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The 2008 Nissan Versa has 6 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 381 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2008 Nissan Versa has 381 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 160 complaints, typically surfacing around 83,625 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Versa | 354 | 9 |
| 2008 Versa (this page) | 381 | 8 |
| 2009 Versa | 503 | 8 |
| 2010 Versa | 267 | 8 |
| 2011 Versa | 268 | 7 |
Significant reliability concerns on file. Read the trouble spots before buying.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged critical on this model , showing up around 83,625 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 8 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 3.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Nissan versa. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v349000 (air bags); however the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…
Approximately one year before having the car part repaired, I noticed that when I turned the steering wheel hard to the left to make a tight turn I heard a creaking noise. I was not sure what it was and mentioned it to my mechanic when I brought the car in for an oil change.…
Tried starting the car; engine would not turn over. Was stranded in a parking lot close to my mechanic's shop and called him. Mechanic sent his assistant to the parking lot where I was and he tried to get the car to turn over. He said he thought the engine was not getting…
Weld between the muffler pipe and flange failed. It wasn't a hole that rusted out but a clean failure at the weld. *tr
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
If an inflator were to explode it may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 3.2 out of 10 based on 381 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Nissan Versa has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2008 Nissan Versa is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Reliability score 3.2/10 — below the segment average; 8 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 160 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 83,625 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 3.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 381 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 83,625 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 160 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 83,625 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 83,625 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 381 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.