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Nissan CubeModel year report

2010 Nissan Cube Problems

Compared with other Nissan Cube years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
56filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,000miles, 41 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
29 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Nissan Cube (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Nissan Cube most often report the car not starting because the electronic steering column lock or ignition lock fails, often while parked or stationary. Airbag warning-light and recall-repair complaints come next, and transmission (CVT) complaints describe whining, surging and loss of drive, mostly at higher mileage. Some complaints mention cold weather.

  1. Steering

    Steering lock or ignition lock prevents engine start

    • 24 complaints (43%)
    • median 58,329 mi at 6.4 yrs old (20 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $950 (median of 9 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2023

    Owners describe the car not starting, or the steering wheel staying locked, often while parked or stationary. Some complaints mention a key warning icon on the dashboard and a tow to the dealer. According to complaints, the dealer found that the steering column lock or ignition lock assembly had failed. Some complaints say a recall or warranty extension for this part covered other models but not this model year. Most reports with recorded mileage fall between about 25,000 and 100,000 miles, though a higher-mileage report lists about 170,000 miles, and some mention cold weather.

    What to check: Ask the dealer whether the steering column lock and ignition lock have been checked, and whether any recall or campaign applies to this VIN. On a test drive, confirm the car starts reliably with the key detected and that no key warning appears on the dashboard.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My car starts when it feels like it. I've been stranded at the store after dropping off a child at sports practice, stranded in my own garage unable to take my child to school or get to work. It appears to be the steering lock mechanism issue that abounds in the 2010 CUBE. Sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn't. I now have to phone a friend and tell them I'm leaving and where I'm going in case I get stranded and can't make it back!”

    NHTSA complaint #10918840, filed 2016-10, 81,000 miles

    “I recently had my steering lock mechanism go out on my 2010 Nissan CUBE and leave me stranded. I had my vehicle towed because it would no longer start thinking it was a safety issue. =$$ no other dealerships would look at it because it was what seemed an electrical issue, I had to take it to Nissan dealership to diagnose this problem. I was quoted $950 for it to get fixed. Upon doing research I realized this same part was recalled on the 2009s. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10909358, filed 2016-09, 80,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    Airbag warning light, recall repairs and non-deployment

    • 7 complaints (13%)
    • median 38,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2026

    Owners describe an airbag warning light that comes on and off, or stays lit until a mechanic turned it off. An owner reports the passenger airbag switched off with a lighter passenger seated in cool weather, and the dealer reportedly found no stored code. Some complaints mention recall 26V230000 for the driver air bag inflator, with replacement parts reported as unavailable, and a used-car complaint describes a missing driver's front airbag. Crash reports describe airbags that did not deploy as expected. Warning-light complaints list between about 24 and 38,000 miles, while the crash and used-car complaints with recorded mileage are about 138,000 miles or more.

    Recall 26V2300001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the occupant detection service bulletin for the passenger airbag code has been applied and whether recall 26V230000 is complete for this VIN. If the car was bought used, confirm the driver's front airbag is installed and that the airbag light turns off after startup.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Since I purchase my Nissan CUBE on cool mornings(under 60) the passenger air bag will be off when a 110 pound person is in the seat. After less than 5 miles of driving the air bag will turn on. The local Nissan dealer has had the car in 3-4 time and as there is no code in the computer they say they are not able to fix the problem. As most accidents happen close to home this could be a big problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #10471868, filed 2012-08, 100 miles

    “Airbags indicator light will come on and off periodically while driving had it to dealership several times and was told this is what it does and it just needs reset. I was also told their waiting for a recall and that when indicator light is on ,, airbags are not working,,, this happens while driving,, only”

    NHTSA complaint #11048153, filed 2017-11, 24 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    CVT transmission failure, surging or loss of power

    • 6 complaints (11%)
    • median 127,500 mi at 7.9 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2022

    Complaints describe the CVT transmission failing, with whining noises, surging, hesitation or no movement when pulling away, and power loss that may not show on the dashboard. A complaint describes the transmission failing in the middle of an intersection, and the dealer found the CVT needed replacement. Some owners say a replacement transmission also failed after relatively few miles. Some complaints say a service campaign or warranty extension applied, but the repair was refused or the problem returned. Most reports with recorded mileage are above 120,000 miles, though a report was filed with only a mile on the odometer.

    What to check: Ask for service records of any CVT repair or replacement and whether the transmission has been inspected for the symptoms above. On a test drive, check for whining, surging at steady speed or at stops, and hesitation when pulling away from a stop.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “As of february 2017, what I later found out was the continuously variable transmission, also known as, CVT transmission, started to fail on my 2010 nisan CUBE, which has only one owner. On the way to work a loud whining noise came from under the hood. As I was driving on a very busy street, the car started to accelerate and decelerate randomly while in drive. The check engine light would also occasionally illuminate. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10984762, filed 2017-05, 128,000 miles

    “The transmission started whining and next day the car did not move. It stopped moving when I needed to cross the intersection of darrow st and gardiner ave in silver spring ave. Exposing my kids and others passers by.”

    NHTSA complaint #10881890, filed 2016-06, 1 miles

Buying note. Used-car buyers should ask for records showing whether the steering column lock, ignition lock, airbag recall repair and any CVT work have been done. Because these complaints appear across a wide mileage range, a pre-purchase inspection that covers starting, the airbag warning light and a test drive with stops is a practical step.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 56 consumer complaints for the 2010 Nissan Cube. 41 of the complaints include a mileage, and 46% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 83 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 2 Nissan Cube model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (2), Engine cooling (1), Exterior lighting (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “My vehicle would not start. I had to have it towed to my mechanic where his computer diagnostic found the problem to be the steering module that starts the vehicle. I had to have it replaced at my cost of $971.00. My mechanic informed me that this same problem was prevalent in the year prior to mine and that they were being repaired by the manufacturer. I contacted the manufacturer and was told there was no campaign for my particular VIN number. I don't understand why the year prior to mine is covered but mine is not. …”

NHTSA complaint #11311450, filed 2020-02, 65,909 miles

Steering: “Steering wheel does not lock. Dash lights come on, key is recognized, but sometimes engine does not start due to dead battery. Failure seems to be steering lock mechanism in unlocked position at all times causing battery to drain. Battery replaced 2 times in 9 months.alternator checks out good. Tired of being stranded!!!!car was stationary when incidents occur. Happening every other day for past 2 months.”

NHTSA complaint #11073482, filed 2018-02, 100,000 miles

Air bags: “The contact owned a 2010 Nissan Cube. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH at an intersection and making a left turn, the front passenger's side near the front bumper of the vehicle collided with another vehicle. The contact stated that all the air bags deployed, with the exception of the front driver's side air bag. The contact sustained a neck injury and a gash cut on his left leg near the calf. No medical attention was required. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V230000(AIRBAGS). …”

NHTSA complaint #11743331, filed 2026-06, 138,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “After a few years or few thousand miles, the CVT transmission may partially fail and it may not be indicated properly in the dashboard. This results in vehicle not getting enough power to drive. So, vehicle may stall in the roads or highways causing safety issues to both vehicle occupants and others in the road/highways. Stopping and restarting may not solve the issue. It could move the vehicle a bit farther but it may be at a very slower speed than the posted limits. The vehicle may produce a unique sound at times. …”

NHTSA complaint #11139443, filed 2018-10, 144,123 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

46% of the 41 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,000 and 89,552 miles.

17%0–107%10–2522%25–5015%50–7520%75–10017%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (41 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’10’12’1410’16’18’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Nissan Cube. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Cube · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 4———
Cube Cargo · coupe FWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Nissan Cube version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Cube FWD1.8L 4-cylCVT273129$2,300
Cube FWD1.8L 4-cyl6-speed manual253027$2,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2010 Nissan Cube → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 83 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 83 bulletins →

Other model years of the Nissan Cube

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2014760,0001—28—Not enough data
20121957,3930—28—Falling
20113172,0000—280 · FewerStable
20105650,0002—2950 · TypicalFalling
200910173,5003—2968 · MoreFalling

All Nissan Cube model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan Cube?

Owners of the 2010 Nissan Cube most often report the car not starting because the electronic steering column lock or ignition lock fails, often while parked or stationary. The issues reported most often: Steering lock or ignition lock prevents engine start; Airbag warning light, recall repairs and non-deployment; CVT transmission failure, surging or loss of power.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Nissan Cube have?

NHTSA recorded 56 consumer complaints for the 2010 Nissan Cube as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Nissan Cube is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 20 complaints (36% of the total), followed by steering with 17.

Has the 2010 Nissan Cube been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Nissan Cube get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Nissan Cube (Cube, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 27 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Nissan Cube reported?

Among the 41 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,000 miles and the middle half falls between 25,000 and 89,552 miles; 46% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.