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2014 Nissan Versa problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
61%
184 of 300 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

61% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2014 Nissan Versa are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 82% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 43 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 54%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2014 Nissan Versa have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 184 of 300 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Nissan Versa concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%), and the largest group is filed under power train (137). For comparison, the 2013 scores 53% and the 2015 scores 49%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
184
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
343
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
37 crashes · 22 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN137 · 40%
ENGINE60 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER55 · 16%
SERVICE BRAKES50 · 15%
AIR BAGS43 · 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL42 · 12%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2014 compares with other Nissan Versa years

Of the 13 Nissan Versa years with enough complaints to score, the 2014 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (61%). The worst is the 2023 (76%), the best the 2011 (17%). By volume, the 2014 drew 343 complaints (184 drivetrain), against 204 for the 2013 and 254 for the 2015.

Nissan Versa years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2014 Nissan Versa

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2014 Nissan Versa said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTRO05/15/2014CRASH1 INJURED
I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 4/8 IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB AND A TRUCK SLAMMED INTO MY PASSENGER SIDE AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. SHE HAD ACCELERATED DUE TO A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN HER TRUCK. THE ESTIMATES FOR BODY WORK WAS 28.92, 500.00 AND 5, 658.32 MORE THAN HALF TOTALED I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, THE BRAKES, IDIOT LI…

One of 184 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2014 Nissan Versa engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2014 Nissan Versa, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal15V507000 · Aug 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles…
electrical system: ignition: switch15V418000 · Jul 2015
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to…
seats: mid/rear assembly13V326000 · Jul 2013
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, through July 5, 2013. The rear seat latch bolts may have been manufactured incorrectly, reducing their…
structure: body13V324000 · Jul 2013
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, through July 3, 2013. The lower body sill bolts may be missing or incorrectly torqued.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2014 Nissan Versa? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2014 Nissan Versa

Does the 2014 Nissan Versa have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 184 of 300 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Nissan Versa concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (61%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2014 Nissan Versa?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2014 Nissan Versa is power train: 137 of 343 complaints (40%) name it, followed by engine (60) and service brakes (50). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2014 Nissan Versa reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 61% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 82% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Nissan Versa years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Nissan Versa?

No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2014 Nissan Versa, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Nissan Versa years are better?

Among the Nissan Versa years we track, the 2011 (17%), the 2010 (23%) and the 2017 (43%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (61%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-versa

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.