2010 NISSAN ALTIMA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Nissan Altima. This model year has 378 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2010 Nissan Altima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
Uncategorized Issues
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2010 Nissan Altima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 73 | 4 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 73 | 2 | 3 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 69 | — | 3 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 61 | 14 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 54 | 1 | 5 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 31 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 31 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 30 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 22 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 20 | 2 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 20 | 3 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 6 | 3 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2010 Nissan Altima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 378 most recent complaints
Vehicle doesn't work properbaliy
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered severe corrosion on the rear cross-member. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive because the corrosion affected several parts of the vehicle. The mechani…
Dashboard has started melting. Front half of dash has started oozing a black, sticky, shiny tar-like substance in addition to an odor. Sticks to everything and does not come off or stop oozing. Spreading to more area of the dashboard. Does create a glare on the windshield, ob…
UNKNOWN
I am having problems with my ECU malfunctioning which is causing my catalytic converter my exhaust manifold and my O2 sensors to malfunction. I'm having all the same issues as the recall campaign reference number NTB 12-040 d
Around 12:30 pm Sysco driver [XXX] illegally parked on the San Diego California street blocking off traffic. I made a note of the drivers identification because of the awkward closeness to my vehicle. I went to an appointment about an hour away and upon my return I immediately …
Batteries continue to go dead, have had at least 8 batteries since 2012. Nissan started charging me for batteries got too be expensive & told them this is a huge concern because I travel alone & if I get stranded this is unsafe for me. Gave me all kinds of excuses as to why bat…
Since 2011/2012 at times Altima won't start. Stopped going to dealer because of excuses & expense after warranty expired. Have been calling AAA. Have had at least 8 batteries replaced. This is a safety issue for me when I travel alone. When I turn the car off I pray evertime…
Yes, while driving down Atlanta Highway I was going around 55 mph then all of a sudden saw smoke was coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. When I pulled over Flames was coming from the front right side and spread it to the center of the front hood, then spread it …
THIS CAR DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY MELTING AND THE CHEMICALS THATS BEING RELEASED ARE VERY SMELLY AND EYE BURNING. FROM THE VENTS DOWN TO RIGHT BEFORE THE GEAR SHIFT HAS PIECES MISSING CONTROL UNITS DONT EVEN SIT IN ORIGINAL PLACE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE DASH IS MELTING AND WONT HOLD TO…
I HAVE A CVT TRANSMISSION IS MY CAR, AND ITS TERRIBLY SCARY. IT SHIFTS IF IT WANT TOO I TRY TO SLOW DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY HOPING TO HELP IT SHIFT IT STILL DONT I HAVE TO COME ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP. I GET OFF THE GAS CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND OR STALLS AND SHAKES AND THEN TAKES OF…
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that seat air bag warning light remained illuminated after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informe…
The dashboard is melted. The shiny surface that this melted area has created causes a terrible glare when driving during the day to the point where it is difficult to see the road or oncoming traffic well. The surface is extremely sticky to the touch. Melting has progressively be…
- Fuel system and Gauge - Smell of gas in the car, gas gurgles out of the filler tube. Concerned of driving the car with the smell of gas. - Dealer says repair it's not covered yet there's a recall bulletin on this problem (Nissan TSB NTB17-030). Say's diagnosing the problem i…
2010 Nissan altam the front strut insulators on both sides have really bad cracks on the upper insulators. It's a loud clunking noise going over bumps or just driving on flat surfaces. There's a recall on 09 and 10 maxima and altamas with the same issues but this one isn't showin…
When parked letting the car warm up constant shaking kinda a rough ideal at times. From park to reverse it shifts hard the to drive its ok I guess then on the go it's like driving a boat on land loud knocking sounds seems like the tires are flat or about to explode off the car re…
Dashboard is melting and cracking. Glare makes it hard to see out of the windshield.
At some point on the highway the car throttles down to less than 60 mph. Mashing the gas pedal to the floor results in nothing happening. This causes a dangerous road situation with the slower speed, but the worst part is when it suddenly begins to accelerate again, potentially h…
Today my 16 year old daughter drove my 2010 Nissan Altima. At 45 mph it started to jerk. She pulled over to check things out and saw nothing. She went to put it back in drive and the gear shifter wouldn’t stay in proper drive position, but she started driving. It continued and be…
I've owned my Ultima for approximately 9 years the dashboard is melting and cracking causing poor visibility, glares, melting dashboard with cracks causing wires to be exposed to hot heat and sun.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2010 Nissan Altima.
Recalls for 2010 Nissan Altima
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2010 Nissan Altima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2010 Nissan Altima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2010 Nissan Altima reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2010 Nissan Altima has 378 NHTSA owner complaints, 25 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (73 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Altima?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (73 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (73 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (69 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2010 Nissan Altima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2010 Nissan Altima?▾
The 2010 Nissan Altima has 25 crash-related complaints and 8 fire reports out of 378 total NHTSA complaints. 37 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2010 Nissan Altima have any recalls?▾
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2010 Nissan Altima. The largest issue: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2010 Nissan Altima?▾
The 2010 Nissan Altima has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Altima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2010 Nissan Altima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.