2010 Nissan Versa Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2010 Nissan Versa has a complaint index of 78 and ranks 5th-worst out of 19 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 268 complaints and 7 recalls, with airbags making up 49% of complaints and a median failure mileage of 73,310 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 78/100
- #5 of 19 Versa years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 268
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 20
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 26 city / 33 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 1
Top 2010 Nissan Versa problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags130 (49%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires78 (29%)
- Engine26 (10%)
- Structure & Body24 (9%)
- Electrical System19 (7%)
- Other15 (6%)
- Steering11 (4%)
- Fuel System10 (4%)
- Brakes8 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (2%)
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 airbags failing to deploy during crashes, including a deer strike and a tree collision, leading to injuries.
- Some describe the driver airbag deploying suddenly with no impact or warning, causing the vehicle to crash.
- Owners report the rear of the vehicle fishtailing and becoming uncontrollable during highway lane changes.
- One owner described smoke and melting coming from the roof area while driving, without a fire igniting.
- A steering wheel reportedly locked up while driving, sending the vehicle off the road.
- Owners report brakes failing to respond, causing the vehicle to drift forward into a wall.
2010 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 18V401000Jun 15, 2018Airbags104,762 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2011-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the 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. Nissan is also recalling 2010-2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2010-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of 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. 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 front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
- 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.
2010 Nissan Versa fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 33 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.
2010 compared with other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Nissan Versa reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2010 Versa a complaint index of 78, the 5th-worst among the 19 model years covered, resulting in an Avoid verdict relative to other Versa years.
- What problems does the 2010 Nissan Versa have?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 49% of the 268 complaints filed, followed by suspension, wheels and tires at 29%. Median mileage at failure across complaints is 65,000 miles.
- Does the 2010 Nissan Versa have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2010 Versa, with 5 of them tied to airbag inflators, including campaigns 20V008000, 18V401000, 18V044000, 17V449000, and 16V349000.
- How does the 2010 Versa compare to other Versa years?
- The 2010 Versa's complaint index of 78 is worse than most other years; only 2008 (89), 2009 (100), 2011 (83), and 2012 (94) rank worse, while years like 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025 earn Best verdicts.
- Were there any crashes linked to 2010 Versa complaints?
- NHTSA data shows 20 crashes and 8 injuries linked to 2010 Versa complaints, with 1 death reported, and airbags account for 13 of those crashes.