2010 Nissan Altima

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Electrical

Electrical leads by volume: 78 of 392 complaints (20%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (23) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 1,601 in 2009 to 392 in 2010.

Data last changed Sep 16, 2026. Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2010: 4 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	vs. 2010 Midsize Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	1,850–3,500	1,850–3,700	1,850–2,950	1,900–2,950	2,400–2,950
Combined MPG	22–34	21–34	21–34	21–33	21–26
City / Highway MPG	19–35 / 26–33	18–35 / 26–33	18–35 / 27–33	18–33 / 27–33	18–23 / 27–32
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	261–404	261–423	261–423	269–423	342–423
Complaints filed	1,044	1,601	392	245	425	Not compared
Recalls issued	4	4	3	1	4	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	57	38	25	12	24	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	14	8	11	5	2	Not compared
Injuries reported	33	21	37	9	26	Not compared
Deaths reported	2	2	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	5	5	4	4	4

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Nissan Altima have?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2010 Nissan Altima?

Electrical: 78 of 392 NHTSA complaints (20%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Nissan Altima get?

EPA rates it 21–34 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Nissan Altima?

EPA estimates $1,850–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (8)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic (AV-S6)	4	2.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	23 mpg	32 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400	342 g/mi
Configuration 2	Manual 6-spd	4	2.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	23 mpg	31 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400	342 g/mi
Configuration 3	Automatic (AV-S6)	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	20 mpg	27 mpg (low)	23 mpg	$2,700	386 g/mi
Configuration 4	Manual 6-spd	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	18 mpg (low)	27 mpg (low)	21 mpg (low)	$2,950 (high)	423 g/mi (high)
Configuration 5	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	4	2.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	23 mpg	32 mpg	27 mpg	$2,300	329 g/mi
Configuration 6	Automatic (AV-S6)	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	20 mpg	27 mpg (low)	23 mpg	$2,700	386 g/mi
Configuration 7	Manual 6-spd	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	18 mpg (low)	27 mpg (low)	21 mpg (low)	$2,950 (high)	423 g/mi (high)
Configuration 8	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	4	2.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	35 mpg (high)	33 mpg (high)	34 mpg (high)	$1,850 (low)	261 g/mi (low)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	59	1	7	7
Transmission & Drivetrain	75	4	0	0
Fuel System	8	2	0	4
Electrical	78	2	6	2
Brakes	37	2	0	5
Steering	20	2	0	6
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	38	2	0	6
Airbags & Restraints	68	16	1	23
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	22	3	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	39	3	1	4
Visibility & Lighting	34	2	0	4
Other	71	0	3	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (3)

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) · Campaign 10V401000 · Sep 10, 2010
Defect: 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.
Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
STRUCTURE · Campaign 10V193000 · May 7, 2010
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.
Consequence: IF SEVERAL STRUCTURAL WELDS ARE OUT OF SPECIFICATION ON A SINGLE VEHICLE, IT MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE VEHICLE CRASH PERFORMANCE.
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.
SUSPENSION · Campaign 09V358000 · Sep 16, 2009
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.
Consequence: 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.
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).