2010 Nissan Altima Reliability
The 2010 Nissan Altima has 393 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain / transmission. Compared with other Altima model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Altima's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
393
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
25
Complaints citing a crash
11
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Nissan Altima complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2010 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 78 | 20% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 75 | 19% |
| Unknown or other | 70 | 18% |
| Air bags | 62 | 16% |
| Engine | 54 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 33 | 8% |
| Suspension | 31 | 8% |
| Body structure | 30 | 8% |
2010 Nissan Altima recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V358000 | Sep 16, 2009 | Suspension | 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. |
| 10V193000 | May 7, 2010 | Body structure | 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. |
| 10V401000 | Sep 10, 2010 | 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. |
How the 2010 compares with nearby Altima years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Altima analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,047 | 4 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2009 | 1,601 | 4 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2010 (this page) | 393 | 3 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2011 | 246 | 1 | Powertrain / transmission | Better year |
| 2012 | 426 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2010 Nissan Altima
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Nissan Altima can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Nissan Altima reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Nissan Altima reliable?
The 2010 Nissan Altima has 393 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain / transmission. Compared with other Altima model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Altima's typical year, while the 2011 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2010 Nissan Altima problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Nissan Altima are electrical system (78), powertrain / transmission (75), unknown or other (70), air bags (62). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Nissan Altima have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2010 Nissan Altima, including 09V358000 (suspension) and 10V193000 (body structure). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Nissan Altima compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 1,601 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid); the 2011 has 246 complaints and 1 recall (better year). The 2010 has 393 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Nissan Altima?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Altima research
Other Nissan Altima model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 Altima, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.