2013-2016 ALTIMA AND SENTRA; REAR OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE INSPECTION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Nissan Altima engine problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Nissan Altima have filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 65,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Altima | 20 |
| 2011 Altima | 22 |
| 2012 Altima | 31 |
| 2013 Altima | 51 |
| 2014 Altima (this page) | 28 |
| 2015 Altima | 21 |
| 2016 Altima | 19 |
| 2017 Altima | 18 |
| 2018 Altima | 5 |
3fires
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013-2016 ALTIMA AND SENTRA; REAR OXYGEN SENSOR VOLTAGE INSPECTION SERVICE INFORMATION Nissan is committed to providing the highest levels of product quality and customer satisfaction. Therefore, Nissan is extending the emission warranty on the Rear Oxygen Sensor in the case of a short-to-ground condition to 20 Years or 200,000 miles, whichever occurs first. All other warranty terms, limitations, and conditions remain unchanged. During the warranty extension period, customers are eligible for annual Rear Oxygen Sensor voltage checks, upon request, to determine if a Rear Oxygen Sensor short-toground condition exists. If a Rear Oxygen Sensor short-to-ground condition does exist, Nissan will in
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Altima engine cluster shows three distinct engine fires—one from a loose oil filler cap, one on the interstate with unknown origin, and one during startup. Multiple owners report intermittent stalling with no fault codes, creating serious traffic hazards: cars dying at lights, during turns, and on highways. Stalling happens even after dealer visits where computers show nothing wrong.
CVT transmission problems dominate the cluster. Owners report transmission failures as early as 65,000–70,000 miles, sometimes within the first year after purchase. One owner replaced the entire transmission in 2015, then dealt with recurring issues and spent $2,000+ on additional repairs. Another needed a $6,200 transmission replacement. The CVT struggles to move from stops in traffic and won't accelerate on highways. Nissan issued recalls for CVT reprogramming, but some owners weren't notified directly and had to discover recalls online.
Check engine lights come on repeatedly. One owner's mass airflow sensor failed twice in a row; another faced misfiring (codes P0304, P0300) requiring $1,023 in ignition coil and spark plug work. An oil pressure switch replaced by the dealer didn't stop leaking.
A torque converter locked up while the car was pulling into traffic, stalling with no prior warning. The keyless ignition system lets drivers forget to shut the engine off—one hearing-impaired owner left the car running overnight twice. Carbon monoxide fumes were reported coming into the cabin as one car warmed up, source unidentified. One owner's low-pressure AC hose rubbed against an engine part due to design, requiring two replacements; the dealer ignored the complaint.
Same Nissan Altima engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire — oil cap/seal failure
Engine fire caused by oil filler cap left unsecured or loose, allowing oil to spray onto hot engine components. Owner reports oil splattered all over engine, plastic covers trapped heat, and fire erupted. Nissan refused warranty claim or replacement vehicle despite car purchased 6 months prior.
When: 6 months after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: oil spraying from filler cap; engine fire; smoke from engine compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Car repaired under insurance claim; Nissan refused financial reimbursement or replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refused warranty claim or replacement vehicle
Engine fire — unknown origin
Vehicle caught fire while driving on interstate highway. Owner saw smoke under hood, shut engine off, pulled over; within seconds whole car engulfed in flames. Car destroyed 75%, owner lost personal property, still owes bank payment on destroyed vehicle.
When: While driving at highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: smoke from under hood; flames from engine compartment; total vehicle fire
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; $22,000 total loss
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Engine under 5-year warranty; Nissan refused responsibility despite warranty coverage
Engine fire — startup condition
Smoke and fire came from engine compartment while starting vehicle. Fire marshals called, fire extinguished, vehicle destroyed. No diagnosis provided.
When: During startup
Symptoms owners cite: smoke from engine compartment; fire from front hood
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not informed
Engine stalling — intermittent, no fault codes
Vehicle stalls without warning when stopping at lights or slowing to turn, creating hazard in traffic. Engine warm during incidents. Taken to Nissan dealer twice; no codes appear on computer. Dealer refuses to acknowledge problem because code cannot be replicated.
When: Engine warm, at stops or intersections
Symptoms owners cite: engine stalling at traffic lights; loss of power when turning; no warning before stall
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealership unable/unwilling to diagnose; problem not replicated on scan
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refuses to service; computer shows no fault
Engine stalling — traffic hazard
Vehicle stalled without warning while driving in stop-and-go traffic. Owner discovered reset technique online; dealer unable to determine cause. Failure may be related to camshaft or crankshaft sensor based on owner research.
When: Approximately 95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine stalling without warning in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Owner found online reset technique; dealer unable to diagnose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Engine stalling — highway incident
Vehicle shut down on major highway during rush hour traffic without warning. Owner narrowly avoided being hit. CVT transmission recall exists but Nissan dealership reported lack of parts availability.
When: October 14, 2021; during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: engine shutdown on highway
Repairs/costs cited: Towed to dealership; awaiting Nissan headquarters response
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership lacked CVT parts; Nissan headquarters case number issued
Engine stalling — low-speed incident
Vehicle stalled at stop sign when driver tried to accelerate. Engine started again, moved less than one foot, died again. Stall happened again one week later on highway during acceleration.
When: 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine stalling at traffic stop; engine stalling during highway acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Initially misdiagnosed as battery failure; later diagnosed as faulty transmission
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan will not help
Engine stalling — reverse gear
Vehicle shook while driving and stalled in reverse, losing all motive power. Check engine light illuminated. Dealer diagnosed transmission replacement needed.
When: Approximately 117,081 miles
Symptoms owners cite: shaking while driving; stalling in reverse; loss of motive power
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance
Engine stalling — low-speed, no warning
Vehicle stalled at 10 mph without warning. Owner able to restart. Dealership not contacted for diagnosis.
When: 79,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: stalling without warning at low speed
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted
Keyless ignition — engine left running
Owner repeatedly forgets to turn off engine with keyless system due to very quiet running; engine left idling overnight at least twice. Hearing-impaired owner cannot hear engine. Daughter also experienced same issue when borrowing car. Owner aware of online reports of carbon monoxide deaths related to same issue.
When: Throughout vehicle ownership since May 2014
Symptoms owners cite: engine continues running undetected; owner forgets to shut off engine
Repairs/costs cited: Remote start feature disabled by dealer at owner request; issue persists
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer disabled remote start; no other remedy
Low-pressure AC hose rubbing/leaking
Low-pressure AC hose rubs against adjacent engine component due to poor mechanical design placement, causing damage and refrigerant leak. Owner replaced part twice; second time identified actual rubbing issue. Dealer ignored complaint and refused warranty coverage. Manufacturer customer service also ignored complaint without resolution.
When: Multiple incidents requiring two replacements
Symptoms owners cite: refrigerant gas leaking; hose rubbing on adjacent part
Repairs/costs cited: Part replaced twice by owner at dealer; poor design identified as root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer refused warranty; manufacturer ignored complaint
Oil pressure switch leak
Leak coming from under hood. Technician replaced oil pressure switch but failure persisted. Dealer provided no remedy.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: leak from under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Oil pressure switch replaced; leak persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Authorized dealer notified, provided no remedy
Carbon monoxide in cabin
Owner detects carbon monoxide fumes entering cabin as car warms up. Car purchased as-is from Nissan dealer for $23,000. Auto shop diagnostic shows no warning lights and cannot identify source.
When: During warmup
Symptoms owners cite: carbon monoxide fumes in cabin
Repairs/costs cited: Auto shop unable to locate source; no fault codes shown
Mass airflow sensor repeated failure
Check engine light came on. Smog mechanic installed new mass airflow sensor; light went off but returned within one or two days. Mechanic ordered and installed second sensor; same failure occurred again.
When: 68,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light illuminated and recurring
Repairs/costs cited: Mass airflow sensor replaced twice; light returned both times
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer has no clue per owner
Engine misfiring — ignition coil failure
Check engine light came on. Diagnostic at Nissan dealership revealed misfiring with codes P0304 and P0300. Owner charged $135 diagnostic fee while out of warranty. Estimate to replace one ignition coil: $357; to replace all four coils and spark plugs: $1,023.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light; engine misfiring
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostic fee $135; coil replacement estimate $357-$1,023 depending on scope
Engine hesitation and stalling — early in ownership
Eight days after purchasing vehicle, engine began hesitating and stalling. Dealer recommended premium fuel despite owner manual specifying 87 octane regular.
When: Eight days after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: hesitation; stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer advised premium fuel; manual calls for 87 octane
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerated by itself while pulling into parking lot with brake applied. Car jumped curb; stalled when rear tires bounced over curb.
When: Parking lot incident
Symptoms owners cite: unintended acceleration despite brake applied
Exhaust system rust
Exhaust system rusting heavily from engine to rear tips. Multiple dealerships state this is normal.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: heavy exhaust system rust
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealerships claim normal wear
CVT transmission failure
CVT transmission failed. Vehicle struggled to move from stops in traffic on signal or freeway. Engine warning light appeared on dashboard. Repair cost $6,200. Vehicle required towing.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: difficulty moving from stops; struggle in heavy traffic; engine warning light
Repairs/costs cited: CVT transmission replacement cost $6,200; vehicle towed
Transmission failure — abnormal engine sound
While driving 65 mph, abnormal sound came from engine compartment and check engine light illuminated. Self-diagnostic tool indicated Transmission Control Module needed replacement.
When: 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: abnormal engine compartment noise; check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission Control Module replacement needed per self-diagnostic; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Transmission — widespread early failure
Transmission failed at 65,000-70,000 miles on multiple vehicles. One owner required $5,000+ transmission replacement; another owner's son experienced same problem. Owner learned of multiple Nissan transmission recalls but manufacturer denied reimbursement.
When: 65,000-70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: transmission failure; bucking; vehicle stalling and losing power
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement cost over $5,000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan denied reimbursement despite recalls; extended warranty offered to only some customers
CVT transmission — continuous problems and repairs
Owner purchased new 2014 Altima 2.5SL with transmission issues from day one. Dealership replaced entire transmission in 2015 under warranty. May 2015 transmission issue required CVT fix. July 2015 similar issue; dealership updated software and replaced solenoid. After spending over $2,000, check engine light returned and car cannot accelerate on highway. Safety issue ongoing.
When: Throughout ownership; ongoing as of July 2015
Symptoms owners cite: transmission problems from purchase; inability to accelerate on highway; check engine light recurring
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced under warranty 2015; CVT repaired May 2015; solenoid replaced July 2015; over $2,000 in repairs; still not fixed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan and dealership aware; owner requesting reimbursement, warranty extension, and permanent fix with commitment to repair future issues
CVT transmission — jerking and recall evasion
At 71,000 miles, experiencing abrupt jerking while driving with full maintenance history. Nissan issued CVT reprogramming recall but offered extended warranty to only some customers, not all. Owner was not notified of recall directly; found out only after calling dealership about vehicle issues. Also discovered airbag recall online that dealer never mentioned.
When: 71,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: abrupt jerking while driving
Repairs/costs cited: CVT reprogramming recall available but extended warranty offered only to select customers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan recall issued for CVT reprogramming; extended warranty selective; no proactive customer notification of recalls
Torque converter lockup
Torque converter locked up while vehicle pulling into center median lane of busy street, causing stall and loss of motive power. No warning lights, messages, or symptoms before incident. Safety of driver and passenger put at risk. Failure confirmed by local Nissan dealership inspection.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: torque converter lockup; engine stall in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis confirmed by local Nissan dealership
Engine shutdown — dashboard light activation
Dashboard light illuminated and car automatically stopped. Vehicle shook before stopping. Unable to restart since incident. Occurred on two-lane street.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: dashboard warning light; automatic engine shutdown; vehicle shaking before shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle unable to restart after incident
Vehicle bucking and stalling
Vehicle bucked and completely went dead while driving on two-lane highway. Happened again requiring towing. Two mechanics identified transmission failure as cause, surprising given under 70,000 miles.
When: Under 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: bucking; complete engine stall; loss of power
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement cost over $5,000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner found recalls existed; Nissan denied financial assistance
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2014 Nissan Altima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2014 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 8,300 and 95,324 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,300; a quarter make it past 95,324. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Nissan/Altima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.