The Lemon Index2008 Nissan Versa.
The 2008 Nissan Versa is about average by owner complaints: 81 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 96, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 27 to 29 mpg combined. The best Nissan Versa year is 2019.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 381 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Nissan Versa year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 26K to 81K miles on the car (213 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 43K–100K miles
- suspension complaints mostly came at 48K–95K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 8K–88K miles
Recalls 8
- airbags 2022
Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers.
- airbags 2020
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.
- airbags 2018
If an inflator were to explode it may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show all 8 recalls
- airbags 2017
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.
- airbags 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- suspension 2015
Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
- equipment 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 92 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- NISSAN; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin does NOT…
- SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin provides information to identify: - A leaking strut or a…
- Dtc for variable valve timing control function
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedFront coil spring fracture2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
My Versa has 7k miles and is 4 months old. I have been experiencing the long cranking time for about a month now. Its intermittent but I do worry that it won't start, have to tap the gas to get it to start.
2008 Nissan Versa owner · NHTSA complaint 10238985
More owner reports
Car stopped working, lost power, oil leaking everywhere.
NHTSA complaint 10235869
Fails to start unless cranked for a long time. Symptoms indicate a fuel pressure regulator problem or fuel pump failure. Nissan parts dept says there is no fuel pressure regulator.
NHTSA complaint 10429075
Quick answers
Is the 2008 Nissan Versa reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 96; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Versa year by this measure is 2019.
What are the most common 2008 Nissan Versa problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (20%), fuel system, gasoline (19%) and electrical (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Nissan Versa have?
8 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Nissan Versa get?
27 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Versa problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 26,500 and 81,700 miles. The middle report was at 52,000 miles, from 213 complaints.
Does the 2008 Nissan Versa have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2008 Nissan Versa cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Nissan Versa have?
1.8L 4-cyl.
What Nissan Versa year is better than the 2008?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2010 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works