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2014 Nissan Sentra Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2014 Nissan Sentra carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering occupant classification and air bags. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Brake pedal travel to floor.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Campaign #16V242000 · Apr 26, 2016

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS

Campaign #17V253000 · Apr 13, 2017

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Campaign #14V138000 · Mar 25, 2014

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Campaign #16V244000 · Apr 26, 2016

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Campaign #15V681000 · Oct 20, 2015

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2014 Nissan Sentra.

Reported to NHTSA

Brake pedal travel to floor

SERVICE BRAKES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2025-07

“BREAKS PEDAL TRAVELING TO FLOOR AND CAR IS NOT STOPPING. HAVE REPLACED BREAK PADS, CALIPERS, ROTORS AND STILL PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11204846
“I AM OWNER OF A 2014 NISSAN CENTRA. I STARTED GETTING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. I NOTOCED THAT WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKES, THE PETALS GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES. I TOOK IT FOR AN INSPECTION TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE MASTER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11342742
“The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 35-65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond and to stop. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The contact stated that the engine, traction control, and ABS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11673888

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tail lamp moisture intrusion cutting power

EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2019-06 → 2025-06

“The tail light on the drivers rear has condensation. Therefore, my brake lights flicker. When putting the parking lights/headlights on, the power to the gas pedal is cut. RPMs go down and the car simply does not have power to accelerate”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11668467
“WHEN I TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS MY BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON. ABS LIGHT ON DASH STAYS SOLID. WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE COME CAR LOSES POWER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11398273
“AS I WAS DRIVING OR TURNING, CAR WOULD HESITATE, SPEED WOULD DROP EVEN THOUGH FOOT STILL ON ACCELERATOR. TURNS OUT HAD MOISTURE IN DRIVER'S BRAKE LIGHT WHICH CAUSED CAR SWITCH TO BRAKE THEREBY CAUSING JERKING HESITATION. DANGEROUS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH CAR SLOWED DOWN, BRAKE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11219403

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Mass airflow sensor fault, code P0101

ENGINE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2019-12 → 2026-07

“The contact's father owns a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the mass air flow filter needed to be replaced. The”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11441945
“The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved fault code: P0101 regarding the map air flow sensor. The local dealer was not”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11443114
“After Nissan dealership updated ECM on 6/1/2026, the MIL came on with code p0101. This causes the car to go into limo mode while driving on the highway. I took car back to Nissan who said they needed to clean the wires, which they did and cleared the code. Again while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11748211

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT transmission failure and stalling

POWER TRAIN

118 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2026-01

“CVT failure. When putting the vehicle in gear, or idling while in gear, engine stalls. When this occurs on roadways, the car may or may not be drivable and puts the occupants of the vehicle as well as other motorists at risk. The problem has been confirmed by an independent”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11557882
“FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, I'VE NOTICED A JERKINESS WITH MY VEHICLE. WHEN I ACCELERATE, IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS PULLING BACK TOWARD ME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST MORE THAN $4,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I'VE NOTICED MANY OWNERS WITH SIMILAR CONCERNS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11337681
“The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle ceased to accelerate as intended with an abnormally loud sound coming from the transmission. The vehicle eventually came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11675073

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment in collisions

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2025-08

“The vehicle sustained major damage in a collision totaling the vehicle and no airbags deployed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11681684
“Airbags failed to deploy during collision. Driver was injured. The issue can be seen, so was not confirmed by service center. The vehicle will be inspected by insurance adjuster. No advance warning light/message forecasting problem with airbags. Incident involving 3 vehicles:”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11536185
“The contact owned a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that his daughter had veered off the road while driving at 40 MPH. As she attempted to correct the vehicle, the vehicle rolled over several times and landed in a ditch. The air bags did not deploy. The fire department”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11499140

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger airbag warning light / OCS fault

AIR BAGS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2019-08 → 2020-01

“CODE: R1608 THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IS DESIGNED TO CLASSIFY THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE OCS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ONLY DEPLOY THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11302963
“TWO AIR BAG LIGHTS ON 1 AT CENTER INTERIOR ABOVE RADIO 2 IN DRIVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN 200 LBS PERSON IS SETTING IN PASSENGER SEAT. LIGHTS NEVER GO OUT EXCEPT WHEN KEY IS IN OFF POSITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11292248
“PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT DOESN'T TURN OFF WHEN SOMEONE SITS DOWN IN THAT SIDE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11241551

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine compartment fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2025-08

“While driving, I noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. Within moments, flames appeared in the engine area and spread quickly, causing severe damage to the front portion of the car including the engine, electrical system, and body. No warning lamps, error messages,”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11683904
“My Nissan Sentra burst into flames on July 27,2022-not sure why this occurred; the car was last serviced before this incident on June 17, 2022-the car's Compressor/AC were replaced. I had just parked the car at a hotel when the fire began. The only inspection was from a fire”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11489026
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION WHERE THE VEHICLE ULTIMATELY CAUGHT FIRE. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11268738

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 3 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

Rogue AWD, Murano AWD, Pathfinder 4WD: replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

213 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

27

complaints mentioning a crash

6

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2014 Nissan Sentra reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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