My brake light came on and I topped it off with oil and it went home. This was on sunday. I took it in monday to have it checked and the master cylinder was leaking and I had it replaced for $612.73. I called Nissan as I found there were some complaints and found a site where Nissan was reimbursing customers. They checked my VIN number and told me my car was not eligible. This is too new of…
2010 Nissan Altima brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 10 brakes complaints filed for the 2010 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2010 Altima has multiple documented brake system defects: brake pedal switches that cause no-start conditions, power brake boosters that fail and limit acceleration (a known issue on earlier model years Nissan hasn't recalled for 2010), master cylinders leaking into boosters, and brake pedal design problems that trap your foot. Expect repairs at 29,000–50,000 miles costing $400–$700+, often out of warranty.
The 2010 Altima's brake system generates consistent complaints across multiple distinct failures. The brake pedal switch (which enables push-button ignition) fails electrically, leaving cars unable to start; Nissan acknowledges this via Service Bulletin NTB10-139 and offers a redesigned switch, but no recall exists. Power brake booster failures occur at 29,000–48,000 miles, causing the brakes to engage on their own and limit acceleration to 25 mph or less. Notably, the same booster failure triggered recalls on 2007–2009 Altimas, yet Nissan has not recalled 2010 models despite identical symptoms. Master cylinders leak into boosters around 49,000 miles, illuminating warning lights; one owner found Nissan runs a reimbursement program for some VINs but was denied coverage. One report documents brake pedal jamming at the floorboard at 127,000 miles. Owners also report the brake pedal sits so close to the accelerator that shoes catch on its edge, creating accident hazards. Brake caliper and ABS sensor failures occur together, triggering warning lights and brake seizure at 48,000 miles. Repairs run $400–$700 and typically fall outside warranty protection.
Same Nissan Altima brakes reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Brake Pedal Switch Failure
The brake pedal switch (also called brake light switch), which allows push-button ignition when the brake is pressed, fails electrically. Nissan issued a redesigned switch via Service Bulletin NTB10-139 in response to this known defect. Owners report this is a safety issue with no formal recall.
When: Varied; complaints span 2012-2013 model years in operation
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start (push-button ignition does not respond despite key fob in vehicle); ABS and flip lights blink; Brake lights fail to illuminate when braking
Codes mentioned: Service Bulletin NTB10-139
Repairs/costs cited: OEM switch replacement: $232.64; redesigned switch with brake pedal harness: $531.17
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin NTB10-139 released with redesigned switch; Nissan declined to cover cost under warranty despite being only 3,000 miles over limit; no formal recall issued
Power Brake Booster Failure
The power brake booster fails, causing the brakes to engage without driver input and limiting acceleration. Multiple owners report this was already a recall item on 2007–2009 Altimas but Nissan has not issued a recall for 2010 models despite the same failure pattern.
When: Intermittent failures observed during driving; 29,000 and 48,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle acts as if brakes are being applied; acceleration limited to 25 mph or less; ABS, VDC OFF, and SLIP lights illuminate; Brakes seize and fail to engage properly; Brakes grab suddenly and stop short
Codes mentioned: ABS light, VDC light, SLIP light
Repairs/costs cited: Power brake booster replacement: $700; one repair cited $483 for master cylinder/booster replacement at 49,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for 2010 model despite prior recalls on 2007–2009 models for same issue
Master Cylinder Leaking into Booster
The master cylinder develops an internal leak, allowing brake fluid to seep into the power brake booster. Warning lights illuminate on the dash. Owners report Nissan is aware of this issue (dealer mentioned a site where Nissan was reimbursing customers for some claims), yet coverage is inconsistent.
When: 49,000 and under 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light illuminates on dash; Master cylinder physically leaks; Booster contamination
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder replacement: $612.73 and $483 cited; dealer service write-up noted issue but claimed no warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan has some reimbursement program for certain VINs (unconfirmed eligibility criteria); not all claims approved
Brake Pedal Mechanical Binding or Jamming
The brake pedal physically jams or becomes stuck at the floorboard, rendering the vehicle undriveable. One owner reported this at 127,000 miles.
When: 127,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed and goes to floorboard; Pedal remains jammed; Vehicle cannot be driven
Brake and Accelerator Pedal Design/Spacing Issue
The brake pedal is positioned too close to the accelerator pedal, and the brake pedal extends too far into the footwell. Owners with standard shoe sizes (size 10) report their foot catches on the brake pedal edge when trying to apply the brake, creating a collision hazard.
When: Upon driving (reported by renter with first exposure to vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Shoe gets caught on brake pedal edge when moving foot to brake; No clearance between accelerator and brake pedals; Multiple near-accident incidents
ABS Sensor and Caliper Failure
ABS sensor and brake caliper fail together, triggering warning lights and brake engagement issues. Repair was recommended but not completed by the reporting owner.
When: 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS, VDC, and SLIP indicators illuminate; Brakes seize and fail to engage
Codes mentioned: ABS light, VDC light, SLIP light
Repairs/costs cited: ABS sensor and caliper replacement recommended
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; no further action reported
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
On sunday, 12/16/12 evening around 11:15pm, I was driving home from out of town and had to pull over for gas about 45 miles away from the house. I turned off the vehicle and filled up the gas and the car would not start once we were ready to leave. The ABS and flip lights would blink and the battery would power up but the car on the push button ignition would not respond which would start the…
Had brakes trouble with your 2010 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2010 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 39,000 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 49,675. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,000; a quarter make it past 65,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.