2008 Nissan Versa Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about two things: the Takata air bag recalls and front or rear coil springs that fracture. The air bag complaints cluster around long waits for parts and warning lights, while the spring complaints describe a snap or loud noise and, in several cases, a broken spring end rubbing the tire. Fuel-system complaints about long or failed starts and cooling, electrical and steering items appear less often.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front and rear coil springs breaking

   • 68 complaints (18%)
   • median 68,500 mi at 7.6 yrs old (53 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2021

   Owners report a sudden loud snap or crunch, sometimes just backing out of a driveway or driving at low speed, followed by a broken piece of coil spring on the ground or a spring that has shifted out of its seat. In several complaints the jagged end of the broken spring contacted and damaged a tire, and some drivers noted a thumping noise when turning before the break. Repair usually meant replacing both springs, sometimes a strut, plus a tire and alignment. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 130,000 miles, with a few at lower mileage; often noticed at low speed or when first moving the car.

   Recall 15V5730003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look closely at the front and rear springs for a fresh break or a spring that no longer sits squarely in its seat, and ask whether the vehicle has had the coil spring recall work done if it was registered in a covered state.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I parked my Nissan Versa in a parking lot while I was at work all day. I hadn't had any problems with it. When I got in to leave in the evening and put the car in drive and went forward a few inches, I heard a horrible crunching noise like I hit something. When I backed up to see what was under my car, I just saw a metal horseshoe shaped broken piece on the ground. My mechanic says it is a coil spring that broke. I've seen many complaints about this from Nissan Versa owners. The broken part didn't seem rusty at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10508072, filed 2013-04, 72,000 miles

   “I was concerned that something was wrong with the car. I was taking it to the garage when the coil spring broke. The jagged end rubbed against the tire causing it to blow out.”

   NHTSA complaint #10720958, filed 2015-05, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag recall parts unavailable / air bag warning light on

   • 164 complaints (43%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2024

   Owners describe being told their vehicle is covered by a Takata air bag recall but that the replacement inflator is not in stock, in some cases waiting many months with a passenger seat they were told not to use. Several complaints describe the air bag warning light coming on or flickering, and dealers stating they could not complete the recall repair until the cause of the light was diagnosed. A few owners report air bags that did not deploy in a collision or that deployed without breaking through the seat cover. Spread across the sample from very low mileage up to roughly 160,000 miles; several reports are on vehicles that had been on the road for eight to ten years.

   Recall 20V008000Recall 18V452000Recall 17V449000Recall 16V349000Recall 17V0280004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the driver and passenger inflators have actually been replaced under the recalls and get the paperwork; if the air bag light is on, have the code read before assuming a recall visit will cover it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall - it has been about a year since first time I contacted the dealer for repair of this recall item. Yet to date, I get the same excuse that they don't have the part and they will call me when they have a part. Meanwhile, this vehicle is in use because, it is a primary transportation for me and my family.”

   NHTSA complaint #10983086, filed 2017-05, 50,000 miles

   “The drivers airbag began to blink continuously, up to the present date ; after being checked by the dealer, I was told I was responsible for the cost of repairs, I don't feel I should pay for the manufacturer defect, this is not wear and tear, this is my and my family life, I am concerned about here. Can you help me?”

   NHTSA complaint #10622057, filed 2014-08, 69,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Hard starting and stalling; fuel pump or pressure problems

   • 65 complaints (17%)
   • median 38,400 mi at 2.6 yrs old (53 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2022

   Owners describe the engine cranking for a long time, sometimes several attempts, before it catches — particularly after the car has sat for a while, such as after work or overnight. Several were told the fuel pump or fuel pressure needed attention, with one owner reporting the pump was replaced repeatedly, and others said the dealer could not reproduce the problem. A separate complaint describes the car losing power and stalling after long drives. Reported from very low mileage (a few hundred miles) up to about 120,000 miles, commonly after the vehicle has been parked for a period.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car after it has sat for a while and listen for long crank times, and ask whether the fuel pump or evap vent valve has been replaced; a service bulletin describes an evap leak at the vent control valve O-ring for a related diagnostic code.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car is almost five years old. I have had minor problems with it. My car had been stalling to start. I took it to get checked out. I am told my fuel pump needs to be replaced. My car is not under warranty anymore. I did research and found out this is a common problem for my car, and I am unlucky to have encountered it after my warranty was up. It was suggested to me to file an official complaint.”

   NHTSA complaint #10477030, filed 2012-09, 80,000 miles

   “I tried starting my vehicle and it would not start. I had to try it multiple times and eventually after about 8 tries it did. This occurred for the first in june 2012 but I thought nothing would be wrong with a car that is was only about 4 years old. After it occurred a couple more times in the next few months, I brought it in to be tested at a Nissan dealership and they tested it and found nothing was wrong. The issue continued again in february 2013 and I brought it in to be tested again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10499671, filed 2013-02, 47,110 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Clunk or popping from front end when turning

   • 42 complaints (11%)
   • median 32,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2018

   Owners describe a clunk, pop or clicking sound from the front, often felt through the steering wheel, when turning right at low speed. Some were told the steering column or front axles needed replacement; others report the dealer could not reproduce the noise or found nothing wrong. In a few complaints the symptom was accompanied by difficulty steering or a wheel that moved into the body due to rusted subframe components. Reported from a few thousand miles up to around 80,000 miles, most often at low speed while turning.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive a slow full-lock turn in both directions and listen for a clunk or pop; check the front axle boots and subframe area for rust, and ask about any prior steering column or axle work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The front left driver's side of my 2008 Nissan Versa hatchback started to thud/thump when turning to the right at low speed. Now the vehicle cannot not turn right quickly, thus I could not avoid an accident in an emergency situation. I have taken to dealer and they cannot reproduce the symptoms, but I encounter daily.”

   NHTSA complaint #10315337, filed 2010-03, 24,500 miles

   “The steering wheel has a clunk or pop that is both audible and felt in the wheel when making turns to the right at low speeds. At 10,000 miles I began hearing and feeling this clunk. At 18,000 miles I brought my vehicle to the dealer and they said they would have to replace the entire steering column and that it was a safety concern. The stopped the sound and the pop/clunk. 1000 miles later the sound started reappearing. I brought my vehicle to the dealer 5 times since and the dealer claims to not be able to hear the sound. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10331103, filed 2010-05, 18,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Exhaust flange and muffler corrosion

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the exhaust flange, muffler and mid-pipe rusting or breaking apart, sometimes with the exhaust becoming noticeably loud or exhaust smell entering the cabin. Repairs were done by welding sections or replacing the muffler and mid-pipe, and one owner noted the work was needed a second time a year later. Complaints mention the failure appearing without much warning. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 120,000 miles, often on cars driven in winter or northern conditions, though one owner noted the car had been driven in the South.

   What to check: Inspect the flanges at the muffler and mid-pipe for heavy rust or a recent weld, and listen for exhaust noise or smell at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Exhaust system has been diagnosed with 2 separate failures requiring a weld job in order to repair. I have completed one at the cost of $200 and the second weld estimate is priced at $200. Both instances came on suddenly and without other warning. Exhaust smell occurs when car first starts and disapates after driving several miles. Each occurred at separate times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10808101, filed 2015-12, 120,000 miles

   “Exhaust is leaking into the cabin of the car from several places. The muffler was replaced in 2010 after the flange broke, not rusted apart. The estimated repair is over $2000.00 this car has 156k miles on it but has been driven mainly in the southern part of the USA and there is no visible rust on the pipe at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #10785970, filed 2015-10, 53,000 miles

Buying note. Check the air bag recall status for both inflators first, then inspect the coil springs and the exhaust system for breaks and rust, since those are the items owners report most. Starting behavior after the car has sat is worth testing on a test drive.

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.