2012 Nissan VERSA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Nissan VERSA has 672 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 8.4x the segment average of 80. 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 . ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.
672
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
8.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
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
TRANSMISSION
162 complaints- • 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
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WAS NOT LOCKING IN PARK TIGHT ENOUGH; THEREFORE, IT BEGAN TO SHIFT INTO OTHER GEARS WHETHER THE KEY WAS IS IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. THE KEY ALSO COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF OR ON. THE VEHIC
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN DID HOWEVER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE GEAR
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
56 complaints- • 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
- • ON SEPT 29TH AT OR AROUND 3:45PM MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING TO A SWIM MEET ON HIGHWAY 60 IN MESA, AZ. ABOUT 5 MILES INTO THE TRIP I HEARD A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE AC SYSTEM AND A MINUTE LATER WE HAD NO AC PUMPING THROUGH. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THAT MONDAY (ASSUMING IT WAS COVERED B
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND CHEST INJURIES. THE CONT
“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 ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
52 complaints- • 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
- • CAR MAX DEALER DIDN'T REALLY KNOW.I THINK HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE FINISH, I'M. IT SURE. IT WAS NOTHING ABOUT THE INSIDES OF THE CAR I JUST WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT ASAP. N/A AT NISSAN I JUST BOUGHT IT AT CAR MAX I SCHAUMBURG I DON'T KNOW I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOU THEN GO GET IT FIXED AT NISSAN.
- • I OWNED A 2012 NISSAN VERSA AND WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON JULY 3 2015, RELATING TO THE RECALL ISSUED AUGUST 2015. THE ISSUE INVOLVED MY INABILITY TO STOP MY VEHICLE FROM A COLLISION WHEN MY SHOELACE GOT CAUGHT ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE INABILITY TO APPLY THE BRAKES CAUSED MY VEHICLE T
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
35 complaints- • 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
- • THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO EXPERIENCE HIGH FREQUENCY GAS PEDAL VIBRATION THAT IS FELT ONLY BETWEEN 2500 - 3000 RPM AT ANY SPEED AS LONG AS IN THIS RPM RANGE THE VIBRATION CAN BE ALSO FELT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES IN THE SAME RPM RANGE SINCE THERE IS ONE BRACKET FOR ACCELERATOR AND B
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HER FOOT BECAME CAUGHT IN THE PLASTIC ON THE SIDE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BECOME STUCK. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LODGED UNDER THE PLASTIC AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY
“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 ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
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
- ☐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
- 0
- Fire reports
- 8
- Crash reports
- 50
- Injury reports
- 35
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Nissan VERSA