
2012 Nissan VERSA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Nissan VERSA has 672 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.7x the segment average of 117. The most common issue is air bags problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: i was given this car as a rental. i am an extremely safe driver with a perfect driving record. within 7-8 minutes of driving this vehicle there was a crash! i drove in on the same busy street that the rental car was located and from the stop light the car switched into gear automatically and the . There are 11 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.
672
Total Complaints
11
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
5.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
AIR BAGS
169 complaints- • I WAS GIVEN THIS CAR AS A RENTAL. I AM AN EXTREMELY SAFE DRIVER WITH A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD. WITHIN 7-8 MINUTES OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THERE WAS A CRASH! I DROVE IN ON THE SAME BUSY STREET THAT THE RENTAL CAR WAS LOCATED AND FROM THE STOP LIGHT THE CAR SWITCHED INTO GEAR AUTOMATICALLY AND THE
- • WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I STRUCK A DEER IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF CAR NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT . DAMAGE WAS HOOD, FENDERS, GRILL , BUMPER AND RADIATOR , AC, CONDENSER AND SLIGHT FRAME DAMAGE. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A VEHICLE WHO HAD CROSSED THE DOUBLE LINES ON THE ROAD. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WENT OFF THE ROAD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AS A RESULT, HE CRASHED INTO A SIGN C
“I WAS GIVEN THIS CAR AS A RENTAL. I AM AN EXTREMELY SAFE DRIVER WITH A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD. WITHIN 7-8 MINUTES OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THERE WAS A CRASH! I DROVE IN ON THE SAME BUSY STREET THAT THE RENTAL CAR WAS LOCATED AND FROM THE STOP LIGHT THE CAR SWITCHED INTO GEAR AUTOMATICALLY AND THE ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2012 Nissan VERSA
Based on 431 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 59K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.
AIR BAGS
BRAKES
ELECTRICAL
STEERING
SPEED CONTROL
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (11)
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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2012 Nissan VERSA
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Nissan VERSA
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Nissan VERSA Service Intervals
CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2012 VERSA, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 672 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: I WAS GIVEN THIS CAR AS A RENTAL. I AM AN EXTREMELY SAFE DRIVER WITH A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD. WITHIN 7-8 MINUTES OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THERE WAS A CRASH! I DROVE IN ON THE SAME BUSY STREET THAT THE RENTAL CAR WAS LOCATED AND FROM THE STOP LIGHT THE CAR SWITCHED INTO GEAR AUTOMATICALLY AND THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH THE BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITH FORCE IN REVERSE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED REPEATEDLY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: THE NISSAN DEALERS SAY THAT THE CHANGE OF SPEED IN THIS CAR CANNOT BE FELT, AND SO DOES THE TV COMMERCIAL. IT ISN'T TRUE. IT IS A DANGER IN THE STREETS. EVERYTIME I GO TO THE EXPRESSWAY I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T A CAR ANY CLOSE TO BE ABLE TO ENTER BECAUSE WHEN YOU TRY TO SPEED A BIT, IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THERE IS HESITATION BETWEEN 20-30 MPH. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED AND WAS TOLD: SYSTEM: TRANSMISSION, PART NUMBER: 31036-3AA6B, DTC: P0740, DETAILED INFO: TORQUE CONVERTER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 11 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Nissan VERSA — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 672
- Recalls
- 11
- Fire reports
- 8
- Crash reports
- 50
- Injury reports
- 35
- Segment avg
- 117
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Nissan VERSA