NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 32 owner complaints for the 2021 Nissan Versa. Most complaints involve power train (9) and electrical system (8). The EPA rates it 30–35 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Versa model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 354 |
| 2008 | 381 |
| 2009 | 504 |
| 2010 | 269 |
| 2011 | 269 |
| 2012 | 486 |
| 2013 | 204 |
| 2014 | 343 |
| 2015 | 255 |
| 2016 | 110 |
| 2017 | 72 |
| 2018 | 60 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2020 | 64 |
| 2021 | 32 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 37 |
| 2024 | 97 |
| 2025 | 13 |
“Automatic CVT failure confirmed by Future Nissan of Roseville CA. No warning prior to failure. Replaced by Kirkwood Autoworx Mechanical since Nissan Corporate denied a good-will replacement. Reason: 15k miles over warranty - 75081odometer reading at replacement on 5/27/26. CVT failed while on a busy street [XXX] ). I had only reverse and had to back my way out of traffic. Extremely dangerous situation. New Issue: Left Front Door (Driver) Locking actuator failure on XXX Not a safety issue yet. Will not lock or unlock with key fob. Manual entry only.”
“The car actuator failed for the left rear door. My car has less than 10k miles, and I submitted a case to their consumer affairs for it to be covered coz it's a premature failure, and they refused to pay for the repairs. I didnt know my car doors were no longer locking properly, and was left in a parking lot unsecured. Also, a passenger sitting on that side of the car would have had to go out the other door, and had there been an accident, that person wouldn't have been able to easily get out. They don't take it as a safety concern. And I know other models of Nissan have had actuator issues, so I don't think this is an isolated incident. And they should be repairing premature failures. Their consumer affairs department has been less than helpful as I have been without a car for almost 3 weeks now, and when I kept trying to call them back, they'd send me to voicemail. Kelly Nissan is also overcharging for the cost of the repair. The actual item is about $130 on Nissan, and they're charging $200. The labor, per standards, should take about 1-1.5 hours, but they're charging $444.”
“Transmission failure 2 Times. First time experienced jerking and some smoke coming out and second time same jerking and smoke along with electrical system failure. Nissan paid 40% the first time to help and I paid 60% even though I did not agree with that I did it. 2nd time they refuse to pay anything because of warranty even though it only took 40, 000 miles and transmission went out gain. Obvious that the transmissions are trash. The constant jerking and smoking in engine and electrical failure not to mention I was in a hit and run and ran into a tree and brake system did not work and the air bag did not come out after running into a tree. Please people run from Nissan fast. I'm thankful for my life.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versa Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 32 | 40 | 35 | $1,800 | 254 |
| Versa Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,100 | 296 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (9), electrical system (8), air bags (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2021 Nissan Versa at 30–35 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 Nissan Versa 5 out of 5 stars overall.