Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 12 safety complaints
about the 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid with the US government. Of those, 2 mention a fire and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 4 complaints, 33% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 54,000 miles,
the median across the 11
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers February 2010 to October 2019 · How this is counted
What is on file
12 complaints on file
12
Complaints
0
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
0
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 · 33%
4 33%
ENGINE 4 · 33%
4 33%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 17%
2 17%
AIR BAGS 1 · 8%
1 8%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 · 8%
1 8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 8%
1 8%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 1 · 8%
1 8%
SEATS 1 · 8%
1 8%
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC 1 · 8%
1 8%
048
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 12.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2014 at 4.
8 6 4 2
102010132013142014152015162016182018192019
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2010 to 2019.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not crash tested the 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid. Its New Car Assessment Program
tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach
motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so
an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It
is not a low score.
What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a
different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people
inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke
during ordinary use.
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
DP22005
Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
the electrical system
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire · 70,000 miles
WHILE AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-495 (EXIT 51 E) AND RT 231 IN SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, WHILE IN ELECTRIC HYBRID MODE, EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH OCCURRED MARCH 8, 2014 AND IGNITED WITH VISIBLE SPARKS REPORTED BY EYEWITNESSES UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO COMBUSTION. AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS AT A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE......WITH NO VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATION/ANOMALIES WHICH WOULD WARN HER OF THE IMPENDING DANGEROUS VEHICLE IGNITION. NISSAN AND METLIFE, MY INSURANCE CARRIER, ARE …
NHTSA complaint 10575240, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
fire · 73,000 miles
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM WRITING TO REPORT A VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP INVOLVING MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID AT THE INTERSECTION OF RTE 231 & I-495 SERVICE RD (E/B) IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY. NISSAN WAS CONTACTED, AS WELL AS MY INSURANCE CARRIER, MET LIFE, AND OTH SENT INDEPENDENT ARSON INVESTIGATORS TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFY A CAUSE/ORIGIN OF THE SPONTANEOUS IGNITION WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. MET LIFE'S INVESTIGATOR FOUND NOTHING POINTING TO THE MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SPONTANEOUS IGNITION. NISSAN SENT THEIR INVESTIGATOR, WHOM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR, IDENTIFIED THE …
NHTSA complaint 10585064, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
towed · 135,000 miles
TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID RECALL - TOYOTA HYBRID PRIUS SYSTEM WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER TWO HYBRID SYSTEM RECALLS USED BY NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDS 2007-2011. MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTLY AND SUDDENLY LOSS ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARDNESS WHICH CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (HYBRID COMPUTER)AND DAMAGED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS (ECU, COILS, AND AUXILARY BATTERY. OPEN NISSAN CASE NUMBER [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT …
NHTSA complaint 11138989, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
towed · 68,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
NHTSA complaint 11266084. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME, IT WOULD NOT START DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10915281. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
36,433 miles
THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON. THE CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUE IS P0448. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL VALVE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL CAR OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint 10758553. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
54,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint 10652795. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
63,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WAS WITHIN THE SENSOR FOR THE SEAT DETECTION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V138000 (AIR BAGS), 13V069000 (AIR BAGS), 11V408000 (AIR BAGS) AND 12V055000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
NHTSA complaint 10608099. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst