RoadVitals

2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Oct 4, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine533.3%
  • Electrical426.7%
  • Powertrain (other)213.3%
  • Brakes16.7%
  • Airbags16.7%
  • Fuel system16.7%
  • Interior & seats16.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID RECALL - TOYOTA HYBRID PRIUS SYSTEM WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER TWO HYBRID SYSTEM RECALLS USED BY NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDS 2007-2011. MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTLY AND SUDDENLY LOSS ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARDNESS WHICH CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (HYBRID COMPUTER)AND DAMAGED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS (ECU, COILS, AND AUXILARY BATTERY. OPEN NISSAN CASE NUMBER [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS

NHTSA ID 11138989 · filed Oct 8, 2018

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM WRITING TO REPORT A VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP INVOLVING MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID AT THE INTERSECTION OF RTE 231 & I-495 SERVICE RD (E/B) IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY. NISSAN WAS CONTACTED, AS WELL AS MY INSURANCE CARRIER, MET LIFE, AND OTH SENT INDEPENDENT ARSON INVESTIGATORS TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFY A CAUSE/ORIGIN OF THE SPONTANEOUS IGNITION WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. MET LIFE'S INVESTIGATOR FOUND NOTHING POINTING TO THE MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SPONTANEOUS IGNITION. NISSAN SENT THEIR INVESTIGATOR, WHOM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR, IDENTIFIED THE COMPONENT FAILURE AS A WIIRNG HARNESS NEAR OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. NISSAN HAS CONTACTED ME STATING THEY "....CONDUCTED A DETAILED INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PRODUCT PROBLEM, FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT". IF THE INSURANCE CARRIER ...WHICH PAID ME....ABSOLVED THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AS CAUSATION OF IGNITION (AND THEY HAVE A REASON TO FIND MY MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION AT FAULT TO ABSOLVE THEM FINANCIALLY) AND IDENTIFIED A WRINING COMPONENT/SYSTEM AS THE CAUSE/ORIGIN OF THE IGNITION, HOW CAN NISSAN SO BLATANTLY ABSOLVE THEMSELVES FROM ANY LIABILITY?? THERE IS NO MAINTENENACE RECOMMENDED WITH THIS SYSTEM OR COMPONENT, AND AS SUCH IS AN IMPLIED WARRANTY BY NISSAN. I AM NOW IN DEBT HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN WHAT THE INSURANCE BOOK VALUE OF THE DESTROYED ALTIMA (BURNED UP AT A COMPLETE STOP!). MY WIFE ALMOST WAS TRAPPED IN THE INFERNO. NISSAN IS ACCEPTING NO LIABILITY, PRODUCT WARRANTY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP AS EVERY NISSAN OWNER IS POTENTIALLY AT RISK! THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID 10585064 · filed Apr 26, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID RECALL - TOYOTA HYBRID PRIUS SYSTEM WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER TWO HYBRID SYSTEM RECALLS USED BY NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDS 2007-2011. MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTLY AND SUDDENLY LOSS ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARDNESS WHICH CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (HYBRID COMPUTER)AND DAMAGED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS (ECU, COILS, AND AUXILARY BATTERY. OPEN NISSAN CASE NUMBER [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS

NHTSA ID 11138989 · filed Oct 8, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME, IT WOULD NOT START DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID 10915281 · filed Oct 11, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ID 11266084 · filed Oct 4, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 10652795 · filed Nov 5, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID HAS A PROBLEM WHEREIN A (LIKELY COMPUTER SOFTWARE) DEFECT PREVENTS THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND SET AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. OVER A WIDE RANGE OF SPEEDS, SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS THE EFFECT OF LOCKING OUT THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS AN EASILY REPEATABLE AND DEMONSTRABLE PROBLEM AND OCCURS EVERY DAY. WHILE THE TRADITIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM STILL FUNCTIONS, THE NET EFFECT IS THAT THE BRAKES ARE LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THEY SHOULD BE, FUEL ECONOMY IS REDUCED, BRAKE WEAR IS INCREASED, AND POLLUTION IS INCREASED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10310822 · filed Feb 16, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WAS WITHIN THE SENSOR FOR THE SEAT DETECTION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V138000 (AIR BAGS), 13V069000 (AIR BAGS), 11V408000 (AIR BAGS) AND 12V055000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID 10608099 · filed Jul 3, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON. THE CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUE IS P0448. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL VALVE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL CAR OWNERS.

NHTSA ID 10758553 · filed Aug 22, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2010 NISSAN ALTIMA DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK FAILED INITIALLY JAMMING SEAT MOVEMENT, THEN RELEASING CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY . SEAT MECHANISM IS MANUAL (NOT POWER). *TR

NHTSA ID 10362819 · filed Oct 28, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .