YearToAvoid

2019 Nissan Versa Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Versa years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2019 Nissan Versa ranks as the Best year among 16 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 0 and only 24 complaints. It has 1 recall, no do-not-drive recalls, and its top reported problem area is Transmission & Powertrain.

Complaints
24
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
32
29 city / 37.5 hwy

Top 2019 Nissan Versa problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain11 (46%)
  2. Electrical System8 (33%)
  3. Brakes6 (25%)
  4. Engine4 (17%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (13%)
  6. Other3 (13%)
  7. Airbags2 (8%)
  8. Fuel System2 (8%)
  9. Steering2 (8%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the CVT transmission as jerky with slow acceleration and a loud noise when shifting from park into drive.
  • Some drivers report the vehicle suddenly losing motive power while making a turn with the signal on, then returning to normal once the signal was deactivated.
  • One owner reported the brake pedal going all the way to the floorboard at a stop light, recurring when the vehicle was overheating.
  • A fuel system complaint described the automatic shutoff valve cutting off the pump before the tank was full, tied to a back-over prevention campaign repair.
  • One driver reported losing control after hitting a bump at 35 mph, leading to a crash and airbag deployment.
2019 Nissan Versa complaints: complaints filed per month5Sep 2019May 2020Dec 2020Nov 2022Sep 2023Oct 2025Mar 2026
43 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2019 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2021 (5).

2019 Nissan Versa recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2019 Nissan Versa fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29 MPG
Highway
37.5 MPG
Combined
32 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,025
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.

2019 compared with other Versa years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Good3362330
2018Good4755230
2019Best024132
2020Good4064232.5
2021Best2031332.5

All Nissan Versa years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Nissan Versa reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Versa ranks as the Best year among 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 0 and 24 total complaints.
What problems does the 2019 Nissan Versa have?
The top reported problem area is Transmission & Powertrain, with 11 complaints (46% share), followed by Electrical System with 8 complaints and Brakes with 6 complaints.
Does the 2019 Nissan Versa have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2019 Versa, covering the back-up camera settings software, with no do-not-drive designation.
What is the median mileage for transmission complaints on the 2019 Versa?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 25,250 miles at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2019 Versa.
How does the 2019 Versa compare to other Versa years?
The 2019 Versa's Complaint Index of 0 is far lower than years like 2012 (100) or 2011 (93), which are rated Avoid, making 2019 one of the better years for the model.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.