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: steering

9 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 1, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. ADDITIONALLY, THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARDENA NISSAN (1670 W REDONDO BEACH BLVD, GARDENA, CA 90247, (310) 532-1600) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,166.

  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. Steering, Power train, Engine, Jun 13, 2019

    CVT TRANSMISSION WENT AT 76,000 MILES, COLUMN ASSEMBLY SHAFT LOWER NEEDS REPAIR AT 87000 MILES CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WENT AT 44000 MILES REPLACED AND ARE GOING AGAIN AT 87000 MILES, CAR BURNS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND HAVE NO OIL LEAK OR DEFECTIVE PARTS

  4. Steering, Dec 7, 2018

    ON MY 2010 NISSAN SENTRA S - PS WARNING LIGHT (POWER STEERING) COMES ON, AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING (SO VERY HARD TO TURN THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT). I RE-START THE CAR AND PS WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARS, THOUGH SOMETIMES I HAVE TO START THE CAR A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE PS LIGHT GOES OFF !. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNINGS/EVENING AND IT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I CALLED UP NISSAN AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A RECALL WITH NISSAN ALTIMA FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT WITH NISSAN SENTRA. ON THE NET I SEE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER CARS HAVING ELECTRICAL PS SIMILAR TO NISSAN SENTRA (EG. NISSAN VERSA & ALTIMA) THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR PS ISSUE WITH NISSAN SENTRA AS WELL, SINCE THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND A SECURITY RISK.

  5. Steering, Suspension, Vehicle speed control, Oct 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 TO THE NISSAN DEALER SINCE PEPBOYS DOES NOT FIX ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HOWEVER DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING I WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN GETTING INTO THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GO ANY FASTER.

  6. Steering, Suspension, Power train, Jul 27, 2012

    I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A ONE-TIME,ONLY-THING, BUT FELT I WANTED TO MENTION IT. MY MOTHER DRIVES A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA, BUILT ABOUT 2/10 IT HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER EXCEPT FOR 'INCLUDED' OIL AND FILTER CHANGES, AS PART OF THE NEW CAR 'SELL' I TOOK THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL OFF, TO ROTATE THE TIRES AND, SINCE I HAVE REPLACED CONTROL ARMS, AND CV AXLES MYSELF IN THE PAST, LOOKED AROUND. THE 32 MM SPINDLE NUT WAS LOOSE ENOUGH TO TURN BY HAND, THE ORIGINAL COTTER-PIN (PAINTED BLACK WHILE THE CAR WAS BUILT) WAS ORIGINAL-PROPERLY INTACT. I CONSULTED MY TECHNICAL MANUAL AND IT SAID THAT THIS 32 MM SPINDLE NUT IS USUALLY TORQUED TO 92 FOOT-POUNDS-NOT FINGER TIGHT. IN FAIRNESS AS I WRITE THIS-TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED-AND TO THE MANUFACTURERS DEFENSE-THE CAR DID HIT A CURB ON THAT SIDE-AND THE TIRE BLEW-IT WAS REPLACED BY ETD TIRE SERVICE IN NJ. BUT THAT COTTER PIN IS ORIGINAL-NEVER REMOVED. SO A SOCKET COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT ON IT TO LOOSEN IT FROM THE ORIGINAL TORQUE SETTING. UNLESS THE SHOCK OF THE TIRE IMPACT JARRED IT LOOSE? KNOCKED THE WHEEL BEARING AND LOOSENED THE SPINDLE NUT? EITHER WAY-I AM GLAD I SPOTTED THIS. I WONDER IF THIS TORQUE SPECIFICATION IS ADEQUATE? 92 FOOT LBS. *TR

  7. Steering, Dec 20, 2011

    PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AND FELT A "POP" AS THE WHEEL TURNED. I TURNED THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND NOTICED THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT. I TURNED CAR OFF WITH THE WHEEL STILL TURNED TO THE LEFT AND LOOKED AT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS POINTED TO THE RIGHT. I LOOKED AT THE RIGHT WHEEL AND IT WAS POINTED TO THE LEFT. I LOOKED AT THE LEFT WHEEL AND SAW THAT THE TIE ROD HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO CEMENT PARKING BARRIERS PRESENT. *TR

  8. Steering, Oct 22, 2010, crash

    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.

  9. Steering, Vehicle speed control, Feb 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