8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$580
Average Mileage:
70,600 miles
Total Complaints:
47 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace coil spring (19 reports)
  2. needs to be replaced (14 reports)
  3. replace all coil springs (7 reports)
  4. replaced both front springs (4 reports)
  5. not sure (3 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Nissan Versa:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #47

Feb 012023

Versa S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

Both front springs were replaced under recall, at 33,000 miles one of the front springs broke. Plus a back spring broke 3 years ago.

- Ed W., Utica, NY, US

problem #46

Oct 032020

Versa 1.6 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,850 miles

click to see larger images

broken coil spring broken coil spring broken coil spring broken coil spring

Front coil spring broke while driving. Miraculously, no damage to car, tires, brake lines, no loss of control, no accident. Nissan recalled in states with road salt use. Sharp-eyed readers will see "SF" sticker on recycling can.

Car has been in San Francisco all its life. Coil spring still broke despite no exposure to snow or road salt. Recall really needs to be expanded before somebody dies from this. Owned Nissans all my life (1st-4th gen Sentra, 1 each, 2 1st-gen Quests, 2 Maxima's (2nd and 3rs gen), three trucks, 521, 720, Frontier). Sorry to say it will be my last with these issues, CVT issues, corrosion (body, coil springs, brake lines) and overall lack of help from Manufacturer.

Company has been on the decline until merger with Renault. In my opinion, cars worse after merger. Not to knock the French. Lots of world class products from France (wine, cheese, food, fashion, etc). Reliable cars are NOT one of them.

- Yip Y., San Francisco, CA, US

problem #45

May 292014

Versa SL 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,599 miles

This repair was needed due to a defective part, the dealership informed me that part was on recall. I requested reimbursement by letter (documents attached) on June 10, 2017. Nissan's Consumer Affairs department has been giving me the run around since then. One phone message immediately following my letter stated they had great news for me. Many phone calls, emails and another letter later and still no resolution!!! How do I handle this? I left a complaint on their website and also completed a very negative survey the sent me. They say they need to talk to me directly and say a representative has called but my phone shows no such calls or messages.

- Sallie H., Carlisle, PA, US

problem #44

Apr 152015

Versa 1.8L

  • CVT transmission
  • 103,000 miles

Drivers side coil spring broke and required a tow, rental car required while the car was being repaired so the total cost was more than $600. Passenger side coil spring also broke within 2,000 miles and required the same.

- grebnaws, Champaign, US

problem #43

Jul 252014

Versa S 1.8L 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,874 miles

I had a nice date-night planned with my (now) fiance... Fancy steak house, nice clothes, I even got out of work early to pick her up from work. I was driving there using Google Maps (never been there before) and it led me down a road that had speed bumps, I drove over one, saw the other, slowed down, heard a loud SNAP after I went over the 2nd one, then the car was making a grinding noise every time I moved. This was a busy little street, with a lot of pedestrians, so I was driving about the same speed as I would a crowded parking lot.

I mentioned it to her, and checked the usual culprits for this sound, plastic skid plates were attached, muffler was secure, I even checked the tires by turning the wheel full-left, and full-right and I couldn't see the issue. Figured it was just a small plastic piece that popped off.

I continued to drive out of the street onto a 4-lane highway (It was the only exit from the building), once I reached 30 MPH, the passenger tire went flat. Fast. I had to mount the curb (no pedestrians) and drive to the next driveway (maybe 50 feet) as there was no shoulder and it was 5pm on a Friday. I didn't want to be THAT guy holding other people up. Upon looking at the tire, I figured that whatever was making the noise, caused it. I was going to call AAA for a tow, but remember passing a Monro garage. I figured I would just walk to it and see if they could at least replace the tire, and just zip-tie whatever was wrong.

I drove it back to the garage (maybe 150 feet from the driveway I pulled into) and when he removed the bad tire, my jaw almost hit the floor. The front coil spring had snapped the bottom strut, causing it to spin against the tire, and shredded the inside of the tire a full 360 degrees. This was not just a flat tire. Luckily the garage was able to fix it over the weekend, but I was out over $1,400 for them to replace both front springs, both front struts, and the new tire. I still have the damaged tire in my garage as evidence. I've submitted a reimbursement claim with Nissan USA and I'm awaiting payment as of March 2017.

- liskrig, North Brookfield, MA, US

problem #42

Jun 282016

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

coil springs puncturing tires

I had just exited the highway Thank God!! The tire completely came from underneath the vehicle caused the car to slam into the tire , swerve around in the street, ripping the axle and ball joints as well as the brake line from the vehicle.

- spetty78, Overland Park, KS, US

problem #41

Jun 292016

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,700 miles

Bought this car on Monday - this is Thursday. 2009 model, garage kept, one previous owner, under 21 thousand total miles, just a dandy little car bought from an elderly acquaintance who has stopped driving. Mileage seems way too low for this to happen AND I am not happy about the "salt state" limit on the recall. The car came from the mountains of NC - hello SALT on the roads! How come NC not considered a "salt state"? This is my very first Nissan - I've always been a toyota person. Hmmmmmmm.......

Update from Jul 4, 2016: Had the car taken to Nissan dealer via flatbed wrecker, they ascertained the left front coil spring was broken. It had damaged a bit of the underhand on left front of car but did not destroy the tire. We had both front springs replaced, $600+ and we picked it up the next day. Not the most auspicious beginning for my very first Nissan product. On Friday 01 July my husband telephoned Nissan customer service to complain about this happening at such low mileage, we await their return call.

- 2bolts, Kingston, TN, US

problem #40

Apr 212016

Versa 1.8L V4

  • Manual transmission
  • 120,300 miles

Why you decided to cut costs for your company with this car, I'll never know. What I do know, is that this is the worst issue I have ever had with a car... Just randomly. This is the second ridiculous issue with my car before it has reached the mileage where any major repairs are supposed to happen that come up in regular upkeep of any car... And it's pretty frustrating! I certainly hope the replacement springs aren't as flimsy as these! I was planning on putting my 21 year old granddaughter in this car... With my granddaughter. I'm very concerned now that something might go wrong with it that really shouldn't & I want my family to be safe! Stop cutting corners with parts like this!

- Lisa H., Streamwood, IL, US

problem #39

Jun 242015

Versa S 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,727 miles

After having my car inspected (which it somehow passed for), I noticed a rattling noise on my drive home. I immediately took the car back to the shop that I had it inspected, to find out both my rear coil springs needed to be replaced. Evidently they had not been noticeably cracked when the car was taken off the lift after inspection, but the weight of the car being shifted back onto the springs when taken off the lift caused the break or at the very least exacerbated the small fractures that weren't previously visible.

This was infuriating enough, but then a few months later I got a recall notice about my front coils springs needing to be replaced due to insufficient corrosion coating in states with heavy concentrations of road salt usage. Yet, I'm suppose to believe that the back coil springs should not also have been recalled. Well, I'm not an idiot and don't appreciate Nissan treating me & all the other 2009 Versa owners as one.

I am pursuing this and several issues with Nissan Customer Affairs(having to get the shifter cable replaced and poor quality of upholstery work with within 2 years resulted in the material on the inner door arm rests to be completely coming apart at the seams), but I still don't think I would ever by another Nissan vehicle again!!

- Michelle C., North Wales, PA, US

problem #38

Jan 132013

Versa 2lt

  • Manual transmission
  • 31,690 miles

I was getting my brakes fixed when my mechanic noticed that both front springs were broken!!!! I was lucky cause he noticed them! I know seven other people with the exact SAME problem!!!! It's not the road salt it is Nissan buying CHEAP SPRINGS!!!! We are not STUPID HERE! We all know it it not the road salt DAH!!!!!

- Danny M., Halifax, NS, Canada

problem #37

Nov 122014

Versa LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,876 miles

Driving out of a Walmart parking lot at under 10 mph, I hit a pothole. I instantly had a blowout. I drove slowly to another nearby parking lot, where I discovered a broken right front coil spring had ripped my right front tire into 2 separate pieces, a three inch wide strip of the inner side wall, and and the rest of the tire (tread and outer sidewall). Total cost to repair including new tire, new spring, and towing - around $800. I was not a happy camper. Otherwise, I loved my versatile little Versa. It's gone now - totalled yesterday in a weather related accident.

- Alan J., Bath, NY, US

problem #36

Feb 282015

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,739 miles

bought 2009 Nissan versa from http://www.oregansnissandartmouth.com/ in Feb 2013 under their Green Light program. April 2014 had to replace both back springs.

Safety inspection due Feb 2015 - was told not to drive my car and was very lucky broken spring didn't puncture my tire. Left spring had to be replaced to get inspection completed. Right spring will have to be replaced soon.

See related complaint April 2014 and June 2015

- Nancy J., Bedford, NS, Canada

problem #35

Apr 302014

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,389 miles

Feb 2013 bought 2009 Nissan versa used with only 64000 km and approved via their "Green Light" program. The following year I had to replace both back springs. They must have know of reported suspension problems with this year/model yet did not replace them before selling it to me.

See related complaint front springs February 2015 and June 2015

http://www.oregansnissandartmouth.com/

- Nancy J., Bedford, NS, Canada

problem #34

Jun 302015

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,331 miles

bought 2009 Nissan versa 2013 from http://www.oregansnissandartmouth.com/ under their Green Light program. Apr 2014 replaced both back springs were broken and needed to be replaced before car is driven again. Feb 2015 safety inspection didn't pass because my left front spring was broken and told by mechanic good thing it didn't puncture my tire. Jun 2015 had to replace the left front spring. Spent $1300 within a 14 month period for a car I owned 28 months and drove 22,480 km. Very disappointed these parts were not replaced before reselling the car since this year/model was known for poor suspension.

see related comments April 2014 and February 2015.

@theoregansteam

- Nancy J., Bedford, NS, Canada

problem #33

Mar 112014

Versa 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 185,000 miles

Front passenger coil spring broke off luckily while not driving. I heard there is a recall. I best check into getting the other side replaced (separate complaint) Be careful the back springs are breaking as well. I found one broken sitting in my driveway the other fell right off when getting oil changed. Mechanic said could have been a very dangerous when driving. Nissan needs to recall both front and back springs before someone gets seriously injured or killed. Cost me a ton of money already since warranty was up, but no medical bills luckily.

- jopep96, Tafton, PA, US

problem #32

Jul 062015

Versa SL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,900 miles

Went to pull out of the driveway, and loud scratching noise, then tire blew. Ripped the whole tire and needed new one. Grateful I was not on the road driving at a higher speed

- bwennat, Fair Haven, US

problem #31

Jun 032015

Versa SL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,700 miles

The coil spring of the front wheel (passenger side) broke and tear off the tire on the highway. This was a very dangerous situation and fortunately there wasn't much traffic on the road and could pull off without an accident.

- liya, Wharton, US

problem #30

Sep 012015

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Both coil springs broke in my Versa (at different times) both with less than 60000 miles on the vehicle. Called Nissan Dealer and they said there is a recall and they will replace but the parts are not available until November/December 2015. So here my poor Versa sits disabled. The good news is Nissan does not want me driving the car and has offered to a rental car until mine is fixed. Chalk up one for "Doing the right thing" for Nissan.

- Mike O., Loud, NH, US

problem #29

Apr 172013

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,149 miles

If this had happened at highway speed, it could easily caused death or serious injury (this is incident #1)!

The dealership claimed to not know nothing about what caused this nor offered any sign of a recall!

You could barely control the vehicle as it pulled dramatically to the left.

Finding out that this is a very common complaint, and Nissan has not recalled it, is an outrage, if not a crime! I hope you can make them pay big to anyone who may have been injured or killed!

- Steven H., Dayton, ME, US

problem #28

Mar 132014

Versa

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,837 miles

This is the second incident of a front coil spring failure, this time it was the right side and at higher speed. Vehicle suddenly dropped on the right side, blew out a fairly new tire, and pulled hard to the right. Fortunately I plowed into a snow bank instead of a pine tree and did not get injured. Again, if this was at highway speed, it easily could have been fatal.

Once again the dealer claimed to know nothing about this particular failure!! They did replace it, but I had to beg them to replace the tire (real generous of them!, don't you think?)

Now I'm really worked up about how criminally unresponsive Nissan has been. To Make matters worse, my son is still driving this vehicle because his car needed to be junked. We can only hope that nothing happens! Needless to say we will never purchase another Nissan vehicle!

Please go after these criminals, it is absolutely outrageous!

- Steven H., Dayton, ME, US

Read the next 20 complaints »