2008 Nissan Versa Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Feb 27, 2025 · 381 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Versa years
Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 19 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 381 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Versa. That ranks 3rd out of 19 Versa model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (171 complaints, 45%), typically at around 74,000 miles. Complaints mention 24 crashes, 8 fires, 22 injuries. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Nissan Versa
2023 Nissan Versa (N18) in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2008 Nissan Versa problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags171 · ~74,000 mi
Suspension70 · ~62,400 mi
Electrical System25 · ~45,500 mi
Steering23 · ~45,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling21 · ~22,000 mi
Fuel System, Gasoline18 · ~32,550 mi
Power Train17 · ~93,934 mi
Wheels16 · ~51,842 mi
Unknown or Other14 · ~65,000 mi
Tires12 · ~42,239 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags problems17145%74,000“takata air bags” (22%)—
Suspension problems7018%62,400“coil spring” (47%)—
Electrical System257%45,500——
Steering236%45,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling216%22,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline185%32,550——
Power Train174%93,934——
Wheels164%51,842——
Unknown or Other144%65,000——
Tires123%42,239——
Service Brakes113%84,000——
Fuel/propulsion System103%70,500——
Structure103%57,628——
Engine72%78,701——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)51%104,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic51%40,500——
Visibility51%23,000——
Fuel System, Other41%4,650——
Vehicle Speed Control41%57,000——
Seat Belts31%300——
Equipment21%18,764——
Seats21%36,034——
Service Brakes, Air10%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2017, with 94 complaints
2007: 2200722008: 22222009: 152009152010: 22222011: 202011202012: 15152013: 222013222014: 26262015: 472015472016: 52522017: 942017942018: 23232019: 7201972020: 442021: 3202132022: 222023: 2202322024: 222025: 120251

n = 381 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2008 Nissan Versa recalls (7)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 9, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V008000 · 307,962 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJul 6, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V452000 · 233 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2008 Nissan Versa sedan and Versa hatchback vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation due to exposure to humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: If an inflator were to explode it may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 25, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: The vehicles covered by this recall are in addition to those covered by recall 16V-349.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleJul 17, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V449000 · 515,394 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and 2007-2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the subject inflator with a new one manufactured by a different supplier, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 10, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V028000 · 152,554 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleMay 24, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V349000 · 413,852 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Suspension:front:springs:coil springsSep 14, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V573000 · 218,019 vehicles

Problem: Nissan (Nissan North America, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Nissan Versa vehicles manufactured May 8, 2006, to November 12, 2012, that were sold or ever registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.

Risk: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on February 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)Sep 10, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V401000 · 7,948 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected gps units can overheat.

Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2010. Owners may contact garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
  • Front Coil Spring Fracture (PE15019) — opened May 13, 2015, closed Oct 2, 2015, led to recall 15V573000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

See attached document for complaint.

Service Brakes · received Feb 27, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11645311

The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that he had been receiving recall notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number:Â 22E066000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because he no longer owns the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted.

Air Bags · received Mar 20, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11578421

I had not driven the car prior to noticing the air passenger light blinking and continuing to stay on. This is occurring whether someone is in the seat or not. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Air Bags · received Jan 5, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11563765

Traffic stopped suddenly when I hit my brakes they failed to work and the airbags didn’t work either so I ended up hitting my head on the roof of the car when I ran into the truck that suddenly stopped in front of me at speed of about 50mph. I don’t feel good but have no way to get medical…

Air Bags · received Sep 25, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11546353

i have a recall for airbag, i made appointment with dealership. on August 16 2023, went to the appointment and it took 4h to replace and they gave me a report that its been fixed, they replaced both driver and passenger side airbag, and the airbag light is off (attached picture of report) when i…

Air Bags · received Aug 17, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11539192

Other Nissan Versa years

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See all Nissan Versa problems by year, every Nissan model, or the Nissan VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Versa?

Owners most often report air bags, suspension, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 171 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Nissan Versa?

Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2008 Nissan Versa a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Versa model years, the 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.