2010 Nissan Sentra: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
50%
56 of 112 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2010 Nissan Sentra are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 64% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 32 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 39%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE07/04/2025
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 t…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE02/10/2025
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
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE09/07/2022
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 th…
Three of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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 …
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.
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2010 Nissan Sentra
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
