YearToAvoid

2020 Nissan Versa Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2020 Nissan Versa, 23% of its 64 total complaints that year. There are no related recalls for this engine issue, and no crashes, fires, or injuries were reported.

Engine complaints
15
23% of 64
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
—
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report intermittent loss of acceleration power while pulling out of parking spaces, sitting at red lights, or turning.
  • Some describe a check engine light tied to camshaft code P0012 causing intermittent power loss, with dealership visits that did not resolve the issue.
  • Several report jerking or shuddering while driving shortly after purchase, which they linked to transmission behavior rather than brakes.
  • Owners describe the engine slowing down during acceleration along with the transmission failing to change gears at highway speeds.
  • A few report the vehicle stalling in reverse and in regular driving mode with no clear trigger, accompanied by warning lights.
  • One owner reported the vehicle would not start or turn on at all, with a squealing belt noise before the failure.

When 2020 Nissan Versa engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 18, 2021, latest Jun 11, 2026.

2020 Nissan Versa engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2021May 2023Nov 2023Feb 2025May 2025Oct 2025Jun 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2021 to Jun 2026; peak Feb 2025 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Nissan Versa

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Versa model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201026 (10%)
  2. 201114 (5%)
  3. 201282 (17%)
  4. 201347 (23%)
  5. 201459 (29%)
  6. 201542 (25%)
  7. 201614 (18%)
  8. 20179 (15%)
  9. 201816 (29%)
  10. 20194 (17%)
  11. 202015 (23%)
  12. 20217 (23%)
  13. 20229 (45%)
  14. 202327 (73%)
  15. 202464 (67%)
  16. 20253 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2020 Nissan Versa have?
NHTSA lists 15 engine complaints for the 2020 Versa, which is 23% of the 64 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Nissan Versa engine problems?
No. The JSON data shows no related recalls tied to this engine complaint category for the 2020 Versa.
Did the 2020 Versa engine issues cause any crashes or injuries?
No crashes, fires, or injuries were reported among the engine complaints for the 2020 Versa.
What engine symptoms do 2020 Versa owners report?
Owners describe intermittent acceleration loss, camshaft-related check engine codes, jerking or shuddering while driving, and occasional stalling.

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.