2007 Nissan Versa Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report two dominant themes: the Takata air bag recall and its slow parts availability, and front coil springs that break, sometimes cutting into a tire. Reports of both continue well past 100,000 miles, while starting difficulty, warning lights and door handles appear at lower mileages.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front coil spring breaks

   • 32 complaints (9%)
   • median 81,085 mi at 7.8 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2020

   Owners describe a loud bang from the front end and later finding a broken piece of coil spring, sometimes on the ground and sometimes cutting into the tire sidewall. Many say it happened while parked or at low speed; a few report loss of control while driving. Complaints mention dealers replacing springs and struts, at times asking owners to pay for struts fused by corrosion before recall work could be done. Reported from roughly 22,000 to 165,000 miles, with several cases under 60,000 miles; often noticed in cold-weather states where road salt is used.

   Recall 15V5730002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the front coil spring recall was performed and whether springs or struts were replaced. Inspect both front springs for breaks near the lower seat and look for corrosion on the struts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In 2014, my Versa's rf coil spring fractured. A large piece of it actually detached and fell onto the road as the car was being driven out of my driveway. I took it to a private garage and the spring and strut were replaced. In fall of 2015 I received the recall notice regarding this issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10853060, filed 2016-04, 163,405 miles

   “The front coil spring broke in two impaling my front passenger side tire and locking up my front end resulting in a lose of control while driving. After having my vehicle towed and repaired I learned of a recall by Nissan which I had no prior knowledge of because I was never notified until after the incident. Nissan has repeatedly denied to reimburse me for repairs in direct violation numerous sections of 49cfr part 573.13”

   NHTSA complaint #11170397, filed 2019-01, 55,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag recall parts unavailable; air bag warning light

   • 140 complaints (40%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2023

   Complaints describe long waits for the front air bag inflator recalls, with owners told parts were on back order and advised not to carry passengers in the meantime. Several report the air bag warning light staying on, and dealers quoting diagnosis or wiring repair costs separately from the recall work. Some describe dealers declining to perform the inflator replacement, citing stuck or corroded parts. Spread across the sample from about 10,000 to over 200,000 miles, mostly reported between 2016 and 2020 after the recall notices went out.

   Recall 20V008000Recall 18V452000Recall 17V449000Recall 17V028000Recall 16V3490005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Verify by VIN whether the driver and passenger inflator recalls were completed, and ask for the repair order. If the air bag warning light is on, have the cause diagnosed before agreeing to pay for inflator work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a safety recall notice some time ago. So I looked it up on internet and it said that Nissan is awaiting parts to remedy the humdity problem in the air bag inflator. Maanufacturer noted to contact Nissan affairs that they failed or unable to remedy safety recall on my vehicle in a timely manner. I never received a second notice to bring in my vehicle, but had to look this information up on my own.”

   NHTSA complaint #10966311, filed 2017-03, 10,000 miles

   “I received a recall notice in the fall of 2017 for the driver side airbag. When the replacement airbags were available in the spring of 2018 & called my local dealership where I purchased the car and made an appointment to have the work done. I was told when I arrived that because the airbag light was flashing they needed to do a diagnostic test that would cost $100+ to determine if it was safe to replace the airbag. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11091178, filed 2018-05, 92,763 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: warning lights, accessories, no-start

   • 24 complaints (7%)
   • median 61,220 mi at 7.8 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2022

   Owners report the battery light or warning lights coming on and dealers finding control unit faults, plus accessories such as the rear defroster, A/C button, cruise control and door handles failing. Some describe the key not being recognised or the ignition switch not turning with a worn key. A small number of complaints describe engine-compartment or interior fires of undetermined origin. Spread from a few thousand to over 200,000 miles, with many reports in the 30,000 to 130,000 mile range.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test every switch and light — defroster, A/C, cruise control, door handles, key and ignition — and ask whether the vehicle has had any CAN communication or control unit repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have owned this car since I bought it new in sept.2006. Never have had any problems and have kept it serviced, on oct 02, 2020 I went to store and back home about 8 miles total, parked in yard, approx. 10 minutes later alarm went off and key fob would not dissarm it so I opened the hood and the whole firewall was on fire, and flames bellowing from underneath, I immediately ran and got a fire extingusher andd completely used the large cannister to put fire out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11362631, filed 2020-10, 221,000 miles

   “Cruise control electrical spring went out. Rear window defroster went out and the AC control for the defroster needs replaceing. The cruise control went out while I was driving. I do not know when the rear defroster went out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11045589, filed 2017-11, 125,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Hard starting and stalling (fuel pressure, pump, ignition)

   • 33 complaints (9%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2018

   Complaints describe the engine cranking for several seconds, sometimes repeatedly, before catching, and occasional stalling. Owners report dealers replacing the fuel pressure regulator, fuel pump, coil packs and catalytic converter, with some saying the problem returned after repair or that no fault was found. A few link hard starting to the check engine light and fuel cap codes. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 80,000 miles, with some cases at very low mileage shortly after purchase.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Start the car from cold and listen for extended cranking, and ask whether the fuel pump, pressure regulator or ignition components have been replaced. A scan for stored codes before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2007 Nissan Versa is having issues starting, I've brought it to the dealership a few times to get fixed and im being told that there is nothing wrong with it. Those only happens occasionally, when I try to start it just constantly cranks for a few second... It will do this a few times before it actually does crank.”

   NHTSA complaint #10476683, filed 2012-09, 80,000 miles

   “Having issue with hard start with vehicle taking a long time cranking in order to catch. While reading other consumers issues with their Versa dying out in traffic I would like to avoid that as I have a baby on the way.”

   NHTSA complaint #10358351, filed 2010-09, 49,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Undercarriage rust and structure damage

   • 25 complaints (7%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2020

   Complaints describe severe rust on the subframe, engine cradle and cross member, with one owner told the cradle needed replacement and another reporting a control arm pulling loose. Owners report shops expressing surprise at the extent of corrosion, and in one case a cross mount fracturing during dealer recall work. Door handles coming off are also reported under this component. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles on vehicles used in areas with road salt; door handle failures appear at lower mileages.

   Recall 15V573000

   What to check: Have the car put on a lift and inspect the subframe, cradle and suspension mounts for corrosion, especially if it has lived in a salt-belt state. Try both front door handles from outside.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took my car to the garage to have it inspected and was told I was going to need my engine cradle/ subframe replaced. When I took it to the garage to get it fixed he told me it should not have rusted out that bad for a 2007 and was surprised to find no recall on this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11130769, filed 2018-09, 127,859 miles

   “Due to rust corrosion on the underneath frame and carriage of this vehicle, the control arm on both sides has snapped out of place. This has affected my steering capabilities. It also almost caused a serious accident on the highway. I am lucky to be alive. The vehicle is with my mechanic and I will include as many pictures as I can. The recall states that the undercarriage of the vehicle may have unnecessary rust and unfortunately my pin number has been involved. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11350502, filed 2020-08, 143,000 miles

Buying note. Check the open-recall status by VIN first, since air bag inflator and front coil spring campaigns affect this model year, and confirm whether prior repair work was completed. A pre-purchase inspection on a lift, focused on underbody corrosion, front springs and hard starting, is worth the cost on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.