Last updated: 2026-10-10

Nissan Versa

Nissan Versa Years to Avoid

5 scored model years (2018–2025) · model average 76/100

No Versa year is clearly one to avoid, because none falls well below the model's own average. What changes from year to year is how many complaints owners have filed and how many recalls were issued. The 2021 model year is the one to buy.

Verdict

Avoid
No outlier years
Buy
2021 77/100
Model average
76/100
See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

What Are Common Nissan Versa Problems?

POWER TRAIN

63 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2020, 2018

2024: Sudden loss of acceleration dominates these reports.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

37 complaints

Most reported in 2018, 2024, 2020

2018: The engine shuts off while driving or stalls at stops, and the driver has to restart the car.

ENGINE

35 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2020, 2018

2024: Limp mode after a stall is the main complaint, and nearly every report involves the manual transmission.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

27 complaints

Most reported in 2018, 2024, 2020

2018: The car shuts off without warning, both at stop signs and in traffic.

AIR BAGS

19 complaints

Most reported in 2018, 2020, 2021

2018: Airbags fail to deploy in hard crashes, including deer strikes, run-offs into ditches, and side and T-bone impacts at highway speeds.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

12 complaints

Most reported in 2024, 2018

2024: These reports share one theme: the car will not accelerate.

Best Nissan Versa Year to Buy Instead

77
GoodReliability score: 77 out of 100, rated Good

2021 Nissan Versa

The 2021 has 29 owner complaints, or 4.8 per 10,000 sold. That is well below the 2020 at 12.4 and the 2024 at 21.4. It has also been on the road long enough for its record to mean something. Its main complaint is still the CVT losing drive.

Score: 77/100 (Good)3 recalls29 complaints
View full 2021reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2021 Nissan Versa has 3 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Nissan Versa Years by Generation

Nissan Versa Reliability Scores by Year

Excellent Good Mixed Risky

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any Nissan Versa years to avoid?
No. The site analysis finds no year well below the model's own average. The 2024 has drawn the most complaints, with 91, so check it carefully if you are considering one. Every year tracked here is rated good or better, and the 2021 is the pick.
Which Nissan Versa years have transmission problems?
Power train complaints, which cover the transmission, lead in the 2020, 2021, and 2024 model years. They rank third in the 2018. The 2024 has the most, with 34. The 2025 shows none among its top areas, but it is the newest year and has had less time to collect them.
Is the 2024 Nissan Versa a good year?
It is rated good, but it has the heaviest complaint load at 21.4 per 10,000 sold. Most are power train (34) and engine (23) complaints. It has one recall. A newer car with that many complaints so early is a reason to pick the 2021 instead.
Is the 2025 Nissan Versa the most reliable year?
It is rated excellent, with no recalls and only 9 complaints. Still, it is the newest year, and complaints build up with time on the road. Those low counts mostly reflect less time, so it should not be favored over the 2021 yet.
How does the 2018 Nissan Versa compare with later years?
The 2018 is a solid but busier choice. It has 5 recalls, the most of any year listed, and its top complaints are electrical and air bags, tied at 12 each. It is from the earlier N17 generation, while the 2021 belongs to the N18 generation.

How we score every Nissan Versa model year

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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