Problems · by component

2011 Nissan Versa air bags problems

152 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Versa cite air bags, 57% of all 269 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 6 recalls on this component.

Complaints
152
57% of all complaints
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I am submitting a vehicle safety complaint regarding my 2011 Nissan Versa SL. VIN: [XXX] Incident Date: XXX Time: Approximately 7:30 a.m. While driving to work and making a right turn from [XXX] onto [XXX], the driver-side airbag suddenly deployed without a collision or impact. Prior to the deployment, the vehicle experienced abnormal electrical symptoms involving the steering wheel. The horn had previously stopped working and later began sounding continuously. After the airbag deployed, I noticed a burning odor, and approximately 20 minutes later, the inside of the steering-wheel/airbag area was still very hot. I disconnected the negative battery cable as a safety precaution. My insurance company referred the vehicle to Caliber Collision, where an SRS diagnostic scan showed: B1049 – CURRENT – Driver Airbag Module OPEN B1057 – CURRENT – Driver Airbag Module SHORT B1050/B1055 – HISTORY – Driver Airbag VB-SHORT B1051/B1056 – HISTORY – Driver Airbag GND-SHORT B1013 – HISTORY – Control Unit I photographed the scan results. Caliber informed me that they do not repair this type of SRS/electrical malfunction. I am concerned that an airbag deployed without a crash or…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2026Air bagsODI 11758382
“The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH in a parking lot, the front driver's side air bag unexpectedly deployed without an impact to the vehicle. In addition, the air bag exploded. The contact was unsure if any warning light was illuminated. The contact sustained minor injuries to the right eye and the neck, and an allergic reaction on the face from the powder released from the air bag. The police and the paramedics were called. Afterwards, the contact went to an Urgent Care clinic. The contact's husband drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that back in 2018, she received a recall notice regarding the "Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator ." The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, and the recall repairs were completed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2025Air bagsODI 11685656
“I was working for Uber Eats in New Smyrna Beach, FL. The car was front parked and I reversed the car to pull out from the parking lot. I drove at 5 MPH on the parking lot ready to drive to the main road. The main road was two stop signs away. I was halfway to the first stop sign the airbag deployed all of a sudden. There was no car in front of me or behind me. But the airbag impact blew my right arm from the wrist. My right arm was numb and upper right shoulder was bruised.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2025Air bagsODI 11683709
“The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V349000 (Air Bags) and 17V449000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2024Air bagsODI 11606808
“The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V401000 (Air Bags) and 17V449000 (Air Bags); however, the dealer refused to complete the recall repairs. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that before entering the vehicle, she became aware that the driver's side air bag had deployed without impact. The contact stated that the vehicle was not involved in a crash. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer; however, the dealer refused to complete the recall repair because the driver's side air bag had deployed. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2024Air bagsODI 11605845
“On September 11th, my wife was involved in a car accident while driving her 2011 Nissan Versa. The collision resulted in the vehicle rolling over and ending up upside down. Shockingly, none of the airbags deployed during this serious incident. A family member recommended that I report this to Nissan, which I promptly did. However, their response, received last Friday, was rather concerning. According to Nissan, the airbags were not designed to deploy in the event of a rollover crash, and they suggested there was no further action to be taken on their end. Today, I consulted with an attorney's office regarding this matter, and they advised me to report the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a crucial step. Consequently, I am submitting these details to NHTSA to ensure that this incident is properly documented and investigated. Safety is paramount, and I believe it is essential to bring attention to this situation so that appropriate actions can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Thank you for your attention to this matter. [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11546468

Showing 6 of 152 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

6 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Aug 9, 2022NHTSA 22E066000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2020NHTSA 20V008000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2011-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Nissan is also recalling 2010-2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2010-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 15, 2018NHTSA 18V401000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Versa Hatchback, and 2009-2011 Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Versa Hatchback, and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Nissan is also recalling certain 2009 Versa Hatchback and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2018NHTSA 18V044000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and 2007-2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jul 18, 2017NHTSA 17V449000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported May 24, 2016NHTSA 16V349000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

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

Other 2011 Versa problem areas