Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Nissan Versa problems

Owners filed 504 complaints about the 2009 Nissan Versa with NHTSA between Aug 2008 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is suspension (182).

Complaints
504
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
27
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension182
  2. Air bags180
  3. Steering28
  4. Wheels26
  5. Engine and engine cooling23
  6. Power train20
  7. Engine18
  8. Structure18
  9. Tires18
  10. Electrical system14
  11. Fuel/propulsion system14
  12. Fuel system, gasoline13
  13. Vehicle speed control10
  14. Visibility6

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
20084
200910
201019
201119
201215
201342
201456
201588
201653
2017119
201835
201917
20209
20217
20222
20232
20242
20252
20263

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

Suspension

182 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving out of a parking lot at 10 MPH, the front end of the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound, and the contact noticed a strong rubber odor. The contact inspected underneath the vehicle and became aware that a part had fractured underneath the vehicle. The contact was able to reverse into the parking space. Several independent mechanics were contacted and advised that the failure might be related to the front coil springs corrosion and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V573000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that even though the vehicle was not registered in the States listed in the recall, the vehicle had been driven in one of the States listed while the contact was in school. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2026SuspensionODI 11718539

Air bags

180 reports19 crashes2 fires6 related recalls
“I am reporting a severe safety hazard and manufacturer database error involving the Takata driver airbag recall on a 2009 Nissan Versa (VIN: [XXX]). The manufacturer’s recall database falsely reports that the driver's airbag recall has been completed, showing zero open recalls for this vehicle. However, a physical inspection of the steering wheel assembly reveals that the original, defective Takata airbag module was never replaced. The physical module currently installed carries part identifier YTYAA270098 and specification code BAM PT1-1085 HERST:2010. The module was physically present but entirely un-hooked and disconnected from the system. The manufacturer's records are incorrect. They indicate a completed remedy while leaving a lethal, shrapnel-producing defective Takata inflator inside the vehicle. Local dealerships refuse to service the vehicle because the corporate database shows a clean VIN report. Nissan Corporate Consumer Affairs has been notified under reference case ref:!XXX :ref, but immediate federal oversight is required to address this dangerous component mismatch.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2026Air bagsODI 11768487

Steering

28 reports1 crash
“STIRRING IS MAKING A NOISE WHEN BACKING UP WHEN WHEELS ARE TURNING. WIPERS BLADES MAKES NOISE ON DRIVERS AND DOESN'T CLEAR VIEW ON PASSENGER SIDE. HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING REPLACEMENT PARTS. CD PLAYER HAS A READING ERRA, WANT PLAY AT ALL. TRIED CLEANER BUT STILL DOESN'T WORK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2019Steering, Visibility/wiperODI 11170281

Wheels

26 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND TO THE POINT THAT THE CONTACT AND HER FAMILY WERE FACING TOWARDS TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BUSHES ON THE SHOULDER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE RIM WAS BENT OVER THE REAR DRIVER'S TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE WHEELS WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT'S LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CRASH WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V573000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2019Suspension, WheelsCrash reportedODI 11169932

Engine and engine cooling

23 reports
“2009 NISSAN VERSA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE COIL SPRINGS FRACTURE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, SHE HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, BUT AFTER PULLING OVER, THEY DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. THEY CONTINUED TO DRIVE, BUT THEN THEY HEARD ANOTHER STRANGE NOISE AND SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. BY THE TIME THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE TIRE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE LEFT REAR SPRING WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED TWICE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2015Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10765677

Power train

20 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2020Power trainODI 11330063
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.