YearToAvoid

2010 Nissan Cube Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 5 Cube years

The 2010 Nissan Cube has the highest Complaint Index (100) among 5 model years tracked, ranking worst overall with 56 complaints, 2 recalls, and an Avoid verdict. Electrical System issues lead at 38% of complaints.

Complaints
56
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
4 / 1
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
26 city / 30.5 hwy

Top 2010 Nissan Cube problems

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

  1. Electrical System21 (38%)
  2. Steering17 (30%)
  3. Airbags8 (14%)
  4. Engine6 (11%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain6 (11%)
  6. Fuel System4 (7%)
  7. Other4 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (7%)
  9. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  10. Brakes2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the electronic steering column lock (ESCL) failing to sense the brake pedal or wheel lock position, leaving the car unable to start and stranding drivers.
  • Some describe the power steering lock assembly failing while the car was stationary, preventing the start button from turning the engine over.
  • Airbag complaints include side air curtains and the front driver's side airbag failing to deploy during collisions at 5 mph and 35 mph.
  • Engine complaints describe excessive shaking at 20 mph, with the ECU reprogrammed by a dealer but the failure recurring.
  • One owner reported a horn too quiet to alert other drivers, which was linked to a crash.
  • A fuel system complaint described a strong fuel odor traced to a cracked fuel tank filler neck.
2010 Nissan Cube complaints: complaints filed per month4Nov 2010Aug 2012Apr 2014Feb 2016Mar 2017Feb 2018Jul 2020Jun 2026
77 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2010 to Aug 2026; peak Mar 2014 (4).

2010 Nissan Cube recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V230000Apr 9, 2026Airbags47,928 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Cube vehicles. The driver’s air bag inflator may rupture or detach from the steering wheel during air bag deployment.

    Risk: A driver's air bag that ruptures or detaches can strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front air bag inflator serial number, and replace the inflator as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is R26A1. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 14, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 10V330000Jul 22, 2010Fuel System46,000 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:storage

    Nissan is recalling model year 2009-2010 nissan cube vehicles manufactured from january 30, 2009 through july 30, 2010. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity." when the vehicle was rotated following a rear moving barrier crash test as required, the amount of fuel leakage exceeded the allowable limits.

    Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will develop a special protector and attach it to the gasoline recirculation tube at the location of the filler neck connector. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 13, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

2010 Nissan Cube fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
30.5 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,325
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 Cube years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10056228
2011Avoid7531027.5
2012Good2519027.5

All Nissan Cube years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Nissan Cube reliable?
Among the 5 model years tracked, the 2010 Cube has the highest Complaint Index (100) and ranks worst, earning an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Cube?
Electrical System complaints make up 38% of reports (21 complaints), followed by Steering at 30% (17 complaints) and Airbags at 14% (8 complaints).
Does the 2010 Nissan Cube have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a driver's airbag inflator that may rupture or detach during deployment, and one for a fuel system compliance issue involving the gasoline recirculation tube.
How does the 2010 Cube compare to other years?
The 2010 model has a Complaint Index of 100, higher than 2011 (75), 2012 (25), 2013 (0), and 2014 (50), making it the worst-ranked year for reported problems.

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.