Most common 2011 Nissan Versa problems
Share of the 269 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Versa complaints by model year
Best Versa years: 2019, 2017, 2018. Years to avoid: 2024, 2012, 2009, 2008. Compare all years →
2011 Nissan Versa recalls (6)
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 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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
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 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.
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
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,…
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2011 Nissan Versa:
Front Coil Spring Fracture
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…
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.
What 2011 Nissan Versa owners say
Air bags all 152 →
On September 11th, my wife was involved in a car accident while driving her 2011 Nissan Versa. The collision resulted in the vehicle rolling over and ending up upside down. Shockingly, none of the airbags deployed during this serious incident. A family member recommended that I report this to Nissan, which I promptly did. However, their response, received last Friday, was rather concerning. According to Nissan, the airbags were not designed to deploy in the event of a rollover crash, and they suggested there was no further action to be taken on their end. Today, I consulted with an attorney's office regarding this matter, and they advised me to report the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a crucial step. Consequently, I am submitting these details to NHTSA to ensure that this incident is properly documented and investigated. …
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH in a parking lot, the front driver's side air bag unexpectedly deployed without an impact to the vehicle. In addition, the air bag exploded. The contact was unsure if any warning light was illuminated. The contact sustained minor injuries to the right eye and the neck, and an allergic reaction on the face from the powder released from the air bag. The police and the paramedics were called. Afterwards, the contact went to an Urgent Care clinic. The contact's husband drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that back in 2018, she received a recall notice regarding the "Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator ." The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, and the recall repairs were completed. …
Suspension all 46 →
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle hesitated. The contact felt the hesitation coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle as the low tire pressure warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and saw that the front passenger's side tire was completely flat and torn all the way around. The contact called roadside assistance and a spare tire was placed on the vehicle. The contact then drove to a dealer and was informed that the front passenger's side coil spring fractured, which caused the puncture and damage to the tire. The dealer replaced the front driver's and passenger's side coil springs along with the tire. After the repair, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V573000 (Suspension) which he linked to the failure. …
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and going over a pothole, the vehicle began to drift to the left. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued to experience the failure. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the coil springs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.
Steering all 21 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that when making a sharp turn, the steering wheel seized or became loose without warning. The vehicle was taken to two dealers, but the failure could not be duplicated. One dealer recommended that all four tires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. On one occasion, while driving at approximately 60 MPH and merging to the left lane, the steering wheel became loose and suddenly seized. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into five trees. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the right wrist, cervical strains, muscle spasms and the left shoulder was impacted and required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Nissan Versa. While driving 30 MPH, the steering seized and the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. Prior to the failure, the windshield wipers activated, the interior and exterior lighting flashed, and the doors locked and unlocked. The vehicle crashed into a pole. The driver suffered from bruises to the upper chest and burned hands due to the air bag deployment. The passenger sustained bruises to the chest and waist area. Medical attention was received at the scene of the accident. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a repair shop. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 1,100.
2011 Nissan Versa engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 28 / 33 / 30 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 31 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 32 / 28 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 33 / 28 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 31 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Nissan Versa a good car?
Based on 269 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Versa rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Versa at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Versa?
The air bags — 152 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window › curtain. Next are the suspension (46) and steering (21).
How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Versa have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2011 Nissan Versa, the most recent from January 9, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Versa?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2017 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2012, 2009 and 2008. See the full Nissan Versa years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Versa problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.