Problems · by component

2010 Nissan Sentra engine problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Nissan Sentra cite engine, 24% of all 144 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
35
24% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“The car stalls while the vehicle is in motion and has difficulty starting. The car stalls each time after it comes to a complete stop at lights or a stop sign makes it very dangerous”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2025Electrical system, EngineODI 11641718
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER WHO OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER MOTHER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEBRUN NISSAN (396 GRANT AVE, AUBURN, NY 13021), AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11338635
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, AND SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN, THE CAR WAS STILL IN MOTION WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF, AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE MENTIONED ABOVE, THE CAR STARTED FOR A BRIEF SECOND, THEN WOULD NOT RESTART AND NISSAN FOUND THE ISSUE TO BE THE ECM THAT WAS DAMAGED BY THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. THIS ALSO MADE SENSE AS TO WHY WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO BUY NEW BATTERIES EVERY 1-2 YEARS, WHICH CAUSED ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GAINESVILLE NISSAN LOCATED AT (3915 N MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ECM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,668. *LN*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2020EngineODI 11319370
“WAS DRIVING AND CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T ACCERLATE AND JERKING ALONG WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. TRIED TO DRIVE IT NEXT DAY BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE CAR WAS SHAKING BAD AND WOULDN'T MOVE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2020EngineODI 11302214

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2010 Sentra problem areas