10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,012 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #20

Jan 032022

Versa

  • miles
I park the Nissa Versa and I smell an over heating odor a lightly dense smoke appears over the hood. A thought comes to mind, -??I just went to Jiffy Lube last week.-?? Suddenly two people are running towards yelling, -??Fire, get out of the car.-?? I couldn-??t believe it I was at a loss for words I couldn-??t move until they literally opened the door. I started recording it. It-??s insane I loved that car, it was payed off and it still looked nice. -it gets worse They tow the car to North Shore Towing. I report it to my insurance and the appraiser that attempted to see the car was not allowed access because I didn-??t sign a release form so I go to the towing place and sign the release form. The appraiser goes for the second time and is refused entrance. Weeks went by so I call the insurance which informs me of the previous two failed entries to North Shore Towing. I ask the staff male on the phone why he didn-??t allow the insurance agent entry to inspect vehicle I had signed the release form. The staff male literally laughs at me on over the phone. You want to know what component" Inspection" And today my friend mentions his car has been recalled and light bulb went on and here I am asking for your help. I have videos witnesses Also I have proof that of the signed document to release the car to insurance agent

- Chicago , IL, USA

problem #19

Jul 022018

Versa

  • miles
I took the car in for the recalled springs, they were fixed. I took the car in for the replacement air bag, it was fixed. Then the light came on on the airbag again and the dealership said it was a passenger side airbag sensor and it would cost thousands to fix it. He said the car was worth less than the fix would cost.

- North Canton, OH, USA

problem #18

Jul 132018

Versa

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that benson Nissan (4676 calhoun memorial hwy, easley, SC 29640, (864) 850-6440) serviced the vehicle per an unspecified manufacturer air bag recall campaign. After the recall repair, the horn failed to function and the cruise control and air bag warning indicators remained illuminated. The dealer indicated that further diagnostic testing was required for additional repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact felt that the recall remedy caused the failures since there were none prior to the repair. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was not available.

- Easley, SC, USA

problem #17

May 212018

Versa

  • 110,654 miles
When attempting to take my keys out of the ignition after putting the car in park they will not come out. Key is stuck in ignition.

- Valley Stream, NY, USA

problem #16

Mar 172018

Versa

  • 104,000 miles
I was driving just about to get onto the highway but as I was turning onto the on ramp I suddenly couldn't turn the wheel and crashed into the guard rail and my power steering light was on. My car underwent extensive damage on the outside and the alignment is now very bad. It had to sit overnight and when we got back to it the light was off. This is a very dangerous issue. (miles per hour below is an est.) this just occurred and in the process with insurance.

- Quakertown, PA, USA

problem #15

Aug 252016

Versa

  • 80,000 miles
The driver side clock spring has developed a problem that affects all of the air-bags in the car. None work. This was detected only after they had worked on the problem for a very minor defect. The trouble lights come on and off at any given moment. I went over the depressions in the center of the road to pass a car and the tire problem light came on. Now none of the power windows work. I don't believe I should have all these problems with a car that is only 8 years old.

- Holly, MI, USA

problem #14

Apr 252014

Versa

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to operate after the key was removed from the ignition. When the key was placed in the ignition, there was an abnormal grinding noise. In addition, the vehicle experienced a loss of power. The vehicle was able to be operated after the vehicle was restarted manually. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer to have the air bags replaced. The dealer could not replicate the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure occurred three times. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

- Port Charlotte, FL, USA

problem #13

Oct 062015

Versa

  • 123,155 miles
Stopped on our way home from a small trip and refueled the Versa. Noticed a small drip coming from the gas tank. Assumed it was coming from an overflow tube inside the fuel filler tube. The next day we took the Versa to our mechanic and told him about it. He investigated and found the fuel leak coming from the fuel pump attached to the top of the fuel tank. The leak as he described it coming from under the plug in where the wiring harness connects to provide power to the pump.under the plug in was a crack. There was also a hole that appeared in color of a burnt mark to the rear inside corner of the plug in wall exposing a metal stem goes to the prong that connects to the wiring harness. This area is above fuel tank surface or outside the top of the tank. Had this shorted out or created a spark, a possible fire and/or explosion could have occurred and injury and/or death could have occurred to occupants inside the vehicle. When pump was replaced, I took pictures that I hope you can receive. The bottom side where the float arm attached to the side sliding metal parts for measuring fuel level also appeared to have the blackened burnt color on the wall area of the metal parts. I have the defected pump in case you would like to check it out. I also have notified the Nissan service center and showed them the pump defect. I'm wanting to inform you of this because there are other Versa owners out there that could be affected by this. We were lucky.

- East Peoria, IL, USA

problem #12

Aug 122014

Versa 4-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
I was merging from the LH to the rh lane on an intersection when my car was hit on the passenger side by an on-coming pick-up truck. At the time of the collision I was struck on the rh side of my head by the car's radio which was apparently dis-engaged from the car's instrument panel. I was the only passenger in my vehicle, was wearing my seat belt. The passenger side air bags deployed. My head injury was treated on-site by an ems unit and I was transferred to a local hospital where I was diagnosed with a concussion. On 8/13/2014 my car was transferred to my local Nissan dealer (where I purchased the vehicle) for inspection by my insurance company. At the dealership the radio issue was communicated by my husband to to the dealership collision manager, a dealership salesman and my insurance company adjustor. The adjustor and my husband took photos of the expelled radio that clearly demonstrated broken plastic assembly/latch tabs. The radio and photo was shown to the Nissan salesman. The comment from the dealership collision manager to my husband was "he sees this all the time with Nissan" as the radio is not bolted and can become disengaged when the instrument panel is compressed. My husband communicated this incident to Nissan North America Consumer Affairs (file number 15337234). On August 19, 2014 they responded "based on the available information and the mileage of the subject vehicle, Nissan North America, Inc. Finds that an inspection of the vehicle is not necessary." In my opinion this response is not a satisfactory answer to a potential design or manufacturing issue resulting in a serious safety hazard.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #11

May 162014

Versa

  • 88,000 miles
The intelligent key will not start the car, even when using the actual key and not the remote. The car beeps four times and displays a red car on the dash. When I put the key in the ignition, it will not turn.

- Hartford, CT, USA

problem #10

Feb 222013

Versa

  • 23,000 miles
The fan motor on the ac/defrost stops working leaving the operator no way to defrost the vehicle when ever the windshield either frosts or fogs over. This renders the car unsafe to drive in the winter. The A/C will continue to stay on regardless if you select it or not. There are literally a few thousand owners with this identical issue with this vehicle. All of them needed to replace this part which can cost on avg. $500 or more. The dealer states they are unaware of this issue but they stock the part. How many vehicles have to experience this issue before Nissan recalls the vehicle to replace the part?

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #9

Nov 042012

Versa 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that flames were seen from under the hood area while driving an unknown speed. The contact was not present at the time of the incident. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent an engineer to inspect the vehicle. The engineer was unable to determine the cause of the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #8

Feb 112013

Versa 4-cyl

  • 61,000 miles
Traveling on hwy-74 at 55 mph using cruise control there was an electrical issue inside the fuel pump which melted the fuel pump relay in the ipdm. This resulted in the vehicle completely shutting down while traveling on a busy highway. The ipdm was replaced however the fuel pump was not known to be an issue. The same thing happened again on the same highway this time at 65 mph. Fuel pump this time was identified to be causing the electrical issue.

- Forest City, NC, USA

problem #7

Nov 042012

Versa 4-cyl

  • 42,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle just turning the corner when my vehicle stopped running. I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I open the hood and saw my engine was on fire. The battery area was fully enfulfed in flames, there were other areas of fire in the engine area, but I did not stay there to examine the situation. I immediately dropped the hood and ran to safety to call 911. My vehicle was properly maintained by downtown nashville Nissan dealership. I reported this incident to them and to Nissan North America, neither of which will take any responsibility. This is a serious situation. There should have been no reason for my vehicle to have burst into flames while driving it.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #6

Jan 162010

Versa 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
The tire pressure monitoring system began to flash and then went to a steady signal. When I pulled over to check the tire pressure it was fine. This continued to happen almost daily and is still happening. On one occasion I ignored it and later that day I had a blow out due to low tire pressure. I cannot get the dealer to fix this. I changed wheels and added new tires and the condition continues. On some days while driving it will start to malfunction and then turn off. On other days it is fine. I have seen online that several other people have had the same problem.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #5

Sep 262011

Versa 4-cyl

  • 93,934 miles
Replaced the continuously variable transmission on 09/13/2011 at 92524 miles. Approximately 2 weeks later my daughter was driving vehicle and the car stalled. The car will run but when put it in gear it will not go anywhere or rev up. This car has been to three mechanics including Nissan dealership and the problem cannot be found. Numerous parts were changed out but did not solve the problem. Sometimes it will drive for a short distance (less than a block) and then will be unmoveable again. This car has been undrivable since September 2011. They are a hazard on the highway due to the fact you never know when they are going to shut down. Also we are paying for a car that is undrivable.

- Lacygne, KS, USA

problem #4

Sep 232011

Versa

  • 51,000 miles
I was driving down the highway, when I saw sparks fly on the left hand side of road beside my car, the ABS light and another light came on the dashboard and immediately went away when I braked and pulled off highway. I checked tires and everything appeared okay. Drove approximately 10 more miles, heard a loud pop under the hood, car and lights shut down completely. Pulled off the highway, opened hood and battery was on fire. Vehicle has original battery and mileage around 51,000. Called fire department to extinguish fire and they said something like that shouldn't have occurred on a vehicle that was pretty new.

- Chelsea, OK, USA

problem #3

Feb 012011

Versa 4-cyl

  • 22,000 miles
Low pressure tire light goes on intermittently when doing highway driving and tire pressure is fine. Does not happen when driving around town, only on highway. Light will either blink or stay on until I slow down or get off highway. Took car to dealer, they cannot find a problem nor does the computer show any error codes. Dealer verified tire pressure was correct. Occurs every time I drive on the highway.

- Long Beach, NY, USA

problem #2

May 082010

Versa

  • 45,500 miles
I was on the highway with my cruise set to 72mph, we did turn the ac on and a few minutes after that the car shut off and I had to force the wheel to get the car to the side of the road. Thank god I was in the left lane because if not I would have been stuck in the middle of the highway. I got my car most of the way off the road but when I tried to restart it would not restart. I called for a tow truck and I did try to start it again while waiting and still nothing. It was a very scary experience to be sitting on the side of a highway because my car just shut off.

- Middle Grove, NY, USA

problem #1

Oct 152008

Versa

  • miles
The recent models of Nissan automobiles have a serious "guillotine" hazard! I have rented two sedans in the last four weeks and noted this defect. The window-control wiring appears to have been reversed, since there is no "express" downward opening of the window. If the operating switch for the driver's-side window is lifted, the window completely closes even when the switch is released. The upward force of the window cannot be restrained by hand and is probably greater than 20 pounds. This might actually decapitate a small child and would cause serious injury to an adult.

- Plainsboro, NJ, USA