2014 Nissan ALTIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Nissan ALTIMA has 1390 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 17.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is lighting problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: rear taillight housings fog up badly, some dealerships didn't recognize problem then one did when i did not go back to dealership right away they sent the parts back! finally another dealership recognized the problem but when they changed them one had a mark inside of the fixture, part missing insid. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 50 crash reports 63 injuries

1390

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

17.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

LIGHTING

298 complaints

21%

• REAR TAILLIGHT HOUSINGS FOG UP BADLY, SOME DEALERSHIPS DIDN'T RECOGNIZE PROBLEM THEN ONE DID WHEN I DID NOT GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY THEY SENT THE PARTS BACK! FINALLY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN THEY CHANGED THEM ONE HAD A MARK INSIDE OF THE FIXTURE, PART MISSING INSID
• SINCE THE FIRST WEEK WE OWNED THE CAR, OCCASIONALLY THE SCREEN(BACK UP CAM, RADIO...) DOESN'T START, OR FAILS WITHIN FIRST MILE OF DRIVING- MAYBE 10 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE DATE. ON JULY 29, 2015- MORNING- CAR UPON START, NO SCREEN AND NO DASHBOARD. RESTARTED TWICE AND THEN FINE. AT 9:30 P.M. SAME DAY-
• MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE JUST GOTTEN SUPER DIM THAT I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND OVER TIME THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT PROJECTION DIMMED OVER TIME THAT I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I REPLACED THE BULB AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. I THEN UPGRADED TO LED LIGHTIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“REAR TAILLIGHT HOUSINGS FOG UP BADLY, SOME DEALERSHIPS DIDN'T RECOGNIZE PROBLEM THEN ONE DID WHEN I DID NOT GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY THEY SENT THE PARTS BACK! FINALLY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN THEY CHANGED THEM ONE HAD A MARK INSIDE OF THE FIXTURE, PART MISSING INSID”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

210 complaints

15%

• WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AT A STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SLOW DOWN. IT FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER. I HAD TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR HARDER THAN EXPECTED AS THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE BEARING DOWN ON ME IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER
• THE STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO SHAKE AND I FEEL MY GAS PEDAL VIBRATE WHEN DRIVING APPROX. 30-40 MPH AND UP. NISSAN TECHNICAL SERVICES MECHANIC SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR NISSAN ALTIMA 2013/2014. *TR
• NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS OR CHECK ENGINE NOTICED WITH THE FOLLOWING: 1) WHILE SITTING IN CRAMPED TRAFFIC, I LET OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO INCH FORWARD A FEW FEET WHILE RIDING THE BRAKE. RMS DROPPED TO 500 FOR EVERY INSTANCE AND CAR BEGAN TO SHUTTER. *TR 2) COMING TO STOP LIGHTS/SIGNS. AFTER TRAVELING A DIST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AT A STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SLOW DOWN. IT FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER. I HAD TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR HARDER THAN EXPECTED AS THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE BEARING DOWN ON ME IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

206 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SEPARATED HIP. THE TWO REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, SPINE AND WHIPLASH INJURIE
• IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR, WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND GOT UP TO 60MPH BEFORE IT FINALLY SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, THE ABOVE DATE IS THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED THOUGH. *TR
• PROBLEM IS, MY GIRLFRIEND WEIGHT 110LB. LOT OF TIME WHEN SHE SITS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR TELLS US THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS PROBLEMS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR ON THE STREET NEXT TO CURBS. DESIGN OF ROADS IS, THE CENTER IS HIGHER THAN THE SIDES. BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 32 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SEPARATED HIP. THE TWO REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, SPINE AND WHIPLASH INJURIE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

130 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS RE
• WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN. WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO BE UNDER STRESS WHICH CAUSES IT TO CRACK AND PROPAGATE. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDSHIELD ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
• VEHICLE IS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES SO THE ENGINE IS WARM. THREE TIMES THE CAR HAS STALLED WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR SLOWING AT AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A LEFT TURN OR RIGHT TURN. WHEN MOVING FROM THE WAITING POSITION THE CAR WILL STALL AND AS AN ONCOMING CAR IS COMING POSES A LEFT THREATNING SITUATION

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS RE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

90 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTIO
• BLIND SPOT SENSORS ARE GOING OFF WHEN RAINING! WE HAD THIS CHECKED OUT BY THE DEALER TWICE AND NOTHING WAS DONE. ON SECOND VISIT I WAS TOLD THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER AS IT IS NORMAL. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS AS WELL I LET HIM KNOW THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE W
• FROM A STOP, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR.THEN A SURGE WHEN IT DID RESPOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE.THE DELAY SEEMS TO BE GETTING LONGER, SOMETIMES OCCURRING. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTIO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1390 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
LIGHTING: REAR TAILLIGHT HOUSINGS FOG UP BADLY, SOME DEALERSHIPS DIDN'T RECOGNIZE PROBLEM THEN ONE DID WHEN I DID NOT GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY THEY SENT THE PARTS BACK! FINALLY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN THEY CHANGED THEM ONE HAD A MARK INSIDE OF THE FIXTURE, PART MISSING INSID
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AT A STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SLOW DOWN. IT FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER. I HAD TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR HARDER THAN EXPECTED AS THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE BEARING DOWN ON ME IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SEPARATED HIP. THE TWO REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, SPINE AND WHIPLASH INJURIE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS RE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)