The Lemon Index

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Nissan Versa.

The best Nissan Versa years are 2019, 2010, 2011. Years to avoid: 2012. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 59, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2007 to 2025.

59Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Better than average. Whole model, 2010-2022: 1.7× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2019 · Worst year 2012

Nissan Versa
Photo shows a 2020 Nissan Versa. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Quick answers.

Is the Nissan Versa a good car?

Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 59; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2019 and the worst is 2012.

What are the best Nissan Versa years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2019, 2010, 2011.

What Nissan Versa years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2012.

How many recalls does the Nissan Versa have?

71 safety recalls across the 18 model years we track. Most: 2012 (11), 2007 (9), 2008 (8). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Nissan Versa problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name engine, transmission & drivetrain and airbags most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2007801.2× fewer complaints than average72fuel system, gasoline (19%)9—27–28
200896about average81engine (20%)8—27–29
2009101about average67tires (18%)8—27–30
2010254× fewer complaints than average27electrical (19%)8—27–30
2011333× fewer complaints than average39electrical (18%)7★★☆☆☆27–30
20121181.2× the average car's complaints145transmission & drivetrain (37%)11★★★★☆27–33
2013492× fewer complaints than average71brakes (31%)1★★★★☆30–35
201499about average152brakes (26%)4★★★★☆30–35
201590about average127airbags (18%)2★★★★☆29–34
2016382.6× fewer complaints than average52airbags (27%)0★★★★☆29–34
2017342.9× fewer complaints than average41airbags (32%)3—29–34
2018442.3× fewer complaints than average38airbags (24%)2★★★★☆29–34
2019175.9× fewer complaints than average12transmission & drivetrain (42%)1★★★★☆30–34
2020621.6× fewer complaints than average30automatic emergency braking (57%)2★★★★★30–35
2021362.8× fewer complaints than average21airbags (19%)3★★★★★30–35
20231261.3× the average car's complaints37engine (62%)1★★★★★30–35
20242622.6× the average car's complaints96engine (55%)1★★★★★30–35
2025–too few complaints to score12transmission & drivetrain (33%)0★★★★★30–35

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Nissan Versa transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data