Most common 2016 Nissan Versa problems
Share of the 81 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 Nissan Versa:
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 2016 Nissan Versa owners say
Air bags all 21 →
A while ago my airbag light began flashing, we reset it a few times and it would come back after a week or two sometimes longer, either a flashing or solid light, it felt almost random. No codes came up when we had it ran, and then we took it to the dealership for inspection. It is the back of my driver seat, the airbag for the driver side back seat. I don't know what the qualified number of complaints is, but please at least look into this. The most complaints this car has is something to do with the airbags. I've also had a similar ac/belt problem that was mentioned by the guy from Texas. He said the ac compressor caused a belt failure, mine was the other way around, my belt was squeaking for a while, had it replaced- month later my ac compressor gave out due to the belt operating at full capacity for the first time in a long time. It is available for further inspection. …
0 The vehicle has a CVT transmission failure causing severe shuddering, jerking, and progressive loss of acceleration. Initially the vehicle would not exceed 20 mph, then worsened to 15 mph, then 10 mph, and now will not exceed 5 mph. The issue consistently occurs after the vehicle has been driven for more than approximately 2 minutes. There are no warning lights or alerts prior to the failure. The vehicle has completely lost power while driving and has stopped in the middle of the road with no ability to accelerate or restart the vehicle, creating an extremely dangerous situation and risk of collision. This appears to be a known and common defect with the CVT transmission on this vehicle model and year. The condition has progressively worsened and makes the vehicle unsafe to operate.
Transmission & drivetrain all 20 →
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive back to the residence, where the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the CVT transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered because the vehicle was not previously serviced at the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost motive power, and started jerking while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the RPM needled was fluctuating erratically. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the contact approached oncoming traffic and depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle continued to surge forward without warning. The contact deactivated the cruise control; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to pull off to the shoulder of the highway and placed the vehicle in park(P) while the RPM's continued to surge. Upon restart of the vehicle, the RPMs became extremely elevated, and the contact immediately shut off the vehicle. The contact opened the hood and reset the throttle sensor; the contact then restarted the vehicle and drove the vehicle home without further issues. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 176,000.
"Leaking injectors causing cylinder wall wash, resulting in low compression." Per Nissan of Chattanooga East. Stated they have seen this before and can be a "common" malfunction. Puts others and self at risk of catastrophic engine malfunction and fuel injector malfunction. Car fire, an engine explosion, or simply breaking down in the middle of the interstate, "Repair" occurred and sent home, 2 times. Subsequent followup revealed critical malfunction and requirement to replace engine and necessary components.
2016 Nissan Versa engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 31 / 39 / 34 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 36 / 30 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 35 / 29 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Nissan Versa a good car?
Based on 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Versa rates better than average: 67% fewer complaints than 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 2016 Nissan Versa?
The air bags — 21 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (20) and engine & cooling (10).
How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Versa have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2016 Nissan Versa. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2016 Nissan Versa problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 36,000 miles; 62% 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.