Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
My friend had my vehicle. She had just made it home from work. She lives less than 10 minutes from her job. She said when she made it home she went into the apartment to change into a bathing suit and someone knocked on the door saying that there is a little black car smoking. She went outside and flames were coming out of the engine compartment. They all called 911. The firefighters put out the fire and they told her that it is a motor malfunction because it was parked and with no sort of overheating issue. Updated 09/15/15 updated 11/22/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa. The contact took the vehicle to russ darrow Nissan of milwaukee (11212 w metro auto mall, milwaukee, wi 53224, [phone]) to have it repaired per an unknown recall. After the repair, an unknown service indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brakes and possibly the air bags failed. The dealer kept the vehicle for a month and provided a loaner vehicle. The vehicle was repaired again, but had trouble accelerating over 30 MPH while traveling on the highway. The speedometer gauge increased to over 80 MPH. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer two other times, but no failures were found with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,401.
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 situation. I immediately dropped the hood and ran to safety to call 911. My vehicle was properly maintained by downtown nashville Nissan dealership. I reported this incident to them and to Nissan north America, neither of which will take any responsibility. This is a serious situation. There should have been no reason for my vehicle to have burst into flames while driving it.
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 surface. I took it to a few different places and could not reproduce the problem at the time. While driving with a more experienced mechanic he was able to determine the sound to be isolated to the right strut and the left inner tie rod. He said that the struts are usually only replaced once in a cars lifetime so I am wondering why it needs to be replaced so soon. I am writing the complaint because I think this has been an issue all along. The car needs an abnormal amount of realignments and brake replacements. …
Tl contact owns a 2008 Nissan Versa. While the vehicle was parked she attempted to start the vehicle and it would not start. The contact stated after the second attempt the vehicle started. The failure occurred intermittently and the vehicle normally starts on the second attempt. She also stated that the failure started shortly after it was purchased. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the failure. The dealer advised her that there was nothing wrong with the starter. The contact mentioned the failure to the dealer on every service visit and the dealer never performed a diagnostic test. The contact stated that she scheduled an appointment with the dealer on April 13, 2011. The vehicle was not repaired and the vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty. She contacted the manufacturer and filed a complaint. The failure mileage was 489 and the current mileage was 5,200. …
We had just gone throw the sunpass lane on I-275 n. My wife was driving and she started to push on the gas pedal and the engine die (ten feet out of the toll booth). She tried 3 times to start the car motor and each time it started and then stopped. I jumped out of the car to push the car across 4 lanes of traffic (lucky it was 11:00 pm) and there was not a lot of traffic. We had to have the car towed to our garage. They (hummel tire & auto, reg.#: mv-66432) was told my Nissan (crown) that they knew about this problem and had a new improved A/C compressor (926001u60a,081468/251g. (the dash broad light "ps") we was very lucky that we did not get hit the rear, because we could not move. I had my wife, mother(83), and myself (58). Nissan should have a recall on this part, before anyone dies. The dash broad light "ps" electric power steering systems.
Car completely died out and shut down in the middle of a major intersection at 35 miles per hour. On August 20 / 2008 the car repeated the same failure in traffic at 45 miles per hour. When started the vehicle it wants to choke up and stall, at least 20 times since the purchase of the vehicle on feb. 18 / 2008. I am terrified to drive the vehicle that I paid cash for now. The dealership of purchase are saying that they cant find the source of the problem and that they are no longer willing to correct these serious failures and issue. They are demanding that I pick up the vehicle and have not returned any of my calls. They have also denied me a loaner vehicle and I have been without my vehicle for almost 2 weeks now. I am seeking legal representation to this matter and have become very discouraged.
Have had my Nissan Versa since 2009, got it with 50 miles on the car. Spent 2 years in florida with it without a problem and in the past year I've had so many issues with this car I'll never buy another Nissan again. Have replaced all of the tires twice and today I was a mile from my home when my car had issues accelerating and starting making a loud rattling noise. I've come to find out that my muffler has broken at the flange. Apparently this is common with these nissans and nothing has been done to change it. This can cause carbon monoxide poisoning god forbid someone parks this car in their garage and could also cause an accident if the entire muffler rusts and falls out of someones car while their on the highway.
My husband and I was driving the highway and our 2008 Nissan Versa lost power. When we pulled over, my husband lifted the hood and found the dipstick had came out and oil was all over the engine. Our car was towed to a local dealership. The next after Nissan north America would not fix our car claiming it was our fault . We only had our car for 8 months and we brought it brand new! We had many heated arguments with the dealership and Nissan north America. Then after 23 days after then they called me wanting to put a new engine in our car . I refused because I wanted a refund because we had to buy a 30 year old truck to get back and forth from work.
This car is a 2008. Kept in fantastic condition. The muffler randomly broke off of the car. There is no rust on the underside of the car. The few months it was driven in the north it was washed free of any salt. After researching this it seems to be an ongoing problem with this make and model of car. It was a clean break. Hopefully can be welded back together, but this break is certainly due to the cheap material it is made out of. Nissan should recall these parts. This is affecting alot of Nissan Versa owners around the same exact mileage frame.
Engine complaints in other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2008 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2008 Nissan Versa, 7% of the model year's 381 complaints. The component named most often is engine (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Nissan Versa engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2008 Nissan Versa, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Versa engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling 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.