Nissan Versa 2012–2019

2nd generation (N17) · N17 (Nissan V platform; Almera-derived) · 1,868 complaints, 1,246 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

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 48,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 22.1% of complaints (413 reports, 304 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 72,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 93,048 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 15.6% of complaints (291 reports, 138 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,300 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,201 and 61,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 10.0% of complaints (186 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,518 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 80,000 miles.

The engine accounts for 9.3% of complaints (173 reports, 131 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 78,167 miles.

The brakes account for 7.1% of complaints (133 reports, 104 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 22,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 49,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 6.4% of complaints (120 reports, 74 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,470 and 79,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2012 model year drew the most — 673 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 45. The median year sits at 187.

That makes 2012 an outlier: roughly 3.6 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 15 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 (8), the electrical system (2), the suspension (2). 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.

Reported severity

Of the 1,868 complaints filed against this generation, 218 reported a crash; 15 reported a fire; 166 reported an injury; 8 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 11.7% 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.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 16,700 and 78,000 miles, with a median of 48,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 36,300, 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.

Documented problems

Recalls (15)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Nissan Versa 2007–2011
• Nissan Versa 2020–2025