Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Nissan Sentra problems

Owners filed 144 complaints about the 2010 Nissan Sentra with NHTSA between Feb 2010 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (50).

Complaints
144
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system50
  2. Engine35
  3. Air bags31
  4. Power train18
  5. Vehicle speed control11
  6. Steering9
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)8
  8. Engine and engine cooling8
  9. Suspension7
  10. Tires4
  11. Exterior lighting3
  12. Visibility2
  13. Seat belts2
  14. Fuel/propulsion system2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201016
20115
201211
20139
201411
201514
201617
201712
201811
201918
20208
20212
20224
20230
20242
20253
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

50 reports1 crash2 fires2 related recalls
“As I was driving on the freeway 65 mph my car completely lost all Speed and the more I accelerated the more my car decreased speed and eventually it shut itself off as i stopped the car as I pulled over there was no time to make it to a safe area for a safe pull over i was on a bridge calling for help from my insurance. The car did not want to start at first about 45 minutes later my car started again and was able to drive away. I had no idea what happened. Then I was driving almost to 3 months down the road it does it again on the freeway i was in slow lane driving 65 was able to exit quickly so there was no accident as I pulled over it did the same exact thing to me again and I waited till it was able to go again. for the third time it did it in parking lot as I was driving about 3 to 5mph when it happened last and it did not start again and i had to get it towed it's been needing a new computer module ecu. Because the computer when plugging in to obd2 diagnostic monitors it does not read or communicate with my car to diagnose any issues so monitor does engage”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2026Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11708564

Engine

35 reports1 fire
“Driving and all the sudden went from 20mph to not even 5mph was able to limp it to a mechanic who said the trans cvt was most likely the problem didnt know nissans has that issue of a fail safe.. thankfully wasn't on a busy road going 80. Have also hurd knocking under the hood a couple times before were couldn't get that figured out.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 4, 2025Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11671211

Air bags

31 reports8 crashes
“Involved in a motor vehicle t-bone collision. Driver airbag deployed but the panel did not fully come off. Bottom section of the airbag/horn cover came off. Top section did not separate from the rest of the wheel.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2024Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11620845

Power train

18 reports
“The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH and slowing down due to traffic; after slowing down and attempting to accelerate the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off to the side of the highway and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was turned off and towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the stepper motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 169,630.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2022Power train, EngineODI 11483320

Vehicle speed control

11 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2015Steering, Suspension, Vehicle speed controlODI 10781873

Steering

9 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11377305
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.