nissan Versa problems
0 safety recalls. 79 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 7 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
BOUGHT THE 2016 VEHICLE OCTOBER 15, 2015. RIGHT AWAY NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT NOT MOVING SMOOTHLY FROM GEAR TO GEAR. THE BRAKES GROANING/WHINING AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LOOSENING. CAR DRIFTING/PULLING RIGHT ON HIGHWAYS AND LEFT ON STREETS. RATTLING FROM…
The vehicle has a CVT transmission failure causing severe shuddering, jerking, and progressive loss of acceleration. Initially the vehicle would not exceed 20 mph, then worsened to 15 mph, then 10 mph, and now will not exceed 5 mph. The issue consistently occurs after the…
WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED OUT. RE STARTED IT THEN IT WAS SLUGGISH AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AGAIN I FELT A QUICK THUNK LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. FINALLY GOT IT HOME WHEN PUT IT ON CODE READER IT…
I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND IN A CRASH AND WAS KNOCKED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SUFFERED MILD HEAD INJURY. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INJURY COULD HAVE BEEN WORST. *JB
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2016 Nissan Versa reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 79 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Nissan Versa is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Nissan Versa?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 17 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Nissan Versa has open recalls?
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.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Nissan Versa?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 79 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, 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 aren't always better value.