2010 Nissan Sentra
Common Problems
Ranked from 84 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 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
Airbag warning light illuminated or malfunctioning without crash
22complaintsSafety riskElectricalThe airbag warning light is illuminated or malfunctioning without any crash or impact. In some cases, the airbag deployed unexpectedly or was hot upon deployment.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 11V579000, 10V555000, 10V401000
- 2
Engine stalls while driving or at stops due to electrical or fuel system issues
22complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls unexpectedly while driving or at stops, requiring the driver to restart the vehicle. This can occur at various speeds and may pose a risk in traffic.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
CVT transmission failure causing loss of power or inability to shift
13complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe CVT transmission fails, causing the vehicle to lose power or become unable to shift gears. This often requires replacement of the transmission.
$3,500–$6,500est. cvt replacement · 8–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Electrical system failure causing stalling or inability to start
10complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe vehicle stalls or fails to start due to electrical system issues, including faulty battery terminals, ECM damage, or intermittent power loss.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 11V579000, 10V555000, 10V401000
- 5
Engine Control Module (ECM) Failure Due to Battery Issues
7complaintsHigh severityEngineThe Engine Control Module (ECM) failed due to voltage spikes from battery issues or loose battery cables, causing the vehicle to stall or fail to start.
- 6
Battery Terminal Failure and Corrosion
6complaintsMedium severityElectricalBattery terminals failed or corroded, causing the battery to die or leading to electrical system failures.
Related recalls: 11V579000, 10V555000, 10V401000
- 7
Engine misfires or knocking due to faulty knock sensor or valve issues
3complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine misfires or produces knocking noises due to faulty knock sensors or valve issues, sometimes leading to catalytic converter failure.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Cooling System Leak or Thermostat Failure
2complaintsMedium severityEngineCoolant leaks occurred due to a faulty thermostat or damaged cooling system components.
$200–$600est. thermostat replacement · 1–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine oil consumption without visible leak
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine consumes oil at a high rate without visible external leaks, requiring frequent oil top-ups.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Power steering failure or warning light activation
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe power steering fails intermittently or the power steering warning light illuminates, making steering difficult until the vehicle is restarted.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 11
Suspension instability causing rear-end swerving or loss of control
2complaintsMedium severitySuspensionThe rear suspension causes the vehicle to swerve or lose control when hitting bumps or turning.
$150–$1,200est. suspension diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Throttle not returning to idle after releasing the gas pedal
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe throttle fails to return to idle after releasing the gas pedal, causing unintended acceleration.
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.