Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Nissan Versa problems

Owners filed 381 complaints about the 2008 Nissan Versa with NHTSA between Oct 2007 and Feb 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (171).

Complaints
381
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
22
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags171
  2. Suspension70
  3. Electrical system25
  4. Steering23
  5. Engine and engine cooling21
  6. Fuel system, gasoline18
  7. Power train17
  8. Wheels16
  9. Tires12
  10. Service brakes11
  11. Structure10
  12. Fuel/propulsion system10
  13. Engine7
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20072
200822
200915
201022
201120
201215
201322
201426
201547
201652
201794
201823
20197
20204
20213
20222
20232
20242
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

171 reports14 crashes6 related recalls
“The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that he had been receiving recall notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22E066000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because he no longer owns the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2024Air bagsODI 11578421

Suspension

70 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“I found a piece of a broken coil spring in my driveway (where multiple cars are parked) in NJ. A quick visual inspection of all the vehicles typically parked near that area did not show any sitting uneven or any obvious evidence of any with problems. A few weeks later, after driving approx 1000 miles on my nissan, I noticed that the front suspension seemed shorter and quicker to bottom-out. This was obvious when rolling over speed humps. Another, more in-depth inspection of the front springs revealed an unseated spring on the left front. The spring appears to have slipped off or through the bottom cup and is not centered on the strut. After looking the vehicle up on NHTSA site this appears to be related to Manufacturer Recall NumberPM565. The NJ vehicle is currently in NC. I plan to take it to a Nissan dealer to have the recall work performed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2021SuspensionODI 11429816

Electrical system

25 reports2 crashes4 fires
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2022Electrical system, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 11476042

Steering

23 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2018Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)Crash reportedODI 11080167

Engine and engine cooling

21 reports
“HAVE HAD MY NISSAN VERSA SINCE 2009, GOT IT WITH 50 MILES ON THE CAR. SPENT 2 YEARS IN FLORIDA WITH IT WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND IN THE PAST YEAR I'VE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES TWICE AND TODAY I WAS A MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN MY CAR HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING AND STARTING MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. I'VE COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY MUFFLER HAS BROKEN AT THE FLANGE. APPARENTLY THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE NISSANS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CHANGE IT. THIS CAN CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING GOD FORBID SOMEONE PARKS THIS CAR IN THEIR GARAGE AND COULD ALSO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE ENTIRE MUFFLER RUSTS AND FALLS OUT OF SOMEONES CAR WHILE THEIR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2014Engine and engine cooling, TiresODI 10559264

Fuel system, gasoline

18 reports
“TRIED STARTING THE CAR; ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT CLOSE TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP AND CALLED HIM. MECHANIC SENT HIS ASSISTANT TO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WAS AND HE TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO TURN OVER. HE SAID HE THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING FUEL. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FUEL PUMP WAS BROKEN. MECHANIC HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING A REPLACEMENT NISSAN FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP WAS OBTAINED AND INSTALLED AT MY EXPENSE. MECHANIC FELT THAT FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2013Fuel system, gasolineODI 10557648
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.