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moderate Owners of the 2010 Nissan Altima have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 90,000 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Altima | 18 |
| 2007 Altima | 117 |
| 2008 Altima | 13 |
| 2009 Altima | 24 |
| 2010 Altima (this page) | 24 |
| 2011 Altima | 12 |
| 2012 Altima | 10 |
| 2013 Altima | 257 |
| 2014 Altima | 116 |
If the strut insulator is cracked, there is a potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting position, which could affect vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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.
STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLICKING 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 this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin provides information to identify: - A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty. - A strut or shock absorber that has slight oil seepage, a condition which is considered normal, does not affect strut/shock absorber operation or performance, and does not require replacement. - A strut or shock absorber that should be replaced due to rod resistance/noise issues. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners describe a range of suspension troubles starting as early as 39,000 miles. The most serious complaint is catastrophic rear subframe corrosion, where the subframe supporting the rear wheel hub rusts through and breaks, causing sudden loss of vehicle control during highway driving or turns. Rear wheels bend, tire contact is lost, and one owner nearly crashed on an interstate curve.
Front struts crack or fail, producing loud clunking and rattling noises especially when cold or hitting bumps. Multiple owners report violent front-end swerving when striking road imperfections. Strut insulators also fail, causing the vehicle to scrape on speed bumps and fail state inspection. Front coil springs fracture, and suspension rods weld seams snap at 39,000 miles without any reported collision damage.
Motor mounts come loose, causing rattling under the hood and rough shifting between park and reverse. One owner reports the car shaking constantly when parked and warming up.
A particular frustration runs through the narratives: NHTSA Recall Campaign 09V358000 covers suspension corrosion and strut cracks for 2002–2005 Nissans, but many 2010 model VINs are excluded despite experiencing the exact same failures. Owners ineligible for recall face repair estimates of $940–$1,080 just for strut replacement and diagnostics. Nissan dealerships have declined warranty action on out-of-recall vehicles.
Same Nissan Altima suspension reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012
Rear subframe corrodes severely and cracks or breaks completely, compromising rear wheel hub mounting. Occurs on both driver and passenger sides; one side often shows surface rust before catastrophic failure. Loss of vehicle control reported when failure occurs during highway driving or turning.
When: 75,000–150,000 miles; one case at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wheel wobbling or losing flat contact; Vehicle swerving or veering uncontrollably; Rear wheel bent after failure; Screeching tire during loss of control
Repairs/costs cited: Rear subframe replacement required; owner narratives cite only surface inspection findings, no cost estimates provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 09V358000 exists for 2002–2005 Nissans; some 2010 models excluded from recall despite identical failure mode
Front struts crack, break, or fail internally. Owners report noise and loss of ride control; one narrative cites cracking as a known recall issue (09V358000) but many 2010 VINs excluded despite matching failure pattern.
When: 39,000–93,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clunking or rattling noise over bumps; Front end swerving or rattling violently when hitting bumps; Rough, jerky ride; Vehicle wanders or pulls to one side; Noise only when cold and at speeds 30 mph or less
Repairs/costs cited: $940–$1,080 repair cost cited (strut replacement plus diagnostics)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 09V358000 applies to some 2010 models but not others; Nissan has declined warranty claims on out-of-recall vehicles
Front coil springs fracture and require replacement. Owner reported abnormal noise during reverse gear operation.
When: 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from underneath vehicle during reverse; Visible spring fracture
Repairs/costs cited: Coil spring replacement performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no recall or warranty assistance mentioned
Strut insulators fail or crack, either manufacturing out-of-spec or due to age/mileage. Causes loss of ride control and bottoming out on speed bumps. Vehicle inspection failures result.
When: 75,000–93,000 miles; one case manufacturing defect
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bottoms out and scrapes on speed bumps; Cracked or broken insulator visible on inspection; Inspection failure; Loss of control over bumps
Repairs/costs cited: Strut insulator replacement required; no cost cited
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 09V358000 does not include some affected VINs
Motor mount breaks or comes loose, causing engine movement and rattling noise under the hood and during acceleration or shifting.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Loud rattling noise under hood or engine compartment; Rattling when pressing gas pedal; Hard shifts between park and reverse; Rough idle when parked and warming up
Repairs/costs cited: Motor mount replacement required; no cost cited
Suspension rod welds snap completely. Occurs at moderate mileage on what appears to be a stock vehicle without heavy use.
When: 39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking at highway speed (65 mph); Rear wheel bent after failure; Vehicle vibration
Repairs/costs cited: Suspension rod replacement; dealer stated complete weld snap suggests impact but no evidence of collision in narrative
Front strut bushings fail or wear out, degrading suspension response and control.
When: 77,134 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front end rattles violently when hitting bumps; Loss of suspension control
Repairs/costs cited: Repair not performed; diagnostic identified bushing failure along with struts and coil spring
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 75,000 and 137,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 75,000; a quarter make it past 137,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.