2010 Nissan Sentra problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (25) · Electrical System (23) · Air Bags (20)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Sentra model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
105 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2011-12-15 · campaign 11V579000 · 33,803 vehicles
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MR20 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 11, 2010, TO MAY 22, 2010, AND JULY 8, 2010, TO OCTOBER 25, 2010. THE ZINC COATING APPLIED TO THE TERMINAL STUD BOLT WAS THICKER THAN SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM).
Risk: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER IT STOPPED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND COVER, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JANUARY 23, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2010-11-12 · campaign 10V555000 · 13,737 vehicles
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 SENTRA VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 22, 2010, THROUGH JULY 8, 2010. DUE TO A MACHINING IRREGULARITY, THE BOLT/WASHER SURFACE ON THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END MAY ALLOW FOR A GAP TO OCCUR IN THE CONTACT AREA OF THE TERMINAL. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VOLTAGE DROP THAT MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.
Risk: THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED WITH A DIFFICULT OR NO START INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CABLE END WITH A NEW ONE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN PN NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2010-09-10 · campaign 10V401000 · 7,948 vehicles
Defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Risk: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Service bulletins (104)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-027D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication – network diagnostic flow chart this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB10-066C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · NTB17-019H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 104 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-01-03 · Vehicle Speed Control“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 sta…”
2025-07-04 · Power Train“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. …”
2025-02-18 · Visibility · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 nissan sentra. the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the rear glass fractured after the contact activated the defroster to attempt to defrost the windows. the dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximate…”
2025-02-10 · Engine“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 …”
2024-10-20 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“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. …”
2024-01-27 · Air Bags“driver airbag randomly went off while driving down the road. did not hit anything, no potholes, or anything that could have set the airbag off. additionally, the airbag was extremely hot when it went off and burned the drivers arms and face. …”
2022-09-30 · Seat Belts“airbag light came on a week ago. have reset it several times and returns. when the airbag light goes off the seat belt light comes on, and sometimes simultaneously.…”
2022-09-07 · Power Train · 169,630 mi“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. t…”
2022-03-16 · Air Bags“the airbag suddenly stopped working. now the airbag sign is always on, signifying that the airbag is not active. …”
2022-02-02 · Air Bags“airbag light blinking all time …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.