Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Nissan Versa problems

Owners filed 269 complaints about the 2010 Nissan Versa with NHTSA between Apr 2010 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (130).

Complaints
269
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags130
  2. Suspension69
  3. Engine17
  4. Electrical system17
  5. Structure15
  6. Steering11
  7. Wheels8
  8. Fuel/propulsion system7
  9. Engine and engine cooling7
  10. Power train6
  11. Latches/locks/linkages6
  12. Vehicle speed control5
  13. Seats4
  14. Service brakes4

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
20105
20119
20121
201312
201422
201544
201629
201784
201826
201913
202010
20214
20223
20233
20240
20252
20262

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

130 reports13 crashes1 fire6 related recalls
“I bought my car while living in Florida from a lady that didn't drive it for a while and after I bought it I drove it i drove to Washington two and a half times. before this though it had an airbag safety issue where the airbags didn't deploy and also my gas gauge does not work correctly as well as the suspension, which the coils are not up to codes and regulation also my odometer does not work well period when I got in my car accident my airbags had not deployed which is the safety risk and I looked up online due to the multiple risk zones that I crossed over I know that it is a good chance that I qualify for recalls that maybe it wasn't listed prior to putting up on here because I was unaware of a recall list.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2026Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11762566

Suspension

69 reports1 crash1 related recall
“There has been a popping and creaking noise when turning the wheel at low speeds to the left, the passenger side of the car has now dropped and the spring, struts and mounts have to be replaced. The same issue that these make and models were recalled for, yet the vin does not have any recalls.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2025SuspensionODI 11687491

Engine

17 reports1 crash1 fire
“Check engine light came on. Took car to auto shop and had them use the code reader. The code thrown was for cylinder 1 misfiring. Under further investigation it was found to the valve cover gasket needed replaced. After replacing the valve cover gasket the torque strut mount plugs and engine coils the car seemed to run fine. About 3 hours later the car started having trouble accelerating and the engine started to shake bad. And hour later while at a red light the car stalled out and wouldn't start again. Had to have the car towed. Noticed a good amount of oil leaked in the bottom of the engine.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2026EngineODI 11768796

Electrical system

17 reports1 crash2 fires
“The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The steering wheel enclosure failed to close. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer and was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V449000 (Air Bags) and 18V044000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that a diagnostic test needed to be performed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2025Air bags, Electrical systemODI 11636252

Structure

15 reports3 crashes
“I HAD ON THE HEATER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL A LOUD POP SOUND AND THEN I SPAN OUT OF CONTROL INTO A DITCH. I WAS LIVING IN SACRAMENTO, CA ABOUT TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY TO PICK SOMEONE UP FROM THE AIRPORT. IT WAS RAINING, BUT NOT HARD AT ALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2019Seat belts, Structure, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11173748

Steering

11 reports6 crashes1 fire
“VEHICLE LOST CONTROL EXITING A RIGHT HAND CURVE OF A COUNTY ROAD. THE VEHICLES SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH IS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 55-65 MPH. A POST-CRASH MECHANICAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETED. THE INSPECTION REVEALED THE SPLINES ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING SHAFT HAD BEEN DAMAGED. THIS DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT IN APPEARANCE WITH THE WHEEL BEING PLACED ON THE SHAFT AND PRESSED VIA THE STEERING WHEEL NUT WHEN THE SPLINES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL NUT WAS ABLE TO BE SPUN WITH ONE FINGER DURING THE INSPECTION. BOTH FINDINGS WERE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE EXPECTED CRASH DAMAGE GIVEN THE CRASH SEQUENCE. AN AIRBAG RECALL HAD BEEN FULFILLED ON THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2019 IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REMOVED. THE RECALL WAS FULFILLED BY A NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN GREELEY, CO.*DT*DT *JS *JS*DT*JB*DT*DT*AS*DT*TR*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR*DT*JB*TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2020SteeringCrash reportedODI 11316108
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.