2021 Nissan Versa Problems & Owner Complaints

Power Train 9 1 crash

“My 2021 Nissan Versa was struck at high speed while parked and required extensive repairs that exceeded the vehicle’s value. After the repairs, the transmission began acting erratically. The car shudders, hesitates, and feels unstable while driving. Acceleration is unpredictable and the vehicle does not feel safe or reliable. These issues were not present before the collision and have continued to worsen. I have children and do not feel it is safe to operate this vehicle, so it is currently parked.”
NHTSA complaint #11714561, 2025 · crash

“Automatic CVT failure confirmed by Future Nissan of Roseville CA. No warning prior to failure. Replaced by Kirkwood Autoworx Mechanical since Nissan Corporate denied a good-will replacement. Reason: 15k miles over warranty - 75081odometer reading at replacement on 5/27/26. CVT failed while on a busy street [XXX] ). I had only reverse and had to back my way out of traffic. Extremely dangerous situation. New Issue: Left Front Door (Driver) Locking actuator failure on XXX Not a safety issue yet. Will not lock or unlock with key fob. Manual entry only. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREE…”
NHTSA complaint #11741559, 2026

“Hi, My name is [XXX] and I live in [XXX] . In October 2023 I purchased a used Nissan Versa 2021 from a dealership. It only had 30k miles on it when I bought it. On May 9, 2026 I was driving to work when my car experienced acceleration failure. It had 80,600 miles on it. When the acceleration failed, I was in the process of making a left turn and came very close to being hit by oncoming traffic. After Nissan claimed to fix the issue and I paid a substantial amount of money and drove about 40 miles, the same thing happened. And again it was during a left turn into oncoming traffic. Twice I've c…”
NHTSA complaint #11740221, 2026

Electrical System 7

“Automatic CVT failure confirmed by Future Nissan of Roseville CA. No warning prior to failure. Replaced by Kirkwood Autoworx Mechanical since Nissan Corporate denied a good-will replacement. Reason: 15k miles over warranty - 75081odometer reading at replacement on 5/27/26. CVT failed while on a busy street [XXX] ). I had only reverse and had to back my way out of traffic. Extremely dangerous situation. New Issue: Left Front Door (Driver) Locking actuator failure on XXX Not a safety issue yet. Will not lock or unlock with key fob. Manual entry only. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREE…”
NHTSA complaint #11741559, 2026

“Transmission failure 2 Times. First time experienced jerking and some smoke coming out and second time same jerking and smoke along with electrical system failure. Nissan paid 40% the first time to help and I paid 60% even though I did not agree with that I did it. 2nd time they refuse to pay anything because of warranty even though it only took 40, 000 miles and transmission went out gain. Obvious that the transmissions are trash. The constant jerking and smoking in engine and electrical failure not to mention I was in a hit and run and ran into a tree and brake system did not work and the a…”
NHTSA complaint #11718275, 2025

“Mileage: Approximately 45,000 Current Status: Inoperable; held at Joe Machens Nissan pending evaluation by Nissan Consumer Affairs. Description of the Problem The vehicle has become completely inoperable, making it unsafe to operate. In the months prior to the failure, traction control warning indicators intermittently appeared on the dashboard. I did not recognize their significance at the time and did not document them, but they may have been early warning signs of the current operational failure. Approximately 22 days prior to the vehicle becoming completely inoperable, it underwent a reca…”
NHTSA complaint #11708227, 2025

Air Bags 5 3 crash 3 injury

“Driver lost control of vehicle and slid along fence to hit a tree stump. Driver airbags went off in time and driver was unscathed. Passenger remembers seeing tree hit car (vision was not obscured by deployed airbag). Passenger was seriously injured and needed airlift to local trauma center. Car was hauled by H&H towing of Gunnison, CO No lights prior to accident. No inspection by manufacturer. No confirmed reproduction by dealer/service center. Attached are police report and detailed report from driver, explaining scenario and injuries sustained.”
NHTSA complaint #11492174, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“Driving vehicle about 60-65 mph when collision with another vehicle occurred resulting in moderate front end damage to almost all of front bumper with no airbag deployment and put driver in danger due to speed and mechanism of collision which seems to be a malfunction in safety equipment.”
NHTSA complaint #11466320, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“WELL DRIVING I NOTICE A CAR WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS ON STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME NOT MOVING. QUICKLY GOING TO BRAKE.. I HAD NO BRAKES I PUSHED AGAIN AND TURNED RIGHT. ALMOST INCHES TO HITTING A GAS PUMP. THANKFULLY BUMPS AND BRUISES . I WAS RENTING THE VEHICLE FROM INDIANA DRIVING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE TO FLORIDA. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. I ALSO GOT CHARGED AN EXTRA RENTAL DAY SINCE I WAS TOLD TO AWAIT A CALL. I'M NOT SURE WHO'S AT FAULT WHETHER IT IS A MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM OR BOLT IN STEERING. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN FLA NOT ABLE TO GET HOME. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED INTO.*DT*DT*JB”
NHTSA complaint #11398151, 2021 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Engine 5

“Transmission failure 2 Times. First time experienced jerking and some smoke coming out and second time same jerking and smoke along with electrical system failure. Nissan paid 40% the first time to help and I paid 60% even though I did not agree with that I did it. 2nd time they refuse to pay anything because of warranty even though it only took 40, 000 miles and transmission went out gain. Obvious that the transmissions are trash. The constant jerking and smoking in engine and electrical failure not to mention I was in a hit and run and ran into a tree and brake system did not work and the a…”
NHTSA complaint #11718275, 2025

“Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. It stalls often and feels as if it's struggling to switch gears. It only has 68k miles on it with regular maintenance being done. It is too new to have these problems.”
NHTSA complaint #11611743, 2024

“Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. Although this has happened the whole life of the car 26,000 miles, today I was fed up with it and decided to make it known there is an issue. I've tried different fuel and that did not fix it. As a mechanic myself, I feel there is some kind of programming fault from the factory. I have taken my car into the Nissan dealer and they told me they couldn't find anything wrong and maybe i was using the wrong fuel. I told t…”
NHTSA complaint #11577226, 2024

Unknown Or Other 5

“Mileage: Approximately 45,000 Current Status: Inoperable; held at Joe Machens Nissan pending evaluation by Nissan Consumer Affairs. Description of the Problem The vehicle has become completely inoperable, making it unsafe to operate. In the months prior to the failure, traction control warning indicators intermittently appeared on the dashboard. I did not recognize their significance at the time and did not document them, but they may have been early warning signs of the current operational failure. Approximately 22 days prior to the vehicle becoming completely inoperable, it underwent a reca…”
NHTSA complaint #11708227, 2025

“Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. It stalls often and feels as if it's struggling to switch gears. It only has 68k miles on it with regular maintenance being done. It is too new to have these problems.”
NHTSA complaint #11611743, 2024

“Water collects on spark plug coils and the car does not exceed 50 mpg, check engine light comes on. This has happened twice so far, the first time was 1/04/2024. I actually didn't drive the car for two weeks after the first repair, it just sat in the driveway in the rain and snow. The first time I drove it after the first repair, the exact same thing happened. "The water is diverting improperly through the windshield wiper cowl, collecting on cylinder and bypassing seal causing misfire." This is a serious problem that can lead to completely destroying the engine. I joined a few Nissan/Versa…”
NHTSA complaint #11570706, 2024

Steering 4 2 crash 1 injury

“WELL DRIVING I NOTICE A CAR WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS ON STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME NOT MOVING. QUICKLY GOING TO BRAKE.. I HAD NO BRAKES I PUSHED AGAIN AND TURNED RIGHT. ALMOST INCHES TO HITTING A GAS PUMP. THANKFULLY BUMPS AND BRUISES . I WAS RENTING THE VEHICLE FROM INDIANA DRIVING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE TO FLORIDA. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. I ALSO GOT CHARGED AN EXTRA RENTAL DAY SINCE I WAS TOLD TO AWAIT A CALL. I'M NOT SURE WHO'S AT FAULT WHETHER IT IS A MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM OR BOLT IN STEERING. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN FLA NOT ABLE TO GET HOME. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED INTO.*DT*DT*JB”
NHTSA complaint #11398151, 2021 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“My 2021 Nissan Versa was struck at high speed while parked and required extensive repairs that exceeded the vehicle’s value. After the repairs, the transmission began acting erratically. The car shudders, hesitates, and feels unstable while driving. Acceleration is unpredictable and the vehicle does not feel safe or reliable. These issues were not present before the collision and have continued to worsen. I have children and do not feel it is safe to operate this vehicle, so it is currently parked.”
NHTSA complaint #11714561, 2025 · crash

“The brakes fight and lock from time to time. The steering will get a tug like a car is in front of me. The engine has a weird tug before pulling of and switching gears.when I pull off while turning the car feels like it completely losses power!?”
NHTSA complaint #11615709, 2024

Exterior Lighting 3

“I got into the car and started it up. Put in reverse car shuts off. Re started and put in reverse. Was able to drive out of apartment parking lot then no power to speed and car was a little jerky and on dashboard it said warning malfunction see owners manual with a few pictures on dashboard”
NHTSA complaint #11724857, 2026

“The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while attempting to reverse at 2 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. Additionally, the contact stated that the high-beam headlights were failing and were independently deactivating. The contact stated that the high-beam headlights switch had to be held manually for the high-beam headlights to remain activated. No warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys to be diagnosed. The local Pep Boys was unable to duplicate the failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired, b…”
NHTSA complaint #11635655, 2024

“The brakes fight and lock from time to time. The steering will get a tug like a car is in front of me. The engine has a weird tug before pulling of and switching gears.when I pull off while turning the car feels like it completely losses power!?”
NHTSA complaint #11615709, 2024

Visibility/Wiper 3

“I purchased 2021 4 months ago. Two weeks ago on a very hot day my driver side visor broke. I called Nessan holiness and told them the visor drops. It obstructs vision of driving. I called today and first was put on hold, then call was disconnected. I recalled back and informed Nessan about driver side visor. As we were talking she asked me if I bought car with extended warranty. I said no. Car was sold as is. She hung up the phone on me. She did not call me back, nor did she explain why for hanging up the phone. I googled Nessan Versa driver side visor faulty and found several complaints by ot…”
NHTSA complaint #11605376, 2024

“It was a cold February morning when a hard frost had hit our area. I was starting my car to defrost the windshield and warm up before work. After finishing up inside I hopped into my car and noticed a crack RIGHT AWAY!!! IT STARTED AT THE VERY TOP WHERE THE DEFROST STARTS and has now traveled through the middle towards the bottom. After taking it to a dealership the response gives was that it was a stress fracture....There sincerely needs to be a recall on the windshields of other models too..like my daughter's 2020 Rogue..hers did the same thing!!!! Make it right Nissan!!???”
NHTSA complaint #11458357, 2022

“New car purchased 10/19/2021. Did not test drive at night. When I drove it the next night there is severe rear windshield refraction/distortion at night. Multiple head light reflections for every car behind. Unable to safely determine where cars are behind my vehicle. Contacted East Charlotte Nissan and made an appointment to have it fixed. When I arrived, the tint person told me it was a manufacturers defect and I would just have to get used to it. No one can safely drive at night when their rear view looks like this. Left the dealership and called back spoke with the service manager. They ar…”
NHTSA complaint #11443081, 2021

Fuel/Propulsion System 2

“Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. It stalls often and feels as if it's struggling to switch gears. It only has 68k miles on it with regular maintenance being done. It is too new to have these problems.”
NHTSA complaint #11611743, 2024

“First the furl gage reads the wrong amount I filled up and the gauge never changed. The radio which is a known problem cuts in and out or just stops working”
NHTSA complaint #11552115, 2023

Service Brakes 2 2 crash 1 injury

“WELL DRIVING I NOTICE A CAR WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS ON STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME NOT MOVING. QUICKLY GOING TO BRAKE.. I HAD NO BRAKES I PUSHED AGAIN AND TURNED RIGHT. ALMOST INCHES TO HITTING A GAS PUMP. THANKFULLY BUMPS AND BRUISES . I WAS RENTING THE VEHICLE FROM INDIANA DRIVING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE TO FLORIDA. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. I ALSO GOT CHARGED AN EXTRA RENTAL DAY SINCE I WAS TOLD TO AWAIT A CALL. I'M NOT SURE WHO'S AT FAULT WHETHER IT IS A MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM OR BOLT IN STEERING. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN FLA NOT ABLE TO GET HOME. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED INTO.*DT*DT*JB”
NHTSA complaint #11398151, 2021 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“2021 Nissan Versa S on Aug 26th 2023 driving back from NY heading toward Ma. when a Malfunction sign came up on the dashboard of the car. we pulled over trying to figure out what was happening and took a picture of the warning sign also the Break Assist showing something just happened. turned the car off and the driver turned the car back on. Continue driving. 20 miles down the road the Car brakes locked up the car skid a bit jerking driver and passenger forward. The driver stopped the car. A warning sign was on the dashboard showing a yellow square in front of a car and above two cars colli…”
NHTSA complaint #11545075, 2023 · crash

Vehicle Speed Control 2

“I got into the car and started it up. Put in reverse car shuts off. Re started and put in reverse. Was able to drive out of apartment parking lot then no power to speed and car was a little jerky and on dashboard it said warning malfunction see owners manual with a few pictures on dashboard”
NHTSA complaint #11724857, 2026

“Mileage: Approximately 45,000 Current Status: Inoperable; held at Joe Machens Nissan pending evaluation by Nissan Consumer Affairs. Description of the Problem The vehicle has become completely inoperable, making it unsafe to operate. In the months prior to the failure, traction control warning indicators intermittently appeared on the dashboard. I did not recognize their significance at the time and did not document them, but they may have been early warning signs of the current operational failure. Approximately 22 days prior to the vehicle becoming completely inoperable, it underwent a reca…”
NHTSA complaint #11708227, 2025

Forward Collision Avoidance 1 1 crash

“2021 Nissan Versa S on Aug 26th 2023 driving back from NY heading toward Ma. when a Malfunction sign came up on the dashboard of the car. we pulled over trying to figure out what was happening and took a picture of the warning sign also the Break Assist showing something just happened. turned the car off and the driver turned the car back on. Continue driving. 20 miles down the road the Car brakes locked up the car skid a bit jerking driver and passenger forward. The driver stopped the car. A warning sign was on the dashboard showing a yellow square in front of a car and above two cars colli…”
NHTSA complaint #11545075, 2023 · crash

Seat Belts 1

“On three separate occasions while driving, my driver seatbelt has come unbuckled on it's own. Most recently today. It also sometimes sticks and is difficult to unbuckle.”
NHTSA complaint #11661166, 2025

Structure 1 1 crash 1 injury

“Driving vehicle about 60-65 mph when collision with another vehicle occurred resulting in moderate front end damage to almost all of front bumper with no airbag deployment and put driver in danger due to speed and mechanism of collision which seems to be a malfunction in safety equipment.”
NHTSA complaint #11466320, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Suspension 1 1 crash

“My 2021 Nissan Versa was struck at high speed while parked and required extensive repairs that exceeded the vehicle’s value. After the repairs, the transmission began acting erratically. The car shudders, hesitates, and feels unstable while driving. Acceleration is unpredictable and the vehicle does not feel safe or reliable. These issues were not present before the collision and have continued to worsen. I have children and do not feel it is safe to operate this vehicle, so it is currently parked.”
NHTSA complaint #11714561, 2025 · crash

Wheels 1

“My tires go flat EVERY TIME I put in my rim caps. I spent so much money on new tires, thinking it was the tires but it’s actually my rim caps cutting where my air goes in at. I had to take all of the caps off and I’m still having problems. Besides that, it does not notify you when you need an oil change, my first time going…I could’ve messed up my car. Glad I went in early enough!!! And when I plug my charger piece up, smoke begins to come from it..I always have to take it out.”
NHTSA complaint #11511795, 2022