NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The zinc coating on the battery terminal stud bolt is thicker than intended, causing excessive voltage drop that can make starting difficult and damage the engine control module.
This page covers 4 recalls, 144 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Nissan Sentra.
24–29 mpg combined
8.1–9.8 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
For the 2010 Nissan Sentra, the bulk of owner complaints center on the electrical system and engine behavior. Electrical complaints cover a wide range of symptoms, including warning lights activating unexpectedly, modules behaving erratically, and power loss while driving. Engine complaints frequently describe stalling, both while idling at stops and during highway driving, along with hard starting and sudden loss of power that owners say left the car nearly undriveable at speed. The CVT transmission also draws mentions, with some owners reporting the vehicle entering a reduced-power state and slowing dramatically while in traffic. Airbag complaints make up the third-largest group, with owners describing deployment failures or partial deployments during collisions where the airbag cover did not fully separate from the steering wheel as expected. Stalling at low speed after coming to a stop, such as at traffic lights, appears as a recurring thread across multiple engine-related reports.
144
Total Complaints
11
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
6
With Injuries
By System
Recalls 1 and 2 describe the same underlying defect (battery terminal contact issues causing engine stall) filed in multiple jurisdictions, as do Recalls 3 and 4. Recalls 1/3 and 2/4 are two distinct but closely related battery terminal defects. I'll treat each pair as a single issue.
The 2010 Nissan Sentra has 4 recalls, all centered on positive battery terminal defects that can cause the engine to stall while driving and make the vehicle difficult or impossible to restart, raising the risk of a crash.
Two separate battery terminal issues affect certain vehicles built during different windows of the production run. In one, the terminal stud bolt carries an oversized zinc coating that creates a voltage drop, which can also damage the engine control module and lead to stalling. In the other, a machining irregularity leaves a gap in the contact area of the terminal cable end, producing a similar voltage drop with the same potential outcomes: hard starting, unexpected engine shutdown at low speed, and possible engine control module damage. Both defects affect only vehicles with the MR20 engine built within specific manufacturing date ranges.
At a glance
What can fail
The zinc coating on the battery terminal stud bolt is thicker than intended, causing excessive voltage drop that can make starting difficult and damage the engine control module.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The zinc coating on the positive battery terminal stud bolt may be thicker than intended, causing a voltage drop that makes engine starting difficult and can damage the Engine Control Module, leading to engine stalling and loss of propulsion.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing flaw on the positive battery terminal cable end may create a gap where the bolt connects, reducing electrical contact. This can cause voltage drop, making the vehicle hard to start and potentially damaging the engine control module.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the positive battery terminal cable end with a new part at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing issue with the positive battery terminal cable end may create a gap in the connection, causing voltage loss that could make the engine hard to start, damage the engine computer, or cause the engine to stall while driving.
What the fix does
The positive battery terminal cable end will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
