2010 Nissan ALTIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan ALTIMA has 541 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.8x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.

14 fire reports 27 crash reports 42 injuries

541

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

TRANSMISSION

73 complaints

13%

• 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
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE MOVED VERY SLOWLY. THIS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AND IT ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDICATING ANY TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DE
• CVT TRANSMISSION IS WARMED UP AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 MINUTES. ONCE WARM, FROM A COMPLETE STOP, I LIGHTLY ACCELERATE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE CAR HESITATES LIKE I AM NOT EVEN PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR SO I PRESS HARDER ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE CAR FINALLY AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL ALMOS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

73 complaints

13%

• 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES TO INQUIRE ABOUT KEYLESS IGNITION *TGW
• THE LIGHT INDICATING "AIRBAG OFF" FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT IS FREQUENTLY ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN AN ADULT (140 LB) PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE OCCURRENCE IS APPROXIMATELY 10 PERCENT OF THE TIME AND OCCURS AT ANY SPEED, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THIS ERROR HAS PERSISTED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE
• MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURNOVER. AT FIRST I COULD GET IT TO START AFTER A FEW TRIES (I WOULD PUMP THE BRAKES, SLAM THE CAR HOOD, BANG ON THE STEERING WHEEL). THEN I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VDS (TRAC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES TO INQUIRE ABOUT KEYLESS IGNITION *TGW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

61 complaints

11%

• 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
• I OWN A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA, BOUGHT IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I WAS REAR-ENDED TODAY BY A LARGE PICKUP TRUCK WHICH FORCED ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS WELL AND MY AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY FACE ACTUALLY JUST TOUCHED MY STEERING WHEEL! I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD M
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 14 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

54 complaints

10%

• MY BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA A/C STOP WORKING JUST FOR NOT REASON AFTER DRIVING IT FOR LIKE 20 MINUTES BUT I THOUGHT WAS ALRIGHT THE OUT OF NOWHERE THE ENGINE START TO OVERHEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE H, MY CAR IS AN BRAND NEW ALTIMA 2.5 S 4 CYLINDERS AND I JUST BOUGHT IT ON MAY 12TH, IN KAILUA KONA HAWAII
• I HAVE A 2010 ALTIMA BOUGHT IN MARCH 2010 THAT HAS STARTED TO JERK WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN. MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IT IS NOT DRIVING NORMAL BUT AFTER TALKING TO NI
• AS CAR ACCELERATES TO 20 MPH, THERE IS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT/UNDERCARRIAGE AREA. NOISE WAS NOTICED THE FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE. THE CAR NOW HAS 7,500 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER, THE LEAD TECH HAD ME RIDE WITH HIM TO DUPLICATE THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“MY BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA A/C STOP WORKING JUST FOR NOT REASON AFTER DRIVING IT FOR LIKE 20 MINUTES BUT I THOUGHT WAS ALRIGHT THE OUT OF NOWHERE THE ENGINE START TO OVERHEAT ALL THE WAY TO THE H, MY CAR IS AN BRAND NEW ALTIMA 2.5 S 4 CYLINDERS AND I JUST BOUGHT IT ON MAY 12TH, IN KAILUA KONA HAWAII”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)