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Nissan Versa 2012–2019 problems by year and mileage

2nd generation (N17)

NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,286 complaints, 870 with mileageMethod

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

The 2012 Nissan Versa

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Median failure report
60,000 mi
Complaints filed
486
Recalls naming this year
10

Most reported on the 2012

  1. Airbag system167 reports · median 44,000 mi
  2. Transmission and driveline163 reports · median 70,000 mi
  3. Problems owners could not categorise51 reports · median 60,000 mi

10 recall campaigns name the 2012: Air bags — frontal; Suspension — front; Air bags — side/window. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2013 Nissan Versa

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Median failure report
52,000 mi
Complaints filed
204
Recalls naming this year
1

Most reported on the 2013

  1. Transmission and driveline73 reports · median 86,000 mi
  2. Problems owners could not categorise33 reports
  3. Brakes32 reports

1 recall campaign names the 2013: Vehicle speed control — accelerator pedal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2014 Nissan Versa

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Median failure report
56,000 mi
Complaints filed
207
Recalls naming this year
2

Most reported on the 2014

  1. Transmission and driveline82 reports · median 81,000 mi
  2. Engine37 reports · median 59,000 mi
  3. Problems owners could not categorise32 reports

2 recall campaigns name the 2014: Vehicle speed control — accelerator pedal; Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2015 Nissan Versa

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Median failure report
46,000 mi
Complaints filed
168
Recalls naming this year
1

Most reported on the 2015

  1. Transmission and driveline47 reports · median 64,000 mi
  2. Engine26 reports
  3. Problems owners could not categorise26 reports

1 recall campaign names the 2015: Vehicle speed control — accelerator pedal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2016 Nissan Versa

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Median failure report
34,000 mi
Complaints filed
80
Recalls naming this year
0

Most reported on the 2016

  1. Airbag system21 reports
  2. Transmission and driveline20 reports
  3. Problems owners could not categorise16 reports

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2017 Nissan Versa

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Median failure report
27,000 mi
Complaints filed
62
Recalls naming this year
3

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2017

  1. Airbag system15 reports
  2. Problems owners could not categorise12 reports
  3. Electrical system11 reports

3 recall campaigns name the 2017: Electrical system — ignition; Air bags — frontal; Air bags — side/window. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2018 Nissan Versa

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
55
Recalls naming this year
2

Most reported on the 2018

  1. Electrical system17 reports
  2. Engine14 reports
  3. Airbag system13 reports

2 recall campaigns name the 2018: Back over prevention — sensing system; Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2019 Nissan Versa

Close
Median failure report
too few reports to time
Complaints filed
24
Recalls naming this year
1

Most reported on the 2019

  1. Transmission and driveline11 reports
  2. Electrical system7 reports
  3. Engine3 reports

1 recall campaign names the 2019: Back over prevention — sensing system. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2012 reports latest and the 2017 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2012 has had 5 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 2 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.

The short answer

“Is the 2012–2019 Nissan Versa reliable?”

Median of reported failures
51,000 mi
90% of reports came by
106,000 mi
Reports with mileage
870
Recalls
15

Most reported

  1. Transmission and driveline32.3% of complaints · median 72,000 mi
  2. Airbag system22.5% of complaints · median 36,000 mi
  3. Problems owners could not categorise14.5% of complaints · median 56,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 1,286 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012–2019 Nissan Versa; the transmission and driveline leads with 32.3% of them, and half of the 870 that record an odometer reading came by 51,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.

Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 18,000 and 79,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 2012–2019 Nissan Versa last?

Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2012–2019 Nissan Versa, half of the 870 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 51,000 miles and 90% by 106,000 miles.

17 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 3 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Versa reached that mileage, not that it failed there.

Figure 1 · Nissan Versa 2012–2019 · 870 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 161 complaints.

Mileage at failure, Nissan Versa 2012–2019Histogram of 870 owner-reported failures by mileage, in 10,000-mile bins from 0 to 200,000. The tallest bin is 0 to 10,000 miles with 161 complaints, 18.5 percent of the total. Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 18,000 and 79,000 miles. A further 3 complaints, 0.3 percent, were reported above 200,000 miles and are shown as a separate detached bar. Median mileage at failure is 51,000.
  • Rest of the range
  • Median
  • 200,000+ — 3 complaints (0.3%), plotted separately
10%
3,000
25%
18,086
Median
51,000
75%
79,000
90%
106,000

Tallest bin: 161 complaints between 0 and 10,000 miles. Based on 870 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 10,000 miles.

Show the numbers
Complaints by mileage bin
MileageComplaintsShare
0–10,00016118.5%
10,000–20,000617.0%
20,000–30,000576.6%
30,000–40,000819.3%
40,000–50,000606.9%
50,000–60,000819.3%
60,000–70,000728.3%
70,000–80,000849.7%
80,000–90,000647.4%
90,000–100,000333.8%
100,000–110,000374.3%
110,000–120,000273.1%
120,000–130,000161.8%
130,000–140,000141.6%
140,000–150,00050.6%
150,000–160,00020.2%
160,000–170,00040.5%
170,000–180,00040.5%
180,000–190,00020.2%
190,000–200,00020.2%
200,000+30.3%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.

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.

Common Versa problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Nissan Versa 2012–2019

When each system fails

Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.

  1. Brakes133 reports22,0007,000–49,000Brakes: 133 reports, median 22,000 miles, middle half 7,000 to 49,000 miles.
  2. Airbag system289 reports36,0009,000–61,000Airbag system: 289 reports, median 36,000 miles, middle half 9,000 to 61,000 miles.
  3. Throttle and speed control119 reports48,00013,000–80,000Throttle and speed control: 119 reports, median 48,000 miles, middle half 13,000 to 80,000 miles.
  4. Electrical system122 reports54,00024,000–80,000Electrical system: 122 reports, median 54,000 miles, middle half 24,000 to 80,000 miles.
  5. Problems owners could not categorise186 reports56,00027,000–80,000Problems owners could not categorise: 186 reports, median 56,000 miles, middle half 27,000 to 80,000 miles.
  6. Engine174 reports57,00025,000–78,000Engine: 174 reports, median 57,000 miles, middle half 25,000 to 78,000 miles.
  7. Transmission and driveline415 reports72,00048,000–93,000Transmission and driveline: 415 reports, median 72,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 93,000 miles.
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

All systems in a table
Complaints by vehicle system
SystemComplaintsShareMedian25–75%
Transmission and driveline41532.3%72,00048,000–93,000
Airbag system28922.5%36,0009,000–61,000
Problems owners could not categorise18614.5%56,00027,000–80,000
Engine17413.5%57,00025,000–78,000
Brakes13310.3%22,0007,000–49,000
Electrical system1229.5%54,00024,000–80,000
Throttle and speed control1199.3%48,00013,000–80,000
Steering765.9%36,0008,500–60,000
Body structure685.3%24,0004,000–37,000
Fuel and propulsion system564.4%45,00015,000–75,000
System by system, in words

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 51,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 32.3% of complaints (415 reports, 305 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 72,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 93,000 miles.

A single system taking 32.3% 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 airbag system accounts for 22.5% of complaints (289 reports, 138 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,000 and 61,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.5% of complaints (186 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,000 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 13.5% of complaints (174 reports, 132 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 25,000 and 78,000 miles.

The brakes account for 10.3% 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 9.5% of complaints (122 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 80,000 miles.

Known problems with the 2012–2019 Versa

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.

Before you buy a 2012–2019 Versa: the 3-minute check

Generated from 870 mileage-tagged complaints, 15 recall campaigns, 1 documented problem area. Print this page — the checklist survives print.

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 15 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
  2. Check transmission on 2012–2017 cars. 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…
  3. Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
  4. End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 18,000 and 79,000 miles, with a median of 51,000. 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 36,000, 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.

Versa problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.

earlier most reports on that system came below this mileage — ask for repair records. in window this mileage sits inside the middle half of its reports. later most reports came above it. That describes reports, not your odds.

Where each system’s reports sit against common odometer readings
SystemMiddle half of reports, miAt 60k mi58% belowAt 90k mi83% belowAt 120k mi94% belowAt 150k mi98% belowAt 200k mi100% below
Transmission and driveline48,000–93,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Airbag system9,000–61,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Problems owners could not categorise27,000–80,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Engine25,000–78,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Brakes7,000–49,000earlierearlierearlierearlierearlier
Electrical system24,000–80,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Throttle and speed control13,000–80,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier

Figure 3 · Nissan Versa 2012–2019 · 870 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.

Cumulative share of reports by mileage, Nissan Versa 2012–2019Of 870 reports that record mileage, the share filed below each odometer reading, rising in steps at each 10,000-mile bin edge. 58 percent below 60,000 miles. 83 percent below 90,000 miles. 94 percent below 120,000 miles. 98 percent below 150,000 miles. 100 percent below 200,000 miles. Median 51,000 miles.
  • 60,000 mi — 58% of reports below
  • 90,000 mi — 83% of reports below
  • 120,000 mi — 94% of reports below
  • 150,000 mi — 98% of reports below
  • 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
  • Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it above

The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.3% of reports (3) came above 200,000 miles.

Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

2012–2019 Nissan Versa recalls (15)

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). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.

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.

Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer, for any owner. Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. Sep 2019 · 2018–2019 · Back Over PreventionThe lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti…

    What can happen. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-654 (2019-09-12).

  2. Aug 2018 · 2017–2018 · Electrical SystemIf the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key…

    What can happen. If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-551 (2018-08-21).

  3. Jun 2018 · 2012 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2011-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas…

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

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-401 (2018-06-15).

  4. Jan 2018 · 2012 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Versa Hatchback, and 2009-2011 Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico…

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

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-044 (2018-01-10).

  5. Oct 2017 · 2012 · SuspensionIf a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a…

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles that were sold or ever registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan…

    What can happen. If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. This…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-637 (2017-10-11).

  6. Jul 2017 · 2012 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious…

    The defect. 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…

    What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free 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…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-449 (2017-07-17).

  7. Apr 2017 · 2017 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, if the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the…

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Versa, and Versa Note vehicles. The ring plate that secures the air bag cushion to the passenger frontal air bag assembly may fail, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of…

    What can happen. In the event of a crash, if the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

    NHTSA campaign 17V-275 (2017-04-26).

  8. Mar 2017 · 2012 · Air BagsIf the curtain and seat-mounted air bags inadvertently deploy, it can increase the risk of injury.

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa vehicles. Degradation of the side impact sensor connector pins may cause the curtain and seat-mounted air bags to deploy unexpectedly if the door is slammed.

    What can happen. If the curtain and seat-mounted air bags inadvertently deploy, it can increase the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a new jumper harness, and replace the side impact satellite sensors, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-144 (2017-03-06).

  9. Jan 2017 · 2012 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…

    The defect. 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…

    What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free 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…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-028 (2017-01-10).

  10. Oct 2016 · 2017 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating side curtain air bag deployment, if the side curtain air bags do not…

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2017 Versa vehicles manufactured August 1, 2016, to August 16, 2016. A seam in the fabric section of the side curtain air bags may tear during side curtain air bag deployment, potentially…

    What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating side curtain air bag deployment, if the side curtain air bags do not deploy as intended there would be an increased risk of injury.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 16V-724 (2016-10-11).

  11. Sep 2015 · 2012 · SuspensionIf a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a…

    The defect. 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…

    What can happen. If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free 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.

    NHTSA campaign 15V-573 (2015-09-14).

  12. Aug 2015 · 2012–2015 · Vehicle Speed ControlA delay in the application of the brake pedal would lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and…

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to March 11, 2015. The affected…

    What can happen. A delay in the application of the brake pedal would lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the console trim panel, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

    NHTSA campaign 15V-507 (2015-08-12).

  13. Jul 2015 · 2014 · Electrical SystemIf the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off…

    The defect. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 21, 2013, and 2013-2014 Juke vehicles manufactured…

    What can happen. If the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the start/stop switch housing, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

    NHTSA campaign 15V-418 (2015-07-01).

  14. Feb 2012 · 2012 · Air BagsThe side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 altima and Versa vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with side curtain air bags that contain an incorrect propellant mixture for the initiator component used, resulting in insufficient output of compressed gas.

    What can happen. The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bag modules, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 12, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan…

    NHTSA campaign 12V-055 (2012-02-14).

  15. Feb 2012 · 2012 · Power TrainThe operator can inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed…

    The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 Versa vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and manufactured from june 9, 2011, through january 13, 2012 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114,”Theft…

    What can happen. The operator can inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.

    The free fix. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the shifter knob or the shifter assembly as needed, free of charge. The safety recall began on mearh 5, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan…

    NHTSA campaign 12V-032 (2012-02-01).

Some of these 15 campaigns also cover Nissan Versa 2007–2011 (5 of them): the same campaign number appears in NHTSA’s file against both, which means the same defect and the same free repair. 7 of the 15 are specific to this vehicle alone.

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,286 complaints against this generation:

Crashes
138 (10.7%)
Fires
9
Injury reports
88
Fatality reports
6

These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.

Versa problems by model year

The 2012 drew the most complaints of this generation, 486, most of them about the airbag system, and the 2019 the fewest, 24. A typical year drew about 124.

That makes the 2012 stand out at roughly 3.9 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.

Complaints by model year
YearComplaintsWith mileageMedian milesMost reportedRecalls
201248631360,000Airbag system (167)10
201320415552,000Transmission and driveline (73)1
201420715856,000Transmission and driveline (82)2
201516812346,000Transmission and driveline (47)1
2016805034,000Airbag system (21)0
2017623427,000†Airbag system (15)3
20185526under 30 reportsElectrical system (17)2
20192411under 30 reportsTransmission and driveline (11)1

† At least 40% of this year’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. Its median rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

What Versa owners reported

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Nissan Versa. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 98,488. It was discovered from a Carfax Report that mileage in 2015 was 96,458, and in the same year in September that the mileage…

2014 · 98,000 miles · Electrical system

The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds, failed to accelerate while turning, and shuddered abnormally. The RPM remained steady with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an…

2014 · 59,000 miles · Engine

Odometer Fraud: The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the vehicle jolted while driving. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had been tampered with. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was…

2019 · 172,000 miles · Electrical system

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that after driving and parking the vehicle at the residence, an independent mechanic discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 174,485, with the instrument panel…

2019 · 174,000 miles · Electrical system

Built from 870 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built

Other Versa generations

Other subcompact cars from the same years