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).
The contact owned a 2015 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 70 MPH, a deer ran head-on into the vehicle and crashed through the windshield. The contact stated that the deer's antlers were stuck inside the vehicle as the deer frantically tried to escape the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver and passenger side air failed to deploy upon impact. The contact also stated that only the driver-side curtain air bag deployed. The steering wheel had locked without warning as her husband was able to stop the vehicle right before hitting two guardrails. The authorities were called to the scene and a police report was filed. The contact and her husband were treated on scene for scrapes and bruises but did not go to the hospital for further evaluation. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it remained in their possession. …
The vehicle engine stalled while driving in motion at approximately 65 miles per hour, and occasionally would stall without warning while waiting at a traffic light stop. The vehicle occasionally would not allow for the key to turn its ignition and would remain locked unpredictably and would require extended amounts of time to lock/unlock via security key fob repeatedly to allow for the key to turn the ignition.
Tl* the contact owned a 2015 Nissan Versa. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, it was struck in the rear and pushed into the rear of a pickup truck. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt retention mechanism failed to operate as intended. The contact was the passenger in the vehicle. The contact sustained injuries to the upper, middle, and lower back, an injury to the left eye, and injuries to the left shoulder and arm. The driver sustained similar injuries and both occupants received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing facility and deemed destroyed. The contact also stated that the insurance company was scheduled to have the vehicle towed to their facility, which was still pending. The contact was unaware if the vehicle was diagnosed or inspected. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. …
While driving home from work a deer ran in front of my vehicle and at 62 MPH on a highway my car collided with a deer. As you will see the damage done to my car the car is a possible totaled vehicle. My concern was my air bags did not deploy on this kind of impact. I was told by Nissan they are not made to deploy upon impact buy only by the deceleration of my car. This does not seem to be accurate to me in the fact that it was over a 200 pound animal and my engine was pushed back into the firewall, lost my breaks in the road, and as you can see there is a lot of damage done to the care. I called Nissan to express my concern of this and they said it is normal and the air bags would have caused more damage to me then the impact. I feel they are blowing off something that could be a safety issue in this car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan Versa. Another vehicle crashed into the rear driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The passenger side seat belt failed to restrain the passenger. A police report was filed. The driver sustained a torn muscle injury on the right shoulder and the passenger sustained a mild concussion. Both occupants required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 15,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2015 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the passenger snatched the steering wheel from the driver's hand which caused the vehicle to crash into a guard rail. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained a fractured nose which required medical attention. The passenger sustained two fractured teeth. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,999.
My daughter was involved in an accident going approximately 30 miles per hour. She and a Chevy silverado were traveling in opposite directions when their traffic signals both turned yellow. Thinking she was going to stop, he pulled out in front of her causing her to t-bone his truck. Though she hit head on, not a single air bag deployed. The impact was enough that her car has been deemed a total loss and she suffered a concussion. She was not wearing a seat belt unfortunately.
Coming to a red light failed to brake and rear ended another vehicle. You think you are going to brake, but since the accelerator pedal is to close to the right side panel of the car , wont let your foot to move it easy and your foot gets stuck to the open cut area of the trim that the Nissan experts attempted to fix the problem under recall, and there were no brake lights on the car and was witnessed....updated 01/25/16
Nissan Versa was struck on driver side front bumper and panel, the windshield and back glass blown out from impact. Driver window shattered, front axle broke, and front window cracked, Versa then flipped on passenger side, where it skid briefly, passenger window shattered, car came to rest and remained on its passenger side. No airbags deployed.
The automobile was hit very hard on the drivers side door. The door caved in almost to the steering wheel. Air bags did not deploy as expected. The automobile was so severely damages that it was declared a total loss. The vehicle was traveling at freeway speed (65 to 70 MPH).
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 2015 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2015 Nissan Versa, 15% of the model year's 168 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2015 Nissan Versa airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2015 Nissan Versa, though it has 1 recall 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 2015 Nissan Versa airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 0 fires and 22 injuries 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.