NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 13 recalls, 485 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Nissan Versa.
27–33 mpg combined
7.1–8.7 L/100km
Compact 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.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2012 Nissan Versa draws the most complaints around two systems: airbags and the powertrain. The airbag complaints account for the largest share of reports, with owners describing unexpected warning lights, non-deployment concerns, and sensor-related issues. The powertrain is the second most-reported area, and the CVT is the clear focal point, owners frequently describe shuddering, surging between high and low RPMs, and transmission warning lights illuminating, often at relatively low mileage. Several owners report the CVT struggling to maintain speed on inclines or failing to hold a consistent gear on the highway. A smaller but notable cluster of engine complaints includes reports of heat buildup on the driver's side floor, with some owners describing burned carpet and exposed metal beneath it.
485
Total Complaints
40
Crash-Related
6
Fire-Related
24
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Nissan Versa has 13 recalls, the most serious being airbag inflator defects on both the driver and passenger sides where the inflators can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, risking serious injury or death.
The airbag concerns extend further: side curtain and seat-mounted airbags can deploy unexpectedly when a door is slammed hard, because the side impact sensor connector pins can degrade and trigger a false deployment signal. Two separate recalls address a related issue where a faulty connection at the side airbag sensor can lower the impact threshold needed to fire the side airbags.
On the powertrain side, the automatic transmission shifter can be moved out of park without pressing the brake pedal, allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly. There is also a trim panel edge near the center console that can catch a driver's shoe and slow the transition from accelerator to brake.
The front coil springs on certain vehicles, particularly those registered in colder northern states, can crack and fracture, with the broken spring potentially contacting and puncturing a tire. Some of these coil spring recalls overlap in scope, with prior repair attempts not fully resolving the issue across all affected vehicles. An accelerator pedal recall affecting sedan models rounds out the list, where a delay in pedal response increases stopping distance.
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 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
Front suspension coil springs may have inadequate protective coating or low internal stress, allowing cracks to form where coils contact during compression. This makes springs prone to corrosion and potential breakage, which can damage tires and cause rapid air loss.
What the fix does
Both front coil springs will be replaced by a dealer.
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 cause them to break.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front coil springs at no cost.
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
A loose connection at the side airbag sensor can interrupt signal delivery to the airbag control unit. This triggers a backup mode that lowers the threshold for airbag firing, potentially causing unintended deployment when a door closes forcefully.
What the fix does
The dealer will install a jumper harness and replace the side airbag sensor with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connector pins for the side impact sensor can degrade, potentially causing the curtain and seat-mounted airbags to deploy unexpectedly when a door is slammed.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new jumper harness and replace the side impact satellite sensors 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
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.
At a glance
What can fail
The center console trim panel may catch the driver's shoe, delaying movement from the accelerator to the brake pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the console trim panel at no cost to correct the catching issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The edge of the center console lower trim panel can contact the driver's foot, interfering with smooth accelerator pedal operation and potentially catching the driver's shoe, which may delay shifting from accelerator to brake.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the lower trim panel to eliminate the contact point.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The shifter rod and shift knob can interfere with each other, allowing the vehicle to shift out of Park without pressing the brake pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the shifter knob or shifter assembly as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The automatic transmission shifter knob can bind, letting you move the shifter without pressing the brake pedal or shift button. This could cause unintended vehicle movement and increase crash risk.
What the fix does
The dealer will inspect and replace the shifter knob or entire shifter assembly if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
