Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Nissan Versa problems

Owners filed 486 complaints about the 2012 Nissan Versa with NHTSA between Oct 2011 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (167).

Complaints
486
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
40
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
31
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags167
  2. Power train163
  3. Engine50
  4. Electrical system34
  5. Vehicle speed control33
  6. Service brakes29
  7. Suspension28
  8. Steering24
  9. Structure18
  10. Fuel/propulsion system14
  11. Exterior lighting10
  12. Electronic stability control (esc)10
  13. Engine and engine cooling6
  14. Wheels6

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 7, 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
20112
201220
201318
201440
201565
201655
2017128
201864
201931
202022
202115
20228
20237
20245
20255
20261

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

167 reports28 crashes1 fire7 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that occasionally while driving at various speeds, the horn failed to function while needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised the contact to reach out to the local dealer because the failure might be due to a possible air bag failure. The local dealer advised the contact to reach out to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the manufacturer related the failure to an unknown NHTSA Campaign that was possibly associated with the VIN in the past. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2025Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11638727

Power train

163 reports4 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the RPM was revving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic determined that the transmission had failed. An unknown repair was completed; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she had stopped driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2023Power trainODI 11518694

Engine

50 reports2 crashes2 fires
“My car keeps having sensors go out. Such as the tire pressure sensor and fuel compression sensor I think is what they called it anyways. They start to go up a hill. And my car loses all speed and slows way down my traction control. Don't turn on when it's supposed to. And needs to my cruise control, quit working when this went out. And my engines started sounding louder, which is weird because it's the one variable transmission. I love this car. I really. I'm tired of replacing sensors, though. Why do they keep going out? I kind of need those sensors to keep the carving good and the tire sensor lets me know if my tires are going flat or not. And I don't know now. I have to constantly be checking my tires with it. Pressure gauge also May I ask how to find out value? I found out the Carla. I'm buying this from has charged me 3 times more than it's claimed value that carmax says it's worth Which honestly I love this car so much? It really doesn't bother me that they did. But at the same time, I'm having to spend all this money getting it fixed. Because things keep going out. Online it says that it's only worth maybe 6000 I'm paying almost 15000 plus I've paid out…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2026Unknown or other, Engine, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11714475

Electrical system

34 reports3 crashes3 fires
“11587629 does not explain the issue I Reported 2012 Nissan Versa SV made July 2011, purchased Sep. 2011. 2022 45000 miles check engine light. o2, crankshaft position codes. A pig tail connected up stream o2 to crankshaft pos. sensor. Pig tail wires not togather, only taped' These two sensors were not connected to main wire harness.. Nissan new harness and labor $1100.+ , for what they didn't make right when built. How many people have been charged for this repair? That was Nissan's fault.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2024Electrical systemODI 11615078

Vehicle speed control

33 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“I carry my family with me and in traffic the traction control light would come on and the car would loose power and not accelerate almost causing accidents I was told it was the speed sensors malfunctioning and the brakes would not work properly when trying to stop”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2023Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, EngineODI 11525740

Service brakes

29 reports6 crashes1 fire
“I carry my family in the vehicle and the lights would come on for the traction control and check engine light and speed sensor light and the car would stop moving and shut off while going down the road and the brakes would barely work and the transmission would stop pulling or slip and the engine would not rev up that is really dangerous when your traveling with traffic something needs to be done about this and I have read alot of other complaints about the same problems that other people are having”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2023Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11516003
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

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