This page covers 6 recalls, 378 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Nissan Sentra.
30–33 mpg combined
7.1–7.8 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate the 2014 Sentra's complaint record by a wide margin, with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) at the center of most reports. Owners frequently describe the CVT shuddering, hesitating, or losing power during acceleration, and a recurring pattern involves the transmission stalling or cutting out at low speeds, sometimes in the middle of a turn or intersection. Some owners report the vehicle becoming unresponsive before eventually recovering, while others describe complete transmission failure requiring replacement. Airbag complaints make up the second-largest group, with owners reporting warning lights staying on and concerns about whether the system would deploy correctly. Engine complaints, a more distant third, commonly involve the check engine light coming on, with mass airflow sensor faults and related diagnostic codes appearing across multiple reports. The CVT hesitation and stall pattern under low-speed maneuvering conditions is the most consistently described symptom across the complaint set.
378
Total Complaints
27
Crash-Related
6
Fire-Related
14
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Nissan Sentra has 6 recalls, all centered on the front passenger airbag system, where defects can prevent the airbag from deploying correctly in a crash or disable it entirely, raising the risk of injury to the front passenger.
Three of the recalls address the same core issue: the passenger frontal airbag inflator may not deploy properly in a crash due to a manufacturing defect, leaving the front passenger without full airbag protection. Two additional recalls involve the passenger seat occupant classification sensor, which detects whether the seat is occupied by an adult. If that sensor received an incorrect control unit during a prior repair, it may fail to recognize an adult in the seat and deactivate the airbag altogether. A sixth recall involves the front passenger seatbelt bracket, which can deform if used to anchor a child safety seat. If the passenger airbag then deploys while a child seat is installed, it raises the injury risk for the child in that seat.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag inflator may lose compression strength during storage, preventing the airbag from deploying properly in a crash.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the passenger front airbag inflator.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal airbag inflator may lose compression strength during storage, causing the airbag to fail to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing error in the passenger front air bag inflator may prevent it from deploying properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat belt bracket can bend when used to hold a child car seat. This prevents the air bag system from recognizing the child seat is installed, so the front passenger air bag may not turn off as it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will strengthen the seat belt bracket and update the air bag and occupant detection system software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant detection system may incorrectly identify an adult as a child or miss an occupied seat. This can cause the passenger airbag to stay off during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram or replace the occupant detection and airbag control units to ensure proper airbag operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The occupant classification system control unit may incorrectly identify the front passenger seat as empty when an adult is sitting in it.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the occupant classification system software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
