2009 Nissan Versa Brakes Problems

EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF STEEL BRAKE LINES ON REAR BEAM AXLE CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF BRAKES

NHTSA ID

11120866

Incident

Aug 18, 2018

Mileage

99,005 mi

DRIVING ALONG, HEARD A LOUD POP AS I TURNED ONTO A MAJOR ROADWAY. THE CAR WAS PULLING VERY BADLY TO THE LEFT SIDE AND COULD BARELY STOP THE VEHICLE. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME AND THE STRUTS REPLACED ON THE CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND VERY COSTLY ISSUE. I WAS QUOTED $930 TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. NOT A HAPPY NISSAN OWNER.

NHTSA ID

10723972

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

142,819 mi

THE COIL SPRING BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR RIPPING INTO THE TIRE, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CAR'S STEERING WAS IMMEDIATELY AFFECTED AND SO WERE THE BRAKES, SINCE THE BROKEN SPRING RIPPED THE BRAKE LINE. I BROKE DOWN IN AN UNDERPASS AND HAD TO CALL THE POLICE SINCE WE WERE PLACED IN A DANGEROUS SPOT WITH CARS SPEEDING BY. I DID NOT EXPECT THIS FOR A CAR THAT IS 6 YEARS OLD! FROM WHAT I HAVE READ SO FAR THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT PROBLEM WITH NISSAN VERSUS AND IT SEEMS THAT THE DEALERS ARE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680740

Incident

Jan 30, 2015

Mileage

64,000 mi

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY HALF A THROTTLE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED 2 OTHER TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. EACH INCIDENT WAS ABOUT A WEEK APART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630829

Incident

Aug 28, 2013

Mileage

134,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE HIGHWAY IN A RAINY MORNING AND SAW THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME PUTTING ON BRAKES. I PUT ON THE BRAKES (PRETTY HARD BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH, 70%). INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT LANE, THEN SWIRLED BACK TO THE MIDDLE LINE AND TO LEFT LINE, AND SPUN INTO A "8" SHAPE FACING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND SPUN ACROSS THE RIGHT LINE AND THREW ITSELF IN THE DITCH. I WENT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT THE CAR. WHAT EXPLAINED TO ME IS THAT NISSAN HAVE DRUM BRAKES, AND IN THIS CAUSE, DRUM BRAKES DID NOT HELD THE WHEEL IN THE RAIN. THE FRONT BRAKE STOPPED, BUT DRUM BRAKES FOR BACK WHEELS ARE NOT WORKING, AND THAT CAUSED CAR SPINNING. TO SUM UP, THE BRAKE WORKS FINE WHEN WEATHER IS GOOD, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT SHOWS UP IN RAINY OR ICY DAYS. DRUM BRAKES DID NOT WORK IN THOSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES AND THE SALESMAN DID NOT TOLD ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492120

Incident

Jan 9, 2013

Mileage

62,950 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ENTERING THE RIGHT LANE THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN ORDER TO CENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE CHANGE IN STEERING AND CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IT CRASHED. DURING THE FAILURE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT WHERE THEY DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10382766

Incident

Feb 10, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

NISSAN VERSA HATCHBACK 2009, THE BRAKES SQUEAK VERY LOUDLY WHENEVER THE CAR IS WARM. I HAVE TAKEN TO BE REPAIR 5 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370742

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

3,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,761.

NHTSA ID

10322271

Incident

Mar 26, 2010

Mileage

9,761 mi

1ST INCIDENT) I WAS DRIVING ON ICE. I WAS GOING AROUND 40 MPH AND I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN ABOUT 100 YDS FROM THE INTERSECTION IN RURAL INDIANA NEAR WARSAW, I APPLIED A NORMAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL(ABS KICKED IN) AND THE VERSA WASN'T SLOWING DOWN LIKE IT SHOULD; I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE AND STILL NO SIGNIFICANT DROP IN SPEED. I TOOK ME THE FULL 100 YDS TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND I WENT PAST THE STOP SIGN BY 15 OR 20 FEET BEFORE FULLY STOPPING. 2ND INCIDENT-SAME DAY) I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET IN DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE, IN. THE ROAD WAS COVERED WITH ICE. THE CAR 30 FEET FRONT OF ME PUT ON THEIR BRAKES WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE APPROACHING INTERSECTION TURNED FROM GREEN TO YELLOW. I APPLIED MY BRAKES(ABS KICKED IN) AND IT WAS LIKE NOTHING WAS HAPPENING I KEPT GOING FORWARD AT THE SAME SPEED AND I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE A REAR-END COLLISION SO I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR DRIFTED LEFT INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN WENT INTO A 180 DEGREE SPIN. AN ONCOMING SUV DODGED ME AND I STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. I OBSERVED NO OTHER VEHICLES WITH DIFFICULTY BRAKING ON THE ICE. I'VE DRIVEN OVER 35 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY DIFFERENT CARS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SUV'S. AND NONE OF THEM HAD SUCH A POOR BRAKING SYSTEM AS THIS 2009 NISSAN VERSA HATCHBACK. MY WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN FORT WAYNE FOR A 3,500 MILE CHECKUP. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AND DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE. HE PRETTY MUCH SAID THAT ICE IS DANGEROUS AND THERE'S NO VEHICLE THAT WON'T SLIDE ON ICE. I SAID, I DIDN'T SLIDE UNTIL I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I SAID IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THERE IS ENOUGH BRAKE FLUID GOING TO THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. HE SAID "WE DON'T HAVE ANY EQUIPMENT TO TEST FOR THAT." MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE VERSA BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE ON ICE. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311168

Incident

Dec 15, 2009

Mileage

3,200 mi

THE CONTACT SAID THAT IN THE LAST YEAR THE FRONT ROTOR AND PADS ON THE VEHICLE HAVE OVER HEATED AND BROKE. THE ROTOR AND PADS HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES REGARDLESS OF SPEED. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE VEHICLE CONSTENTLY HAS PROBLEM STOPPING. THIS IS ONLY HAVING TO THE FRONT BRAKES AND NOT THE BACK. 2000 MILES AT TIME OF PROBLEM AND 5000 MILES ON VEHICLE NOW.UPDATED 06/29/10.*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS TOO MUCH HEAT ON THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THEM TO WEAR OUT QUICKLY. UPDATED 09/27/10

NHTSA ID

10296122

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

Mileage

2,000 mi

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN NON-RESPONSIVE THREE TIMES ON MY 2009 NISSAN VERSA. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES - THERE IS NO RESPONSE. FORTUNATELY, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES A SECOND TIME THEY RESPOND. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WERE AT SPEEDS BELOW 20MPH. TODAY THE 26TH OF DEC. 2008 THE BRAKES WERE NON-RESPONSIVE (FIRST PUSH) AT 50 MPH. ON SECOND PUSH THE CAR SWERVED FIRST LEFT THEN RIGHT - I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ON THE THIRD PUSH THE CAR BRAKED AS EXPECTED. HAVING BRAKES BE NON-RESPONSIVE AT ANY TIME IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. I MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHEN IT OCCURRED THE 2ND TIME ON 12/13/08 - THE DEALER BRUCE BENNETT NISSAN OF WILTON CT 203.544.8371 REVIEWED THE CAR (KEEPING IT OVERNIGHT) ON 12/16/08. THEY DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. TODAY ON 12/26/08 I LEFT A MESSAGE ON THE SERVICE LINE AS IT HAS NOW HAPPENED A 3RD TIME - BUT I WAS GOING FASTER AND THE CAR SWERVED SEVERELY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE USED ON THE SECOND PUSH. HOPEFULLY I WILL HERE FROM THEM TOMORROW. I ALSO CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE - HOWEVER THEY APPEAR TO BE CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252862

Incident

Dec 26, 2008

Mileage

7,000 mi

ON OCTOBER 28, 2008, I PURCHASED MY FIRST VEHICLE ' A 2009 NISSAN VERSA FROM TIM DAHLE NISSAN. MY EXPERIENCE WITH TIM DAHLE NISSAN HAS BEEN BOTH FRUSTRATING AND DISCOURAGING. THE INCOMPETENCE AND LACK OF CARE EXHIBITED BY THE SALESMEN AND GENERAL MANAGER IS BEYOND BELIEF. THE DAY THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, MY SALESMAN RICH VANPATTEN DID NOT CARE TO MENTION TO ME THAT THE NISSAN VERSA DOES NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I DISCOVERED THIS FACT WHILE READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND REALIZED THAT ABS IS AN OPTIONAL PACKAGE THAT A CUSTOMER MAY CHOSE TO ADD TO THEIR VEHICLE. I AM COMPLETELY ASTOUNDED THAT NISSAN HAS CHOSEN NOT TO MAKE ABS A STANDARD SAFETY FEATURE IN THE VERSA. ALTHOUGH ABS HAS NOT PROVEN TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF ACCIDENTS CAUSED, IT CREATES A WAY OF DRIVING AND SWERVING IN WINTER CONDITIONS THAT SOMEONE SUCH AS MYSELF, WHO HAS DRIVEN WITH ABS FOR NEARLY MY ENTIRE DRIVING CAREER, WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST TO WHEN DRIVING A CAR WITHOUT ABS. SEEING AS HOW AN ABS PACKAGE COSTS ONLY $250 TO INCLUDE IN THE VEHICLE'S PRICE, I WOULD HAVE HAPPILY ADDED THIS PACKAGE TO MY NISSAN VERSA. I AIRED MY CONCERN WITH MY SALESMAN RICH VANPATTEN AND THE OTHER SALESMAN- WHO PRESSURED ME INTO BELIEVING THAT THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WOULD REQUIRE ME TO PAY $5,000 FOR A VEHICLE UPGRADE. I ATTEMPTED TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER RONNIE DUNN AND HE FAILED TO RETURN ANY OF MY CALLS. FINALLY, AFTER MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE "SALES MANAGER" CLAYTON, HE FAILED TO SHOW UP TO THE APPOINTMENT TO DISCUSS THE MATTER AND NEVER CALLED TO EXPLAIN HIS RUDE AND DISTASTEFUL BEHAVIOR. I FEEL THAT IT WAS MY RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ABS OPTION AND TO DECIDE, FOR MYSELF, IF IT WAS AN OPTION THAT I NEEDED FOR MY VEHICLE. RATHER, I WAS TOLD MY SEVERAL SALES ASSOCIATES THAT IT IS USELESS AND THAT I WOULD SIMPLY NEED TO CHANGE MY DRIVING BEHAVIOR. I AM GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I WENT INTO A SKID THIS WINTER!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10250949

Incident

Oct 28, 2008