YearToAvoid

2010 Nissan Altima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

73/100

#5 most-complained of 16 Altima years

The 2010 Nissan Altima has a Complaint Index of 73, ranking 5th worst among 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 380 complaints, 2 recalls, and 9 fires, with Electrical System issues being the top problem area at 20% of complaints.

Complaints
380
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
25 / 9
Injuries / deaths
37 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24.5
21.5 city / 29 hwy

Top 2010 Nissan Altima problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System77 (20%)
  2. Other73 (19%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain73 (19%)
  4. Engine70 (18%)
  5. Airbags61 (16%)
  6. Structure & Body38 (10%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires38 (10%)
  8. Brakes36 (9%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers28 (7%)
  10. Steering20 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including one where the vehicle spun out after braking on a damp road.
  • Airbags deploy unexpectedly during low-speed contact, such as a minor rear-end tap while releasing the brake pedal.
  • Brake application at highway speed triggers violent steering wheel shaking and loss of control, according to one owner account.
  • Electrical system fires start near the front passenger side or engine area and spread into the cabin without prior warning lights.
  • Sudden unintended engine surging occurs at low speeds, in one case leading to a front-end collision.
  • Seat belts reportedly unlatch after airbag deployment in a frontal impact, leaving occupants without restraint.
2010 Nissan Altima complaints: complaints filed per quarter272010 Q12012 Q12014 Q12016 Q12018 Q12020 Q12022 Q12024 Q1
529 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q3 (27).

2010 Nissan Altima recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 10V401000Sep 10, 2010Other7,948 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 10V193000May 7, 2010Structure & Body113 vehicles

    Structure

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 altima vehicles manufactured from april 7, 2010 through april 13, 2010. Some of the front side member assembly components may not have been welded to specification due to a tool maintenance error.

    Risk: If several structural welds are out of specification on a single vehicle, it may have an effect on the vehicle crash performance.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary repair free of charge. The safety recall began on may 13, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2010 Nissan Altima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Altima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution73380224.5
2011Good40241126
2012Caution67426424.5

All Nissan Altima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Nissan Altima reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2010 Altima a Complaint Index of 73, the 5th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Altima years.
What is the top problem area for the 2010 Nissan Altima?
Electrical System complaints make up 20% of all reported issues, the largest share, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 19% and Engine at 18%.
Does the 2010 Nissan Altima have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2010 Altima: one for overheating Garmin nuvi navigation batteries and one for improperly welded front side member assembly components. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do 2010 Altima problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 53,128 miles, though Electrical System issues showed a lower median of 44,708.5 miles.
How does the 2010 Altima compare to other years?
The 2010 Altima's Complaint Index of 73 is worse than 2011 (40) and 2018 (33), but better than 2013 (100) and 2014 (93), which are the worst-ranked Altima years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.