2010 Nissan Sentra Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 13%of 144 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2010 Nissan Sentra, 13% of the 144 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“After driving for about 10 minutes, the transmission did not want to come out of low gear. At 35 MPH, I was at about 6,000rpms in drive. I confirmed the overdrive off button is not engaged, nor is it in l , and the emergency brake is off. When it has been cooled off for about 3+ hours, it will drive fairly normal for about 10-12 minutes until warmed up, then it all starts again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10524036, filed 2013-07, 110,000 miles“I went to service center several times, but they couldn't fix these. When I am driving my car slowly under 10 MPH, there is noise from front wheels everyday, it is loud. I can hear a continuing sound when I turn my car to left or right on road. When I am driving my car on local road, there is noise from gear-knob button(shift-knob button). I found my car doesn't have door-lock with key. When I lock the front door, other doors are not lock together. But the manual doesn't say like that.”
NHTSA complaint #10536191, filed 2013-08, 10,000 miles“I was at a stop light and when it turned green and I stepped on the gas, the car made a noise and jerked. I was not able to drive from there. I couldn't even shift to any other gear. The car was stuck in a neutral position, so I was able to push it off to the side. After getting a tow to the nearest shop, they determined the transmission was bad. I did some research and found out Nissan had been having issues with this type of transmission. (CVT) and they even extended the trans warranty to 120k. (I have 144k on the car) I did contact Nissan to see if they would make a small exception. …”
NHTSA complaint #10967865, filed 2017-03, 144,000 miles“The first incident I was reversing out of spot and the engine just shut off, I had no control of gas however lights and dashboard errors were displayed. I put car in park, turned ignition off and tried to start up car with success . So I thought maybe something strange happened and I went on with my life. Over the next few years this kept happening months even years apart at the strangest times. For example the most recent time it happened I had stopped at a stop sign and when starting to accelerate the car just shut off like it has so many times . …”
NHTSA complaint #10664727, filed 2014-12, 9,000 miles“I don't know if this is a one-time,only-thing, but felt I wanted to mention it. My mother drives a 2010 Nissan Sentra, built about 2/10 it has never been serviced by the dealer except for 'included' oil and filter changes, as part of the new car 'sell' I took the front left wheel off, to rotate the tires and, since I have replaced control arms, and cv axles myself in the past, looked around. The 32 mm spindle nut was loose enough to turn by hand, the original cotter-pin (painted black while the car was built) was original-properly intact. …”
NHTSA complaint #10467992, filed 2012-07, 20,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10233904Mar 29, 2023CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10222714Sep 27, 2022CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10199148Jun 9, 2021CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10116292Jun 20, 2017CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. The APPLIED VEHICLES section has been revised. No other changes have been…
- 10091575Sep 9, 2016"altima, sentra, and rogue; cvt fail-safe condition service information this bulletin has been amended. The applied vehicles section has been revised. No other changes have been…
- 10192615Aug 6, 2015SERVICE INFORMATION The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks. All fluid leaks, when properly diagnosed, should be…
- 10192605Jul 10, 2015IF YOU CONFIRM: Customers concern of a "clicking" noise coming from either left or right front/rear CV-type axles during take-off/acceleration. ACTION: Apply Molykote M77 grease…
- 10192474Nov 20, 2014SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the…
- 10192259Nov 5, 2013IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle has slower than normal acceleration from a stop at times, and/or the customer describes the vehicle has slower than normal acceleration from a stop at…
- 10036734Nov 5, 2013Nissan: mil is on and/or slower than normal acceleration. Slower than normal acceleration from a stop at times, if it should occur, happens more commonly when the vehicle has…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 13% |
| 2024 | 9 | 22% |
| 2023 | 2 | 10% |
| 2022 | 6 | 7% |
| 2021 | 4 | 3% |
| 2020 | 10 | 5% |
| 2019 | 54 | 24% |
| 2018 | 46 | 25% |
| 2017 | 76 | 33% |
| 2016 | 127 | 47% |
| 2015 | 173 | 49% |
| 2014 | 182 | 48% |
| 2013 | 311 | 49% |
| 2012 | 68 | 38% |
| 2011 | 18 | 13% |
| 2010 | 18 | 13% |
| 2009 | 3 | 5% |
| 2008 | 20 | 12% |
| 2007 | 17 | 11% |
| 2006 | 8 | 7% |
| 2005 | 10 | 6% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4% |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% |
| 2002 | 20 | 7% |
| 2001 | 9 | 4% |
| 2000 | 8 | 5% |
| 1999 | 4 | 7% |
| 1997 | 1 | 1% |
| 1996 | 11 | 8% |
| 1995 | 4 | 3% |
| 1994 | 5 | 5% |
| 1993 | 12 | 21% |
| 1992 | 11 | 18% |
| 1991 | 8 | 13% |
| 1990 | 3 | 8% |
| 1988 | 2 | 5% |
| 1987 | 6 | 17% |
| 1986 | 1 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2010 Nissan Sentra
50 complaintsEngine
35 complaintsAir bags
31 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsElectronic stability control
8 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsTires
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2010 Nissan Sentra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology