2014 Nissan Sentra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2014 Nissan Sentra ranks 3rd worst of 21 model years with a complaint index of 90 and 380 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Transmission & Powertrain problems dominate at 48% of complaints, with median failure mileage of 82,000. NHTSA lists 5 airbag-related recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 90/100
- #3 of 21 Sentra years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 380
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 27
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 18
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 32.5
- 29.5 city / 37.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 18 / 0
Top 2014 Nissan Sentra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain182 (48%)
- Engine88 (23%)
- Other58 (15%)
- Airbags51 (13%)
- Brakes48 (13%)
- Electrical System35 (9%)
- Fuel System13 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (3%)
- Steering9 (2%)
- Seat Belts6 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe brake pedals that fail to stop the car, sometimes at low speeds around parking lots or intersections, leading to collisions.
- Several complaints describe brakes making a grinding or groaning noise before losing stopping power.
- Owners report the CVT transmission stalling or failing suddenly, including while turning, which can cause loss of vehicle control.
- Some drivers report the car rolling on its own after being parked, with brakes unresponsive despite the key being out of the ignition.
- One owner reported unintended acceleration that pushed the car into a wall, triggering the airbags.
- A separate report describes airbags failing to deploy during a low-speed collision.
2014 Nissan Sentra recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V253000Apr 13, 2017Airbags30,038 vehicles
Air bags
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
- NHTSA 16V242000Apr 26, 2016Airbags645,898 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.
Risk: If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
- NHTSA 16V244000Apr 26, 2016Airbags3,296,947 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
2014 Nissan Sentra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 29.5 MPG
- Highway
- 37.5 MPG
- Combined
- 32.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2014 compared with other Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Nissan Sentra reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2014 Sentra has a complaint index of 90, the 3rd worst of 21 model years for this model, driven mainly by transmission and powertrain reports.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Nissan Sentra?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 48% of complaints (182 of 380), with a median failure mileage of 82,000.
- Does the 2014 Nissan Sentra have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2014 Sentra, all related to airbags, including inflator defects and seat belt bracket issues that affect the airbag control system.
- How does the 2014 Sentra compare to other years?
- The 2014 Sentra's complaint index of 90 is worse than most other Sentra years; only 2013 (index 100) and 2015 (index 95) rank worse.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Nissan Sentra?
- The EPA rates the 2014 Sentra at 32.5 mpg combined (29.5 city / 37.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,000.