2011 Nissan Versa Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2011 Nissan Versa ranks 4th worst out of 19 model years, with a complaint index of 83 and 269 NHTSA complaints, mostly airbags (57%). It carries a Avoid verdict and has been hit with 6 recalls, five of them airbag-related.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 83/100
- #4 of 19 Versa years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 269
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 19
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 23
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 2 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 26 city / 32 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 1
Top 2011 Nissan Versa problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Frontal airbags failed to deploy in low-speed crashes, sometimes around 20 to 25 mph, leaving occupants with neck, back, and head injuries.
- Some owners reported sudden steering wheel lockup or seizing while driving, in one case causing a collision with a parked car.
- Power locks, power steering assist, and brakes were reported to fail together without warning in at least one case, resulting in a crash.
- Seat belts reportedly failed to retract or restrain occupants properly during a rear-end collision.
- Electrical system problems included failed air conditioning, non-functioning alarm horn, and a battery that reportedly caught fire during a jump start.
- A tire reportedly went flat suddenly on the interstate after a popping noise and steering pull was felt.
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 gives the 2011 Versa a complaint index of 83, the 4th worst of 19 model years for this model, with an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 57% of its 269 complaints.
- What problems does the 2011 Nissan Versa have?
- Owners most often reported airbag non-deployment or failure, at a median mileage of 74,215 miles. Suspension, wheel, and tire complaints and steering issues followed, at median mileages of 69,529 and 35,000 miles respectively.
- Does the 2011 Nissan Versa have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2011 Versa, five covering airbag inflator defects and one covering front coil springs in the suspension.
- How does the 2011 Versa compare to other Versa years?
- The 2011 Versa's complaint index of 83 is higher than the 2010 model's 78 and close to the 2008 model's 89, but lower than the worst year, 2009, at 100. Later years like 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 earn Best verdicts with much lower complaint indexes.
- Were there any deaths or fires linked to the 2011 Versa?
- NHTSA complaint data for the 2011 Versa lists 1 death, 23 injuries, 19 crashes, and 6 fires.