2008 Nissan Versa Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Nissan Versa has a Complaint Index of 89 and ranks 3rd worst among 19 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 45% of its 381 complaints, and NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns, mostly for airbag inflators.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 89/100
- #3 of 19 Versa years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 381
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 24
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 22
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 26 city / 32 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 22 / 3
Top 2008 Nissan Versa problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags171 (45%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires94 (25%)
- Engine32 (8%)
- Fuel System32 (8%)
- Electrical System25 (7%)
- Steering23 (6%)
- Brakes22 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain17 (4%)
- Other16 (4%)
- Structure & Body12 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the driver or passenger frontal airbag failing to deploy in a collision, sometimes resulting in head injuries.
- Some describe brakes suddenly losing response or failing entirely while driving or parking, leading to crashes.
- Several report front seat backs collapsing or folding backward in rear-end collisions, throwing occupants into the back seat.
- One owner described sparks and a loud pop from the engine bay followed by a total electrical shutdown while driving.
- Another reported the engine catching fire near the battery area shortly after starting to drive.
2008 Nissan Versa recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V008000Jan 9, 2020Airbags307,962 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 18V452000Jul 6, 2018Airbags233 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2008 Nissan Versa sedan and Versa hatchback vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation due to exposure to humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: If an inflator were to explode it 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 July 25, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: The vehicles covered by this recall are in addition to those covered by recall 16V-349.
- NHTSA 17V449000Jul 17, 2017Airbags515,394 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
2008 Nissan Versa fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 32 MPG
- Combined
- 28 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Nissan Versa reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Versa ranks 3rd worst out of 19 model years with a Complaint Index of 89, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Versa years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Nissan Versa?
- Airbags make up 45% of complaints (171 of 381), followed by suspension, wheels and tires at 25% and engine issues at 8%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2008 Nissan Versa have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2008 Versa, most involving airbag inflator replacement, plus one for a coil spring issue and one for a GPS unit battery.
- How does the 2008 Versa compare to other model years?
- The 2008 Versa's Complaint Index of 89 is worse than most other years; only the 2009 Versa (index 100) ranks worse, while years like 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 earn Best verdicts with indexes at or near 0.
- What mileage do 2008 Versa problems typically appear at?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 52,000 miles overall, with airbag complaints occurring at a median of 74,000 miles and engine complaints at 42,000 miles.