KnownCarProblems2011 Nissan Versa Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 269 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Versa, most often about the air bags (56% of complaints, typically around 74,000 miles). It is 6th of 19 Versa model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2011 Nissan Versa problems
Air bags
152 complaints · 56%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window.
Obviously no one in this organization reads peoples letters. I have not requested to purchase a Versa, I already own a Versa that for the last 2 years has been under recall for an exploding airbag that can cause death or injury, and that Nissan hopes to get it fixed sometime next year. I was not to let anyone ride in…
I was in a car crash; I lost control of the car and it veered of the road, crashed into a guardrail,rolled several times. The car experienced front impact, side impact, rear impact, the roof of the car crush in and not one of the air bags deployed. I have pictures available if needed. I feel this is a huge safety…
Suspension
46 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
The front coil springs broke shortly after 70,000 miles. As far as I know, they failed at the time I was pulling our of my driveway. There was a loud noise at the time. I know that there is a recall for these models in the so called "salt states", but my state is not included. There are far too many failures of this…
In 2015 was driving my 2011 Nissan Versa. It was clear weather 830am I was on a street which speed was 40-55mph going within the speed limit the vehicle had been properly maintained since ownership when out of no where my right front end dropped which I learned was ( my front coil spring snapped) and caused my vehicle…
Steering
21 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion.
The power steering light has come up 2 times within the last 2 weeks. Both times have been when the car is parked and I turn it on. The light comes up and the steering wheel locks. Both times I have turned off the vehicle and the problem goes away. If this ever happens while driving on the highway I will probably lose…
Power steering light came on after initially starting the vehicle. Power steering shut down completely. Will randomly fix itself after turning car off and restarting.
Other or unspecified
21 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 57,000 miles.
Exhaust system corroding early after normal use. Need to replace midpipe and springs holding parts of the exhaust system in place. I am having them replaced before it causes an incident, but if not fixed it could have lead to pieces of the exhaust system falling off during driving and causing a road hazard
While gardening outside, we heard a loud sound. There under my car was a piece of my car's coil spring, it just cracked sitting in the driveway.
Electrical
17 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: horn, instrument cluster/panel.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated for an extended period of time ever since the vehicle was purchased. Also, the horn was serviced more than twice and failed to function properly. The dealer (kelly Nissan, inc., 4300 95th st…
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact attempted to shift the vehicle into gear, but it failed to switch gears. Also, the instrument panel did not accurately indicate the desired gear in which the vehicle was placed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure…
Engine
11 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles.
My husband purchased the Nissan Versa 4hb 2011 brand new. A few months back while driving on the texas freeways 70 MPH...the check engine light came on and the vehicle shut down and I lost power and speed, this was frightening and very dangerous....we took the vehicle to the dealership and was told the throttle body…
Car making noises when turning. Strut bearings replaced. Recall serviced on front coil springs. Car is at 87800 miles but at 87300 engine started making knocking/pinging/clicking/ticking noises. Took to Nissan. Mechanic said Nissan engineers say this is normal for their 4 cylinder motors. Said he couldn't locate…
Transmission
8 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles.
My wife and I purchased our Versa in march of this year. For the last couple weeks we have noticed that the car has been losing power while driving and it is becoming a hazard as we are trying to accelerate and it is doing nothing. I am concerned as it seems as though the transmission is slipping and for the car to…
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact attempted to shift the vehicle into gear, but it failed to switch gears. Also, the instrument panel did not accurately indicate the desired gear in which the vehicle was placed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure…
Body and structure
8 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Driving on a curvy road and lost steering. Took this car to a mechanic and the coil spring and sway bar where broken. Several bolts holding plastic under car fell off and bumper half way fell off while driving. Also the heat shield has been welded twice. This car has 80,000 miles and has had so many problems!
The blue paint on portions of the hood of our 2011 Nissan Versa sl is not adequately sticking to the primer, and thus large chunks of paint are chipping away over time. The amount of paint loss is greater after long stretches of highway driving, indicating loss due to wind. What started as a 1" x 1" chunk of paint…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 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: 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.
Full defect summary
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 passe
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 passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began 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 2009-2012 versa hatchback, and 2009-2011 versa sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of 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, nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 versa hatchback, and versa sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, 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." nissan is also recalling certain 2009 versa hatchback and versa sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of alaska, colorado, connecticut, idaho, iowa, maine, m
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 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.
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 2011 Nissan Versa
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Versa?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (152 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles); suspension (46 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); steering (21 complaints, typically around 35,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Versa have?
- 6 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 2011 a bad year for the Nissan Versa?
- It is 6th of 19 Versa model years by number of complaints, with 269 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.