Nissan Versa problems
Nissan Versa is an automobile nameplate used by the Japanese manufacturer Nissan in the Americas for the following models:
According to a Nissan press release in 2008, "versa" is short for "versatile space" meant to imply the spaciousness of the interior and configurable cargo arrangements. The Versa is one of the few remaining subcompact cars left on sale in the North American market, with most automakers dropping small cars from their lineups to focus on crossovers and SUVs.
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Nissan Versa model years
Common Nissan Versa problems
The Nissan Versa is a popular compact car known for its affordability and spacious interior. However, like any vehicle, it has its share of common problems that owners have reported.
One of the most common issues with the Nissan Versa is transmission problems, particularly in the 2012-2017 models.
Steering problems have also been reported by Nissan Versa owners, particularly in the 2016 model.
Suspension system problems are another common issue with the Nissan Versa, especially in the 2009 model.
Windshield wiper issues have also been reported, with a broken wiper motor being the most common cause. This can affect the car's visibility, making it unsafe to drive in rainy conditions.
In addition to these issues, the Nissan Versa has also been reported to have problems with the fuel injection system, catalytic converter, and airbag system. While the Nissan Versa is generally considered a reliable car, these common problems are worth considering when purchasing a used model.
Is the Nissan Versa a reliable car?
The Nissan Versa Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 9th out of 21 for subcompact cars. The average annual repair cost is $456 which means it has excellent ownership costs. The severity of repairs is low while frequency of those issues is average, so major issues are uncommon for the Versa.
Why did Nissan discontinue the Versa?
Many models have disappeared, making way for SUVs and crossovers of all styles and forms. Nissan is no exception to the rule. The Versa sedan was phased out at the end of 2014 in Canada due to low sales figures (but still continued to exist in the U.S.), while the Versa Note hatchback followed suit after 2019.
How many miles will a Nissan Versa last?
While it's impossible to accurately estimate your Versa's total mileage, you can get a rough idea based on available information from reputable sources and owner accounts. Having said that, the Nissan Versa can last up to 200,000 miles before you'll encounter major issues.
What years did the Nissan Versa have transmission problems?
Nissan Versa Years With the Least Reliable Transmissions
The 2012 isn't far behind the 2008 version, suffering from severe transmission faults. The transmission system in this car was so bad that Nissan had to recall the version. The 2007 and 2009 selections also have very severe issues with their transmission.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Nissan Versa years
We have researched Nissan problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Nissan Versa cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Nissan Versa model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Nissan Versa model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Nissan Versa years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Nissan Versa car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Nissan Versa , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Air bags problems
- Power train problems
- Suspension problems
- Engine problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Nissan Versa vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Versa model years
A total of 265 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Versa model years
There were a total of 36 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Versa model years
There were a total of 218 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by Versa model years
There were a total of 12 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 3273 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Nissan Versa . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Nissan Versa vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-23
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-23
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV3RL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000. The VIN was not available.
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-23
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-23
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV3R
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle downshifted with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 500.
Nissan Versa 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-17
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-23
- Number Of Injuries: 2
- Crash: 1
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle in front abruptly stopped causing the contact to depress the brake pedal in order to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front. As a result, the contact was rear-ended, and the vehicle behind that vehicle that rear ended the contact crashed into the rear of the vehicle as well. During the impact, it caused the contact vehicle to be pushed forward and then rear-end the vehicle in front that abruptly stopped. The air bags did not deploy. The driver and passenger seats fractured in a backward position. In addition, the front passenger side seat belt failed to retract during the crash. The contact was seated in the front passenger seat and during the impact she hit her head dashboard and sustained a concussion, shoulders, head, back, jaw, and left leg. The contact sustained head, shoulders, back, and leg injuries. Both received medical attention via the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown.
Nissan Versa 2023
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-18
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV5PL
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were yet contacted. The failure mileage was 11,000.
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-02-17
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-17
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV9RL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH and as she was accelerating to merge onto a highway, the vehicle was losing forward momentum. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and was still losing forward momentum. The contact manually shifted the vehicle to a lower gear and depressed the accelerator pedal but the vehicle was only driving at 30 MPH and no faster. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had pulled over and turned the vehicle off and on and was able to regain normal vehicle function. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but was a recurring failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-15
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-15
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV1RL
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I just got my car yesterday. I was leaving work and my car had no power. I couldn't get up to speed for a very long time, it was as if it was in limp mode. I got home and scanned it and got a P2615 code. upon doing research I have found several others having this problem. It is very scary and dangerous to drive this way. Also, cleared the code and it runs fine until the next time. This problem needs to be addressed before someone gets hurt or worse.
Nissan Versa 2014
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-11
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-11
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 3N1CE2CP6EL
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: I had an accident, and it was pretty bad and my air bags did not deploy. The car might be a total loss and I was very surprised and concerned that the bags did not deploy. Even my phone detected the crash and alerted my family members. That happened immediately after the crash.
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-23
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-10
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV1RL
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Brand new Versa delivered 8/16/2024. Started to hear chirping, whirring noise from clutch pedal when halfway depressed (right before bite) and also when releasing pedal, halfway up, when engine is warm. First started at 1200 miles and continues presently. Taken to Nissan dealership on 10/8/2024 and was told their mechanics don’t have the time to drive around and make engine warm to reproduce clutch symptoms. Major concern as this is brand new from the Nissan factory already exhibiting major clutch symptoms indicative of faulty release bearing/release fork, causing potentially catastrophic transmission damage a few hundred or thousand miles from now, when it could have otherwise been prevented promptly, under factory warranty. Vehicle is available for inspection by NHTSA. No one injured.
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-10
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-10
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV1RL
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: New Versa delivered 8/16/2024. Rear seat belt alarm will NOT chime when 1,2, or 3 passenger(s) are seated in the rear without fastening their seatbelts. However when passenger(s) DO buckle in properly, the alarm falsely and unnecessarily chimes for 45+ seconds.
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-15
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-10
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV1RL
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: This Versa was purchased brand new with 6 miles on it, delivered 8/16/2024. Strong odor of fuel inside cabin after city driving about 90 minutes in 100+ degree heat with a/c (on either recirculating or fresh air) in [XXX] . So overwhelming, causing burning eyes, throat, and nose forcing me to shut off engine. Predictably occurs when outside heat is over 100 deg F. This occurred within only 30 days of purchase at about 1300 miles, and so far occurred 4 times thus far total since purchase date to present. It took me a few weeks to fully understand the root cause until inspection under hood revealed fuel leakage around fuel injectors where inserted in intake manifold, and possibly fuel rail. Brought car in to Nissan dealer that sold me it and they said they smelled no odor (most likely because engine was cold and they only test drove briefly) and found no leaks. No due diligence or urgency on their part, and it was after their dismissive response that I encouraged sent the service advisor photos of the leaky fuel taken from days prior, in order to be taken seriously and have it fixed with some urgency under warranty, as this leaky fuel on hot manifold can combust or leak into cylinders. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Nissan Versa 2009
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-12
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-04
- Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: See attached document for complaint.
Nissan Versa 2022
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-11
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-25
- VIN: 3N1CN8EV4NL
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: The issue that I am experiencing has been intermittent, however it seems to be a safety concern that Nissan is not taking seriously. As I am driving at any speed with no cars around me the car collision icon will come on and flash as well as the front portion of the car in the advanced driver assistant system will flash yellow. This has happened on more than one occasion, but will always go away eventually. I believe that my safety is at risk because what if I was driving with my cruise control on and this occurred, would it slam on my brakes causing an accident? It has not been duplicated by the dealership that I have taken my car to however I have been able to record it several times when it occurred. There are no other warning lights that come up when this occurs, however I have codes that show that some of my radar sensors are not functioning properly. Nissan has not done anything about this issue and has dismissed it as a common problem with the vehicle when it clearly is a safety issue.
Nissan Versa 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-29
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-20
- VIN: 3N1CN8EV5ML
- Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: The brakes fight and lock from time to time. The steering will get a tug like a car is in front of me. The engine has a weird tug before pulling of and switching gears.when I pull off while turning the car feels like it completely losses power!?
Nissan Versa 2023
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-18
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-19
- VIN: 3N1CN8BV0PL
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: I stalled my vehicle (5-speed manual) in a drive through. I quickly restarted the vehicle and proceeded through. When I pulled out onto the main road my car had no power. There was nowhere safe to pull over so I had to continue. My car would not accelerate above 20mph and even that was extremely hard. I had to downshift to 1st gear to proceed up the hill. Finally, I was able to pull off and restart my car. This fixed the issue and I was able to drive home. I’ve not stalled the car before so I had never experienced this issue. I’ve read about it, and having it happen is terrifying. Had the car who was driving behind me been going faster, I likely would have been hit when I pulled out of the drive through. This is extremely dangerous.
Nissan Versa 2024
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-17
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-19
- VIN: 3N1CN8BVXRL
- Components: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Vehicle loses power, ability to accelerate and is unable reach a speed above 35-40 mph regardless of gear (manual transmission) or downshifting, requiring you to pull off road; has occurred four times now. After turning vehicle off and restarting, operation is normal. Nissan dealer checked and pulled up a code regarding coded keys and reprogrammed keys; could not replicate the power/acceleration issue. Problem still re-occurred. There are no warnings, warning lights or symptoms until you accelerate.
Latest 5 recalls Nissan Versa
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 68 recalls for different components of the Nissan Versa.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Nissan Versa 2023
- Report Received Date: 2024-02-27
- Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
- Consequence: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.
- Model: Nissan Versa 2024
- Report Received Date: 2024-02-27
- Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
- Consequence: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.
- Model: Nissan Versa 2021
- Report Received Date: 2023-07-18
- Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
- Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
- Consequence: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA26. This recall involves vehicles that were previously inspected, but did not receive a steering column replacement, under recall number 22V-693. These vehicles will need to be reinspected for this recall.
- Model: Nissan Versa 2021
- Report Received Date: 2022-09-15
- Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
- Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
- Consequence: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PMA10 / PMA25.
- Model: Nissan Versa 2010
- Report Received Date: 2022-08-09
- Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Latest negative Nissan Versa car reviews
Latest positive Nissan Versa car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2020
I researched this car extensively before purchasing it. I opted for the fully loaded SR model and I am absolutely in love with the technology features such as Android Audio, blind spot monitoring, and sensors. The car provides a very nimble ride and I am able to achieve 41 mpg when driving between 70-75 mph, and an impressive 50 mpg when driving at 60 mph. The seats are incredibly comfortable and the sound system is top-notch. In my opinion, this car is the best deal available on the market.
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Vehicle year: 2024
Great to hear that you're getting excellent gas mileage! It's impressive that you're averaging 40.2 after 15k miles.
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Vehicle year: 2017
This is not a sports car, but it is reliable transportation for a low price. It handles winter weather conditions and city driving very well.
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Vehicle year: 2020
Hi there! If you're considering the Nissan Versa, I highly recommend going for the SR version - it's the top of the line and definitely worth it. Compared to its competitors like Honda, VW, and Toyota, the Versa offers all the latest technology at a much more affordable price. Plus, it's a great looking car with a fantastic interior that beats out the VW Jetta, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla by far. And the best part? I saved money by choosing this one! While the performance is just okay and the steering is a bit light, it's still good on gas and has some great features like LED headlights and radars for collision detection. The interior is small but comfortable, with good quality seats and materials. Overall, the Nissan Versa SR 2020 is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and affordable car. Thanks for considering it!
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Vehicle year: 2008
Great car! You'll be happy to know that I never had ANY problems with it, even though I purchased the most basic version. The only issue I had was with picking up speed, but that's to be expected with a small engine. Overall, I think I would drive it until the end of its life.
Are you having problems with your Nissan Versa?
Greg Marquardt 2025-06-16
Vehicle year: 2010
During the three weeks I had my car, I had a bad experience. The acceleration was not up to my expectations. It was not as bad on the freeway, but when I pressed on the pedal, it felt like I was going nowhere. It was the worst on complete stops when I was trying to pick up speed in traffic. More than once, people honked and gave me dirty looks. Although the gas mileage was not good, I still hoped for better performance. The interior rattles all the time and gives off a cheap vibe. However, the overall design is nice and the headroom is amazing, although the legroom could be a bit better. I had to take it back to the dealer four times due to a defect in the suspension before they upgraded me to a Sentra.
Tyree Gibson 2025-06-09
Vehicle year: 2007
Congratulations on your first ever new car! It's great to hear that you have been overall very pleased with it. The interior is really quite impressive, with high-quality fabric and materials. The standard audio package for the SL is nice and sounds very good, although it won't blow you away. The ride is generally very quiet, and the Sound Sensitive Audio is a great feature, as is the Bluetooth and keyless entry/ignition. While the phone microphone could be more sensitive to pick up your voice, the keyless ignition and entry are well worth the investment. It's understandable that you're disappointed with the mileage, as the sticker says 30/34, but after 2500 miles and a dealer check-up, you're getting 22/26, which is sub-par for a car of this size. Hopefully, there are ways to improve the mileage and make your driving experience even better!
Henri Fisher 2025-06-09
Vehicle year: 2016
The Versa S is a great option for those looking for a car with the essentials at an affordable price. It comes with A/C and a Bluetooth radio with 4 speakers. While it may not have power features, such as automatic transmission, windows, door locks, and seats, it makes up for it with its lighter weight, better fuel economy, quicker acceleration, shorter stopping distance, and better reliability. Additionally, you can save money on key replacements, as I was able to make a copy of my key for only $2.00. Overall, the Versa S is a good choice for basic transportation needs.
Demario Kutch 2025-06-05
Vehicle year: 2013
I bought a certified preowned 2012 Nissan Versa SV in September 2013 with 25k miles. The car was fine for the first seven months, but then issues started to occur. I noticed my brakes were making a whistling noise when I hit them. I had my rotors resurfaced, but that didn't solve the problem. It turned out that I needed to replace the rear shoes. Unfortunately, my transmission failed at 34k miles, and shortly after that, my starter went bad. I also needed new brake calipers. Luckily, everything except the rotors was covered under warranty. Although the car made some weird noises that went undiagnosed, I was able to trade it in after one year before hitting 36k miles.
Hans Sanford 2025-05-28
Vehicle year: 2009
This car has been a reliable companion for me over the past five years. It has great gas mileage and is easy to park due to its small size. I enjoy using the CD player for audio books. However, I have had some minor issues with the car. The plastic steering wheel can be slippery, but I solved this by using a steering wheel cover. I also wish the car had power locks and windows, and that the hatchback could be opened without manually unlocking the driver door. Additionally, the lighting inside the cab could be improved. Despite these minor issues, the car has served me well. I am now considering purchasing a new car, but I will always appreciate the time I spent with this one.