RoadVitals

2012 Nissan Versa Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Nov 27, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 486 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Nissan Versa submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lighting
Filed Nov 27, 2020

ON NOVEMBER 12, 2020 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LEAVING FROM MY JOB SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON NOVEMBER 14,2020 TO GET THE CAR SERVICE. I WENT TO THE NISSAN CAR DEALERSHIP SPOKE WITH THE SALESMAN IN REFERENCE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE PERSON STATED I HAVE WATER IMMERSED IN MY TAIL LIGHT IS WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON AND IF I DON'T GET THE PROBLEM FIX THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. I ASKED IF I GET THE PROBLEM FIX WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN THE ANSWER WAS YES DO TO THE MODEL AND MAKE ON MY VEHICLE I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11376763
Incident
Nov 12, 2020
Mileage
75,848 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 21, 2017

MOISTURE GETS INTO THE SEALED TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLIES CAUSING A SHORT WHICH THEN CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION SINCE IT THINKS YOU HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THIS WILL OBVIOUSLY CAUSE THE TAILLIGHTS TO FAIL AND MAY CAUSE TRANSMISSION ISSUES RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID
11055943
Incident
Dec 21, 2017
Mileage
47,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACING EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID
10970769
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
79,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Jul 6, 2015

I CLOSED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THE AIR BAG FROM THE DOOR EXPLODED. JUST THAT EASILY.

NHTSA ID
10732337
Incident
Jul 4, 2015
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Nov 14, 2014

LEFT TURN SIGNAL DIMS OR GOES OUT COMPLETELY WHEN ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE IS PRESENT (RAIN/COLD). NISSAN DEALERSHIP FIXED AS "BULB ISSUE," BUT ISSUE PERSISTS. NISSAN APPEARS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE CAUSE. DRIVER CONCERNED OF POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS DUE TO PROBLEMATIC SIGNAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10655073
Incident
Aug 4, 2014
Mileage
33,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Oct 4, 2014
Fire reported

THIS VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT DOWN, KILLING ALL GAUGES, LIGHTING, POWER STEERING AND ETC. MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP BROUGHT "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" RESPONSES AND NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR. NISSAN DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE STATED PROBLEM COULD BE DISPLAYED AT THE DEALERSHIP (NOTE THAT A CAR CANNOT DRIVE WITHOUT A WORKING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHEN VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN THE FINAL TIME A FIRE WAS IGNITED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS SOON ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. VIDEO OF BURNING CAR CAN BE SEEN HERE: HTTP://YOUTU.BE/0_PFV4CESPS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641438
Incident
Oct 4, 2014
Mileage
8,400 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 29, 2014

LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING. WILL NO LONGER COME ON. ONLY THE USE OF HIGH BEAMS IS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10562043
Incident
Jan 20, 2014
Mileage
24,470 mi
BrakesExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 2013

I PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE AND WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO GET IT TO STOP WHILE NEARLY HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE LOW LIGHTS ALSO HAVE TO AVAILABLE SETTINGS BUT ONE DOESN'T WORK SO IT STAYS THE SAME NO MATTER WHICH ONE YOU PUT IT ON. ALSO WHY WOULD I HAVE AN OIL LEAK AT 35,000 MILES. MY WHOLE TRANSMISSION APPARENTLY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED DUE TO A BROKEN OR MISSING CAP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10531876
Incident
Jul 18, 2013
Mileage
38,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 22, 2012

I RENTED A 2012 VERSA HATCHBACK THIS WEEK. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE I DISCOVERED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WERE NOT WORKING. I REPORTED THIS TO THE RENTAL AGENCY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE INDICATORS. I DROVE THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND FOUND THAT IT HAD NO TURN OR HIGH BEAM INDICATORS. THESE ARE BASIC SAFETY DEVICES TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF THE THESE FUNCTIONS. THESE CARS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON US ROADWAYS. ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ IN A DOCUMENT PUBLISHED BY THE U. S. DOT THESE ARE REQUIRED, SO I WONDER HOW THESE VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED IN THE U.S. THE DOCUMENT IS PUBLICATION NUMBER TP-108-13. PLEASE ADVISE ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10489544
Incident
Dec 17, 2012
Mileage
12,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .