Common Failures Of The Nissan Versa: Reliability, Breakdowns And Solutions!

The Nissan Versa is a reliable subcompact sedan that enjoys bargain prices in both the new and used car markets. However, the Versa does not manage to escape the problems, know what are the common failures of the Nissan Versa .

Newer generations have plenty of safety features and high fuel economy, while older models boast spacious interiors and run well with proper maintenance. The car has average resale value, plus the Versa in decent condition will depreciate 45% after five years.

How good is the Nissan Versa?

The Nissan Versa has received fair scores in all major reliability ratings. Consumers give it a score of 3.3 out of 5.0, ranking it 9th out of 32 subcompact cars. Fuel economy is one of the model’s defining traits , and it makes up for the underpowered engines of the first generations.

Thanks to its overall reliability, the Nissan Versa can easily reach 100,000-200,000 kilometers if you drive it carefully and take good care of it. Follow Nissan’s recommended service schedule and never skip or delay maintenance, and your Versa can go far in its lifespan.

Common failures of the Nissan Versa

Despite the Nissan Versa’s reliability, the subcompact sedan isn’t immune to problems, with some model years developing worse problems than others. The 2009 Versa has the highest number of complaints, but the problems associated with the 2012 Versa are more serious, appeared much earlier, and cost more to fix. Here are common Nissan Versa failures for various model years:

1. Transmission problems

The most typical 2012 Nissan Versa problem involves its transmission becoming prone to failure at an average mileage of 72,850 miles. It can cost the better part of $4,000 to fix.

While some Nissan Versa transmission problems can appear in automatic transmissions, most of them hit the CVT transmissions in the 2012-2017 Versa.

Known examples include gear shifting issues, the transmission jerks while driving, jumps in the tachometer gauge, and hissing noises. Many owners have also reported that their Versa skidded to a stop on the highway, putting them at great risk of a car accident.

In most cases, the problems only went away after replacing the entire transmission , either with a new system or a remanufactured system. A couple of owners chose to get rid of their Versa rather than spend thousands of dollars fixing the faulty transmission.

2. Steering problems

The 2016 Nissan Versa has a lot going for it, including excellent fuel economy and a roomy interior. However, some drivers have reported that their Versa tends to swerve or fly into other lanes.

The problem tends to happen on open highways and the interstate at medium speeds. According to the dealers, the sedan was seriously misaligned. The Versa continued to skid even after the repairs.

Complaints filed with the US NHTSA have also brought to light other steering problems with the 2016 Nissan Versa. Many owners have reported problems such as their car drifting or going from one side of the road to the other and the steering wheel locks without warning.

This latest issue led to drivers accidentally colliding with another vehicle on the road. Like the drift issue, these issues persist even after taking the affected Versa to a Nissan dealer.

3. Failures in coil springs

The 2009 Nissan Versa isn’t considered as bad as its 2012 successor, but it does have its recurring problems. While you’ve received far fewer complaints about your transmission, your suspension is prone to malfunction. The coil springs on the Versa are prone to breaking and often take other suspension parts with them.

In one case, the damaged front coil spring also broke the lower strut. The broken strut spun against the tire, shredding the inside of the tire. On other occasions, the broken coil spring itself damaged the tire, causing a blowout.

The tire can also be completely separated from the vehicle . When this happened to a driver, his car hit the tire and spun out of control, destroying the axle, ball joints and brake duct.

Nissan has recalled the front coil springs. The anti-corrosion coating on the docks was considered unsuitable for states that apply a lot of salt to the roads in the winter. These coil springs rust and fall apart much faster than they should.

Nissan Versa suspension problems aren’t limited to the front coil springs. The rear coil springs also tend to crack and make rattling sounds. Defective springs must be replaced with new parts before they end up damaging other parts of the suspension.

4. Airbag problems

Like many other vehicle models, the 2007-2011 Nissan Versa featured Takata airbags to protect its occupants from injury during traffic accidents. Unfortunately, these airbags became the subject of a recall after a spate of reports about their failure to deploy during a collision.

In addition to deploying too slowly or not at all upon impact, Takata air bags could also burst and injure occupants.

Nissan Versa airbag problems are serious enough on their own . But they become more dangerous when a transmission, suspension or steering problem disrupts control of the sedan. These problems can lead to a car accident, and you can be seriously injured if the airbags do not deploy upon impact.In summary

Whether new or used, a Nissan Versa is generally a good vehicle to buy, as long as you research common problems for each model year. And if you already drive this car, knowing about these issues in advance can help you find ways to extend its life.