NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
Certain replacement air bag inflators may explode because the propellant inside degrades after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
This page covers 9 recalls, 267 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Nissan Versa.
27–30 mpg combined
7.8–8.7 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2010 Nissan Versa centers on the airbag system, which accounts by far for the largest share of owner reports. Owners most commonly describe the airbag warning light staying illuminated, with some reporting the issue persisting or returning even after dealership service. Suspension complaints are the second most common, with owners frequently describing popping, creaking, and clunking noises when turning at low speeds, sometimes accompanied by visible wear or failure of struts, springs, and mounts, often on the front passenger side. Electrical system complaints appear at a much lower volume and cover a scattered range of symptoms without a single dominant pattern. A smaller number of owners also report fuel pump failures, typically describing the engine cutting out without warning while driving at highway speeds.
267
Total Complaints
19
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
6
With Injuries
By System
The 2010 Nissan Versa has 9 recalls, the most serious being a widespread airbag inflator defect on both the driver and passenger sides where the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
All but one of these recalls trace back to the same core problem: the frontal airbag inflators, on both sides of the vehicle, can degrade over time and explode with excessive force, scattering sharp metal fragments toward the driver and passengers. This covers both original factory-installed inflators and replacement inflators that may have been installed during a prior theft or collision repair. Some filings are focused on vehicles in high-humidity regions like Florida, Hawaii, Texas, and Gulf Coast states, where heat and moisture accelerate the propellant breakdown, but the underlying danger is the same across all of them.
The remaining recall involves the front coil springs, which can fracture and contact the tire. If that contact punctures the tire, it raises the risk of losing control of the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
Certain replacement air bag inflators may explode because the propellant inside degrades after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will inspect the inflators and replace them if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant breakdown after exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bags with new desiccated inflators at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Heat and humidity can degrade the chemical propellant in the passenger front airbag over time. This may cause the airbag to deploy with excessive force, potentially creating fragments that could injure occupants or damage the airbag assembly.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the passenger front airbag inflator.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator can explode during a crash because the propellant degrades after prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may rupture. This happens because the propellant inside degrades over time when exposed to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with a new one from a different supplier at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflators may rupture during a crash because the propellant inside degrades after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture after prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes, caused by propellant degradation.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt can corrode the front coil springs, which may crack or break.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front coil springs at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
