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:
13 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,915 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2010 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #54

Feb 022024

Altima

  • 191,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that seat air bag warning light remained illuminated after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.

- Denton, TX, USA

problem #53

Jun 262023

Altima 6-cyl

  • miles
My name is [XXX] and I can be reached at [XXX]...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. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #52

Jun 052023

Altima

  • miles
My air bag light is on red

- Reisterstown , MD, USA

problem #51

Apr 012022

Altima

  • miles

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

The airbag lights came on and when I took it to Nissan, I was told that it will not deploy if a person was to get in an accident

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #50

Mar 192021

Altima

  • 125,098 miles
After purchasing the vehicle the very next day transmission went out an it started having electric problems

- Yucaipa, CA, USA

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problem #49

Feb 052021

Altima

  • 65,000 miles
The airbag passenger notification light keeps blinking on in the dash. It can be reset, but as soon as a passenger sits in the chair the light comes on again. According to the advisor the sensor needs to be replaced. According to the Nissan advisor none of the airbags will deploy if the light is on. This seems to me a very dangerous situation.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #48

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 #47

Nov 142019

Altima

  • 120,000 miles
Airbag light flashes when car is on whether stationary or in motion. Was told its the sensor in the passenger seat cushion and the whole cushion has to be replaced. Airbag will not deploy and is a safety issue if not fixed asap. Very frustrating...at a cost over $1000.

- Warren, NJ, USA

problem #46

Jan 032011

Altima

  • 10,000 miles
I am the original owner of this vehicle and this has been an ongoing problem since 2011. My 2010 Nissan Altima coupe passenger occupant classification system (OCS) reads off when a passenger is seated. I am a 6ft 4in 230 pound individual and the OCS system fails to recognize me when I am seated in the passenger seat. This occurs when the vehicle is in motion, stoped, and driving down the highway. I made my Nissan dealer aware of this issue before the first recall in 2013 of the OCS system and they failed to fix this safety issue. My Nissan dealer (petro Nissan hattiesburg, ms 39402) lead me to believe the problem had been fixed and told me to ignore the OCS off light on my dash. After four Nissan Altima OCS recalls (03/01/2013, 10/20/2015, 04/26/2016, 12/19/2016) I have grown more concern for the safety of my passengers and myself. As of 12/04/2018 at 5:52 P.M. I have directly contacted Nissan customer service. A representative proceeded to tell me that Nissan is no longer responsible for the safety defect in their vehicle because it was eight years old as of March 2018. I continued to press Nissan's responsibility for the safety defect and after several back-and-forths the representative scheduled a 'specialist' to contact me tomorrow 12/05/2018.

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #45

Nov 112018

Altima

  • miles
My airbag light keeps flashing intermittently when car is on.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #44

Oct 172018

Altima 4-cyl

  • 43,388 miles

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

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. An independent mechanic and the dealer (coral springs Nissan, 9350 w atlantic blvd, coral springs, fl 33071, 954 755-5600 ext 3101) were notified and diagnosed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 08V521000 (air bags and electrical system), although the failures were the same. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer stated that the vehicle was excluded from a recall and out of warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 43,388.

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #43

Aug 312018

Altima

  • 210,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Altima. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact struck a pothole and the air bag indicator illuminated immediately. The contact stated that "air bag off" was displayed on the instrument panel. Priority Nissan richmond (16301 priority way, colonial heights, Virginia 23834, (804) 414-0550) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 210,000.

- New Kent, VA, USA

problem #42

Oct 152011

Altima

  • 50,000 miles
My car had been recalled 4 times for various defects as well as the Nissan Altima 2005 that I had.

- Canovanas, PR, USA

problem #41

Jun 282018

Altima

  • 100,000 miles
The driver side airbag deployed without any impact upon making a right turn, subsequently, the driver lost control of the vehicle with airbag deployment making it impossible to and ran over a curb causing extensive damage to the vehicle.

- Cleveland, MS, USA

problem #40

Oct 182016

Altima 4-cyl

  • 101,318 miles
Head on collision at approximately 45 mph, braked, direct impact about 25 mph, airbags did not engage. Driver seat belt did not lock on brake or impact. Consumer stated trucking company has taken steps for repairs but dealership missed some repairs and trucking company refusing to pay outstanding repairs.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #39

Feb 092018

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
On my way to work on a rainy day, I was making a turn at a intersection. I loss control of my car & hit a tree. The driver side airbag didn't deployed when my car hit a tree. I was transported to the westchester medical center trauma er. I sustained a fractured sternum & bruised ribs.

- White Plains, NY, USA

problem #38

Feb 032016

Altima 4-cyl

  • miles
Takata inflators: One of my vehicles (the other is a 2013 Ford Fusion VIN [xxx]), was issued a recall notice regarding the takata inflators. I was informed repeatedly that parts were not available and I would be informed when they were in stock. I do not have the original documentation regarding this recall and cannot recall which of my vehicles was pinpointed, the inflators have not been changed on either of my vehicles, but mysteriously, neither shows up on the takata recall list. Can you tell me how or why this should be the case? I feel that something has "slipped thru the cracks". information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #37

Feb 042018

Altima

  • 135,000 miles
The incident happened the week of 02/08/18 my wife noticed some light vdc slip ABS lights all came on them while on highway all of the brakes locked and she could not accelerate car.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #36

Feb 022018

Altima

  • 59,100 miles
The airbag dash lite keeps on blinking after starting vehicle. Continues blinking while driving. Vehicle has 59,100 miles on it.

- Tarpon Springs, FL, USA

problem #35

Jul 032017

Altima

  • miles
My car airbag light on my dash board is flashing. I have contacted the dealer see if there has been a recall and they have said no. They told me to bring the car in to be evaluated. However, I was told that the air bag will not deploy if there is an accident.

- Covington, GA, USA

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