2018 Nissan Versa Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
47/100
#9 most-complained of 16 Versa years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2018 Nissan Versa has a Complaint Index of 47, ranking 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Versa years. It has 55 complaints, 2 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.
- Complaints
- 55
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 11 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 27 city / 36 hwy
Top 2018 Nissan Versa problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System18 (33%)
- Engine16 (29%)
- Airbags13 (24%)
- Other13 (24%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (18%)
- Brakes6 (11%)
- Steering2 (4%)
- Structure & Body2 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (4%)
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in multiple frontal and side-impact crashes, including collisions with deer and other vehicles at highway speeds.
- Owners report the check engine light turning on repeatedly with the car stalling on its own.
- Electrical faults linked to a short in the tail light have caused the transmission to hesitate or fail to engage gear while driving.
- Brakes reportedly weaken over time, making the car harder to slow down and giving a sensation of losing control.
- Transmission chain slipping or skipping was reported at higher mileage, with owners noting Nissan had a bulletin on the issue but declined warranty coverage.
2018 Nissan Versa recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V654000Sep 12, 2019Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,228,830 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
- NHTSA 18V551000Aug 21, 2018Electrical System153,047 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
2018 Nissan Versa fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27 MPG
- Highway
- 36 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 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.
2018 compared with other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Nissan Versa reliable?
- Relative to other Versa model years, the 2018 is rated 'Good' with a Complaint Index of 47, ranking 9th worst out of 16 years covered by NHTSA data.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Versa?
- The top problem area is the Electrical System, accounting for 33% of complaints (18 of 55), followed by Engine issues at 29% and Airbags at 24%.
- Does the 2018 Nissan Versa have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Versa: one for back-up camera software (campaign 19V654000) and one for an ignition switch electrical issue (campaign 18V551000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2018 Versa compare to other model years?
- The 2018 Versa's Complaint Index of 47 is lower than 2010-2016 years (which ranged from 53 to 100) but higher than 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, which scored between 0 and 33.
- Were there airbag failures reported in the 2018 Nissan Versa?
- Yes, NHTSA complaints describe airbags in the 2018 Versa failing to deploy in crashes involving deer strikes and vehicle collisions, with a median failure mileage of 17,000 miles for this category.