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2010 Nissan Altima electrical complaints

Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 74, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2010 Nissan Altima electrical problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Nov 13, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 67,500 miles · FL

I have read numerous accounts of the nissan altima being unable to start when the required brake/start button is used. I am having the same problem. When the brake is applied and the start button pushed, the acc light comes on then, if pushed again, the on light comes on (over the start button). Then when pushed again, the system shuts off. By trying several times and pumping the brake, the car will eventually start. Since this has been reported numerous times, there is obviously a defect in the car's parts/system. There should be a recall to have nissan replace the faulty parts free of charge.

Filed Oct 20, 2014 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 20,000 miles · VA

Norfolk, virginia - my 2010 nissan altima with push button start failed to start. All other electrical seemed fine. I had just previously noticed the ABS, vdc and slip warning lit while driving. After checking fuses, key fob batteries, etc. I attempted to pump the brakes several times and it finally started. Drove immediately to the dealer where I was told it was the brake lamp switch and harness which must be replaced at a cost of $550.00. He seemed to know with out of even looking what the problem was. When I questioned him about such an expensive switch, he only said "this happens a lot with this model." this should be recalled and fixed at nissan's expense.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 20,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 nissan altima. After the push to start button was installed, the vehicle would not restart after being driven after approximately 15 minutes. The contact mentioned that the vds, slip, and brake warning indicators illuminated. When attempting to depress the brake pedal in order to start the vehicle, the brake pedal was almost impossible to depress. The failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the technician stated that the brake switch was defective, which prevented the vehicle from starting. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

Filed Sep 28, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 65,000 miles · VA

My 2010 nissan altima is not able to start due to the push button ignition. It is having the same issue as the 2009 nissan maxima's and altima are having, which is the electronic steering column lock (escl). Nissan has issued a warranty extension for this issue for the 2009 model but not for the 2010 and other altima models that are having the same issue. I believe that nissan should extend it coverage to this vital part due to the cost being over $700 to replace and the fact that without this part, the car cannot function at all.

Filed Sep 27, 2014 · Electrical · 25,000 miles · VA

Nissan altima 2010 (~25k miles so far) would not start upon press the start button, so the car is immobilized. Walked away, came back 15 minutes, and by chance, it started. This happen several times for the past 2 months. The last try, no such luck when attempt to start the car. Check the car battery was at 45%. So I charged the battery to 100% and still no luck starting the car. Call nissanassist and recommended the car be towed to nissan authorized service center. I did and their diagnosis ($119.00) are a bad brake switch/wiring harness combo issue and cost about over $600.00. The car is now out of warranty. The local service manager said "off the record", this known defective brake switch will not allow the car to start, also it is consuming the battery electrical current and over time. This continuous bleeding of current will heat up the wire harness/connectors due to the car starting and its security features, and thus eventually draining your car battery and damaging the wire harness. That is why you will have a dead battery over time of 1-2 weeks. This is a money making proposition for nissan corporation and the local service person mentioned about a rash of bad switch occurrences last year (2013). In short, if you don't use the nissan service department for your car and spend $$$ with them, the nissanassist won't help you defray the cost for the car defective as you did not "invest" with them .so the federal safety agency, people won't die with this defective, but will cause many inconveniences with dead cars at various locations where drivers turn off their cars and frustrated on attempting to start their cars. This is the same problem noted on nissan blog and websites by frustrated nissan altima owners. In summary, can the federal safety agency investigated and force nissan to issue a recall for this recurring problem as no one die yet? Yes, no one will die from this.

Filed Sep 24, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 63,000 miles · OK

When you try to start vehicle you push on brake pedal, but the pedal doesn't go down 1/16 of an inch. The brake lights wont even come on. If you push the start button it will only go to the accessory then off. When I asked service manager at nelson nissan in broken arrow, ok and I quote "he said you had to have key on before brake lights would come on"... I am like really!!! The brake lights umm no they should come on anytime you push the brake if the key is on or not. Please help us american's and other hard working tax paying people get our cars fixed. We paid good hard earned money for them and now all we have in a lemon in are garage. Thanks so much for you time, god bless you! And god bless america!!!

Filed Sep 5, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 74,400 miles · NC

The car will not start, steering lock malfunction.

Filed Sep 3, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 26,000 miles · CA

The brake couldn't be pressed so the push button start wouldn't work. Also, the ABS & vdc lights stay on even while driving(sometimes). You never know when its going to happen. I have been late to work, unable to take the kids to school, and afraid to drive my own car that I used to love, in fear of not being able to start the darn thing!! I see a lot of customers have had this same type of issue. Is there any kind of recall?

Filed Aug 4, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 18,047 miles · NJ

Car had intermittent no start condition and intermittent brake light outage. Mechanic replaced faulty original stop lamp switch 25320-ax00c(n).

Filed Aug 4, 2014 · Electrical · 100 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 nissan altima. The contact stated that the push-to-start button failed to respond. The contact also stated that the ABS and the slp warning lights illuminated. The vehicle would start after multiple attempts or the vehicle would have to receive a jump start to the battery from another vehicle in order to start properly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing and the mechanic stated that the brake and the park light switch failed. As a result the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100.

Filed Jul 16, 2014 · Electrical · 53,000 miles · NY

My car wouldn't start when I pushed the push button start and pressed on the brake pedal. Later that day the car started. I had it checked and the dealer said if it happened again to have it towed.yesterday the car wouldn't start again when I pressed the brake pedal and pushed the start button. After repeated attempts to get the brake pedal to start the car, it started. It is going to the dealer to be checked. The starting mechanism is poor and unreliable.

Filed Jul 11, 2014 · Electrical · 27,400 miles · NY

My 2010 altima has a push start ignition last month while visiting in pa the brake light, vdc, and slip light came on and remains on. We stopped and then the car failed to restart. We were able to get back home to ny and I took it to my local dealer where they ran a diagnostic test result was a bad brake light switch. Which completes the circuit from the brake to the push start button to allow the car to start. I researched on line and found a few different forums one being nissanclub.com where I found a number of ppl with the same issue. I contacted nissan customer affairs and got nowhere. I was wondering how many ppl with the same issue are needed for an issue like this to be considered a recall because with that being a damaged part there is no other way to start the car.

Filed Jun 5, 2014 · Electrical · 37,410 miles · MN

My 2010 nissan altima has had difficulty starting. All the electrical components would come on but the engine wouldn't turnover. At first I could get it to start after a few tries (I would pump the brakes, bang on the steering wheel). Then I noticed while driving the vds (traction control), ABS and parking brake light would remain illuminated while driving. This meant that my vds was not functioning. It also meant my brake lights weren't functioning while I was driving. On 6 /01/2014 I tried starting my car and could not. I had it towed to my auto repair shop (maple grove auto, maple grove mn) where the technician informed me that it required a new brake light switch, harness and band hoses. He told me there was a nissan service bulletin as this was a "known issue". So much so that nissan had actually developed a more dependable brake switch. The service bulletin number is ntb10-139- which was released on november 23rd 2010. He told me to repair it was going to cost over 500.00. The faulty brake switch is a safety hazard as it causes the car to throw error codes which deactivates the traction control and ABS. Why has this not been a recall? Why does it cost $500 to repair a malfunctioning component that shortly after the car was released, the manufacture acknowledged it was faulty? Why would the federal safety agency wait until somebody dies in a crash caused by the vds and ABS features not working before they force a recall/repair of this known issue?

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 120,000 miles · AL

I purchased a 2010 nissan altima about three years ago. The first problem started with the car failing to start. That problem still happens to this day. The next problem is my car will not accelerate at times. I have had several incident when I am at a stop light, intersection, or redlight where I apply the gas all the way to the floor and the car will not move. I put the car in reverse and it still would not move. After waiting about 20 second and apply the gas it finally goes and drive normal. Me and my kids were almost in a serious accident when the car stalled in front of a big mack truck. Now after this has been going on for a couple of months, my car sits in my front yard unable to move at all and now there's a burning smell coming from the car. These cars are a death trap and I refuse to keep putting my life and my children lives in danger. The government needs to do something!!!

Filed May 21, 2014 · Electrical, Locks · 46,760 miles · AR

When driving door come unlocked .. Once car is parked and locked both windows are coming down and both doors are unlocked car wide open every hour or so ... I am not pressing key fob or anything..

Filed Apr 26, 2014 · Electrical, Suspension · AL

I started to hear a rattling noise under the hood of my car. It was found to be that the alternator/clutch was about to go out. I could also hear it when driving and pressing my foot on the gas. The rattling noise was present when I was in park or reverse.

Filed Apr 24, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · TX

My 2010 nissan altima has had difficulty starting. All the electrical components would come on but the engine wouldn't turnover. At first I could get it to start after a few tries (I would pump the brakes, slam the car hood, bang on the steering wheel). Then I noticed while driving the vds (traction control), ABS and parking brake light would remain illuminated while driving. This meant that my vds was not functioning and as such I lost control of my car several times on wet surfaces. On 4/22/2014 I tried starting my car and could not. I had it towed to a nissan dealership (orr nissan in corinth texas) where the service manager informed me that it required a new brake light switch, harness and band hoses. He told me there was a nissan service bulletin as this was a "known issue". So much so that nissan had actually developed a more dependable brake switch. The service bulletin number is ntb10-139- which was released on november 23rd 2010. He told me to repair it was going to cost over 500.00. The faulty brake switch is a safety hazard as it causes the car to throw error codes which deactivates the traction control and ABS. Why has this not been a recall? Why is a dealership charging 500 dollars to repair a malfunctioning component that shortly after the car was released, the manufacture acknowledged it was faulty? Furthermore, based on my calculations the dealership is putting a 300% mark up on the parts required. Why would the federal safety agency wait until somebody dies in a crash caused by the vds and ABS features not working before they force a recall/repair of this known issue? I am sending a copy of this to local and national news organizations.

Filed Mar 19, 2014 · Airbags, Body · 24,000 miles · AZ · crash · 2 injuries

The lack of lighting indicator makes that car very dangerous to drive at dusk & dawn times. The dash board is slightly less lit when the lights are on. The driver would not know whether the board light is in the "more" or the "less" status. Unlike in older cars, the dash board is not dark when the light is not on so that the driver is alerted. This is a major human factor defect. It is the cause of collisions at times of rush hour traffic. I am a professional engineer with utmost qualifications in human reliability analyses(hra). For a period of 9 years, I was the elected chairman of a large international group of hra engineers responsible for minimizing human errors at nuclear power plants. Our car was totaled. My wife had 4 broken ribs. I had several injuries.

Filed Mar 14, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 38,000 miles · MD

Most of the 2010 nissan altima cars do have a push button for the ignition to start. In order to start the car's engine, the driver would need to lightly press the brakes before pressing the button. I purchased the brand-new car back in september 2010 and I am still the only owner. In february 2014 with approximately 38,000 miles, the ignition started to stop working. After a few struggles, the ignition button would finally allow me to start the engine. Then the problem gradually got worse. I noticed that the brakes would suck in so hard that I would be unable to "press" the brakes anymore in order for the ignition button to "enable" so I can start the engine. At one point last week, the car refused to start because of the brakes and I was unable to do anything but to put the car in neutral and push the car back and forth in the middle of a mcdonald's drive-thru route in baltimore, md. My roommate had to take leave in order to come and help me out. After 2 hours of struggling, we were able to get the "brakes light" on and the ignition would finally become enabled and we were able to start the engine. We drove straight to the nissan dealership in bowie, md and told them what happened. Nissan about this and they acknowledged that this is a common problem among many drivers and that the "brake switch" is causing it. At the end, my warranty company had to pay more than $800 and I had to pay almost $300 out of my pocket just for this issue. I researched online and saw so many drivers are complaining the same thing and that nissan is refusing to issue a recall for this because they knew it is a "common problem" that they could make a profit out of the repairs charges. Many drivers had to pay approximately $1,000 just for this "common issue" and I would like to make sure that the federal safety agency & dot are aware of this ongoing issue. Thank you.

Filed Nov 7, 2013 · Airbags, Electrical · 300 miles · CA

The light indicating "airbag off" for the passenger seat is frequently illuminated even when an adult (140 lb) passenger is sitting in the seat. The occurrence is approximately 10 percent of the time and occurs at any speed, even on the highway at 65 MPH. This error has persisted throughout the life of the vehicle (purchased new in 2010), but the dealerships we visited insist that the system complies with their electrical tests, even though we showed them photographs of the "airbag off" light taken by a passenger while sitting in this seat. Nissan needs to be made to issue a recall to correct this life-threatening error.

Filed Oct 29, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 41,287 miles · AL

If I have to pump the brakes to get the car started, will I soon have to pump the brakes to stop?????? Vehicle not recognize the key. Happened several times prior to 6/15/2013. Just thought the key needed to be charged. But on this date I pull up at a hotel, checked in and went to move the car and it wouldn't start. Sat for an hour or two. Replaced battery a few weeks prior so it wasn't that. Had to be towed to a pepboys. Too late for a dealership, a saturday evening, and I was over 5 hours from home. The car was dropped off across from the bays therefore they were unable to connect the diagnostic machine. After setting for a couple more hours it finally crank. They said it was the starter, as of today I have not replaced the starter. In august it did it again twice while my 16 yr was driving it to school. A couple of times in september. I took it to the dealer on 10/14/2013, their diagnosis were: replace brake sw, sub harness, and tie straps. And now almost on a daily basis want start without pumping the brakes. I'm the only one that drives the car now because I'm afraid of the brakes eventually giving out.

Filed Sep 24, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 33,000 miles · CA

This vehicle stalls or loses power when driving. It seems to happen during long trips, especially in hot weather during prolonged driving (several hours). It seems to do well if kept at highway speed, but as soon as the car makes a stop or slows down, it completely stalls or accelerates with great difficulty at insufficient speed. It is a dangerous traffic hazard. The nissan dealer expressed surprise when I called him regarding this problem. He said it was probably a batch of poor gasoline. After we experience another power failure, we took the car to the nissan dealer to check it out, but they could not find the problem. After running tests, our personal mechanic said he thought it was a transmission problem, but we had the transmission analyzed and serviced, and the battery cables checked. The car recently lost power again on a trip from montana to california. It lost power at stop signs or when I had to decelerate and then try to accelerate. After the car was turned off for the evening, it did not start the next morning, at first. Later it started and drove fine. I see there have been other complaints about other nissans losing power or stalling. I would appreciate it if you would tell me what steps you are taking to address this problem.

Filed Jul 18, 2013 · Electrical · 42,000 miles · LA

2010 nissan altima. The automatic push-to-start ignition would not operate when engaged. Checked battery good, fuses good.

Filed Jul 8, 2013 · Electrical · 48,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 nissan altima. The contact stated that the automatic push-to-start ignition would not operate when engaged. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000 and the current mileage was 49,000.

Filed May 20, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · 28,000 miles · TX

Subject: 2010 nissan altima hesitation problem contact information: the federal safety agency id: 370601 contact source: owner follow up/ I now have 42000 on the car and the fix did not work!! I am still having problems and have been back to the dealer numerous times. They did find low transmission fluid and are checking it once per month. My wife feels that there is enough concern that she does not drive it often. I believe that it could cause the car to stall in oncoming traffic and may have caused several accidents already which have gone un-noticed as mechanical !!!

Filed Dec 13, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 39,590 miles · PA

Went out to start vehicle ,no start...towed to dealer ,denied under warranty,made me pay for replacement..dealer towed to a nissan dealer to perform install of steering lock assay. And misc hardware.

Filed Jun 18, 2012 · Electrical · 54,732 miles · WV

My vehicle did not recognize the ikey, and would not start leaving me stranded. This has occurred on several occasions (all during daylight hours) and is getting worse. I have previously replaced the key batteries thinking that might be the problem it is not. I am very concerned that I might be in the parking lot after work late at night and not be able to star/drive my vehicle. Being a young adult female this is a major concern of mine.

Filed Jan 27, 2012 · Electrical · 16,923 miles · NC

Bought vehicle new 14 months ago and the battery already had to be replaced. At my expense. Dealer service informed me may have trouble if not replaced. I wrote nissan and they told me the following: "nissan is not in the position to provide vehicle service contract coverage or warranty coverage. Nissan depends on its nissan dealers to provide any and all warranty coverage concerns as they are in the best position to assess the vehicle and determine whether a part is warranty or not. We recommend you continue to coordinate with your local nissan dealer??s service department with any warranty inquiries. " since nissan itself will not properly look into the situation I will no longer purchase a nissan and they have lost a loyal customer since 1972.

Filed Oct 19, 2011 · Electrical · 15,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 nissan altima. The contact noticed that the owner's manual stated that the ignition switch on position could not be switched to the off position until the shift selector was moved to the park position; however, he was able to shut the vehicle off while the vehicle was in another gear other than the park position. The dealer was unaware of the failure since they did not reply to any attempts to contact them. The manufacturer was notified and advised the contact to notify the federal safety agency. No repairs were performed. The current and failure mileages were 15,000.

Filed Mar 7, 2011 · Airbags, Electrical · 1,000 miles · NC

2010 nissan altima s (purchased new 12/7/09) and as part of the incentive to buy the vehicle, the dealership had after market leather installed and from there the problems have been non-stop. At this point, I believe the problem is electrical. I have taken my car nearly 10 times (one being today) in the past 15 months for service and was placed in loaner cars at least 4 times due to the problems. The passenger seat air bag not working and tire pressure light sporadically comes on both blinking and/or a constant. My entire seat was replaced and still the air bag light takes up to 5 minutes sometimes (it varies) to turn off indicating someone is in the seat. I have driven up to 4 miles with my passenger being unprotected. The dealership, today says this is normal. The tire pressure light has came off and on since the car was purchased with nothing found to be wrong each time, except once, they said I had a nail in my tire and they plugged it. I have never seen the repair work and looked very well... This past weekend, I vacuumed my entire car (meaning each door had been opened and shut) taking approx 15 minutes. When I got in the vehicle and tried to start it the shift was locked and the car would not start. All lights started blinking and then completely shut down. It would show "on" on the start button while not running. I was jump started and then instantly the tire pressure light blinked for one minute then stayed constant. The air bag sensor took even longer to work. Of course, when I took it to the dealership today, nothing was wrong--battery was good--air bags are good; however, they did confirm low tire pressure in one tire... I truly believe it is an electrical problem and the company is not standing behind their product. I am beyond frustrated and truly dishearten by nissan and their lack of concern for their customers' safety and well being.

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