KnownCarProblems2008 Nissan Versa Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 381 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Nissan Versa, most often about the air bags (45% of complaints, typically around 74,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Versa model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2008 Nissan Versa problems
Air bags
171 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window, frontal, air bag/restraint control module.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light flickered. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
All the airbags not working as indicated lights flashing! Recall states passenger airbag could explode causing metal fragments resulting in injury even death. Was informed by Nissan san francisco dealer that there is no fix for the airbag problem yet and they're not responsible for my anything to do with airbags not…
Suspension
70 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
I found a piece front the front of each coli spring laying in my driveway. I looked up the NHTSA website & found there is an investigation into this specific problem. Investigation no pe 15-019. I have the pieces & can send a picture of the fracture if you would like.
Front right spring broke shredding a relatively new tire. We just turned on to a residential street, so fortunately we were going slow and no one was hurt. Car was towed to a nearby sear's auto center where both front springs and struts were rebuilt and an alignment performed. Plus new tire installed. Incident issue…
Fuel system
32 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
I was driving my vehicle just turning the corner when my vehicle stopped running. I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I open the hood and saw my engine was on fire. The battery area was fully enfulfed in flames, there were other areas of fire in the engine area, but I did not stay there to examine the…
While driving, the car chocked and stopped. Had to leave vehicle in current lane and to call tow company. It appeared that the fuel pump died. The fuel pump was changed.
Engine
28 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
I own a 2008 Nissan Versa. Recently started having problems with losing power after a long period of driving. The problem started after driving for approximately two hours, the car would lose power and only go about 20 MPH. If accelerator was pressed, the car would stall out completely. After two visits to Nissan…
I was driving my vehicle just turning the corner when my vehicle stopped running. I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I open the hood and saw my engine was on fire. The battery area was fully enfulfed in flames, there were other areas of fire in the engine area, but I did not stay there to examine the…
Wheels and tires
27 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles. Parts named most often: pressure monitoring and regulating systems, hub.
While sitting in the yard we heard a metal clang sound coming from one of the cars. We looked but could not tell which car it came from. Later when I started to drive the car on the highway the front passenger tire shredded. This was due to the front passenger side spring being broken. We later found the broken piece…
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa equipped with bf goodrich all season radial tires, size: 185/65r15. The contact was driving over a gravel road when the tire blew. The contact took the tire to dealer, who advised that the thickness of the tire was inadequate and caused the tire to blow. The manufacturer was made…
Electrical
25 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, horn.
I was on the highway with my cruise set to 72mph, we did turn the AC on and a few minutes after that the car shut off and I had to force the wheel to get the car to the side of the road. Thank god I was in the left lane because if not I would have been stuck in the middle of the highway. I got my car most of the way…
I was driving my vehicle just turning the corner when my vehicle stopped running. I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I open the hood and saw my engine was on fire. The battery area was fully enfulfed in flames, there were other areas of fire in the engine area, but I did not stay there to examine the…
Steering
23 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion.
Vehicle has an increasingly loud clunking noise emanating from front suspension when turn is made or small bump/hole is moved over. Sounds as if there is metal on metal and lose components in the suspension. This noise is not apparent at higher speeds and only is audible when going over a bump/pot hole. Additionally…
The car has begun to make a loud metal clunking sound at the top right suspension as well as what almost sounds like a grinding but not similar to that of the braking system. I was going around a curve at the time. The sound gets worse when going down a hill changing speeds, switching lanes, on pot holes or an uneven…
Brakes
17 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
I was driving a 2008 Nissan Versa hatchback [] at 50mph in a 50mph zone in the left lane of a two-lane westbound street at 5:03pm on a day in september, 2009 when a car in front of me came to a complete stop in order to make a left hand turn (where there was no turn pocket). I did not notice that the vehicle was…
I was driving down the highway, when I saw sparks fly on the left hand side of road beside my car, the ABS light and another light came on the dashboard and immediately went away when I braked and pulled off highway. I checked tires and everything appeared okay. Drove approximately 10 more miles, heard a loud pop…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Nissan Versa recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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 inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began february 12, 2020. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 maxima, 2002-2006 sentra, 2002-2004 pathfinder, 2007-2011 versa sedan and versa hatchback, 2001-2004 infiniti i30 and i35, 2002-2003 inifiniti qx4, 2003-2008 infiniti fx35 and fx45 and 2006-2010 m35 and m45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If an inflator were to explode it may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began july 25, 2018. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: the vehicles covered by this recall are in addition to those covered by recall 16v-349.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2008 nissan versa sedan and versa hatchback vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, delaware, district of columbia, florida, georgia, hawaii, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maryland, mississippi, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, south carolina, tennessee, texas, virginia, west virginia, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands. The passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation due to exposure to humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the subject inflator with a new one manufactured by a different supplier, free of charge. The recall began on march 9, 2018. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 versa sedan and 2007-2012 versa hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on june 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2012 nissan versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan) and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a". Additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 infiniti m35 and m45 and 2009 nissan versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in 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, or "zone b". Additionally, if not included in "zone a" or "zone b" above, nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 infiniti fx35 and fx4
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began december 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by may 15, 2017. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 infiniti fx35 and fx45, 2003-2004 infiniti i35, 2006-2010 infiniti m35 and m45, and 2007-2011 nissan versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 infiniti fx35 and fx45, 2003-2004 infiniti i35, 2006-2008 infiniti m35 and m45, and 2007-2008 nissan versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tenn
Suspension: coil springs
Risk: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on february 2, 2016. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan (nissan north america, inc.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 nissan versa vehicles manufactured may 8, 2006, to november 12, 2012, that were sold or ever registered in the district of columbia, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia and wisconsin. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2010. Owners may contact garmin directly at 1-866-957-1981 or nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan is recalling certain vehicles that were equipped with a garmin nuvi model 750 navigation system. The batteries contained in the affected GPS units can overheat.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Front coil spring fracture
Summary
In a letter dated september 10,2015, nissan north america,inc. (nissan) notified the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) of a safety defect that may result in coil spring fracture in approximately 218,019 model year (my) 2007 through 2012 nissan versa vehiclesproduced from may 8, 2006 through november12, 2012 and originally sold or ever registered in the following 22 states and the district of columbia: connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, washington d.c., west virginia and wisconsin (NHTSA recall 15v-5
Questions about the 2008 Nissan Versa
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Versa?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (171 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles); suspension (70 complaints, typically around 62,500 miles); fuel system (32 complaints, typically around 42,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Versa have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 9, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Nissan Versa?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Versa model year since 2000, with 381 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.