2009 Nissan Versa Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Nissan Versa has the highest complaint index (100) of all 19 model years covered, ranking worst-first at #1, with 503 complaints and 7 recalls. It carries an Avoid verdict, driven mainly by suspension/wheel/tire issues (41% of complaints) and airbag problems (36%).
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 19 Versa years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 503
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 27
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 16
- Top issue
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 26 city / 33 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 16 / 0
Top 2009 Nissan Versa problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires205 (41%)
- Airbags179 (36%)
- Engine49 (10%)
- Fuel System28 (6%)
- Steering28 (6%)
- Structure & Body22 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain20 (4%)
- Other17 (3%)
- Electrical System15 (3%)
- Brakes13 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front passenger or driver airbags failed to deploy during moderate-to-severe frontal or rear-end collisions, sometimes causing injury.
- Front coil springs broke unexpectedly while driving over bumps, puncturing the front tire and causing loss of control.
- Rear seats and seatbelts detached or failed structurally during rear-impact crashes, allowing occupants to shift or be injured.
- Steering wheel failed to respond properly at highway speed, causing the vehicle to drift and crash.
- CVT transmissions failed at relatively low mileage, with owners reporting the unit stopped working entirely.
2009 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 18V044000Jan 10, 2018Airbags52,614 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Versa Hatchback, and 2009-2011 Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Versa Hatchback, and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Nissan is also recalling certain 2009 Versa Hatchback and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and 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 passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
- 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.
2009 Nissan Versa fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 28.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,275
- 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.
2009 compared with other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Nissan Versa reliable?
- Among 19 model years of the Versa, 2009 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, so it is considered the least reliable year based on NHTSA owner complaints.
- What problems does the 2009 Nissan Versa have?
- NHTSA data shows 503 complaints for this year, led by suspension/wheels/tires (41%, median failure mileage 64,000) and airbags (36%, median failure mileage 88,000), plus smaller shares in engine, fuel system, and steering.
- Does the 2009 Nissan Versa have airbag recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists five separate airbag-related recall campaigns affecting the 2009 Versa, covering both driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators.
- How does the 2009 Versa compare to other years?
- The 2009 Versa has a complaint index of 100, the worst of any year; by contrast, 2019 and 2022 score 0 and 6 and carry Best verdicts.
- Are there suspension recalls for the 2009 Nissan Versa?
- Yes, NHTSA recall 15V573000 covers front coil spring replacement on 2007-2012 Versa models, including 2009, after springs broke and damaged tires.