CAN COMMUNICATION â NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Nissan Versa engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Nissan Versa have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 53,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Versa | 6 |
| 2012 Versa | 22 |
| 2013 Versa | 10 |
| 2014 Versa | 24 |
| 2015 Versa (this page) | 12 |
| 2016 Versa | 5 |
| 2017 Versa | 3 |
| 2018 Versa | 3 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗MIL ON WITH P0603 STORED FOR ECM BACK UP CIRCUIT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on page 3. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT apply to LEAF vehicles and Titan XD vehicles with V8 diesel engine. This bulletin has been amended. See Amendment History on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2015 Nissan Versas report recurrent engine stalling without warning at highway and city speeds, often with no diagnostic codes available when dealerships scan the vehicle. The stalls occur from as low as 2,000 miles through 67,000+ miles and sometimes force owners to restart the engine manually or turn it off and back on to resume driving.
Parallel complaints describe throttle lag—pressing the gas pedal produces no immediate response; drivers must release and reapply to get the engine to engage. One owner spent over $600 replacing a motor mount after dealer misdirection, with no improvement.
At traffic lights and stops, owners report the engine vibrates heavily when in Drive—with RPMs fluctuating wildly or dropping below 600—while running smoothly and quietly in Park. This rough idle sometimes precedes severe sputtering and knocking that nearly stalls the engine. One stalling case tied specifically to applying the brakes. Another owner reported overheating with stall at 43,000 miles.
A separate owner reports a metallic pinging noise during acceleration that persists despite spark plug replacement and premium fuel, with the dealer unable or unwilling to reproduce it. One complaint mentions exhaust odor in the cabin when ventilation is on.
Across these cases, dealers largely fail to locate diagnostic codes, leaving repairs unfinished and owners unsafe.
Same Nissan Versa engine reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling while driving
Engine shuts down without warning at various speeds (35–60 mph, city streets, freeways). Vehicle must be restarted; some owners report repeated occurrences. Dealers unable to locate diagnostic codes in most cases.
When: 27,000 to 67,320 miles; also reported at lower mileage (2,000 miles in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies without warning while driving at various speeds; No check engine light in most cases; one report of illuminated instrument panel and check engine light; Vehicle must be restarted manually; Occurs repeatedly for some owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealerships unable to locate failure codes in multiple cases; one owner informed warranty expired; manufacturer not notified in several cases
No throttle response / delayed acceleration
Pressing gas pedal produces no immediate engine response. Owner must release pedal, wait seconds, then reapply for vehicle to move. Dealer initially denied problem existed.
When: Intermittent; multiple occurrences since ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal unresponsive when pressed fully; Requires releasing and reapplying throttle to engage drive; Creates stranded-vehicle safety risk
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealership initially denied issue; later blamed aftermarket motor mount (owner replaced with genuine Nissan part for over $600—did not resolve)
Rough idle and vibration in Drive
Vehicle vibrates heavily when stopped in Drive but runs smoothly in Park. RPMs drop below 600 and spike erratically when brakes applied at traffic lights. Replaced motor mount without fix.
When: Occurs consistently when vehicle placed in Drive at stop lights
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibration when in Drive at red lights; RPMs fluctuate between 1–2 thousand or drop below 600; Engine runs smoothly in Park with normal RPMs; Vibration linked to subsequent stalling and sputtering episodes
Repairs/costs cited: Genuine Nissan motor mount replaced; $600+ cost; did not resolve vibration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed aftermarket motor mount (incorrect diagnosis)
Engine sputtering and near-stall
Engine knocks and sputters severely, nearly shuts off at red lights and when pulling from parking lots. Occurs after rough idle episodes.
When: Red lights, pulling from parking lots, city driving
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking and sputtering sound; Engine nearly stalls but does not fully shut down in most cases; Typically follows rough idle and vibration symptoms
Stalling when engaging brakes
Engine stalls specifically when driver applies brake pedal. Check engine light illuminates after stall. Occurred at very low mileage; dealer unable to reproduce failure code.
When: 2,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while brakes engaged; Check engine light illuminates after stall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to produce failure code; manufacturer notified
Engine overheating and stalling
Engine overheated, check engine light illuminated, and vehicle stalled. Vehicle towed home; dealer and manufacturer not notified.
When: 43,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheated; Check engine light illuminated; Engine stalled
Pinging noise on acceleration
Metallic pinging sound (like spray-can ball) when accelerating. Persists after spark plug replacement and switching to premium fuel. Dealer claimed unable to hear noise.
When: Intermittent; reported 4+ months of occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Pinging/knocking noise during acceleration; Noise present despite plug change and premium fuel use
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs replaced; premium fuel used—no resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied hearing noise
Exhaust fumes in cabin via ventilation
Strong exhaust odor enters cabin when fresh-air ventilation fan is on (without A/C). Single report; no diagnosis provided.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Exhaust smell in cabin when interior ventilation fan activated
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2015 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 engine problem on the 2015 Nissan Versa?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 28,000 and 59,793 miles, with the median around 53,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,000; a quarter make it past 59,793. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2015/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.