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2012 Nissan Versa suspension problems

moderate Owners of the 2012 Nissan Versa have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 64,000 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →

Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
2
Avg fix
$900
suspension complaints on the Nissan Versa, by model year
Model yearsuspension complaints
2008 Versa 66
2009 Versa 167
2010 Versa 66
2011 Versa 45
2012 Versa (this page) 24
2013 Versa 4
2014 Versa 6
2015 Versa 6
1crash
What stands out

All 2 active suspension recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 17V637000 October 11, 2017

Nissan North America, Inc

If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. This campaign expands recall 15V573.
severe NHTSA 15V573000 September 14, 2015

Nissan (Nissan North America, Inc

If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on February 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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.

Service Bulletin NTB99-001F Dec 2021

STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB99-001e Feb 2021

STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB12-055g Jan 2020

CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB17-042 Apr 2017

VERSA SEDAN, VERSA NOTE, AND MICRA SQUEAK IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IF YOU CONFIRM Squeak noise coming from the stabilizer bushings (see Figure 1) while driving over bumps at slow speeds, NOTE: To confirm the squeak is coming from the stabilizer bushing, it may be necessary to: a. Disconnect the stabilizer connecting rod from the stabilizer bar ? both sides (see Figure 1). b. Drive the vehicle slowly over bumps to confirm the squeak is eliminated. ACTION Replace both stabilizer bushings. - Refer to the Electronic Service Manual (ESM), section FSU-Front Suspension, for stabilizer bushing replacement. - Stabilizer bushings are listed in the Parts Information.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB00033E Jul 2013

SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

Front coil spring failures dominate this cluster. Owners consistently report both or single front springs fracturing, snapping, or rupturing at mileage between 52,000 and 85,000—often during low-stress events like backing from a parking space, turning the wheel sharply at rest, or simply while parked. Failures produce a loud metallic thump or bang in the front wheel well, followed by clunking when steering, difficulty turning the wheel, or vibration during turns. Several owners describe hearing the spring break in half.

NHTSA recalls 15V573000 (2015) and 17V637000 (2017) directly address front coil spring corrosion and fracture in 2012 Versa hatchbacks, particularly in salt-belt states. However, many owners report their VINs fall outside the recall despite manufacturing dates at or near the cutoff—one car built November 23, 2012, just 11 days after the November 11 cutoff. These owners faced repair bills of $750–$913 and Nissan denials of reimbursement, either because repairs happened at independent shops or because the VIN was deemed ineligible.

One owner reported recall repair (15V573000) failed to eliminate a popping noise; the dealer tightened an underbody plastic cover but noise persisted. A separate complaint noted unusual wheel bearing looseness at 80,000 miles. Suspension squeaking over bumps was also reported, sometimes in conjunction with spring noise.

Same Nissan Versa suspension reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011

Failure modes owners describe

Front Coil Spring Fracture/Rupture

Both or single front coil springs break, snap, or rupture without impact or obvious cause. Owners report failures at very low mileage (52,000 to 85,000 miles) and often after minor maneuvers like parking, turning, or backing up. Road salt corrosion is cited as a potential factor by owners in snow-belt states. Multiple owners note the issue is covered under NHTSA recalls 15V573000 and 17V637000, yet their VINs are excluded despite manufacturing dates within or near the recall window.

When: 52,000 to 85,000 miles; failures occur during low-speed maneuvers (parking, turning) or while stationary

Symptoms owners cite: Loud metallic thump or bang noise from front wheel well; Clunking noise when turning steering wheel fully (either direction); Clunking/jerking noise when slowing down; Popping noise from front of vehicle; Squeaking noise over bumps or speed bumps; Difficulty steering after failure; Vehicle vibration when turning after failure; Spring may break in half into two visible pieces

Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of both front coil springs and sometimes strut replacement required; repairs cited at $749–$913.54. Some owners report Nissan dealers refused repair because vehicle was not purchased in their state. Parts sourcing delays reported—Nissan Canada cited supplier manufacturing problem in Japan with nearly 10-week wait.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall 15V573000 (issued 2015) and expanded recall 17V637000 (2017) for front coil spring corrosion/fracture. Many owners report their VINs are not covered despite manufacturing dates close to or within recall window; Nissan has denied reimbursement for out-of-dealership repairs and denied requests for even partial reimbursement.

Suspension Noise (Non-Spring-Related)

Abnormal popping or creaking noise from suspension components. One case reports noise persisting after recall repair (campaign 15V573000), traced to a loose protective plastic underbody cover, but tightening to spec did not fully resolve the issue.

When: Around 57,000 miles; after recall repair attempt

Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise from front passenger side at various speeds; Creaking/squeaking when going over bumps or uneven road

Repairs/costs cited: Protective plastic underbody cover torqued to specifications; noise persisted after correction.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No documented manufacturer response for non-coil-spring suspension noise issues.

Wheel Bearing Looseness

Owner reports wheel bearing with loose play or play at 80,000 miles. Described as unusual early failure for a steel part on a small, light vehicle.

When: 80,000 miles at November inspection

Symptoms owners cite: Wheel bearing loose or excessive play detected during inspection

Repairs/costs cited: Owner did not provide repair cost; issue noted during inspection only.

Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 0 most recent

Had suspension trouble with your 2012 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 suspension problem on the 2012 Nissan Versa?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?

Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 51,500 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 64,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,500; a quarter make it past 80,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?

Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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/2012/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.
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