Nissan Versa Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,326 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls on file for the Nissan Versa, across 19 model years (2007–2025). The 2009 model year has the most complaints (504). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
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Nissan Versa years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Versa year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2009 Versa: 504 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2012 Versa: 486 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2008 Versa: 381 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2025 Versa: 12 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2022 Versa: 20 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2019 Versa: 24 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Nissan Versa problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 1,085 | 16 | 164 |
| Power Train problems | 564 | 19 | 9 |
| Suspension problems | 479 | 14 | 12 |
| Engine problems | 340 | 19 | 8 |
| Electrical System problems | 271 | 19 | 8 |
| Steering problems | 188 | 17 | 28 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 184 | 19 | 14 |
| Service Brakes problems | 175 | 18 | 51 |
| Structure problems | 143 | 16 | 25 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 120 | 18 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 92 | 8 | 2 |
| Wheels | 88 | 14 | 7 |
| Tires | 66 | 10 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 63 | 11 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 53 | 14 | 16 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 43 | 12 | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 36 | 16 | 0 |
| Visibility | 34 | 13 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 31 | 10 | 12 |
| Visibility/wiper | 31 | 15 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 28 | 8 | 5 |
| Seats | 20 | 8 | 7 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 17 | 10 | 0 |
| Equipment | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Nissan Versa problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2024: engine (53)
- 2014: power train (82)
- 2013: power train (73)
- 2012: air bags (167) · power train (163) · engine (50)
- 2011: air bags (152)
- 2010: air bags (130) · suspension (69)
- 2009: suspension (182) · air bags (180)
- 2008: air bags (171) · suspension (70)
- 2007: air bags (150) · suspension (54)
All Nissan Versa model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Versa | 12 | 0 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Versa | 96 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Versa | 37 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Versa | 20 | 0 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Versa | 31 | 3 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Versa | 64 | 2 | 5★ | Forward Collision Avoidance | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Versa | 24 | 1 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Versa | 57 | 2 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Versa | 62 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Versa | 81 | 0 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 Versa | 168 | 1 | 4★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2014 Versa | 207 | 2 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Versa | 204 | 1 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Versa | 486 | 10 | 4★ | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Versa | 269 | 6 | 2★ | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 Versa | 269 | 7 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 Versa | 504 | 7 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Versa | 381 | 7 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 Versa | 354 | 8 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Nissan: all Nissan models · Nissan VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Versa years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (354), 2008 (381), 2009 (504), 2010 (269), 2011 (269), 2012 (486), 2013 (204), 2014 (207) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Versa year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Nissan Versa?
Air Bags, with 1,085 complaints across 16 model years.
How many recalls does the Nissan Versa have?
26 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.