YearToAvoid

2010 Nissan Altima Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has logged 77 Electrical System complaints for the 2010 Nissan Altima, 20% of all complaints for that model year. These include 3 crashes and 4 fires, with a median failure mileage of 44,708. No related recall is listed for this component.

Electrical System complaints
77
20% of 380
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
44,709 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Steering column lock (ESCL) engages and prevents the car from starting, sometimes requiring extended fighting with the wheel to free it.
  • Push-button ignition fails to crank the engine even though dash lights, windows, and door locks respond normally.
  • Door locks behave erratically, with some doors locking or unlocking only by key fob or only manually, and locks failing to engage until the vehicle reaches a certain speed.
  • Vehicle fails to shift out of park without warning while stationary, requiring multiple restarts.
  • Owners report engine compartment fires with smoke and flames spreading from the front of the vehicle, sometimes with no prior warning lights.
  • Key fob activates on its own and dashboard lighting indicators are described as too dim to tell if lights are on or off.

When 2010 Nissan Altima electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 31, 2010, latest May 6, 2026.

2010 Nissan Altima electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter102010 Q32012 Q22014 Q12015 Q22016 Q32017 Q42019 Q32023 Q2
77 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q3 (10).

Electrical System recalls for the 2010 Nissan Altima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Altima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201077 (20%)
  2. 201131 (13%)
  3. 201248 (11%)
  4. 2013590 (26%)
  5. 2014356 (32%)
  6. 2015320 (34%)
  7. 201683 (15%)
  8. 201744 (11%)
  9. 201849 (22%)
  10. 201959 (25%)
  11. 202043 (27%)
  12. 202121 (30%)
  13. 20227 (23%)
  14. 202310 (34%)
  15. 20243 (7%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does the 2010 Nissan Altima have?
NHTSA lists 77 Electrical System complaints for the 2010 Altima, which makes up 20% of all 380 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Nissan Altima electrical system?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this component on the 2010 Altima.
At what mileage do 2010 Altima electrical problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2010 Altima is 44,708 miles.
Are the 2010 Altima electrical problems dangerous?
NHTSA data tied to this component on the 2010 Altima includes 3 crashes, 4 fires, and 4 injuries.
Does the 2010 Altima have more electrical complaints than other years?
The 2010 Altima's 20% share of complaints tied to the electrical system is higher than 2011 (13%), 2012 (11%), 2016 (15%), and 2017 (11%), but lower than 2013 (26%), 2014 (32%), and 2015 (34%).

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.