RoadVitals

2010 Nissan Sentra Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Dec 1, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 144 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Nissan Sentra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 1, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. ADDITIONALLY, THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GARDENA NISSAN (1670 W REDONDO BEACH BLVD, GARDENA, CA 90247, (310) 532-1600) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,166.

NHTSA ID
11377305
Incident
Nov 16, 2020
Mileage
172,166 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 29, 2019

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND IT STARTED MAKING A HUMMING NOISE THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TO THE RIGHT AND IT DID THIS TWICE AND I ALMOST CRASHED

NHTSA ID
11258843
Incident
Sep 27, 2019
Mileage
87,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 13, 2019

CVT TRANSMISSION WENT AT 76,000 MILES, COLUMN ASSEMBLY SHAFT LOWER NEEDS REPAIR AT 87000 MILES CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WENT AT 44000 MILES REPLACED AND ARE GOING AGAIN AT 87000 MILES, CAR BURNS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND HAVE NO OIL LEAK OR DEFECTIVE PARTS

NHTSA ID
11219886
Incident
Jun 13, 2019
Mileage
87,624 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 7, 2018

ON MY 2010 NISSAN SENTRA S - PS WARNING LIGHT (POWER STEERING) COMES ON, AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING (SO VERY HARD TO TURN THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT). I RE-START THE CAR AND PS WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARS, THOUGH SOMETIMES I HAVE TO START THE CAR A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE PS LIGHT GOES OFF !. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNINGS/EVENING AND IT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I CALLED UP NISSAN AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE IS A RECALL WITH NISSAN ALTIMA FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT WITH NISSAN SENTRA. ON THE NET I SEE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER CARS HAVING ELECTRICAL PS SIMILAR TO NISSAN SENTRA (EG. NISSAN VERSA & ALTIMA) THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR PS ISSUE WITH NISSAN SENTRA AS WELL, SINCE THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND A SECURITY RISK.

NHTSA ID
11156842
Incident
Dec 7, 2018
Mileage
10 mi
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 14, 2015

WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR AND BEGIN TO DRIVE IT, IT MAKES A REALLY LOUD NOISE. IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TURN EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. ALSO WHEN I AM ACCELERATING IN THE FREEWAY OR IN THE STREET THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I ACCELERATE IT STAYS IN THE SAME SPEED. I TOOK IT IN TO PEPBOYS AUTO CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS AN INTERNAL NOISE AND THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CAR CAN LOCK WHILE IM DRIVING OR TURNING AND IN TURN CAN CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT , SO THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE NISSAN DEALER SINCE PEPBOYS DOES NOT FIX ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HOWEVER DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING I WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN GETTING INTO THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GO ANY FASTER.

NHTSA ID
10781873
Incident
Oct 13, 2015
Mileage
121,000 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 27, 2012

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A ONE-TIME,ONLY-THING, BUT FELT I WANTED TO MENTION IT. MY MOTHER DRIVES A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA, BUILT ABOUT 2/10 IT HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER EXCEPT FOR 'INCLUDED' OIL AND FILTER CHANGES, AS PART OF THE NEW CAR 'SELL' I TOOK THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL OFF, TO ROTATE THE TIRES AND, SINCE I HAVE REPLACED CONTROL ARMS, AND CV AXLES MYSELF IN THE PAST, LOOKED AROUND. THE 32 MM SPINDLE NUT WAS LOOSE ENOUGH TO TURN BY HAND, THE ORIGINAL COTTER-PIN (PAINTED BLACK WHILE THE CAR WAS BUILT) WAS ORIGINAL-PROPERLY INTACT. I CONSULTED MY TECHNICAL MANUAL AND IT SAID THAT THIS 32 MM SPINDLE NUT IS USUALLY TORQUED TO 92 FOOT-POUNDS-NOT FINGER TIGHT. IN FAIRNESS AS I WRITE THIS-TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED-AND TO THE MANUFACTURERS DEFENSE-THE CAR DID HIT A CURB ON THAT SIDE-AND THE TIRE BLEW-IT WAS REPLACED BY ETD TIRE SERVICE IN NJ. BUT THAT COTTER PIN IS ORIGINAL-NEVER REMOVED. SO A SOCKET COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PUT ON IT TO LOOSEN IT FROM THE ORIGINAL TORQUE SETTING. UNLESS THE SHOCK OF THE TIRE IMPACT JARRED IT LOOSE? KNOCKED THE WHEEL BEARING AND LOOSENED THE SPINDLE NUT? EITHER WAY-I AM GLAD I SPOTTED THIS. I WONDER IF THIS TORQUE SPECIFICATION IS ADEQUATE? 92 FOOT LBS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10467992
Incident
Jul 9, 2012
Mileage
20,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 20, 2011

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AND FELT A "POP" AS THE WHEEL TURNED. I TURNED THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND NOTICED THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT. I TURNED CAR OFF WITH THE WHEEL STILL TURNED TO THE LEFT AND LOOKED AT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS POINTED TO THE RIGHT. I LOOKED AT THE RIGHT WHEEL AND IT WAS POINTED TO THE LEFT. I LOOKED AT THE LEFT WHEEL AND SAW THAT THE TIE ROD HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THERE WERE NO CEMENT PARKING BARRIERS PRESENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440626
Incident
Dec 19, 2011
Mileage
20,500 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 22, 2010
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 10-15 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT FLIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES AND THEN LANDED ON THE ROAD NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $1,000 IN DAMAGES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

NHTSA ID
10361784
Incident
Oct 20, 2010
Mileage
600 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Feb 24, 2010

MY NEW NISSAN SENTRA 2010S VERY QUICKLY VEERS TO THE LEFT AT 50-65 MPG IN THE HIGHWAY. I DID NOT STEP MY FOOT ON ACCELERATOR NOR BRAKE AT THAT TIME. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES OCCASIONALLY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR ON JAN 2010. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313738
Incident
Feb 21, 2010
Mileage
700 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .