Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Nissan Versa owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Traffic stopped suddenly when I hit my brakes they failed to work and the airbags didn't work either so I ended up hitting my head on the roof of the car when I ran into the truck that suddenly stopped in front of me at speed of about 50mph. I don't feel good but have no way to get medical attention right now. And was just released from having some head trauma the day before the accident. My car was totaled in the accident so I don't need additional recall information on it, and no insurance to fix it so now I don't have any way to get a new car.
i have a recall for airbag, i made appointment with dealership. on August 16 2023, went to the appointment and it took 4h to replace and they gave me a report that its been fixed, they replaced both driver and passenger side airbag, and the airbag light is off (attached picture of report) when i took the car i noticed the airbag light is still on. i went back and told them the issue and they retook the car for inspection. i waited another 1h and they brought me an invoice that there is a cable from airbag to the car, this needs to be replaced and it cost 400$ without tax and without labor. my complain is that they pretended to replace and fix the airbag and they made sure there is no light on. upon taking the car i noticed it wasn't true. now they demand money for repair. i believe the dealership is not going to remedy the recall without charging
The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 17V449000 (Air bags) and 16V349000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list since he no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and the manufacturer were contacted.
The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that he had been receiving recall notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22E066000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because he no longer owns the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted.
I had not driven the car prior to noticing the air passenger light blinking and continuing to stay on. This is occurring whether someone is in the seat or not. Regards, [redacted]
I was in an automobile accident. I was braking, almost at a stop or moving at 2 MPH when a vehicle collided with the right front fender and door of my 2008 Nissan Versa with the front end of his vehicle. The airbag on the driver's side of my Nissan Versa deployed and a piece of metal struck my sternum fracturing same. I also had two hematomas on my right breast as a result of the metal striking my chest with extreme force.. The accident occurred at an intersection of two city streets, not highways. I was traveling straight going west and the other vehicle was traveling straight going south. The other vehicle's speed was approximately 25 to 30 MPH. The airbag in the 2008 Nissan Versa deployed with such force that the metal piece was exposed and that is what caused my injuries. I noticed a recall on the 2008 Nissan Versa, dated March of 2016, for the front Takata airbags..updated 10/13/16
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Nissan Versa. While driving 30 MPH approaching a red light, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to stop the vehicle in time. The contact rear ended another vehicle. The driver side air bag deployed. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated that there were fragments inside the rear of the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V349000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000. Updated 12/23/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact switched from the right lane to the left lane. The vehicle ran off the road, into a ditch, crashed into the woods, and rolled over. The passenger side of the vehicle faced downward and the driver side faced upward. The air bags had not deployed. A police report was not filed. There were minor injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
Takata recall (Nissan Versa hatchback) airbag light will not turn off in car. This relates to vehicle safety for any passenger in front seat of car in case of an accident. Have had to replace sensors and catalytic converter once and have been told recently I need the major catalytic converter replaced again. Sometimes an unusual smell comes from engine when I start car.
Today was in an accident, car slid and rolled multiple times. The car is completely totaled and I was informed that 100% air bags should have deployed but they did not. Checked for recalls and there is recalls for this vehicle for airbags but my VIN does not match the database.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Show 1 more recall
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
Airbag complaints in other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA has 171 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Nissan Versa, 45% of the model year's 381 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Nissan Versa airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-008 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2020); NHTSA recall 18V-452 (inflator module, Jul 6, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-449 (inflator module, Jul 17, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Versa airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 14 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.