Nissan Versa: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Nissan Versa problems by model year, from 2,240 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2023 (76%, 28 drivetrain complaints), 2012 (67%, 213 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (61%, 184 drivetrain complaints). 11 of the 13 Nissan Versa years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 5 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2011 (17%) and 2010 (23%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2011 (17%) to 2012 (67%), up 50 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (213 of 830 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Nissan Versa year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Versa | no elevated signal | 23% | 32 | 268 | 12/13 | 8 |
| 2011 Versa | no elevated signal | 17% | 19 | 269 | 13/13 | 7 |
| 2012 Versa | very high | 67% | 213 | 486 | 2/13 | 11 |
| 2013 Versa | high | 53% | 95 | 204 | 9/13 | 1 |
| 2014 Versa | very high | 61% | 184 | 343 | 3/13 | 4 |
| 2015 Versa | high | 49% | 106 | 254 | 10/13 | 2 |
| 2016 Versa | high | 54% | 45 | 109 | 7/13 | 0 |
| 2017 Versa | high | 43% | 23 | 72 | 11/13 | 3 |
| 2018 Versa | high | 56% | 25 | 58 | 6/13 | 3 |
| 2019 Versa | very high | 61% | 14 | 25 | 4/13 | 1 |
| 2020 Versa | high | 53% | 31 | 64 | 8/13 | 2 |
| 2021 Versa | very high | 60% | 15 | 31 | 5/13 | 3 |
| 2022 Versa | too few to score | – | 13 | 20 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Versa | very high | 76% | 28 | 37 | 1/13 | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Nissan Versa years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Nissan Versa transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Nissan Versa involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 28 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2012 | 12V032000 | power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicator | 2012 |
| Feb 2020 | 20V112000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2020 |
26 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2010 | 10V401000 | equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system) | 2010 |
| Feb 2012 | 12V055000 | air bags: side/window | 2012 |
| Jul 2013 | 13V324000 | structure: body | 2014 |
| Jul 2013 | 13V326000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2014 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V418000 | electrical system: ignition: switch | 2014 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V453000 | latches/locks/linkages | 2015 |
| Aug 2015 | 15V507000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2012–2015 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V573000 | suspension: front: springs: coil springs | 2010–2012 |
| May 2016 | 16V349000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V724000 | air bags: side/window | 2017 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V028000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V144000 | air bags: side/window | 2012 |
| Apr 2017 | 17V275000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2017 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V449000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V637000 | suspension: front: springs: coil springs | 2012 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V837000 | air bags: side/window | 2018 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V044000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V401000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V551000 | electrical system: ignition | 2017–2018 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
| Jan 2020 | 20V008000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V471000 | exterior lighting: turn signal: bulbs | 2020–2021 |
| Aug 2022 | 22E066000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V693000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2021 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V496000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2021 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V154000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Nissan Versa
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Nissan Versa
What are the worst years for the Nissan Versa?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Nissan Versa years are the 2023 (76% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2012 (67% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2014 (61% of relevant complaints, very high). 11 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Nissan Versa?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Nissan Versa years are the 2011 (17%) and the 2010 (23%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Nissan Versa have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 830 of 1,587 relevant NHTSA complaints (52%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
Is the Nissan Versa reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 11 of 13 Nissan Versa years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 52% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Nissan Versa?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Nissan Versa years we track, out of 28 in total: 12V032000 (Feb 2012, 2012), 20V112000 (Feb 2020, 2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.