2018 Nissan VERSA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Nissan VERSA has 86 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: backup camera is not standard in this vehicle. you have to go to the highest trim level to get one. this is against the 2018 regulations..

15 crash reports 12 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

16 complaints

19%

• BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT STANDARD IN THIS VEHICLE. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE HIGHEST TRIM LEVEL TO GET ONE. THIS IS AGAINST THE 2018 REGULATIONS.
• ON NISSAN MOTORS USA WEBSITE, THE LOWER TRIMS LEVELS OF THE VERSA SEDAN DO NOT INCLUDE BACKUP CAMERAS! WASN'T THAT MADE MANDATORY!?
• VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T MOVE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT STANDARD IN THIS VEHICLE. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE HIGHEST TRIM LEVEL TO GET ONE. THIS IS AGAINST THE 2018 REGULATIONS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

14 complaints

16%

• MY CAR WILL TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT IS VERY UNSAFE, I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW.
• I WAS PERFORMING A MONTHLY INSPECTION UNDERNEATH MY 2018 NISSAN VERSA IN AUGUST 2018 TO INSURE THERE WAS NOT ANY VISIBLE LEAKS. UPON MY INSPECTION I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL LOCATED ON THE AREA WHERE THE ENGINE MEETS THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHE
• WE HAD LEASED THIS VEHICLE FROM HERTZ EARLIER IN THE DAY. THAT EVENING, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL AND THE VEHICLE'S STEERING SYSTEM HAD SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER AND DROVE INTO A TREE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY PASSENGER AND I BOTH SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT BODILY INJURIES AND WERE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“MY CAR WILL TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT IS VERY UNSAFE, I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

13 complaints

15%

• AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLACT WHEN CAR HAD A HARD IMPACK HIT TO FRONT OF CAR. I WAS GOING 40MPH OR MORE WHEN A CAR COME INTO MY LINE. INODER TO AVOID THE HEAD ON COLISION I SHRIVED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A IN GROUND BRICK THAT WERE BOUNDED INTO THE GROUND. THE FRONT END AND ENGINE WAS DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A DEER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE CRASH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROA
• AIRBAGS RECALL. I WAS IN A SIDE FRONT ACCIDENT AND NO AIR BAGS CAME OUT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLACT WHEN CAR HAD A HARD IMPACK HIT TO FRONT OF CAR. I WAS GOING 40MPH OR MORE WHEN A CAR COME INTO MY LINE. INODER TO AVOID THE HEAD ON COLISION I SHRIVED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A IN GROUND BRICK THAT WERE BOUNDED INTO THE GROUND. THE FRONT END AND ENGINE WAS DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

13 complaints

15%

• I WAS PERFORMING A MONTHLY INSPECTION UNDERNEATH MY 2018 NISSAN VERSA IN AUGUST 2018 TO INSURE THERE WAS NOT ANY VISIBLE LEAKS. UPON MY INSPECTION I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL LOCATED ON THE AREA WHERE THE ENGINE MEETS THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHE
• MY 2018 NISSAN VERSA SV DOES NOT HAVE A BACKUP CAMERA. IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE UPGRADED BY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER? ALSO IT HAS A MECHANICAL KEY SYSTEM WHICH I READ WAS GOING TO BE RECALLED ON OCT 19, 2018 DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE MECHANICAL KEY SYSTEM, IS IT TRUE THERE IS A RECALL BEING ISS
• IN A MINOR FENDER-BENDER, AT AROUND 5MP FROM A DEAD STOP, THE FRONT DRIVER BUMPER HIT A CAR IN FRONT, CAUSING A SCRATCH TO THE OTHER NEWER-MODEL CAR. BESIDES THE HEADLIGHT, BUMPER, HOOD AND FENDER DAMAGE, THE FRAME HOLDING THE ENGINE WAS BENT, CAUSING SO MUCH DAMAGE THAT THE REPAIR COSTS EQUALED TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“I WAS PERFORMING A MONTHLY INSPECTION UNDERNEATH MY 2018 NISSAN VERSA IN AUGUST 2018 TO INSURE THERE WAS NOT ANY VISIBLE LEAKS. UPON MY INSPECTION I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL LOCATED ON THE AREA WHERE THE ENGINE MEETS THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

9 complaints

10%

• I HAD ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, AND IT COMPLETELY STALLED OUT ON ME. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TO MY ASTONISHMENT, IT TURNED OUT TO BE MY TRANSMISSION. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAD TO PUT IN A WHOLE NEW TRANSM
• I have a 5 speed manual transmission that has a defective throwout bearing clutch assembly that 'sticks' and does not engage or release in a smooth manner. Each shift is 'jerky' when the clutch pedal is released and the power transfer from gear to gear is is a sudden jerk instead of a smooth continu
• Unknown! Repeatedly spent thousands of dollars on repairs but car never fixes. Check engine light on every month and car stalls often.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I HAD ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, AND IT COMPLETELY STALLED OUT ON ME. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TO MY ASTONISHMENT, IT TURNED OUT TO BE MY TRANSMISSION. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAD TO PUT IN A WHOLE NEW TRANSM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 86 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: BACKUP CAMERA IS NOT STANDARD IN THIS VEHICLE. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE HIGHEST TRIM LEVEL TO GET ONE. THIS IS AGAINST THE 2018 REGULATIONS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY CAR WILL TURN OFF COMPLETELY WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT IS VERY UNSAFE, I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLACT WHEN CAR HAD A HARD IMPACK HIT TO FRONT OF CAR. I WAS GOING 40MPH OR MORE WHEN A CAR COME INTO MY LINE. INODER TO AVOID THE HEAD ON COLISION I SHRIVED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A IN GROUND BRICK THAT WERE BOUNDED INTO THE GROUND. THE FRONT END AND ENGINE WAS DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS PERFORMING A MONTHLY INSPECTION UNDERNEATH MY 2018 NISSAN VERSA IN AUGUST 2018 TO INSURE THERE WAS NOT ANY VISIBLE LEAKS. UPON MY INSPECTION I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL LOCATED ON THE AREA WHERE THE ENGINE MEETS THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)