Nissan Versa 2012–2019
2nd generation (N17)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,868 complaints, 1,246 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 16,700 and 78,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 6 complaints (0.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 3,000
- 25%
- 16,700
- Median
- 48,000
- 75%
- 78,000
- 90%
- 104,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 168 | 13.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 66 | 5.3% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 49 | 3.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 46 | 3.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 51 | 4.1% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 31 | 2.5% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 58 | 4.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 74 | 5.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 36 | 2.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 49 | 3.9% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 43 | 3.5% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 64 | 5.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 44 | 3.5% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 56 | 4.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 57 | 4.6% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 61 | 4.9% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 54 | 4.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 42 | 3.4% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 27 | 2.2% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 17 | 1.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 30 | 2.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 20 | 1.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 19 | 1.5% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 14 | 1.1% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 12 | 1.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 8 | 0.6% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 12 | 1.0% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 6 | 0.5% |
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 1,868 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012–2019 Nissan Versa, and 1,246 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 16,700 and 78,000 miles. The median is 48,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (22.1% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles), the airbag system (15.6% of complaints, typically around 36,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (10.0% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles).
15 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline72,000median 72,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 93,000
- Airbag system36,000median 36,300 miles, middle half 9,000 to 61,000
- Problems owners could not categorise56,000median 55,518 miles, middle half 27,000 to 80,000
- Engine57,000median 57,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 78,000
- Brakes22,000median 22,000 miles, middle half 7,000 to 49,000
- Electrical system50,000median 49,500 miles, middle half 24,000 to 79,000
- Throttle and speed control48,000median 47,555 miles, middle half 13,000 to 80,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 413 | 22.1% | 72,000 | 48,000–93,000 |
| Airbag system | 291 | 15.6% | 36,000 | 9,000–61,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 186 | 10.0% | 56,000 | 27,000–80,000 |
| Engine | 173 | 9.3% | 57,000 | 20,000–78,000 |
| Brakes | 133 | 7.1% | 22,000 | 7,000–49,000 |
| Electrical system | 120 | 6.4% | 50,000 | 24,000–79,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 119 | 6.4% | 48,000 | 13,000–80,000 |
| Steering | 77 | 4.1% | 36,000 | 9,500–60,000 |
| Body structure | 69 | 3.7% | 22,000 | 4,000–37,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 56 | 3.0% | 45,000 | 15,000–75,000 |
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 48,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 22.1% of complaints (413 reports, 304 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 72,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 93,048 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 15.6% of complaints (291 reports, 138 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,300 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,201 and 61,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 10.0% of complaints (186 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,518 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 80,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 9.3% of complaints (173 reports, 131 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 78,167 miles.
The brakes account for 7.1% of complaints (133 reports, 104 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 22,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 49,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (120 reports, 74 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,470 and 79,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2012 model year drew the most — 673 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 45. The median year sits at 187.
That makes 2012 an outlier: roughly 3.6 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 15 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 (8), the electrical system (2), the suspension (2). 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 1,868 complaints filed against this generation, 218 reported a crash; 15 reported a fire; 166 reported an injury; 8 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 11.7% 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 16,700 and 78,000 miles, with a median of 48,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 36,300, 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 2012–2017
Jatco JF015E (CVT7) failure — shuddering, juddering, hesitation, delayed engagement, overheating and outright failure, frequently just past the 60-month/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The metal belt and pulleys wear prematurely, and the resulting shavings contaminate the valve body and stepper motor; DTC P0746 (pressure control solenoid performance) is the signature code. A class action over the 2012-2017 Versa CVT settled in late 2019, and in May 2020 Nissan launched a quality action extending CVT coverage to 84 months/84,000 miles for the 2012-2017 Versa sedan and 2014-2017 Versa Note.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 673 | 432 |
| 2013 | 294 | 220 |
| 2014 | 302 | 231 |
| 2015 | 261 | 183 |
| 2016 | 113 | 64 |
| 2017 | 94 | 56 |
| 2018 | 86 | 38 |
| 2019 | 45 | 22 |
Recalls (15)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V654000 | 2019-11-11 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 18V551000 | 2018-10-01 | Electrical System:ignition |
| 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 |
| 17V637000 | 2017-12-06 | Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs |
| 17V144000 | 2017-11-28 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 17V275000 | 2017-06-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V028000 | 2017-06-08 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V724000 | 2016-12-02 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 15V573000 | 2016-02-02 | Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs |
| 15V507000 | 2015-09-14 | Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal |
| 15V418000 | 2015-08-04 | Electrical System:ignition:switch |
| 12V055000 | 2012-03-12 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 12V032000 | 2012-03-05 | Power Train:manual Transmission:shift Pattern Indicator |
What owners reported
The Nissan dealers say that the change of speed in this car cannot be felt, and so does the tv commercial. It isn't true. It is a danger in the streets. Everytime i go to the expressway i have to make sure that there isn't a car any close to be able to enter because when you try to speed a bit, it restrain itself and…
2012 · Throttle and speed control
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the vehicle RPM idles high but the vehicle hesitated when the accelerator pedal was engaged. The contact mentioned that the brakes made a grinding noise when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times who was…
2012 · Transmission and driveline
On 8 march 2017, my battery died and i had it replaced at tj automatics & services. I drove the car for a few days before going on vacation. On 21 march 2017, as i'm driving home on the far (fast) left lane, on i-85n, atlanta, ga.At approximately 3:30pm, the car shuts-down. I was able to coast over to the emergency…
2012 · 8 miles · Electrical system
Built from 1,246 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page