2010 Nissan SENTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan SENTRA has 212 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.6x the segment average of 80. 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 . ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 15 crash reports 8 injuries

212

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

ENGINE

43 complaints

20%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. SHE THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND CHECKED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT, THINKING MAYBE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKING THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMED WITH OIL AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

33 complaints

16%

• 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
• 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
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 10 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

18 complaints

• 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
• I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A ONE-TIME,ONLY-THING, BUT FELT I WANTED TO MENTION IT. MY MOTHER DRIVES A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA, BUILT ABOUT 2/10 IT HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER EXCEPT FOR 'INCLUDED' OIL AND FILTER CHANGES, AS PART OF THE NEW CAR 'SELL' I TOOK THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL OFF, TO ROTATE T
• I WAS DRIVING ON A WOODED BACK ROAD WHEN AN ANIMAL RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THE ABS AND COME TO A FULL STOP. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STOPPING I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STEPPED ON THE GAS. THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE BRAKES WERE STILL APPLIED. I SHIFTED BETWEEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

14 complaints

• 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
• THE DEALER FAILED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS EVEN WITH SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. THE APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIR WAS MADE TWO WEEKS AGO AND WAS CONFIRMED TWICE THAT THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS. UPON REACHING TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID, THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND COULD NOT PERF
• WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY I CAN'T PICK UP SPEED. I CAN HAVE THE PEDDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN AND IT WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED. IT HAS SLOWED DOWN AND I HAVE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS MAY 3RD. I TOOK TO THE SHOP AND GOT A CODE P0744. CHECK ENGINE L

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

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