CarComplaints.com Notes: You don't want to get 2009 and 2010 Altima owners started about their cars. That is, unless, you know how to start their cars.

These vehicles can suddenly become impossible to start thanks to a faulty electronic steering column lock (ESCL). Nissan dealers will gladly replace it, but that will run you $1000.

More info & videos about the Nissan ESCL defect are available over at NissanProblems.com.

It's one of the many reasons this car was named CarTalk's Turd of the Week and given our Beware of this Clunker badge. Two dubious honors.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,625 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Nissan Altima accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2010 Nissan Altima Owner Comments

problem #4

Feb 012012

Altima

  • 2,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Seat slid off the bracket.. passenger air bag never was on and the trans sometime would not shifed when it should..

- Hammonton, NJ, USA

problem #3

Jan 202017

Altima

  • miles
Passenger airbag is off when passenger is clearing sitting on the seat.

- Monrovia, CA, USA

problem #2

Mar 112015

Altima

  • 140,000 miles
The passenger seat airbag doesn't work. The "pass air bag off" light is on and the air bag cluster panel light is flashing. I reset the light but it came on again when someone sits in passenger seat. Looking around on the internet, this is a huge complaint for 2010 Nissan Altima. This is a dangerous safety issue.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #1

Apr 142014

Altima

  • 52,000 miles
I was in an accident where I was hit at highway speed and my car spun out of control. The car was traveling backwards when it went off the side of the highway and into a ditch. When the rear of the car entered the ditch the impact was significant and my driver side seat back went all the way back. I feel that this is a significant defect, because the seat back and seat belt should keep the driver and passengers as still as possible. I don't believe that the seat back collapsing backwards is intended by the design. When I went to view the car and retrieve my personal belongings, I tried to bring the seat back to the upright position, but the lever was bent and was not able to be lifted in order to bring the seat back up. I took pictures of the bent lever and the position of the seat.

- Plymouth, MA, USA

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