Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
380
Complaints
25
Crashes
9
Fires
37
Injuries
0
Deaths
Owners of the 2010 Nissan Altima have filed 380
safety complaints with NHTSA
between March 2010 and May 2026.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 74 of them
(19%). The typical failure was reported at 53,128 miles, the median
across the 271 complaints that gave an
odometer reading.
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.
The risk
OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The 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.
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 7,948 vehicles across all model years covered
STRUCTURE
10V193000 · May 7, 2010
The defect
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 7, 2010 THROUGH APRIL 13, 2010. SOME OF THE FRONT SIDE MEMBER ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WELDED TO SPECIFICATION DUE TO A TOOL MAINTENANCE ERROR.
The risk
IF SEVERAL STRUCTURAL WELDS ARE OUT OF SPECIFICATION ON A SINGLE VEHICLE, IT MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE VEHICLE CRASH PERFORMANCE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 113 vehicles across all model years covered
SUSPENSION
09V358000 · September 16, 2009
The defect
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALTIMA AND MAXIMA PASSENGER CARS. THE UPPER FRONT STRUT INSULATORS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT INSULATOR TO CRACK.
The risk
IF THE STRUT INSULATOR IS CRACKED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE STRUT ROD TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION, WHICH COULD AFFECT VEHICLE STABILITY AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT STRUT INSULATORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-NISSAN1 (1-800-647-7261).
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 26,398 vehicles across all model years covered
What owners report
Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add
up to more than 380.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 74 19%
POWER TRAIN 73 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 70 18%
AIR BAGS 61 16%
ENGINE 50 13%
SUSPENSION 31 8%
STRUCTURE 30 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 27 7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 22 6%
STEERING 20 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 20 5%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 7 2%
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2014 at 56.
2010 to 2026, the last of them a part year
In owners' own words
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5 injured · crash
I WAS DRIVING NORMAL SPEED LIMIT 60 MPH ON THE FWY WHEN WE HEARD A NOISE LIKE A BIG POP SOUND. RIGHT AWAY WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO GET OVER ( WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE) THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING SO BAD THAT I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE WHEEL. IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING. THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED IN THE CARPOOL DIVIDER. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA 2010 COUPE WITH 60K MILES ON THE CAR. WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AT THE TIME OR EVEN BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, ALL PARTS ON THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. I REMEMBERED THAT THE MORE THAT I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHOCK HARDER AND HARDER TO WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN CONTROL IT. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10435491. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
3 injured · crash · towed · 64,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ITS REAR BUMPER WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO THE REAR OF A THIRD VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, KNEE, AND HAND INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD AND KNEE INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED …
NHTSA complaint 10865849, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEAT BELTS
3 injured · crash · towed · 73,000 miles
UPON IMPACT WITH ANOTHER CAR (MY FRONT HITTING OTHER CAR'S SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH), BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER UNLATCHED. WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF THE SEAT BELTS, OUR LOWER TORSO AND LEGS SHIFTED FORWARD, CAUSING INJURIES TO OUR HIPS, KNEES AND ANKLE. OUR CAR WENT INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC AND THEN LANDED IN SOMEONE'S YARD. IF WE WOULD HAVE STRUCK A SECOND CAR AND THE AIR BAGS STARTED TO DEFLATE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION FOR THE SECOND COLLISION. WE THANK GOD FOR OUR PROTECTION! WE DID CONTACT NISSAN MANUFACTURING WITH AN INVESTIGATOR. HE COULD NOT VIEW THE CAR IN SALVAGE AS IT MOVED ALREADY TO FINAL PROCESSING FROM …
NHTSA complaint 10914096, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · fire · crash · towed
TL* THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPYING THE CONTACT. A THIRD VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE OCCUPYING THE CONTACT ALSO. THE CONTACT'S DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE FACE AND CHEST AND SUFFERED MENTAL ANXIETY. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND BURNS TO THE CHEST, ARM, AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE OTHER VEHICLES WERE UNKNOWN. SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE …
NHTSA complaint 10960064, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof completely dislodged from the vehicle and flew off into the traffic behind me on a highway. This included the entire sunroof - the frame, casing, window, mechanics and all! This was obviously a major safety issue for any vehicle driving behind me as well as a safety issue for me driving while such an explosive event occurred - highly alarming and dangerous. The problem has not yet been inspected by a shop, dealer, police officer, or insurance adjuster. I do not have the part for inspection as it is shattered in or off the highway somewhere and trying to retrieve it would have been very dangerous.
NHTSA complaint 11737533. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire
Vehicle caught on fire my be a electrical problem
NHTSA complaint 11736078. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle doesn't work properbaliy
NHTSA complaint 11712942. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SUSPENSION
95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered severe corrosion on the rear cross-member. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive because the corrosion affected several parts of the vehicle. The mechanic informed the contact about NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V358000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that she would receive a call back. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
NHTSA complaint 11689691. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dashboard has started melting. Front half of dash has started oozing a black, sticky, shiny tar-like substance in addition to an odor. Sticks to everything and does not come off or stop oozing. Spreading to more area of the dashboard. Does create a glare on the windshield, obstructing visibility. Have always used a sun shield since purchasing the car in 2022. This just started ~7/31/2025.
NHTSA complaint 11678043. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN
NHTSA complaint 11674819. 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.
What each state asks for
, read from the statutes.
Where these numbers come from
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file
, published August 20, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API
, most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file
, published 2026-08-19.
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