Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Nissan Sentra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the oxygen sensor, rotors, and brake pads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. While driving, the vehicle started to stall. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle was slow to respond. The manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. …
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, or unusual behavior were observed prior to the incident. The fire started suddenly without any indication of mechanical or electrical issues. My safety and the safety of others nearby were put at risk as the fire escalated rapidly. The problem has not been reproduced or inspected by the manufacturer or dealer yet, but the vehicle was completely disabled and is no longer operable due to the fire damage. Cause of the fire is UNKNOWN at this time.
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 marshal and the insurance company that car was a complete loss. There was no warning when this happened and had I had a full tank of gasoline this would have gravely injured me. The car had seven years of meticulous upkeep so this catastrophe was totally unexpected. The autos parked on either side of me suffered serious damage as well.
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 mechanic replaced the mass air flow filter; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 82,424.
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 contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
I driving but running down and my engineer light show up Can't moves Can't put the steering...I tried put button off and on for running but not..i praying God,It running to my apartment [redacted].And it death right on road apartment..The morning i tried to running to dealer car check it..They said Gearbox death the car need change .I said I will running back to my apartment and call let your guy know because my car just: 66.080 miles. it still has warranty engineer. please check help me early. I need work and pay bill..thank
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 the car went into limo mode. Nissan now says I needed an $8,000 new computer. Again the car went into limo mode while driving. The car can be driven but randomly goes into limo mode. This only happened immediately after the ECM update in June 2026, and may cause an accident if it continues to randomly go into limo mode.
Transmission failure in under 3 years. I replaced my transmission and rear assembly in 2022-23. It started with pressing the gas pedal and the car wouldn't accelerate while in heavy traffic. I spent over $3,000 on a brand new engine. Come 2024 the exact same problem with the repair price being quoted at around $7,000. There was no hard driving on the car so I don't understand how it's going so soon. I've never had so much trouble with a car.
While I'm driving it starts to stall. Especially after I press on the breaks and try to press on the gas again it being ins to like jerk and not want to go. I thought it was my suspension or that it needed a wheel alignment but after paying for those to get renewed it's still having that problem and the mechanic said it was most likely the transmission.
Engine complaints in other Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2014 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA has 65 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2014 Nissan Sentra, 17% of the model year's 380 complaints. The component named most often is engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Nissan Sentra engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2014 Nissan Sentra, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Nissan Sentra engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.