Nissan Versa 2007–2011
1st generation (C11)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20262,187 complaints, 1,380 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,202 and 90,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 20 complaints (1.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 7,000
- 25%
- 33,202
- Median
- 60,885
- 75%
- 90,000
- 90%
- 124,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 117 | 8.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 44 | 3.2% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 31 | 2.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 28 | 2.0% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 43 | 3.1% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 44 | 3.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 46 | 3.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 68 | 4.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 56 | 4.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 57 | 4.1% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 72 | 5.2% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 66 | 4.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 80 | 5.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 60 | 4.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 74 | 5.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 46 | 3.3% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 59 | 4.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 42 | 3.0% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 36 | 2.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 36 | 2.6% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 38 | 2.8% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 22 | 1.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 28 | 2.0% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 20 | 1.4% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 32 | 2.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 28 | 2.0% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 16 | 1.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 10 | 0.7% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 17 | 1.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 13 | 0.9% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 8 | 0.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 9 | 0.7% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 20 | 1.4% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 2,187 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2011 Nissan Versa, and 1,380 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,202 and 90,000 miles. The median is 60,885 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (35.9% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles), the suspension (19.4% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles), the electrical system (4.8% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Airbag system75,000median 75,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 112,000
- Suspension65,000median 65,000 miles, middle half 45,000 to 92,000
- Electrical system50,000median 50,000 miles, middle half 16,000 to 94,000
- Steering48,000median 48,256 miles, middle half 26,000 to 79,000
- Engine and its cooling system47,000median 47,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 66,000
- Problems owners could not categorise61,000median 60,540 miles, middle half 37,000 to 101,000
- Body structure70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 91,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 785 | 35.9% | 75,000 | 50,000–112,000 |
| Suspension | 425 | 19.4% | 65,000 | 45,000–92,000 |
| Electrical system | 106 | 4.8% | 50,000 | 16,000–94,000 |
| Steering | 105 | 4.8% | 48,000 | 26,000–79,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 82 | 3.7% | 47,000 | 12,000–66,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 79 | 3.6% | 61,000 | 37,000–101,000 |
| Body structure | 72 | 3.3% | 70,000 | 46,000–91,000 |
| Wheels | 65 | 3.0% | 55,000 | 35,000–75,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 64 | 2.9% | 69,000 | 38,000–115,000 |
| Engine | 61 | 2.8% | 70,000 | 42,000–94,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 60,885 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 35.9% of complaints (785 reports, 207 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 112,012 miles.
A single system taking 35.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The suspension accounts for 19.4% of complaints (425 reports, 379 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,892 and 92,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 4.8% of complaints (106 reports, 87 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 93,934 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.8% of complaints (105 reports, 93 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,256 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,500 and 79,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 3.7% of complaints (82 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 47,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 66,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 3.6% of complaints (79 reports, 50 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,540 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 100,655 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2009 model year drew the most — 615 complaints — while 2011 drew the fewest at 327. The median year sits at 447.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (7), the suspension (1), equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 2,187 complaints filed against this generation, 167 reported a crash; 46 reported a fire; 124 reported an injury; 8 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 33,202 and 90,000 miles, with a median of 60,885. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the suspension are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The suspension in particular shows a median failure mileage of 65,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 2007–2011
Xtronic CVT overheating, shuddering, hesitation and premature failure. Nissan extended CVT coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles across its 2007-2010 CVT-equipped vehicles in response to widespread failures. Belt and pulley wear generates metal debris that contaminates the valve body.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 447 | 262 |
| 2008 | 461 | 280 |
| 2009 | 615 | 442 |
| 2010 | 337 | 212 |
| 2011 | 327 | 184 |
Recalls (9)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V008000 | 2020-02-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V452000 | 2018-07-25 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V401000 | 2018-07-05 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V044000 | 2018-03-09 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V449000 | 2018-03-09 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 17V028000 | 2017-06-08 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V349000 | 2016-12-19 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V573000 | 2016-02-02 | Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs |
| 10V401000 | 2010-09-16 | Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System) |
What owners reported
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel it made a clunking noise that sounded as metal rubbing against metal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure. The dealer replaced the tires wheels spacer; however the failure was not corrected.…
2007 · 2 miles · Steering
During winter season, when more than 2 inches of snow falls, when pressing on the break, i have to press and release repeatedly for the car to stop at a light. If i try to stop without doing so, the car will continue past the stop light road mark. When i press on the break, the break pedal feels like it touch the…
2007 · 2 miles · Brakes
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Nissan Versa. While driving approximately 60-70 MPH, the vehicle veers to the left. When decelerating, the vehicle veers to the right and feels as if it will spin out. The contact has scheduled an appointment at the dealer for june 29, 2007. The powertrain was unknown. The current and…
2007 · 30 miles · Suspension
My car seat belts are not working properly on the passenger side and my air bags warning lights are flashing. I contacted Nissan north america and asked them about any recalls for this car and they said no. However, i went on -line to several websites, such as www.Internetautoguide.Com and found that they are…
2007 · 55 miles · Airbag system
Built from 1,380 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page