2014 Nissan SENTRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Nissan SENTRA has 524 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: while taking vehicle to dealer to el paso casa nissan for drift/ pull and constant input to keep in center line on windy day and trany on up hill failure from a dead start. my wife's vehicle stall and shake almost like engine will shut, almost on stop on braking. happened.twice, first at stop lig. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 28 crash reports 20 injuries

524

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

182 complaints

35%

• WHILE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO EL PASO CASA NISSAN FOR DRIFT/ PULL AND CONSTANT INPUT TO KEEP IN CENTER LINE ON WINDY DAY AND TRANY ON UP HILL FAILURE FROM A DEAD START. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE STALL AND SHAKE ALMOST LIKE ENGINE WILL SHUT, ALMOST ON STOP ON BRAKING. HAPPENED.TWICE, FIRST AT STOP LIG
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN SENTRA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT SHOOK INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER
• MY DAUGHTER PARKED ON A SLIGHTLY INCLINING DRIVEWAY AND WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE. SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. SHE JUMPED BACK IN THE SEAT AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE CAR BUT STATES " THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK". THE CAR WAS OFF AND THE KEYS WERE IN HER HAND. THE C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“WHILE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO EL PASO CASA NISSAN FOR DRIFT/ PULL AND CONSTANT INPUT TO KEEP IN CENTER LINE ON WINDY DAY AND TRANY ON UP HILL FAILURE FROM A DEAD START. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE STALL AND SHAKE ALMOST LIKE ENGINE WILL SHUT, ALMOST ON STOP ON BRAKING. HAPPENED.TWICE, FIRST AT STOP LIG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

64 complaints

12%

• AT 35 MPH, CAR LOST POWER DECELERATING RAPIDLY TO 1 MPH. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH 5-6 WARNING LIGHTS AS BRAKES, ENGINE, SKID CONTROL, ETC. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM AND HAD TO CALL NISSAN FOR ASSISTANCE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY AN A/C PRESSURE SWITCH--92136-1
• THE INJECTOR BLEW AND THE MODULATOR WENT AS WELL WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A BUSY STREET I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 3MO. *TR
• WHILE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO EL PASO CASA NISSAN FOR DRIFT/ PULL AND CONSTANT INPUT TO KEEP IN CENTER LINE ON WINDY DAY AND TRANY ON UP HILL FAILURE FROM A DEAD START. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE STALL AND SHAKE ALMOST LIKE ENGINE WILL SHUT, ALMOST ON STOP ON BRAKING. HAPPENED.TWICE, FIRST AT STOP LIG

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

“AT 35 MPH, CAR LOST POWER DECELERATING RAPIDLY TO 1 MPH. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH 5-6 WARNING LIGHTS AS BRAKES, ENGINE, SKID CONTROL, ETC. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM AND HAD TO CALL NISSAN FOR ASSISTANCE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY AN A/C PRESSURE SWITCH--92136-1”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

57 complaints

11%

• I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREETS, ABOUT TO ENTER THE FREEWAY ONTO SOUTH I-880 AND I HEAR A BANG. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERS INWARD. THE CITY OF FREMONT POLICE CAME AND INSPECTED MY CAR AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT COULD'VE CAUSED IT. INCIDENT HISTORY# P14101613 DATE: 12/10/14 TIME: 1710 HOUR
• REAR DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE. BRAND NEW CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 4900 MILES.
• MY CAR IDLES VERY HIGH WHEN I START IT.THE RPM GOES PAST 2 AND TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO COME DOWN.IT STALLS DURING TAKE OFF AND THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG.THE ONLY TIME MY RPM IS AT 0 IS WHEN THE CAR IS OFF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREETS, ABOUT TO ENTER THE FREEWAY ONTO SOUTH I-880 AND I HEAR A BANG. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERS INWARD. THE CITY OF FREMONT POLICE CAME AND INSPECTED MY CAR AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT COULD'VE CAUSED IT. INCIDENT HISTORY# P14101613 DATE: 12/10/14 TIME: 1710 HOUR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

51 complaints

10%

• VEHICLE AIR BAG INDICATES NO PASSENGER ON DRIVER SEAT WHILE MY HUSBAND DRIVING AND IM SEATING HAPPENED, OCCASIONALLY, AIR BAG INDICATE IS OFF. NOTIFIED DEALER AND NISSAN AFTER GOING AND COMING FROM LAS VEGAS TRIP ABOUT 1600 MILES TRIP. DEALER PERFORM FIX THE PROBLEM. GOOD THING NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
• VEHICLE PURCHASED ON APRIL 2014. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 1956. HEADING VACATION TO LAS VEGAS. AIR BAG FOR PASSENGER SHOVING OFF WHILE MY WIFE SITTING ON PASSENGERS SEAT . SHE IS ABOUT 130 POUNDS. AFTER ABOUT 200 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER STOP AT ROUTE 66 CASINO ABOUT 1 HR. VEHICLES PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG I
• VEHICLES PASSENGER AIR BAG FAIL TO ACTIVATE WHILE PASSENGER SITTING, MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE 2,000. DEALER PERFORM RECALL PROCEDURE RECALL R1405 OCS REPROGRAM ON 6/26/2014 CURRENT MILEAGE 3,785. TODAY 10/14/2014 PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILS TO ACTIVATE WHILE PASSENGER ON BOARD. L VIDEO RECORD TO INCIDENT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 15 crashes

“VEHICLE AIR BAG INDICATES NO PASSENGER ON DRIVER SEAT WHILE MY HUSBAND DRIVING AND IM SEATING HAPPENED, OCCASIONALLY, AIR BAG INDICATE IS OFF. NOTIFIED DEALER AND NISSAN AFTER GOING AND COMING FROM LAS VEGAS TRIP ABOUT 1600 MILES TRIP. DEALER PERFORM FIX THE PROBLEM. GOOD THING NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

36 complaints

• TURNED THE CAR ON TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND STARTED BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR TURNED OFF. AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO BRAKE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. MY CAR WENT DOWN THE DRIVEW
• AFTER CAR HAD SIT OVER WEEKEND STARTED CAR AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CAR DROVE FINE BUT AFTER SITTING 2-3 HOURS DID SAME. DEALER SAYS ITS VACUUM BLEEDING OFF BUT AFTER READING ABOUT I BELIEVE SOMETHING IS NEEDED TO BE DONE. WILL BE BACK TO DEALER TOMORROW. *JS
• I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT. I SAW A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND BEGAN TO BRAKE. AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I NORMALLY DO, THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN, SO I QUICKLY PRESSED IT FURTHER. FINALLY THE CAR HAD STOPPED AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I CAN CONSISTENTLY REPLICATE THIS IS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“TURNED THE CAR ON TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND STARTED BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR TURNED OFF. AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO BRAKE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. MY CAR WENT DOWN THE DRIVEW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 524 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO EL PASO CASA NISSAN FOR DRIFT/ PULL AND CONSTANT INPUT TO KEEP IN CENTER LINE ON WINDY DAY AND TRANY ON UP HILL FAILURE FROM A DEAD START. MY WIFE'S VEHICLE STALL AND SHAKE ALMOST LIKE ENGINE WILL SHUT, ALMOST ON STOP ON BRAKING. HAPPENED.TWICE, FIRST AT STOP LIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: AT 35 MPH, CAR LOST POWER DECELERATING RAPIDLY TO 1 MPH. THE DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH 5-6 WARNING LIGHTS AS BRAKES, ENGINE, SKID CONTROL, ETC. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM AND HAD TO CALL NISSAN FOR ASSISTANCE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY AN A/C PRESSURE SWITCH--92136-1
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREETS, ABOUT TO ENTER THE FREEWAY ONTO SOUTH I-880 AND I HEAR A BANG. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERS INWARD. THE CITY OF FREMONT POLICE CAME AND INSPECTED MY CAR AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT COULD'VE CAUSED IT. INCIDENT HISTORY# P14101613 DATE: 12/10/14 TIME: 1710 HOUR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: VEHICLE AIR BAG INDICATES NO PASSENGER ON DRIVER SEAT WHILE MY HUSBAND DRIVING AND IM SEATING HAPPENED, OCCASIONALLY, AIR BAG INDICATE IS OFF. NOTIFIED DEALER AND NISSAN AFTER GOING AND COMING FROM LAS VEGAS TRIP ABOUT 1600 MILES TRIP. DEALER PERFORM FIX THE PROBLEM. GOOD THING NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)