The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has logged numerous complaints regarding the 2014 Nissan Altima, with the most common issue being the exterior lighting. Other noted issues pertained to the 2014 Altima’s powertrain, airbags, and suspension. Eight recalls have been issued for the 2014 Nissan Altima.
Nissan has retained a pretty solid reputation for overall reliability, with the family-friendly Altima often netting slightly higher ratings from the experts than other models in its lineup. Nissans are also generally affordable vehicles that have been a favorite among US buyers for decades.
On the other hand, drivers of the 2014 Altima have reported various mechanical issues, some of which resulted in Nissan recalling certain mechanical components for this model year.
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The most common 2014 Nissan Altima problems
The 2014 Nissan Altima earned glowing reviews from experts like Edmunds when it was new, but the passing of time has revealed some flaws lingering beneath its glossy surface. Nearly 1,000 driver complaints are logged with the NHTSA, and the gripes about the 2014 Altima rolled in reveal some undeniable trends.
Perhaps the most glaring issue with this vehicle has to do with the exterior lights. Drivers have noted that the 2014 Altima’s low-beam headlights begin to dim considerably when the car is only a few years old.
The dull headlights are so problematic that drivers have said that driving at night in their 2014 Altima is too dangerous. Some have also reported that the headlights appear so dim on dark roads that it caused them to get pulled over.
Although this has been a widespread defect for 2014 Altima owners, Nissan has yet to recall the headlights. If a recall were to be issued, every owner of this model would be able to have their headlights repaired for free. Drivers go on to say that the headlight maintenance is expensive—upwards of $1,200, due to mechanics having to replace the entire headlamp assembly.
The defective headlights are said to affect Nissan Altima models for the years 2013-2018. Due to Nissan’s hesitation to announce a safety recall, a class action lawsuit was filed—resulting in a settlement from Nissan. Since December 2018, all of Nissan’s OEM parts have been redesigned.
Additional common problems of the 2014 Nissan Altima include:
Transmission failure
Non-deploying driver and passenger-side airbags
Corroded rear control arm causes the suspension to crack
There’s also the matter of safety recalls—a worst-case scenario for any car brand. Safety recalls that affect the 2014 Nissan Altima address the following:
Unintentional release of the primary hood latch due to corrosion
Software issues causing airbags not to deploy properly in a crash
Secondary hood latch does not properly engage
Air bag may not detect front passenger due to OCS error, resulting in non-deployment during a crash
Fuel Sending Unit leaks fuel, increasing the risk of fire in a crash
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Nissan tune-up costIs the 2014 Nissan Altima reliable?
If you’re worried that we just dragged the 2014 Nissan Altima through the mud, fear not. Despite the mechanical issues that have been well documented by the NHTSA and elsewhere, the 2014 Nissan Altima is still considered to be a relatively reliable car.
J.D. Power gave the 2014 Nissan Altima a three out of five reliability rating which is strictly average. Nissans generally have a pretty high resale value and the 2014 Altima is no exception—fair prices for used ‘14 Altimas are still in the $6,000 range. If the dingy headlights and safety recalls associated with the 2014 Altima have you squirming a little, we recommend looking into other used mid-sized sedans with more favorable reliability ratings, like the 2014
Toyota Camry.
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Car loan for Nissan 2022How to simplify car insurance shopping (and still optimize coverage!)
If you’re already the owner of a 2014 Altima, make sure you’re aware of the latest status on these recalls so that you can receive complimentary maintenance. But don’t be mistaken—you’re still going to need
Nissan car insurance, so make sure you’re getting the best-priced coverage by browsing rates with
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