YearToAvoid

2010 Nissan Armada Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#6 most-complained of 16 Armada years

The 2010 Nissan Armada carries a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst among 16 model years. NHTSA lists 48 complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 fire, with brakes and electrical system tied as the top problem areas.

Complaints
48
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
14
12 city / 18 hwy

Top 2010 Nissan Armada problems

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

  1. Other11 (23%)
  2. Brakes8 (17%)
  3. Electrical System8 (17%)
  4. Airbags6 (13%)
  5. Engine6 (13%)
  6. Fuel System6 (13%)
  7. Structure & Body6 (13%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (8%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain3 (6%)
  10. Steering2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Brake calipers can lock up and emit smoke from the rear wheel area while driving at highway speed.
  • Front brake lines have been reported to develop popping noises and require replacement after a turn at low speed.
  • The transmission has been reported to shift out of gear on its own while parked, allowing the vehicle to roll.
  • The throttle body has been reported to cause erratic engine response, including sputtering with no pedal pressure.
  • Side airbags have deployed unexpectedly after the vehicle hit a pothole.
  • The rear liftgate lock actuator can fail, preventing the liftgate from opening by fob, manual switch, or glass hatch release.
2010 Nissan Armada complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2010Feb 2012Jun 2013Jul 2015Dec 2017Aug 2019Jul 2022
62 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2010 to Oct 2025; peak Sep 2019 (4).

2010 Nissan Armada recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V067000Feb 10, 2023Airbags404,690 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.

    Risk: A detached emblem can become a projectile during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver’s airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.

  2. NHTSA 10V371000Aug 9, 2010Structure & Body174 vehicles

    Seats

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 nissan armada vehicles manufactured from june 7, 2010 through june 11, 2010. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "seating systems." the second row center seat hinge assembly was manufactured out of specification. This may prevent the rear center seatback from fully locking in the in-use (upright) position.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the second row center seat may not function properly increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second row center seat hinges/lock for proper function. If the seat does not lock as designed, the second row center seat hinge assembly will be replaced with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began on august 30, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. NHTSA 10V208000May 14, 2010Suspension, Wheels & Tires41,649 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010 titan, armada, qx56, frontier, xterra, and pathfinder vehicles manufactured from november 19, 2009 through march 3, 2010. The lower control link assembly has two cylindrical collars forming the inboard attachment points to the chassis. Due to an improper welding process some collars may contain welds that do not meet strength specifications.

    Risk: If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 20, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

See all 4 recalls for the 2010 Nissan Armada →

2010 Nissan Armada fuel economy and fuel cost

City
12 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
14 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,650
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 Armada 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
2010Caution6748414
2011Caution6040114.5
2012Good2717114.5

All Nissan Armada years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Nissan Armada reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2010 Armada a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst out of 16 model years. It has 48 complaints and 4 recalls on file.
What are the most common problems on the 2010 Nissan Armada?
Brakes and the electrical system each account for 17% of complaints, followed by airbags, engine, fuel system, and structure & body issues at 13% each.
Does the 2010 Nissan Armada have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls covering airbags, structure & body (second-row seat locks), suspension (lower control link collars), and brakes (pedal pivot pin).
How does the 2010 Armada compare to other model years?
With a Complaint Index of 67, 2010 is worse than 2012-2015 and 2021-2023, but better than 2017-2019 and 2025, which carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Nissan Armada?
EPA rates it at 14 mpg combined (12 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,650.

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.