Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Nissan Versa owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My skid mark symbol comes on, does not go off until 2or 3 days later. My Nissan will not accelerate over 20 miles per hour. I have had mu vehicle checked several times at the Grainger Nissan dealership several times within the past 4 years after they installed a new transmission. They found and corrected other issues, but not what causes the traction lights to come on and decrease speed causing me to have to use flashers and bike lanes where ever available until I get home. Independent mechanics have checked, knocked off traction light. It only comes on again. I have another mechanic at Precision Tune to check it out tomorrow. The last date of this occurrence was 12/ 08/2025
With 68 miles on car, a click sound is always heard each time the air conditioning button is pressed to on position/light and the engine smells hot and gives off a burning smell every single time the car goes over 65 MPH/acceleration from 60 to 65mph or from any other speed/MPH up to 65mph makes the smell of a hot engine. There is no smoking but the air in the car smells at 65mph so I go 60mph to prevent the smell because it makes me very nervous. The car has not lost compression at any speed/climbs hills/but the smell happens when climbing a hill as well as being in motion at any speed or MPH climbing the steep hills of ny. For instance if the speed limit is 30mph at the bottom of a hill and 55mph at the top of the hill, the cars engine will smell hot. No gages or red lights occur to indicate overheating. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan Versa. While driving at low speeds, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle momentarily accelerated independently. The failure occurred on two separate occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. In addition, the contact heard a loud grinding noise when turning the steering wheel left or right. The abnormal noise was more pronounced when making right turns. The vehicle also experienced delayed acceleration and deceleration. Both the dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 65.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan Versa. While driving approximately 80 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The vehicle caught fire. The driver was fatally injured. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage center. The cause of the failure was undetermined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V507000 (service brakes, hydraulic, vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was unknown. ..updated 11/08/17 ..updated 12/11/17
The ABS light and the traction control light continuously illuminate but go on and off during car rides. The car is also making a strange rattling noise under the hood because the idler pulley system is failing. This nose persists while the car is stationary, in motion, and turning on any road condition. The car also is having a jerking motion when trying to accelerate and is slow to pick up speed. The car is hesitating when picking up speed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan Versa. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the contact's shoe occasionally became stuck on a section of plastic trim located near the pedal. When the failure occurred, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration because the driver was not able to immediately release the pedal. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while accelerating to 65 MPH, the vehicle continued to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was slightly released. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan Versa. While driving at any speed, the contact applied the accelerator pedal but the vehicle did not respond. The failure recurred numerous times. The manufacturer informed the contact that she depressed the brake pedal. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23.
I was driving on a highway at night when a car with lights as bright as a football stadium came up behind me. I could no longer see the road in front of me and had to slow down and pull off the road until the car went around me. This was dangerous and could have caused a horrific accident with possible deaths.
Vehicle stalls/hesitates when accelerating if engine is warm. Will restart immediately if stalls, but continued attempts to accelerate result in hesitation or stalling. This has occurred in traffic as well as from a complete stop after being parked, but still warm.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to March 11, 2015.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the console trim panel, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Acceleration complaints in other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2015 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2015 Nissan Versa, 13% of the model year's 168 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Nissan Versa acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-507 (accelerator pedal, Aug 12, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Nissan Versa acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 33,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury and 1 death to speed control & acceleration 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.