2011 Nissan Versa Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
93/100
#2 most-complained of 16 Versa years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2011 Nissan Versa has a Complaint Index of 93, ranking 2nd-worst of 16 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 57% of its 269 complaints, with 6 recalls filed, mostly for airbag inflators.
- Complaints
- 269
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 19 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 2 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 26 city / 32 hwy
Top 2011 Nissan Versa problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags152 (57%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires52 (19%)
- Electrical System21 (8%)
- Other21 (8%)
- Steering21 (8%)
- Engine14 (5%)
- Structure & Body14 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (3%)
- Seat Belts7 (3%)
- Brakes6 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report front passenger or driver airbags failing to deploy during a crash, sometimes even after the recall repair was supposedly completed.
- Some describe the driver frontal airbag deploying abruptly with no impact, accompanied by a burning smell, leading to loss of control.
- Steering has reportedly seized or locked suddenly during turns or while braking, in some cases causing a crash into a parked object.
- Front coil springs have reportedly snapped while driving at highway speed, causing the vehicle to lose control and roll.
- Electrical failures have been described starting with A/C and alarm malfunctions before the vehicle failed to start entirely.
- One owner reported a fuel tank leak into the passenger compartment caused by defective, arcing electrical connectors.
2011 Nissan Versa recalls
6 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.
2011 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.
2011 compared with other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Nissan Versa reliable?
- NHTSA data ranks the 2011 Versa 2nd-worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 93 and an Avoid verdict relative to other Versa years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Nissan Versa?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 57% of the 269 complaints filed, with a median failure mileage of 74,215 miles.
- Does the 2011 Nissan Versa have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 5 separate airbag-related recalls for the 2011 Versa covering both driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators.
- How many complaints and recalls does the 2011 Versa have?
- NHTSA lists 269 complaints and 6 recalls for the 2011 Nissan Versa, including 19 crashes, 6 fires, 23 injuries, and 1 death.
- Which Versa years are worse or better than 2011?
- The 2012 Versa has a higher Complaint Index of 100 and is also rated Avoid, while the 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Versas rank as Best with much lower complaint indexes.