Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated without warning. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. The vehicle was then towed to a different local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
My name is [redacted] and I can be reached at [redacted]...The dashboard has many cracks on it and it looks like it's melting too by the sun rays. It's very sticky when you touch it too. Vehicle tends to slow down a lot when I am driving as if I am about to get transmission problems soon. I see many people who already complained this transmission issue. My car has about 130,646 miles on it. The passenger air bag is consistently on and I hope it won't deploy on its own.
Ever since i got the car in May of 2022 I have had problems with my transmission, engine and problems with excessive oil leaking. I've tried to get it fixed. None of the repairs have fixed my car even with my warranty and I'm still having problems with it. I have also needed to get a valve cover replacement and many repairs to my engine. My dashboard also has difficulties working and turning on. Sometimes my brakes are faulty and require changes frequently. I also have no seatbelts in my backseat
At some point on the highway the car throttles down to less than 60 mph. Mashing the gas pedal to the floor results in nothing happening. This causes a dangerous road situation with the slower speed, but the worst part is when it suddenly begins to accelerate again, potentially hitting the car in front of you unexpectedly. No mechanic can reproduce the effect as it only takes place after driving on the highway for an hour or so.
I am having problems with my ECU malfunctioning which is causing my catalytic converter my exhaust manifold and my O2 sensors to malfunction. I'm having all the same issues as the recall campaign reference number NTB 12-040 d
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. While stationary, the vehicle failed to switch out of park without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to be moved after being restarted several times. In addition, the door locks failed to engage until the vehicle reached 15 MPH. The contact also stated that the key fob activated by itself on numerous occasions and caused the doors to unlock and the power windows to roll down without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
My check engine light came on and I made an appointment for Monday at planet Nissan. On Saturday 1/24/15 the light went off, but I've heard some knocking and the steering makes a rubbing sound. So far the master cylinder had to be replaced, which I filed a complaint here, and was reimbursed, but before reimbursement they told me my VIN did not match. So I find that questionable. I've put on new struts on the front and rear. Nissan said the check engine light had to do with the transmission and it was under warranty and has been repaired. Now they are telling me that the front strut mounts are cracked which is not covered. I've been on line and see that 2010 models have had this problem. They have not located the rubbing sound in the steering wheel. I've called Nissan consumer department and am awaiting a reply. …
I am submitting a complaint regarding the CVT- back in aug 2015 I was out of town and was traveling home and noticed while driving my vehicle all of a sudden started to decelerate. The scary part was there was an 18 wheeler behind me. No warning lights came on-I pulled over and turned off the vehicle. I was alone and scared and had 300 miles to go. What should have taken 6 hours took me 11 hours because I had stop every 30-45 minutes. I took it to a Nissan dealership and they were aware of the problem. They stated Nissan had to go through the steps before replacing the transmission- but at what cost- when someone dies- they installed a CVT oil cooler kit -well guess what ? 1 year and 3 months later on my first long distance trip since last year. The same exact thing occurred except I have 600 miles before I get home. I was stuck on the side of the road alone with the same issue. …
The CVT transmission started shifting hard a few months ago. Then about a month ago the transmission started slipping. I exited the freeway and came to a light. Turned left and was in the middle of the intersection when the car would not go. I was nervious and pushed then pumped the gas and the car would not go. Then out of the blue it took off with out my foot on the gas. I had the transmission fluid changed. Then a few weeks latter I was driving 75 (speed limit) with cruise control on then the car started loosing power, 65,60 55. I accelerated the car and it just would not go faster. I was able to stop it with the cruise at 55. With flashers on could have been killed. Started my research and found that Nissan has extended the warranty by doubling it from 5 years/60,000 to 10 years/120,000 miles. …
CVT transmission completely gave out today on the highway and almost caused a terrible accident. My car was going 65 one minute and then lost complete power. Started searching online for more info only to find hundreds of other owners with similar complaints from all models and years from 2007 to 2016! My vehicle is included in a special warranty issued by Nissan because they are aware of this issue but it's only valid under 120K miles. Now I have no car, no money to fix this one or buy another. The unreliability has ruined my life and I don't know how I'm going to get by. Sadly, the fear of what I'm going to do with my future is only second to the fear I felt this morning when the car I've poured a lot of money into and take tremendous care of almost got me killed. No dash lights. No warning. No previous knowledge of this very serious problem. …
Transmission complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2010 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2010 Nissan Altima, 19% of the model year's 381 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Nissan Altima transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2010 Nissan Altima, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Nissan Altima transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.