DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Nissan Versa fuel system problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,200 · see fuel system across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer personnel aware that we are re-notifying customers at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. This bulletin has been amended. Changes have been made throughout. It is necessary for you to read this revised procedure to properly perform this action. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin applies to Titan XD vehicles with a gas engine. This bulletin has been amended. Changes have been made throughout. It is necessary for you to read this revised procedure to properly perform this action. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; FUEL TANK IS SLOW OR DIFFICULT TO FILL IF YOU CONFIRM The fuel tank is slow or difficult to fill (filling nozzle shuts off before tank is full). IMPORTANT: Make sure this incident has been duplicated at a gas station by dealer service staff. ACTION Perform the Service Procedure in this bulletin, starting on the next page.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2009 Nissan Versa report multiple fuel system failures. Fuel pump failure is the most common complaint—engines quit without warning during highway driving at speeds from 35 to 65 mph, sometimes as early as 32,000 miles. One owner at 40,000 miles barely made it across a guard rail; another nearly caused an accident during a lane merge when the car lost power. A third owner at 120,000 miles had both the fuel pump and connector fail simultaneously.
A/F sensor faults triggering P2A00 code are persistent and unresolvable. One owner replaced the sensor three times, the O2 sensor twice, and had the ECM reprogrammed three times over eighteen months—the fault code kept returning. Nissan offered no alternative diagnosis.
Intermittent power loss and hard starting are reported as recurring issues, with one owner replacing a fuel pump regulator after startup problems returned a year into ownership. Fuel gauge failure is also widespread; one owner found seven pages of identical complaints online, but Nissan denied responsibility.
Several owners note seeing these complaints repeated online and were told by independent mechanics that fuel pump failures "happen often" on this model. One owner stated all 2009 Versas have the problem and no recall was issued.
Same Nissan Versa fuel system reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
A/F (Air/Fuel) Sensor Failures
Service Engine Soon light triggered repeatedly by P2A00 code (A/F Sensor Failed). One owner replaced the sensor three times and the O2 sensor twice, with ECM reprogramming at least three times between November 2011 and June 2013, yet the fault code returned after each repair.
When: First reported November 2011; recurrent through June 2013
Symptoms owners cite: Service Engine Soon (SES) light illumination; SES light returns after repairs; Speed-independent fault occurrence
Codes mentioned: P2A00
Repairs/costs cited: Front A/F sensor replaced (3 times); O2 sensor replaced (2 times); ECM reprogrammed (3 times); fuel pump replaced (May 2013)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership performed repairs but offered no alternative diagnosis or solution after pattern emerged
Fuel Pump Failures
Complete fuel pump failure causing loss of engine power and stalling while driving. Owners report this as a known problem in 2009 Versa forums. Failures occurred across various mileages (32,000 to 120,000 miles). One owner at 40,000 miles experienced sudden engine shutdown on highway at 65 mph; another at 35 mph; another reported startup issues resolved by fuel pump regulator replacement.
When: Approximately 32,000 to 120,000 miles; startup issues can occur early (within first year of ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalling without warning while driving; Inability to restart after stall; Loss of acceleration on highway; Fuel pump dead; Intermittent startup delays; Insufficient fuel pressure for starting
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump assembly replaced; fuel pump regulator replaced; fuel connector also failed in one case (120k miles) and was on backorder
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged fuel connector backorder but did not proactively recall or address pattern
Fuel Gauge Inoperative
Fuel gauge completely stopped functioning. Owner reports finding 7 pages of identical complaints online, indicating widespread issue. Nissan denied responsibility.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge completely non-functional
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan stated this is not their problem
Intermittent Loss of Power/Acceleration
Vehicle experiences sudden loss of power or refusal to accelerate during driving, intermittent and difficult to replicate. One incident nearly caused highway accident during lane merge when car barely moved. Dealer unable to replicate and refused service.
When: Intermittent; at least once weekly in reported case
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration; Car will not respond to throttle; Intermittent nature makes diagnosis difficult; Safety hazard during highway merging
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer charged diagnostic fee but found nothing; no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer refused to perform repairs without ability to replicate fault
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had fuel system trouble with your 2009 Nissan Versa?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the fuel system problem on the 2009 Nissan Versa?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most fuel system failures cluster between 8,091 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 30,516. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,091; a quarter make it past 40,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Nissan/Versa.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.