CarBrief

NHTSA has 380 owner complaints for the 2014 Nissan Sentra, and the largest group names the power train[1][2]. It also has five recalls[3], and four of them involve the front passenger air bag sensor or child seat bracket[4][5][6][7]. the front passenger air bag sensor or child seat bracket[4][5][6][7].

380owner complaints[1]
5recalls[3]
30–33MPG combined (EPA)[8]
4★NHTSA overall rating[9]

Most reported problems

Owners filed 380 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Of those, 27 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 18 injuries[1]. None report a death[1]. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car.

Component group Complaints Median mileage at failure
Power train[2] 182 82,000
Engine[10] 65 74,272
Unknown or other[11] 58 75,567
Air bags[12] 51 40,000
Brakes[13] 35 14,075
Electrical system[14] 32 72,750
Speed control[15] 31 75,000
Electronic stability control[16] 14 62,867

We read a small sample of complaint texts for the biggest groups. The counts below only describe that sample, not all owners.

Air bag complaints are fewer than power train complaints, but they include the most crash mentions (15) and injuries (14) of any group[12]. Brake complaints include 7 crash mentions and a median mileage of 14,075, the lowest in the table[13].

Recalls

NHTSA lists five recalls for this model year. Newest first:

A recall can apply to some cars and not others, so check the VIN for open recalls before you buy.. In the complaints we read, several owners said they were never told about a recall or were told by a dealer that their car was not on one[12].

Fuel economy

EPA lists four ratings for this model year, all for a 1.8L 4-cylinder, front-wheel drive and regular fuel[18][8][19][20].

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Sentra, manual 6-speed[18] 27 / 35 / 30 $2,250
Sentra, automatic (variable gear ratios)[8] 30 / 38 / 33 $2,050
Sentra FE, automatic (variable gear ratios)[19] 30 / 38 / 33 $2,050
Sentra, automatic (variable gear ratios)[20] 29 / 37 / 32 $2,100

EPA's annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Your own cost will depend on prices and how you drive.

Safety ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star ratings for the 4-door, front-wheel-drive version are 4 stars overall, 4 stars for frontal crashes, 5 stars for side crashes and 4 stars for rollover[9]. NHTSA puts the rollover risk at 12.1%[9].

Engine and size

EPA lists a 1.8L 4-cylinder rated at 124 to 130 hp depending on version[21].

These dimensions are Canadian-market specifications for the 4-door sedan, and they can differ slightly from US models[22].

Measure Value
Length[22] 182 in
Width[22] 69 in
Height[22] 59 in
Wheelbase[22] 106 in
Curb weight[22] 2,851 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

1995: 117 complaints, 3 recalls19952000: 171 complaints, 6 recalls2001: 236 complaints, 7 recalls2002: 304 complaints, 10 recalls20022003: 180 complaints, 7 recalls2004: 197 complaints, 4 recalls2005: 170 complaints, 5 recalls20052006: 116 complaints, 5 recalls2007: 154 complaints, 1 recalls2008: 167 complaints, 3 recalls20082009: 55 complaints, 1 recalls2010: 144 complaints, 3 recalls2011: 142 complaints, 2 recalls20112012: 180 complaints, 0 recalls2013: 638 complaints, 6 recalls2014: 380 complaints, 5 recalls38020142015: 352 complaints, 3 recalls2016: 270 complaints, 6 recalls2017: 231 complaints, 3 recalls20172018: 185 complaints, 2 recalls2019: 223 complaints, 2 recalls2020: 206 complaints, 4 recalls20202021: 132 complaints, 3 recalls2022: 81 complaints, 2 recalls2023: 20 complaints, 1 recalls20232024: 41 complaints, 3 recalls2025: 31 complaints, 4 recalls2026: 19 complaints, 1 recalls2026
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Sentra model year. The 2014 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19951173
20001716
20012367
200230410
20031807
20041974
20051705
20061165
20071541
20081673
2009551
20101443
20111422
20121800
20136386
20143805
20153523
20162706
20172313
20181852
20192232
20202064
20211323
2022812
2023201
2024413
2025314
2026191

Among the Sentra model years NHTSA lists, 2013 has the most complaints at 638[3]. The 2014 model year is second with 380, and 2015 is third with 352[3]. Later years drop lower, such as 270 for 2016 and 231 for 2017[3].

On recalls, 2014 has 5[3]. That is fewer than 2002 with 10, 2001 and 2003 with 7, and 2000, 2013 and 2016 with 6[3]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat the comparison as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2014 Sentra?

The data points to a few things to check. Look up the VIN for open recalls, especially the passenger air bag ones, because one recall record said the remedy was not yet available when it was written[4]. Ask about the service history of the transmission and brakes, since those themes showed up in the complaint samples we read[2][13]. EPA rates the automatic versions at 32 to 33 combined mpg, and NHTSA gives a 5-star side rating[8][20][9]. This model year has a high complaint count compared with most other Sentra years, so a pre-purchase inspection is a sensible step[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Nissan Sentra?
The power train is the largest complaint group with 182 of 380 complaints[1][2]. In the sample of complaints we read, owners describe transmission trouble, stalling and passenger air bag sensor problems[2][10][12].
How many recalls does the 2014 Nissan Sentra have?
NHTSA lists five, and four involve the passenger air bag sensor or child seat bracket[17][4][5][6][7].
What is the gas mileage of a 2014 Nissan Sentra?
EPA rates the manual at 30 combined mpg and the automatic versions at 32 or 33 combined mpg[18][8][20].
Is the 2014 Nissan Sentra safe?
NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall and 5 stars for side crashes for the 4-door, front-wheel-drive version[9].
Is 2014 a bad year for the Nissan Sentra?
It has the second most complaints of the model years NHTSA lists, 380, behind 2013 with 638[3]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 380 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Nissan Sentra (27 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 18 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 182 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 82,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Nissan Sentra model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 16V244, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 16V242, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 15V681, filed October 20, 2015: Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. NHTSA recall database
  7. Recall 14V138, filed March 25, 2014: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
  8. EPA rating for Sentra, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 30 city / 38 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  9. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 12.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 65 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 74,272). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 58 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,567). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 51 complaints name the air bags component group (15 crashes, 1 fires, 14 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 35 complaints name the brakes component group (7 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 14,075). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 32 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 72,750). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. 31 complaints name the speed control component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  16. 14 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,867). NHTSA vehicle records
  17. Recall 17V253, filed April 13, 2017: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  18. EPA rating for Sentra, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 35 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Sentra FE, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 30 city / 38 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA rating for Sentra, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. EPA Test Car List, 2014 Nissan Sentra with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 124 to 130 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SENTRA S/SV/SR/SL 4DR SEDAN: length 182 in, width 69 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 2,851 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.