABOVE THE VDC LIGHT COMES ON. CODES P0720 AND P1778 WERE FOUND BY A LOCAL NON-NISSAN DEALER WHO CHECKED THEM AS A COURTESY FOR ME. HAVE DISCOVERED THAT NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE CVT TRANSMISSION WARRANTY ON CERTAIN NISSANS UP TO 10 YRS OR 120,000 MILES, MY SENTRA IS INCLUDED AMONG OTHERS. GET MORE INFO AT: HTTP://WWW.NISSANASSIST.COM/PROGRAMDETAILS.PHP. HOWEVER, MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER SAYS IF IT WILL COST ME 4 HOURS LABOR AT $125 HR TO TEAR DOWN FOR A FULL DIAGNOSIS. IF NOT COVERED, I HAVE TO PAY THAT. A CALL TO ANOTHER NISSAN SERVICE CENTER EXPLAINED THE SAME EXPENSE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE MANY COMING THRU THAT ARE UNDER THE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM DUE TO A DEFECT THAT CAUSES ENGINE COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION. FOR THAT PROBLEM, NISSAN WILL REPLACE IT BUT THEY EXPECT THE CUSTOMER TO PAY $2,000 TOWARD THE BILL. THAT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN DESIGN THAT THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT CAUSES THE FAILURE. I HAVE FOUND IN THE NISSAN FACTORY CVT MANUAL THAT THE PROBLEM IS INTERNAL AND MECHANICAL ACCORDING TO ITS OWN DIAGNOSTICS SEE THAT MANUAL HERE HTTP://ALLSENTRA.COM/FSM/2009_SENTRA/CVT.PDF . I HAVE A 2010, BUT IT IS THE SAME. *TR