1st generation (C11) · C11 (Nissan B platform; Tiida-derived) · 2,187 complaints, 1,380 with mileage
Owners filed 2,187 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2011 Nissan Versa, and 1,380 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 33,202 and 90,000 miles. The median is 60,885 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (35.9% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles), the suspension (19.4% of complaints, typically around 65,000 miles), the electrical system (4.8% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 785 | 35.9% | 75,000 | 50,000–112,012 |
| Suspension | 425 | 19.4% | 65,000 | 44,892–92,000 |
| Electrical System | 106 | 4.8% | 50,000 | 16,000–93,934 |
| Steering | 105 | 4.8% | 48,256 | 26,500–79,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 82 | 3.7% | 47,000 | 12,000–66,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 79 | 3.6% | 60,540 | 37,000–100,655 |
| Structure | 72 | 3.3% | 70,000 | 46,000–91,000 |
| Wheels | 65 | 3.0% | 55,000 | 35,000–74,910 |
| Power Train | 64 | 2.9% | 68,784 | 37,678–115,400 |
| Engine | 61 | 2.8% | 70,000 | 42,000–94,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 447 | 262 |
| 2008 | 461 | 280 |
| 2009 | 615 | 442 |
| 2010 | 337 | 212 |
| 2011 | 327 | 184 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 60,885 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 35.9% of complaints (785 reports, 207 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 112,012 miles.
A single system taking 35.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The suspension accounts for 19.4% of complaints (425 reports, 379 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 65,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,892 and 92,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 4.8% of complaints (106 reports, 87 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 93,934 miles.
The steering accounts for 4.8% of complaints (105 reports, 93 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,256 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,500 and 79,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 3.7% of complaints (82 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 47,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 66,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 3.6% of complaints (79 reports, 50 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,540 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 100,655 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2009 model year drew the most — 615 complaints — while 2011 drew the fewest at 327. The median year sits at 447.
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (7), the suspension (1), equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 2,187 complaints filed against this generation, 167 reported a crash; 46 reported a fire; 124 reported an injury; 8 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 33,202 and 90,000 miles, with a median of 60,885. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the suspension are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The suspension in particular shows a median failure mileage of 65,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Xtronic CVT overheating, shuddering, hesitation and premature failure. Nissan extended CVT coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles across its 2007-2010 CVT-equipped vehicles in response to widespread failures. Belt and pulley wear generates metal debris that contaminates the valve body.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V008000 | 2020-02-12 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V452000 | 2018-07-25 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V401000 | 2018-07-05 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V044000 | 2018-03-09 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V449000 | 2018-03-09 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V028000 | 2017-06-08 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 16V349000 | 2016-12-19 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 15V573000 | 2016-02-02 | Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs |
| 10V401000 | 2010-09-16 | Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System) |