2010 Nissan Sentra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2010 Nissan Sentra has a complaint index of 30, ranking 15th out of 21 model years, and carries a "Good" verdict relative to other Sentra years. NHTSA lists 144 complaints, 3 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with the top problem area being the Engine.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Sentra years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 144
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 11
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 26.5
- 24 city / 30.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2010 Nissan Sentra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine53 (37%)
- Electrical System52 (36%)
- Airbags31 (22%)
- Transmission & Powertrain18 (13%)
- Other14 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (8%)
- Brakes9 (6%)
- Steering9 (6%)
- Structure & Body3 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate to severe crashes, sometimes resulting in serious injuries.
- Some drivers describe the steering wheel suddenly locking up and becoming impossible to turn at low speed, leading to loss of control.
- Engine and transmission problems include the vehicle failing to shift out of park and the engine racing unexpectedly after restart.
- Electrical system complaints describe fires starting near the battery terminal or engine bay, in some cases while driving at highway speed.
- Owners noted a fog light shattering with burn marks around the bulb housing, pointing to an electrical wiring issue.
2010 Nissan Sentra recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 11V579000Dec 15, 2011Electrical System33,803 vehicles
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 sentra vehicles equipped with mr20 engines, manufactured from may 11, 2010, to may 22, 2010, and july 8, 2010, to october 25, 2010. The zinc coating applied to the terminal stud bolt was thicker than specification. This can result in a voltage drop that may cause difficulty starting the vehicle and could cause damage to the engine control module (ECM).
Risk: This issue can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion and it may not be possible to restart the engine after it stopped, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners and dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover, free of charge. The recallbegan on january 23, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
- NHTSA 10V555000Nov 12, 2010Electrical System13,737 vehicles
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 sentra vehicles, manufactured from may 22, 2010, through july 8, 2010. Due to a machining irregularity, the bolt/washer surface on the positive battery terminal cable end may allow for a gap to occur in the contact area of the terminal. This can result in a voltage drop that may cause difficulty starting the vehicle and could cause damage to the engine control module.
Risk: This issue can cause the engine to stop running while the vehicle is in motion at low speed with a difficult or no start increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal cable end with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began pn november 29, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
- 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.
2010 Nissan Sentra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24 MPG
- Highway
- 30.5 MPG
- Combined
- 26.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,450
- 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 Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Nissan Sentra reliable?
- Relative to other Sentra model years, the 2010 rates "Good" with a complaint index of 30, ranking 15th out of 21 years tracked. It has fewer reported problems than higher-index years like the 2013 or 2015 Sentra.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Sentra?
- NHTSA data shows the top problem areas are the Engine (53 complaints, 37% share) and Electrical System (52 complaints, 36% share), followed by Airbags (31 complaints, 22% share).
- Does the 2010 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 Sentra, covering a battery terminal cable defect, a zinc coating issue on the terminal stud, and a Garmin GPS battery overheating issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2010 Sentra compare to other Sentra years?
- The 2010 Sentra's complaint index of 30 is lower than years like 2013 (100), 2015 (95), and 2019 (85), which carry "Avoid" verdicts, making 2010 a relatively safer choice among Sentra model years.