NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 7 recalls, 268 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 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 2011 Nissan Versa received a two-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. In frontal crash testing, it earned three stars. Side crash protection was rated at two stars, while the side pole test also resulted in a two-star rating. Rollover resistance performed better with a four-star rating. NHTSA applies this rating across model years until a vehicle redesign occurs, so these results represent the safety performance for this generation Versa.
2/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Airbag complaints dominate the 2011 Nissan Versa's owner reports by a wide margin, with airbag-related issues accounting for roughly half of all complaints filed. Owners consistently describe airbags deploying without any collision or impact, often at low speeds in parking lots or during routine maneuvers, and several reports describe the inflator rupturing during deployment. Suspension draws the second-highest complaint volume, with owners reporting front coil spring failures, typically describing the spring breaking suddenly while driving and causing the front end to drop, making the vehicle difficult to steer or control. A smaller cluster of steering complaints rounds out the pattern. Isolated reports mention door lock actuator failures and brake caliper seizure, but those appear in only a handful of accounts and don't represent a recurring theme the way the airbag and suspension issues do. The coil spring failures often occur without prior warning signs, with no noise or handling change noted before the break.
268
Total Complaints
19
Crash-Related
6
Fire-Related
15
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Nissan Versa has 7 recalls, the most serious being multiple Takata airbag inflator defects affecting both the driver and passenger frontal airbags, where the inflators can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
All six airbag recalls stem from the same class of Takata inflator defect. Both the driver-side and passenger-side frontal airbags are affected: the inflators can degrade over time, particularly in vehicles exposed to high heat and humidity, and rupture violently when the airbag deploys. Rather than inflating normally, a ruptured inflator can scatter sharp metal fragments toward the driver and passengers. Some of these recalls are specifically scoped to vehicles registered in high-humidity states and territories, including Florida, Texas, Hawaii, and several U.S. territories, where the risk is elevated due to climate conditions, while others apply more broadly regardless of registration history. Prior repair attempts through earlier campaigns did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why multiple separate filings exist for what is ultimately the same hazard.
The remaining recall covers the front coil springs, which can fracture and make contact with the tire. If a broken spring punctures the tire, the resulting sudden loss of air pressure raises the risk of a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
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 →
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
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.