The Nissan Versa is an automobile that is produced by Nissan in North America, featuring the Nissan Tilda, the Latio, the Note, and the Almera. The Nissan subcompact Versa first debuted in 2007 in various models, like the hatchback and the sea. Although it is smaller than the Sentra, it has a roomier interior and comfortable seats for a long ride. Let’s go over the most common Nissan Versa problems, the worst complaints, the problems per year, and the overall Nissan Versa recalls.
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Worst Complaints about the Nissan Versa
Versa owners are having the most trouble with the transmission, coming out to 22%, the suspension, which was 12% of the problems, and the exhaust, coming out to a total of 9%. The most common problems regarding the Versa include the HVAC system, with the air conditioning system stopped working, occurring at an average of 43,500 miles in the 2011 Versa.
Another word complaint regarding the Nissan Versa includes the transmission stopping working, with the problem occurring at an average of around 100,000 miles in the 2008 Versa. The last problem for the Versa includes engine failure at around 59,000 miles, happening typically in the 2007 Nissa Versa.
The model year with the most complaints
In order to determine which model you should never buy and which Nissa Vera problems you need to look out for, you need to know what model year has the most complaints. According to Car Complaints, the 2009 Nissan Versa had 150 problems and 734 complaints, which is the most of all model years. Almost 30% of these problems relate directly to the car’s suspension system.
Of the 30% of these problems, almost all of them brewer related to broken coil springs in the suspension. The versa’s broken coil spring problem earned a severity rating of “bad” according to the car websites, with the owners having to pay nearly $600 to have it fixed. The average mileage when the problem occurred at around 71,000 miles.
The other problems that are prevalent in most models is a wide variety of hubcaps falling off to the broken floor, the handles failing, the exhaust system failing, and the car’s transmission and engine.
Nissa Versa’s Worst Model Year
Several models within the Nissa lineup, like the 2012 Versa, had defects of the transmission system that caused server issues. Since this is the worst model year for the Nissan Versa, it has a total of 708 complaints and 145 problems, with the transition issues being the most reported problem for this year.
Almost 70 of these complaints involved the transmission failure, with the severity earning a pretty awful rating since the typical cost comes out to nearly $3,600 and occurs at an average of 73,000 miles.
2007 Nissan Versa Problems
The main categories of complaints within the 2007 model of the Versa focus on the wheels and hubs system and the exhaust system. The 2007-2011 Nissan Veras was recall in the US in both May of 2016 and July 2017 for the defective airbags that could potentially cause severe injuries or death. Many Versa owners have reported problems getting the Nissan car dealers to perform the intended recall repair, due to parts shortages of the car.
The main complaints regarding the wheels and hubs system of this year focus on the hub caps falling off and the tire pressure sensor light turning on. The typical repair cost for the hubcaps falling off comes in at just below $300 and occurs at around 38,000 miles, with the most common solutions being to replace the hubcaps.
The top complaints regarding the exhaust system of the 2007 Versa focused on the premature muffler corrosion and the catalytic converter needing replacing, with the muffler corrosion coating around $550 to repair, occurring at around 60,00 miles, and the most common solution being to replace the muffler.
2008 Nissan Versa Problems
The top categories of complaint for the following year of Versa have similar issues with the exhaust system, and are followed by the NHTSA complaints of the seatbelts and airbag issues. The top issues of the exhaust system focus on the exhaust flange rusting out, the premature rust in the exhaust and the catalytic converter joint rotting. To fix the exhaust flange, the typical repair cost is around $280, occurs at around 61,000 miles, and the most common solution is to replace the exhaust assembly.
The top complaints from the NHTSA regarding the seat belts and airbags focus on the airbag light continuously blinking, the airbags not deploying, the airbag sensor not working, and the users stating that the airbag light stays on for multiple days at a time. These issues have resulted in 9 crashes, 10 injuries, 1 death, and occur at a very low mileage of around 16,000 miles.
2009 Nissan Versa Problems
The top categories of complaints for the Nissan Versa in 2009 focus on the suspension and the wheels and hubs, with the NHTSA also lodging nearly 200 complaints regarding the suspension. The top problems with the suspension focus on the broken coil spring, the popping noise from the front end, and the issues with control arm bushings. To fix the broken coil spring, the typical repair cost is around $570, occurs at around 71,000 mikes, and has the most common solutions of replacing the coil springs.
2010 Nissan Versa Problems
The top complaints regarding the 2010 Versa include the suspension and the exterior accessories, with the NHTSA citing over 119 complaints regarding the seatbelt and airbag. The top complaints regarding the suspension include the spring and strut failure and noise coming from the struts, with the typical repair cost coming out to around $630 and occurring at around 66,00 miles.
The NHTSA complaints regarding the seat belt and airbag include the airbag light coming on, the seat belts, and the frontal airbags. These problems have resulted in 10 crashes, 1 fire, 8 injuries, and occur at around 23,000 miles, with users stating that a spring broke in the air bag system, the airbag didn't deploy during a crash, and the left suspension coil can break.
2012 Nissan Versa Problems
The worst user complaints involve the transmission for the 2012 Versa, with the 2012-2017 models having an expensive CVT transmission failure defect that can show up plainly in complaint data. In late 2018, the defect was subject to a class action settlement, which began in the 2012 year.
The main user complaints regarding the transmission include the transmission failure, the noisy transmission, the transmission clunking, the transmission estimating and the car jerking or shifting roughly. The typical repair cost comes out to around $3,610 and occurs at around 72,000 miles, with the most common solution being to replace the transmission.
2014 Nissan Versa Problems
One of the last years with significant issues in the Versa model is the 2014 year, with the most user complaints involving the transmission, ad the most NHTSA complaints regarding the drivetrain. The most user complaints regarding h transmission is the transmission failure, the transmission struggling to get into gear, and a lack of acceleration. The typical repair cost comes out to around $3,600 and occurs at around 81,000 miles, with the most common solution being to replace the transmission.
The NHTSA issues regarding the drivetrain focus on powertrain, with users stating that the vehicle loses acceleration power, the car takes a long time to shift, the car starts jerking during acceleration, and the transmission fails during use, with the problems causing 2 crashes, 1 injury and typically happening at around 74,000 miles.
Nissan Versa Recalls
One of the most severe and earliest recalls deal with the airbags for the side and the window. Nissan is recalling certain model years that may be equipped with side curtain airbags that contain an incorrect propellant mixture for the initiator component used, resulting in a lack of compressed gas, and causing the side curtain airbags to possibly not deploy.
An additional recall that occurred a few years later include the air bags, with the problem focusing on the passenger side frontal airbags. Nissan recalls certain model years of the 2007-2011 Versa vehicles, that are equipped with certain air bag inflators that are assembled as a part of the passenger frontal airbags modules. These inflators could rupture due to propellant degradation that happened after long-term exposure to high humidity temperature cycling.
A further recall deals with the suspension, the front suspension, and the coil springs. Nisan is recalling certain model years from 2007-2012 model years that were featuring corroded front coil springs that could result in the coil springs fracturing, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a crash.
One of the latest recalls deals with the passenger side frontal airbags, which was released in the very beginning of the year in 2020. Nissan recalled certain model years, including the 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback models, with the vehicles being equipped with frontal passenger air bag inflators that contain propellant. These inflators could possibly explode due to propellant degradation that occurs after long term exposure to high absolute humidity ad high temperatures.
2019 Nissan Versa Reliability
The 2019 Versa earned the #11 rating in the 2019 Subcompact Cars category, #23 in the 2019 Hatchbacks category, and earned slightly lower rankings than other cars in the various categories. The car earned a #31 in the 2019 Affordable Small cars category, the #37 in the Used Subcompact Cars $10K to $15K, #45 in Used Hatchbacks $12K to $15K category, and #46 in Used Small CArs $12K to $14K category.
The total rating in the US News Scorecard came out to 6.9 out of 10, with the critics' rating coming to 5.6, the performance equalling 4.5, the interior coming out to 6.2, the total cost of ownership averaging 9.2, the safety coming out to 8.1 out of 10, and the reliability rating from JD Power equalling around 3.5 out of 5.
Nissan Versa vs. 2019 Honda Fit
The 2109 Fit is better in almost every single category than the Versa, since the 2019 year earned poor rankings in the total US News Scorecard. The Fit only comes in a hatchback, but offers an extensive amount of cargo space for amplel gear and passenger area. It also has a roomy cabin and bestows the dull interior of the Nissa Versa.
While the Nissan only comes with a rearview camera, the Honda Fit contains various driver assistance and safety features that add to the reliability. Although neither car has great acceleration, the Honda Fit gets a better fuel economy and provides smoother handling.
Nissan Versa vs. Nissan Sentra
The 2019 Sentra is a compact car that is better than the Versa since it has a higher safety score, it has additional driver safety features, contains a 188 horsepower engine, and is larger class. However, the Sentra does not have any extra passenger or cargo space but it might be worth spending a little bit extra money for the Sentra than the Versa.
2020 Nissan Versa Reliability
The 2020 Nissan Versa earned the #6 rating in the Subcompact Cars category, with the same car also earning a #20 ranking in the Small CArs category. The total US News Scorecard comes out to a 7.7 out of 10, with the critics' rating earning a 9.1, performance coming out to 6.2, interior equalling 6.8, the safety coming out to 9,5 out of 10, and the JD Power Reliability rating equalling 3 out of 5 stars.
The pros of the 2020 Nissan Versa include the low base price compared to other models, the appearing and stylish interior quality, the solid list of standard features, and the good and reliable safety score. The cons of the 2020 Versa include the very weak and low performing engine, the slow touch-screen responses and lack of functionality, and the mediocre second-row space that is not very spacious and comfortable.