Is the 2010 Nissan SENTRA reliable?

The 2010 Nissan SENTRA has 212 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2010 Nissan SENTRA?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (50 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (43 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (33 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2010 Nissan SENTRA?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). 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 SENTRA?

The 2010 Nissan SENTRA gets 27 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1778. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

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

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2010 Nissan SENTRA is approximately $1,403/year (sedan-compact 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 SENTRA

Q: Is the 2010 Nissan SENTRA often stolen?

The Nissan SENTRA was the #21 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 4,800 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan SENTRA has 212 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 285. The most common issue is electrical problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: i bought a 2010 nissan sentra s on friday july, 2. it had 47 miles on it, 10 of which i put on during a test drive. on wednesday, july 7, i dropped by the dealership to complete the trade-in, and my new car suddenly stopped while i was in the nissan parking lot. after waiting at the dealership for . There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 15 crash reports 8 injuries

212

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

50 complaints

24%

• I BOUGHT A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA S ON FRIDAY JULY, 2. IT HAD 47 MILES ON IT, 10 OF WHICH I PUT ON DURING A TEST DRIVE. ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, I DROPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE THE TRADE-IN, AND MY NEW CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS IN THE NISSAN PARKING LOT. AFTER WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR
• MY CAR NISSAN SENTRA 2010 BROKE DOWN ON PARKING LOT AT MY WORKPLACE (LACK OF ELECTRICITY) ON NOV 30, 2010. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT AWARE ABOUT A RECALL FOR POSITIVE CABLE TO CAR'S BATTERY. WITH MY COLLEAGUES AT WORK WE TRIED TO USE JUMPING CABLES TO START THE ENGINE. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS CAR W
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE, BATTERY AND HAZARDS LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V555000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I BOUGHT A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA S ON FRIDAY JULY, 2. IT HAD 47 MILES ON IT, 10 OF WHICH I PUT ON DURING A TEST DRIVE. ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, I DROPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE THE TRADE-IN, AND MY NEW CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS IN THE NISSAN PARKING LOT. AFTER WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2010 Nissan SENTRA

Based on 161 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 76K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 80K mi · 16 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Earlier than typicalmedian 87K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

Earlier than typicalmedian 21K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Earlier than typicalmedian 11K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 11K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 83K mi · 36 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)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES15/12/2011

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).

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Above-average theft risk

#21 most stolen in 2025

The Nissan SENTRA was the #21 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 4,800 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Common budget sedan

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 SENTRA

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,778

Per month

$148

Per mile

14.8¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,286/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,412/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 SENTRA

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

$1,403

Full coverage / month

$117

Liability only / year

$601

vs US avg

-16%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-compact)0.93x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.85x

= Full coverage estimate$1403

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

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan SENTRA 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 SENTRA, 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

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 212 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I BOUGHT A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA S ON FRIDAY JULY, 2. IT HAD 47 MILES ON IT, 10 OF WHICH I PUT ON DURING A TEST DRIVE. ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, I DROPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLETE THE TRADE-IN, AND MY NEW CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS IN THE NISSAN PARKING LOT. AFTER WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: CAR WOULD NOT START. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION AND TO JUST TIGHTEN IT. I HAD MY HUSBAND TIGHTEN IT AND IT DID START. THIS HAPPENED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES AFTER THIS. THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND WAS WITH ME AND HE WAS ABLE TO J
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: ON JULY 20, 2010, I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FORCE OF THE CRASH WAS SUCH THAT THE REAR OF THE CAR I WAS DRIVING SUSTAINED SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. THE FORCE ALSO, PROPELLED ME INTO THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. THIS OTHER CAR SUSTAINED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 50 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 65-70 MPH AND EXITING TO A FULL STOP, ENGINE WOULD REV UP AS USUAL BUT ONLY MOVE 1 MPH. TRANSMISSION NOT FULLY ENGAGED. THIS PUTS ONE IN HARMS WAY WITH NO ABILITY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. OCCURRED IN ALL GEARS. ONLY WAY TO GET BACK TO NORMAL WAS TO
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)