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 2011 Nissan Versa owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V401000 (Air Bags) and 17V449000 (Air Bags); however, the dealer refused to complete the recall repairs. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that before entering the vehicle, she became aware that the driver's side air bag had deployed without impact. The contact stated that the vehicle was not involved in a crash. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer; however, the dealer refused to complete the recall repair because the driver's side air bag had deployed. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the coils needed to be replaced. The air bags and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the coils needed to be replaced. The contact repaired the vehicle himself. The driver's side air bag was repaired however, the passenger's side air bag was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,200.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the side curtain air bags deployed inadvertently without warning. The contact was not injured. The contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
I was working for Uber Eats in New Smyrna Beach, FL. The car was front parked and I reversed the car to pull out from the parking lot. I drove at 5 MPH on the parking lot ready to drive to the main road. The main road was two stop signs away. I was halfway to the first stop sign the airbag deployed all of a sudden. There was no car in front of me or behind me. But the airbag impact blew my right arm from the wrist. My right arm was numb and upper right shoulder was bruised.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Versa. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V349000 (Air Bags) and 17V449000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
upon startup, light illuminates for DRIVER/PASSENGER AIR BAGS OFF. This light intermittently shuts off during driving which tells me something is wrong or not stable with the air bag system even though this VIN has no unrepaired recalls.
Nissan vehicle was on a main city road in motion and then slowing down to traffics change in speed when rear ended. As soon as vehicle was rear ended, brakes were pressed to prevent further collisions with vehicles up forward. My vehicle seatbelts failed to restrain driver and all passengers wearing them during a collision. Seat belts didn't retract unless brakes were slammed. Two passengers in the back were children. One child had a convertible car seat, saving them and fully restraining them to seat. The second child was in a booster seat and whiplashed completely forward and back nearly hitting head behind drivers seat. The driver locked their arms in place to prevent hitting the steering wheel. The front passenger, myself, hit the area of the glove compartment and suffered a small but deep gash on the forehead. This required sutures to close womb up. …
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 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.
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 2011 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA has 152 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Nissan Versa, 57% of the model year's 269 complaints. The component named most often is side/window › curtain (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Nissan Versa airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-008 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2020); NHTSA recall 18V-401 (inflator module, Jun 15, 2018); NHTSA recall 18V-044 (inflator module, Jan 10, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Nissan Versa airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 2 fires and 18 injuries and 1 death 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.