2010 Nissan Altima
Common Problems
Ranked from 274 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
16 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Dashboard Melting and Glare Hazard
65complaintsSafety riskOtherDashboard material melts and becomes sticky, causing glare on the windshield and obstructing visibility, especially in sunlight.
- 2
Electrical System Malfunction and Fire Risk
58complaintsSafety riskElectricalElectrical system failures cause vehicle fires, dead batteries, and loss of key functions like keyfob operation and push-button start.
- 3
Transmission hesitation and delayed acceleration after stops
44complaintsSafety riskTransmissionThe vehicle's CVT transmission hesitates or delays acceleration after coming to a stop, causing unsafe driving conditions, especially during left turns or in traffic.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Engine stalling or power loss during driving
34complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls or loses power while driving, particularly after long trips or during stops, causing the vehicle to become unresponsive.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Suspension Corrosion and Structural Failure
15complaintsHigh severitySuspensionSevere corrosion on rear suspension components, including cross-members and sub-frames, leading to structural failure while driving.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Front Suspension Component Failure
7complaintsMedium severitySuspensionFront suspension components such as struts, coil springs, and bushings fail prematurely, causing vehicle instability and rattling.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Steering Lock and No-Start Condition
7complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel locks and the vehicle fails to start, particularly in cold weather or after being parked.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Dashboard Cracking and Stickiness
4complaintsMedium severityOtherThe dashboard cracks and becomes sticky, indicating early-stage degradation of dashboard material. This can progress to melting and glare issues.
- 11
Engine and ECU Malfunction
4complaintsHigh severityEngineECU malfunction causes catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, and O2 sensor failures, leading to poor engine performance.
- 12
Tire Premature Wear and Sensor Failure
3complaintsMedium severityOtherTires wear out prematurely with feathering/choppy patterns, and tire pressure sensors break easily.
- 13
Window and defroster system malfunctions
3complaintsLow severityOtherFront windshield cracks unexpectedly and windows roll down independently when the vehicle is turned off.
- 14
Abnormal Acceleration and Loss of Control
2complaintsSafety riskOtherThe vehicle accelerates uncontrollably at low speeds, leading to near-collisions or crashes.
- 15
Catalytic Converter Failure
2complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe catalytic converter becomes clogged or fails, causing loss of power and triggering the check engine light.
$900–$2,500est. catalytic converter replacement · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Suspension and Steering Vibration at High Speeds
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringVibration through the steering wheel, seat, and accelerator pedal occurs above 60 mph, often after tire balancing and alignment.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.