The 2011 Versa is an economy car that delivers on affordability but suffers from significant CVT transmission issues and catastrophic engine failures tied to poor piston ring design and oil consumption. The 1.8L models face more severe problems than the 1.6L variants.
Symptoms: Shuddering or jerking during acceleration, especially from stops, Delayed engagement when shifting from Park to Drive, Whining or grinding noise from transmission, Transmission slipping or losing power under load, Check Engine light with P0868 or P17F0 codes
Fix: Nissan extended warranty to 120k on some units, but most owners pay out of pocket. Transmission fluid replacement (NS-2/NS-3 only) may delay failure temporarily but rarely fixes judder. CVT replacement is typical solution: 8-12 hours labor for R&R, plus core charge. Used units fail quickly; remanufactured is minimum recommendation.
Estimated cost: $3,200-4,800
Catastrophic Engine Failure from Piston Ring / Oil Consumption Issues
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 500-1,000 miles), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Spark plug fouling on cylinders 2 and 4 specifically, Loss of compression leading to misfires, Eventually: rod knock, seized engine, or spun bearings
Fix: Piston ring defect allows oil into combustion chambers; owners who don't monitor oil levels experience sudden engine death. Repair requires complete engine rebuild (piston rings, honing cylinders, valve seals) at 18-24 hours, or short block replacement at 14-18 hours. Used engines often have same defect. Many owners ignore consumption until catastrophic failure, then face crankshaft and bearing replacement adding another $1,500-2,000.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Red transmission fluid puddles under vehicle, Fluid leaking from cooler lines near radiator, Low transmission fluid warning or slipping, Burnt smell if fluid level drops significantly
Fix: Cooler lines corrode or crack at crimp points where they connect to steel lines. Both lines typically replaced as a set to prevent comeback. Includes fluid flush and refill with Nissan NS-2 or NS-3 fluid (critical—generic ATF destroys CVT). 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Front Coil Spring Fracture (NHTSA Recall)
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Clunking or rattling from front suspension over bumps, Vehicle sagging on one corner, Visible crack or break in coil spring, Tire damage if broken spring punctures sidewall
Fix: Recall 14V-353 covers this, but many owners never got notice or car changed hands. Spring fractures mid-coil due to corrosion, especially in salt states. Free under recall if VIN qualifies; otherwise 1.5-2 hours per side for spring replacement. Always replace both sides and check struts while apart.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $450-750 (out of pocket)
Takata Airbag Inflator Recall
Common · high severity
Symptoms: Airbag warning light (though inflator can fail without warning), No symptoms until deployment, when inflator can rupture and send shrapnel into cabin
Fix: Multiple recalls (15V-728, 18V-282, others) for driver and passenger airbag inflators. This is a safety-critical issue—inflators degrade over time in humidity and can kill occupants during a crash. Repair is free at any Nissan dealer; parts were backordered for years but now available. 1-2 hours labor, no cost to owner.
Symptoms: Excessive vibration at idle, especially in Drive, Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Engine rocking visibly under hood during acceleration, Harsh engagement feel
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount (driver side) tears or leaks fluid, causing powertrain to sag and vibrate. Engine mounts also fail but less frequently. Transmission mount replacement: 1.5-2 hours. Often replace both engine and trans mounts simultaneously for best results (3-4 hours total).
Estimated cost: $250-450 (trans mount) or $500-800 (all mounts)
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles—these engines consume oil by design; starvation kills them
Use ONLY Nissan NS-2 or NS-3 CVT fluid; generic ATF voids any chance of transmission survival
Verify all recalls completed (Takata airbags and coil springs) before purchase—check Nissan's VIN lookup
Avoid cars with CVT judder even if fluid is fresh; it's a sign of internal valve body wear that will progress
Budget $4,000-5,000 for CVT replacement when shopping—it's not 'if' but 'when' on high-mileage examples
Hard pass unless under 60k miles with full service records and all recalls done—even then, budget for CVT replacement and monitor oil religiously.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 22E066000
2022-08-09
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V008000
2020-01-09 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V401000
2018-06-15 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2011-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Nissan is also recalling 2010-2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2010-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V044000
2018-01-10 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Versa Hatchback, and 2009-2011 Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A."
Additionally, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Versa Hatchback, and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B."
Nissan is also recalling certain 2009 Versa Hatchback and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V449000
2017-07-17 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and 2007-2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the subject inflator with a new one manufactured by a different supplier, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V349000
2016-05-24 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS · 15V573000
2015-09-14 · PE15019
Nissan (Nissan North America, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Nissan Versa vehicles manufactured May 8, 2006, to November 12, 2012, that were sold or ever registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
Consequence: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on February 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
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