2010 Nissan Altima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

50Engine complaints

13.2%Of all 380 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

Unspecified / other70 · 18.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM69 · 18.2%

POWER TRAIN62 · 16.3%

AIR BAGS55 · 14.5%

ENGINE50 · 13.2%

Share of the 380 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2010 Nissan Altima overview page.

What owners report

“TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO POWER ON HOWEVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10617230 — filed 07/29/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 10596182 — filed 06/04/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS…”NHTSA complaint 10585982 — filed 05/01/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Nissan Altima have engine problems?

Engine is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2010 Nissan Altima: 50 of 380 complaints on file (13.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2010 Nissan Altima have in total?

380 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 25 involved a crash, 9 involved a fire, 37 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.