RoadVitals

2018 Nissan Versa Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
54
Latest May 27, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
11

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Nissan Versa, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical1621.9%
  • Engine1419.2%
  • Airbags1317.8%
  • Brakes68.2%
  • Driver assistance56.8%
  • Visibility22.7%
  • Body & structure22.7%
  • Other / unspecified22.7%
  • Steering22.7%
  • Fuel system11.4%
  • Exterior lighting11.4%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving approximately 4 MPH, the vehicle was shaking violently. There were no warning lights illuminated. When the heater was activated, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure reoccurred. While stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled and was towed to the same independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a faulty computer, coils, and a defective crankshaft sensor. There was also paper found inside the heater system. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID 11723880 · filed Mar 12, 2026

loss of power when using turn signal on highway changing lanes and making left or right turn on city streets. Once the signal is off I can accelerate. Left turn signal becomes more rapid as well. The Versa has a manual transmission. recurring issue for a month.

NHTSA ID 11678813 · filed Aug 6, 2025
All 16 reports naming electrical

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

14
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving approximately 4 MPH, the vehicle was shaking violently. There were no warning lights illuminated. When the heater was activated, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure reoccurred. While stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled and was towed to the same independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a faulty computer, coils, and a defective crankshaft sensor. There was also paper found inside the heater system. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID 11723880 · filed Mar 12, 2026

loss of power when using turn signal on highway changing lanes and making left or right turn on city streets. Once the signal is off I can accelerate. Left turn signal becomes more rapid as well. The Versa has a manual transmission. recurring issue for a month.

NHTSA ID 11678813 · filed Aug 6, 2025
All 14 reports naming engine

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

13
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Out of nowhere my airbag light start blinking, I ran the code and got a P2096 which apparently is not related to the airbag I took it to Firestone to get it checked out and they told me they cannot do anything about the airbag light I would have to go to my dealership for help with that. No one seems to know what to do.

NHTSA ID 11710587 · filed Jan 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that on various occasions, after driving from a stop signal, the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was provided with TSB’s that applied to the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact stated that she noticed the vehicle was returned with a flat tire and the instrument cluster was replaced without her knowledge. The contact also stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.

NHTSA ID 11517634 · filed Apr 18, 2023
All 13 reports naming airbags

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

2018 Nissan Versa transmission issues. i have 2018 Nissan Versa with 116,993 miles. Transmission is starting to skip and slip. it was diagnosed as a possible chain slip. there was bulletin out for this issue in which Nissan has known about. Nissan was contacted to see if they could warranty the transmission, but was told they were not going to cover it. There was warranty extension, but only for 84,000 miles. nissan was unwilling to help fix it and wanted to charge $210 to diagnose it. this is saftey issue because there are probably other nissan Versas out there with the same issue. the point is that there is an issue which knows about. vehicle should be fixed under warranty. car was bought used 4 years ago. tsb is NTB20-036a

NHTSA ID 11740282 · filed May 27, 2026

I was driving on the express way in rush hour traffic, and my car started to judder and rpm were reving high.i tried to accelerate and the car just stop in mid traffic, I had to have the car towed home,and from home to the nissan dealership. They told me that my transmission had failed and needed to be replaced.i had no warning light or any other problem and I could have been hurt really bad if the car behind me hadn't stop and help me get out of the rush hour traffic.

NHTSA ID 11685820 · filed Sep 8, 2025
All 9 reports naming powertrain (other)

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I pulled up to a stoplight that was on a hill and tried to put on the brake. The brake pedal was highly resistant and wouldn’t let me push down fully. At that moment, all of the warning lights on the dashboard turned on. When the light turned green, I tried to hit the gas pedal but the car wouldn’t move forward. The car started rolling backward and I almost collided with the car behind me. I had to stomp on the brake as hard as I could to get the vehicle to stop. I then had to put on my hazards, put the car in park, turn it off, and turn it back on again before the vehicle worked like normal. My spouse said he’s had the same thing happen to him twice in the past year. Each time, the brakes and accelerator pedal freeze up and all the warning lights come on. But after turning the car off and on again, it goes back to normal. I don’t think this is a battery problem because the car battery is less than one year old.

NHTSA ID 11638626 · filed Jan 26, 2025

Brake's grind and squeal at a slow stop even with new brakes and rotors and electric problems like it's blowing headlights with in weeks of installing and tag lights as well.

NHTSA ID 11592009 · filed Jun 2, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION ISSUES , STALLING, RPM REVVING.

NHTSA ID 11550189 · filed Oct 16, 2023

Car stalls, I’ve contacted Nissan regarding electrical issues with ignition how it’s not reading the ecu. Another things is the recalls that comes up. Here it is Recall #19V654000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Defect Description: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q7OL vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." Defect Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash. Defect Corrective Action: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Recall #18V551000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION Defect Description: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine. Defect Consequence:

NHTSA ID 11535181 · filed Jul 29, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

My car was parked out front my house. Weather has been in the 60’s no major differences. I walked outside ant 1pm and noticed the entire back windshield was shattered. There was no impact marks, no hole in the window. I’m not sure how this has happened and thankfully we were at home and not driving.

NHTSA ID 11735379 · filed May 3, 2026

ON NISSAN MOTORS USA WEBSITE, THE LOWER TRIMS LEVELS OF THE VERSA SEDAN DO NOT INCLUDE BACKUP CAMERAS! WASN'T THAT MADE MANDATORY!?

NHTSA ID 11057510 · filed Dec 30, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE. THE COLLISION WAS PRETTY BAD, MY CAR WAS TOTALED. IT WAS THE THE FRONT OF THE PASSENGERS SEAT. AT THE SPEED THE CRASH HAPPENED, THE FORCE WITH WHICH I WAS HIT AND THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR I WAS UNPLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED INJURY. MY CAR WAS IN FORWARD MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, I WAS HIT BY A TURNING CAR.

NHTSA ID 11389083 · filed Jan 20, 2021

THERE ARE SERIOUS DESIGN FLAWS ON THE 2018 NISSAN VERSA THAT ALLOW WATER (I.E RAIN) TO COLLECT BELOW THE WINDSHIELD AND WHEN THE COLLECTED WATER DOESN'T DRAIN IT FLOODS THE CAR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS A WATER GUTTER UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT RUNS FROM EACH SIDE OF THE CAR. IT HAS TWO VERY SMALL DRAINS ON EACH SIDE. THE DRAINS GET PLUGGED BY DUST, DIRT, ETC. NORMAL STUFF THAT CAN GET ON THE CAR, AND THE WATER COLLECTS AND BUILDS UP IN THE GUTTER. THERE IS A HOLE FOR SOME CABLES IN THIS AREA, ABOVE THE GUTTER THAT THE BUILT UP WATER CAN FLOW THROUGH RIGHT ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE WATER DRAINS OUT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING/IN MOTION. IF THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN, THE ENTIRE CAR FLOOR GET FLOODED. THE HEALTH DANGER IS THE WATER HAS NOWHERE TO GO INSIDE THE CAR AND GETS MUSTY AND MOLDY. THIS CAN BE FIXED FOR APPROX. $600, HOWEVER IT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE ALL IS DONE IS UNPLUG THE SMALL DRAIN HOLES. NISSAN ALLOWED A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE 2018 VERSA SEDAN THAT LEADS TO FLOODING AND WET FLOORBOARDS, A DRAIN THAT IS PRONE TO CLOGGING, AND A HOLE FOR WATER TO FLOW INSIDE THE CAR. I FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON GOOGLE. MY CAR DAMAGED HAPPEN APRIL 2020, AND OTHER CAR OWNERS HAS HAPPENED IN 2019. PLEASE HELP US. *TR

NHTSA ID 11331120 · filed Jun 26, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE HAS DIFFICULTY SLOWING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AND BRAKES SEEM NOT TO STOP THE CAR (WEAKENED BRAKE PADS) IT FELT LIKE I WAS LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. ALSO THE CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER WHEN STATIONARY AT STOP LIGHTS. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THIS OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY OR WHILE IN MOTION. I HOPE THEY DON'T RENT VEHICLE OUT UNTIL MECHANICAL ISSUES ARE SOLVED

NHTSA ID 11280541 · filed Nov 16, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE TIRES FOR KNOTS. NISSAN SOUTH OF UNION CITY (4080 JONESBORO RD, UNION, CITY, GEORGIA 30291, (770) 964-4900) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE (4599 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GEORGIA 30291, (770) 225-1531) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IMPROPERLY ALIGNED AND THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

NHTSA ID 11132466 · filed Oct 1, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I WAS SITTING STATIONARY AT A STOP LIGHT IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET AND MY BRAKE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD TO GUIDE MY VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN SOUTH MORROW FOR SERVICE. I HAD ALSO HAD SOME MINOR IGNITION ISSUES RELATING TO TURNING MY KEY AND NOT SEEING MY CLOCK RADIO BECOME VISIBLE BUT WAS REMEDIED BY USING MY SPARE CAR KEY. NISSAN SOUTH MORROW SAID THAT THE CAR DROVE WELL WITH NO ISSUES. UNSURE WHETHER IT WAS ACTUALLY LOOKED AT.

NHTSA ID 11253042 · filed Sep 3, 2019

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T MOVE.

NHTSA ID 11207748 · filed May 15, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1) When at red light with car in drive and brake pedal pressed the car occasionally begins to roll forward and then the brakes suddenly depress even more. 2) All brake lights intermittently go out and if hit will come back on for an unknown time until u realize they're not working again. 3) I have already had to replace the fuel pump twice with only 60k on miles on the car

NHTSA ID 11444958 · filed Dec 25, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Brake's grind and squeal at a slow stop even with new brakes and rotors and electric problems like it's blowing headlights with in weeks of installing and tag lights as well.

NHTSA ID 11592009 · filed Jun 2, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .