DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Nissan Altima steering problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Nissan Altima have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 65,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Altima | 15 |
| 2007 Altima | 17 |
| 2008 Altima | 37 |
| 2009 Altima | 858 |
| 2010 Altima (this page) | 20 |
| 2011 Altima | 12 |
| 2012 Altima | 16 |
| 2013 Altima | 94 |
| 2014 Altima | 58 |
2crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 20 steering 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 steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2009 â 2010 MAXIMA AND ALTIMA ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK Voluntary Service Campaign ID # PC516 is No Longer Active. ï· Repair orders opened after May 28, 2020 are no longer eligible for reimbursement under Campaign ID # PC516. ï· Discard previous versions of NTB17-018.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Expiration Notification â Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) Voluntary Service Campaign UPDATE May 14, 2020 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The original announcement from February 21, 2017 has been revised to include: ï· Service Comm will deactivate PC516 on any unremedied VINs on May 29, 2020. ï· Dealers may continue to schedule and repair vehicles eligible for this service campaign up to and including May 28, 2020. ï· Vehicles presented for repair after May 28, 2020 will not be covered by this service campaign and any repair will be performed at customer expense if no service contract exists. o Either of the following parts may be used for service repairs at cust
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) Voluntary Service Campaign UPDATE March 6, 2020 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The original announcement from February 21, 2017 has been revised to include: ï· - Service Comm will deactivate PC516 on any unremedied VINs on May 29, 2020. ï· - Dealers may continue to schedule and repair vehicles eligible for this service campaign up to and including May 29, 2020. ï· - Vehicles presented for repair after May 29, 2020 will not be covered by this service campaign and any repair will be performed at customer expense if no service contract exists.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2010 Altima owners report two critical steering failure categories. The first is electronic steering column lock (ESCL) failure preventing vehicle start. Multiple owners say their cars won't crank when pushing the ignition button, with steering wheel locked solid. Owners cite a known manufacturing defect affecting 2009–2011 models, but Nissan extended warranty only for the 2009 model; coverage for 2010 is inconsistent by VIN. Replacement costs run $700–$1,600 plus labor, and corporate Nissan has refused exception coverage for out-of-warranty vehicles.
The second is sudden steering loss at highway speeds. Owners report the wheel becomes hard and unresponsive or locks completely while driving 60–70 mph, causing uncontrollable veering and crashes. One incident occurred at just 2,800 miles. Dealers consistently fail to duplicate these conditions during test drives, and some advise new steering racks without finding an actual problem.
Suspension issues compound the problem: front strut mount cracks produce loud clunking over bumps, and one owner reported loss of power steering fluid. A recall covers some 2009–2010 Altimas and Maximas, but not all 2010 Altima VINs qualify. Dealers have denied warranty coverage for suspension repairs they claim are not defects.
Owners describe these failures as safety threats—vehicle spins out, airbags don't deploy on impact, and steering becomes impossible to control.
Same Nissan Altima steering reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) Failure
Push-button ignition system will not start; steering wheel locks up, preventing engine cranking. Multiple owners report the vehicle becomes stranded. Nissan issued a warranty extension for 2009 models but not consistently for 2010.
When: Various mileages from 43,800 to over 145,000 miles; occurs on cold mornings in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start when push button is pressed; Steering wheel locked up preventing start; Key light illuminated on dash but engine does not crank; Car enters 'ON' position but fails to start; Unable to turn off after pushing start button
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite $700–$1,600+ replacement cost for steering column lock assembly and labor. One owner was denied warranty coverage and forced to pay out of pocket; another was quoted $1,000 for replacement and labor but VIN was not included in extended warranty program.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan issued a warranty extension for 2009 models but did not cover all 2010 Altima VINs. Nissan corporate refused exception coverage on customer request. No full recall was issued despite admitting this is a known manufacturing problem affecting 2009–2011 models.
Sudden Steering Loss and Lock-Up at Highway Speed
Steering wheel becomes hard, resistant, or completely locked while driving at highway speeds (60–70 mph), causing loss of vehicle control and crashes. One owner reported a pop sound preceding the event.
When: Occurs after 1 hour of highway driving or at sustained high speeds; one incident at 2,800 miles, another at 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt veering to the right without driver input at 60–70 mph; Steering wheel becomes hard and resistant to driver input; Inability to move steering wheel in either direction; Loss of steering control; vehicle floats and cannot find straight line; Vehicle spins out of control; Steering wheel shakes violently when brakes are applied; Dragging feel in steering; vehicle nearly hits other vehicles; Pop sound preceding loss of control
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers could not duplicate the condition during test drives despite owner claims of consistent occurrence. One dealer advised new steering rack without seeing the problem in the shop. Repairs have not been completed in documented cases due to inability to replicate fault.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner inquired about recall campaign (NHTSA 09V358000: Suspension) but was informed their VIN was not included despite similar failures in the model year.
Steering Vibration at Highway Speed
Persistent vibration transmitted through steering wheel, accelerator pedal, and driver's seat when driving above 60 mph. Began early in ownership after break-in period. Tire wear shows choppy or feathering pattern.
When: Occurred after break-in period with under 8,000 miles on vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration through steering wheel above 60 mph; Vibration in accelerator pedal and driver's seat; Choppy or feathering tire wear pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Owner had tires rebalanced and rotated by dealer; independent shop performed wheel alignment. Neither corrected the vibration. No permanent repair has been documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed inability to duplicate the condition despite it being constantly felt by driver.
Front Strut Mount Cracks and Suspension Noise
Front strut insulator components develop cracks causing loud clunking noises over bumps and on flat surfaces. Owners cite a recall on 2009–2010 Maxima and Altima models with the same issue, yet some 2010 Altimas are not showing recall eligibility.
When: Varies; one complaint at early mileage, another with significant history of service work
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunking noise over bumps; Clunking noise on flat surfaces during normal driving; Visible cracks on upper strut insulators on both sides; Stiff or frozen passenger-side front strut noted in one case
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealer advised that cracked front strut mounts are not covered under warranty. Parts availability or repair costs not specified in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: A recall exists for 2009 and 2010 Maxima and Altima models with the same issue (NHTSA 09V358000 referenced), but some 2010 Altima VINs are excluded from recall eligibility.
Power Steering Fluid Loss
Steering system loses power steering fluid; owner reports hard steering and noise when turning.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Hard to turn steering wheel; Noise when turning; Power steering fluid loss
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Went out to start vehicle ,no start...towed to dealer ,denied under warranty,made me pay for replacement..dealer towed to a Nissan dealer to perform install of steering lock assay. And misc hardware. *tr
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2010 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 43,800 and 82,253 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,800; a quarter make it past 82,253. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.