The best Versa years to buy are 2016 and 2017. Avoid the 2012 and 2014: Takata air bag recalls and CVT failures give them the most complaints.
Best years: 20162017 Years to avoid: 20122014
Every Versa year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Versa problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 97 | - | 1 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 37 | - | 1 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 20 | 149 | 0 | Transmission and drivetrain | Few reports |
| 2021 | 32 | 53 | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2020 | 64 | 133 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2019 | 25 | 38 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2018 | 60 | 79 | 3 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2017 | 72 | 67 | 3 | Air bags | Good buy |
| 2016 | 110 | 83 | 0 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good buy |
| 2015 | 255 | 176 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2014 | 343 | 245 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain | Skip this year |
| 2013 | 204 | 174 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Average |
| 2012 | 486 | 425 | 11 | Air bags | Skip this year |
About the Versa
The Versa is one of the cheapest new cars sold in America, so many are bought as first cars. Older Versas, especially the 2012-2014 cars with a CVT, have high transmission complaint counts and air bag recalls. From 2016 the complaint rate drops well below average.
- 2012-2019: Second generation sedan; Versa Note hatchback 2014-2019. CVT complaints on 2012-2015.
- 2020 on: Third generation. Low complaint counts.
Versa warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Nissan files with NHTSA. 377 Versa bulletins are on file in total.
CVT Class Action Owner Notification In mid-December, current and former owners and lessees of the following vehicles will receive a postcard from a Settlement Administrator informing them of the terms of a proposed class action...
CVT Warranty Extension In an effort to assure customer satisfaction, demonstrate our confidence in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), and to address customer concerns including those expressed by customers in the class...
CVT Warranty Extension REVISION 1 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin.
CVT Class Action Owner Notification Attention: Dealer Principal, Sales, Service & Parts Managers In early November, current and former owners and lessees of the following vehicles will receive a postcard from a Settlement Admin...
Dear Nissan Sentra Owner: Thank you for being a Nissan owner.
OBD II EVAP Tube Warranty Enhancement The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Versa
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Preliminary evaluation PE24007 · 2021–2024 · opened Mar 2024, closed Oct 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on March 7, 2024, after receiving twenty (20) consumer complaints and multiple field reports describing reduced power (limp mode) after re-starting the vehicle following a stall on certain 2022-2024 model year (MY) Nissan Versa.
Engineering analysis EA21002 · 2012–2018 · opened Sep 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
Preliminary evaluation PE16013 · 2012 · opened Sep 2016, closed Mar 2017 · led to recall 17V144000
The Office of Defects Investigations opened this Preliminary Evaluation to investigate complaints alleging an inadvertent deployment of side air bags on model year 2012 Nissan Versa vehicles.The three complaints indicate the driver or passenger curtain and seat mounted air bags deployed when the front door on the sa...
Preliminary evaluation PE15019 · 2012 · opened May 2015, closed Oct 2015 · led to recall 15V573000
In a letter dated September 10,2015, Nissan North America,Inc.
Engineering analysis EA15003 · 2012–2015 · opened Apr 2015, closed Sep 2015 · led to recall 15V507000
On August 11, 2015, Nissan North America, Inc., submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) describing a condition that may impede the driver's ability to transition quickly and smoothly from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal in certain model year (MY) 2012 through 2015 Nissan Versa Sedans and MY 2014 through...
Preliminary evaluation PE14018 · 2012–2014 · opened Jun 2014, closed Apr 2015
On June 24, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-018 to investigate allegations that the tunnel carpet cover trim panel on model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 Nissan Versa, Versa Sedan and Versa Note vehicles has, in certain situations, interfered with the driver's ability to promptly release th...
Preliminary evaluation PE14014 · 2013, 2014 · opened May 2014, closed May 2015
On May 20, 2014, ODI opened PE14-014 based on eight complaints alleging incidents of excessive brake pedal travel in model year (MY) 2013 through 2014 Nissan Sentra, Versa Sedan and Versa Note passenger cars (Figure 1) and information in Early Warning Reporting field reports indicating issues with master cylinder in...
Preliminary evaluation PE12023 · 2012 · opened Aug 2012, closed Jan 2013
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation after receiving Nissan early warning reports (EWR) concerning supplemental restraint system (SRS) light illumination on model year (MY) 2012 Nissan Versa vehicles.Information in the reports suggested that the SRS spiral cable harness from the spiral...
Investigation EQ12002 · 2012 · opened Feb 2012, closed May 2012
The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.
Versa vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Nissan Versa?
2016 and 2017. The best Versa years to buy are 2016 and 2017. Avoid the 2012 and 2014: Takata air bag recalls and CVT failures give them the most complaints.
Which Nissan Versa years should I avoid?
2012, 2014. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Nissan Versa average.
How long does a Nissan Versa CVT last?
Many 2012-2015 Versa CVTs failed between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. Regular fluid changes help. A replacement costs about $2,500 to $4,000.
Based on 1,805 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.