2010 Nissan ALTIMA HYBRID
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Nissan ALTIMA HYBRID has 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: 2010 nissan altima hybrid suddenly lost all power (both electric and gasoline generated) while moving in traffic. i had to cut across 2 lanes through heavy traffic (while coasting) to get to the curb. after waiting and shutting the car down, i was able to restart it. i took it to the local dealer. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.
16
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
5 complaints- • 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER (BOTH ELECTRIC AND GASOLINE GENERATED) WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO CUT ACROSS 2 LANES THROUGH HEAVY TRAFFIC (WHILE COASTING) TO GET TO THE CURB. AFTER WAITING AND SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER
- • THE VEHICLE SET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT A STOP LIGHT. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO BE TOLD THAT DUE TO THE ENGINE IN THE HYBRID VEHICLE STARTING AND STOPPING A LOT IT BUILDS UP CARBON IN THE CYLINDER. (A HYBRID VEHICLE STARTS AND STOPS BY DESIGN WHEN SWITCHING FROM ELECTRIC
- • WHILE AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-495 (EXIT 51 E) AND RT 231 IN SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, WHILE IN ELECTRIC HYBRID MODE, EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH OCCURRED MARCH 8, 2014 AND IGNITED WITH VISIBLE SPARKS
“2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER (BOTH ELECTRIC AND GASOLINE GENERATED) WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO CUT ACROSS 2 LANES THROUGH HEAVY TRAFFIC (WHILE COASTING) TO GET TO THE CURB. AFTER WAITING AND SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
4 complaints- • WHILE AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-495 (EXIT 51 E) AND RT 231 IN SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, WHILE IN ELECTRIC HYBRID MODE, EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH OCCURRED MARCH 8, 2014 AND IGNITED WITH VISIBLE SPARKS
- • THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM WRITING TO REPORT A VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP INVOLVING MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID AT THE INTERSECTION OF RTE 231 & I-495 SERVICE RD (E/B) IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY. NISSAN WAS CONTACTED, AS WELL AS MY INSURANCE CARRIER, MET LIFE, AND OTH SENT IN
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME, IT WOULD NOT START DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W
“WHILE AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-495 (EXIT 51 E) AND RT 231 IN SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, WHILE IN ELECTRIC HYBRID MODE, EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH OCCURRED MARCH 8, 2014 AND IGNITED WITH VISIBLE SPARKS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNA
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
1 complaints- • MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID HAS A PROBLEM WHEREIN A (LIKELY COMPUTER SOFTWARE) DEFECT PREVENTS THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND SET AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. OVER A WIDE RANGE OF SPEEDS, SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS THE EFFECT OF LOCKING OUT
“MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID HAS A PROBLEM WHEREIN A (LIKELY COMPUTER SOFTWARE) DEFECT PREVENTS THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND SET AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. OVER A WIDE RANGE OF SPEEDS, SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS THE EFFECT OF LOCKING OUT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
1 complaints- • 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK FAILED INITIALLY JAMMING SEAT MOVEMENT, THEN RELEASING CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY . SEAT MECHANISM IS MANUAL (NOT POWER). *TR
“2010 NISSAN ALTIMA DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK FAILED INITIALLY JAMMING SEAT MOVEMENT, THEN RELEASING CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY . SEAT MECHANISM IS MANUAL (NOT POWER). *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 16 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER (BOTH ELECTRIC AND GASOLINE GENERATED) WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO CUT ACROSS 2 LANES THROUGH HEAVY TRAFFIC (WHILE COASTING) TO GET TO THE CURB. AFTER WAITING AND SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: WHILE AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-495 (EXIT 51 E) AND RT 231 IN SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, WHILE IN ELECTRIC HYBRID MODE, EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH OCCURRED MARCH 8, 2014 AND IGNITED WITH VISIBLE SPARKS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID HAS A PROBLEM WHEREIN A (LIKELY COMPUTER SOFTWARE) DEFECT PREVENTS THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND SET AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. OVER A WIDE RANGE OF SPEEDS, SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS THE EFFECT OF LOCKING OUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Nissan ALTIMA HYBRID — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 16
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 4
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Nissan ALTIMA HYBRID