Is the 2010 Nissan ALTIMA reliable?

The 2010 Nissan ALTIMA has 541 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2010 Nissan ALTIMA?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (74 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (73 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (73 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2010 Nissan ALTIMA?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM), SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Nissan ALTIMA?

The 2010 Nissan ALTIMA gets 24 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2000. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2010 Nissan ALTIMA?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2010 Nissan ALTIMA is approximately $1,571/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2010 Nissan ALTIMA

Q: Is the 2010 Nissan ALTIMA often stolen?

The Nissan ALTIMA was the #4 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 15,200 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: high.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan ALTIMA has 541 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 344. The most common issue is electrical problems (14% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2010 nissan altima. the contact stated that the push button automatic start ignition would not operate when engaged. the engine failed to start after several attempts and the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician was unable to diagnos. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 27 crash reports 42 injuries

541

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

74 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH BUTTON AUTOMATIC START IGNITION WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOS
• '09 ALTIMA WOULD NOT START. SECOND OCCURRENCE IN ONE WEEK. JUMPED CAR AND TOOK IT TO GETTEL SARASOTA, FL NISSAN DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS - FAULTY "BRAKE SWITCH", NEEDED TO START KEYLESS IGNITION THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A "COMMON" PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. REPLACED PART AND NO PROBLEMS SINCE. KEEPING M
• 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AUTOMATIC PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE. IT CRANKED SEVERAL TIMES THEN DID NOTHING WHEN PUSHED. WAITED 15-20 MINUTES AND THEN IT STARTED RIGHT UP. UPON STARTING THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE BECAUS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH BUTTON AUTOMATIC START IGNITION WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2010 Nissan ALTIMA

Based on 391 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 52K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

115

30-60K

100

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 55K mi · 62 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 47K mi · 59 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

In line with typicalmedian 50K mi · 47 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

In line with typicalmedian 34K mi · 15 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 79K mi · 14 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

In line with typicalmedian 40K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)10/09/2010

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.

Risk: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Fix: 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.

High theft risk

#4 most stolen in 2025

The Nissan ALTIMA was the #4 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 15,200 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Widely available, high resale demand

Recommended protection: engine immobilizer verification, steering wheel lock, GPS tracker, and comprehensive insurance coverage. Higher theft risk usually translates to higher comprehensive-coverage insurance premiums.

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2010 Nissan ALTIMA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,001

Per month

$167

Per mile

16.7¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,667/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,500/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2010 Nissan ALTIMA

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,571

Full coverage / month

$131

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-6%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.15x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.85x

= Full coverage estimate$1571

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan ALTIMA Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2010 ALTIMA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 541 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH BUTTON AUTOMATIC START IGNITION WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN ENGAGED. THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA MAKING A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. CONSUMER STATES THE NOISE HAPPENS ONLY WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE VEHICLE IS COLD, AND AT SPEEDS 30 MPH AND LESS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE WAS SO BAD, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO STALL. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED IT FELT AS THOU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES TO INQUIRE ABOUT KEYLESS IGNITION *TGW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABRUPTLY VEERING TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER; THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD AND RESISTANT TO DRIVER INPUT. THE CONTACT WAS UNAB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)