The best and worst Nissan Versa years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Nissan Versas old enough to judge (2006–2022), the 2006, 2017, 2019 and 2021 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2007–2009 and 2012 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2007 Nissan Versa · 38.1 per 10,000 sold (2.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 72,000 miles; then coil and leaf springs.
2008 Nissan Versa · 40.1 per 10,000 sold (2.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 74,000 miles; then coil and leaf springs.
2009 Nissan Versa · 59.0 per 10,000 sold (4.0× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 88,000 miles; then coil and leaf springs.
2012 Nissan Versa · 39.0 per 10,000 sold (2.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 41,500 miles; then harsh, delayed or erratic shifting.
Years with the fewest complaints
2006 Nissan Versa · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
2017 Nissan Versa · 5.8 per 10,000 sold (0.4× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 6,750 miles.
2019 Nissan Versa · 3.6 per 10,000 sold (0.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Body control and other modules, typically around 101,490 miles.
2021 Nissan Versa · 5.1 per 10,000 sold (0.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Harsh, delayed or erratic shifting.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Nissan Versa year: 14.8 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Nissan Versa?
Among Nissan Versas old enough to judge (2006–2022), the 2009 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 59.0, about 4.0× a typical Nissan Versa year. The 2007–2008 and 2012 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Nissan Versa?
The 2006 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Nissan Versas from 2006–2022: 0.0, against 14.8 for a typical year. The 2017, 2019 and 2021 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2009 Nissan Versa?
The most-reported problem on the 2009 Nissan Versa is airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 88,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Nissan Versa years ranked?
The 2023–2025 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.