2010 Nissan VERSA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan VERSA has 337 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: driving in snowy/icy conditions. vehicle started angle towards oncoming vehicle (large power company bucket/boom truck). the trucks driver (there were more than one) saw me coming at him. the truck moved to the side of the road to avoid me. i collided into the driver corner of the large truck head-o. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 25 crash reports 12 injuries

337

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

130 complaints

39%

• DRIVING IN SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. VEHICLE STARTED ANGLE TOWARDS ONCOMING VEHICLE (LARGE POWER COMPANY BUCKET/BOOM TRUCK). THE TRUCKS DRIVER (THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE) SAW ME COMING AT HIM. THE TRUCK MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID ME. I COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER CORNER OF THE LARGE TRUCK HEAD-O
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,0

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 12 crashes

“DRIVING IN SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. VEHICLE STARTED ANGLE TOWARDS ONCOMING VEHICLE (LARGE POWER COMPANY BUCKET/BOOM TRUCK). THE TRUCKS DRIVER (THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE) SAW ME COMING AT HIM. THE TRUCK MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID ME. I COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER CORNER OF THE LARGE TRUCK HEAD-O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

69 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. NOT BEING ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SHE THEN CRASHED
• SINCE PURCHASE (PRE-OWNED WITH ~28K MILES IN 2/12) CAR MADE POPPING NOISES AROUND BOTH FRONT TIRES WHEN TURNING INTERMITTENTLY. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY LOCAL MECHANIC; COULD NOT FIND ISSUE. 5.10.13 HEARD LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN CAR WAS JUST SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. THAT EVENING BEGAN TO PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY
• THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BROKE. IT DROVE FINE THE DAY BEFORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND IT BROKEN. NO ROUGH ROADS OR UNUSUAL DRIVING. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. NOT BEING ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SHE THEN CRASHED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

23 complaints

• 2010 NISSAN VERSA. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SHIFTED THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RAN AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RPM FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE RETURNING TO ITS NORMAL
• FELT UNSAFE SINCE PURCHASE 7/2010 DEALER REFUSED SAME DAY TO SWAP. INSPECTED REPEATEDLY TOLD NOTHING WRONG. 2/2011 BEGAN REPURCHASE WITH NISSAN TOLD NOTHING WRONG. NISSAN REG REP TRIED BRIBE NEW TIRES TO DROP REPURCHASE BEFORE INSPECTION THEN LEFT. DEALER WITHHELD DOCUMENTS. REP SAID MY VEHICLE HAD
• THERE ARE TWO ISSUES INVOLVED. ENGINE STALLING AND TROUBLE STARTING. THE ENGINE STALLED AT LOW SPEED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS, THE ENGINE JUST CUT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEED, ENGINE WOULD STUTTER (DASH INDICATORS WOULD QUICKLY COME ON AND THEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“2010 NISSAN VERSA. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SHIFTED THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RAN AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RPM FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE RETURNING TO ITS NORMAL ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS UNREADABLE DURING DAYLIGHT AND HARD TO VIEW. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO POSE A RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE
• 2010 NISSAN VERSA SPEEDOMETER HARD TO SEE IN DAYLIGHT. *TR
• THE TPMS (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM) LIGHT REFUSES TO GO OFF. THE TIRE PRESSURE IS CORRECT PER MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND IT HAS BEEN CHECKED MONTHLY. WHEN THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE REACHES 80 DEGREES F., THE LIGHT SHUTS OFF. LIVING IN NEW ENGLAND, THE LIGHT IS ON MOST OF THE TIME. IRONIC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS UNREADABLE DURING DAYLIGHT AND HARD TO VIEW. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO POSE A RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

16 complaints

• I AM VERY MUCH MOTIVATED TO WRITE ABOUT NISSAN VERSA, THE COMPACT/ECONOMY VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS AND ON BOTH OCCASIONS IT WAS THE SAME DREADFUL EXPERIENCE. THIS CAR LACKS 'BALANCING ABILITY', SPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAYS, THAT MEANS, IF U DRIVE IT AT UNTIL 40MPH, IT IS FIN
• WE BOUGHT THE BASIC MODEL OF THE 2010 NISSAN VERSA. OUR CHIEF COMPLAINT IS THE FACT THERE IS ONLY ONE LOCK AND IT IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I AM DISABLED THEREFORE WHEN I COME BACK FROM THE STORE OR SOME APPOINTMENT ETC OR HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN OR OTHER CHILDREN FROM THE FAMILY, I HAVE FOUND TH
• WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY 2010 NISSAN VERSA BEGAN TO MAKE A RUMBLING SOUND. IT HAS SENSE GROWN TO A ROAR WHILE STOPPED WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I GOT IT AND THEY SAID THE REAR MUFFLER ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND WAS RUBBING ON THE FRAME CAUSING THE NOISE AND VIBRA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I AM VERY MUCH MOTIVATED TO WRITE ABOUT NISSAN VERSA, THE COMPACT/ECONOMY VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS AND ON BOTH OCCASIONS IT WAS THE SAME DREADFUL EXPERIENCE. THIS CAR LACKS 'BALANCING ABILITY', SPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAYS, THAT MEANS, IF U DRIVE IT AT UNTIL 40MPH, IT IS FIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 337 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: DRIVING IN SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS. VEHICLE STARTED ANGLE TOWARDS ONCOMING VEHICLE (LARGE POWER COMPANY BUCKET/BOOM TRUCK). THE TRUCKS DRIVER (THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE) SAW ME COMING AT HIM. THE TRUCK MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID ME. I COLLIDED INTO THE DRIVER CORNER OF THE LARGE TRUCK HEAD-O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. NOT BEING ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SHE THEN CRASHED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 2010 NISSAN VERSA. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHILE HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SHIFTED THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RAN AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RPM FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE RETURNING TO ITS NORMAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS UNREADABLE DURING DAYLIGHT AND HARD TO VIEW. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO POSE A RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)