2017 Nissan Versa Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 Versa most often report transmission trouble — hesitation, slipping, sudden loss of power or failure to engage a gear, in some cases at highway speed — along with cold-start stalling and loss of power from the engine. Air bag non-deployment in frontal crashes and brake complaints (noise, soft or long pedal, longer stopping) also appear repeatedly in the sample, and several owners describe the dealer either not reproducing the problem or telling them no recall covers it.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hesitation or failure to engage gear

   • 11 complaints (18%)
   • median 54,935 mi at 4.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners describe the car hesitating or vibrating under acceleration, downshifting on its own, revving without moving, or losing drive entirely — in some accounts dropping from highway speed to a crawl. Several say the car then drove normally on restart, or that a flush did not help and a replacement transmission was recommended by an independent shop or specialist. Dealers reportedly told some owners there was no recall or coverage for the failure. Spread across the range, from about 27,000 to over 100,000 miles, often appearing on the highway or during take-off.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car from cold and at highway speed, watching for hesitation, flaring revs or delayed engagement; ask whether the CVT fluid was ever serviced and whether any transmission repair or replacement is documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “With the seat belt on passenger side light pops on stating not connect, my transmission is slipping it also jumped in drive while sitting in park, an there were a recall on the springs were not fixed. This vehicle is the only one that I have”

   NHTSA complaint #11298203, filed 2020-01, 32,225 miles

   “My car stalled while at an intersection, i was driving and came to a red light where i stopped upon the light changing green i stepped on the gas pedal and my car would not move. I shifted into reverse and still no movement. I turned my car off and restarted it and no movement, the engine turned on etc i had to move it over to a side residential street to get it out of on coming traffic.”

   NHTSA complaint #11447714, filed 2022-01
2. 2
   Air bags

   Front air bags not deploying in a crash

   • 15 complaints (24%)
   • median 9,660 mi at 1.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report frontal impacts — some at highway speed with the vehicle totaled — in which the front air bags did not deploy, while side bags did. Other complaints concern the passenger seat-belt or occupant sensor warning staying on, and about delays getting recall parts. Several describe injuries in these events and say the manufacturer was notified. Reported from very low mileage (a few thousand miles) up to about 69,000 miles, usually after a collision.

   Recall 17V275000Recall 16V7240003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether both air bag recalls (17V275000 and 16V724000) were performed and confirm no air bag or occupant-detection warning light is on; a diagnostic scan can show stored occupant sensor codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2017-12-20 I went to Nissan sunnyvale where I purchased for recall service (pm662 / 16v-724). They said it will be done same day with oil change. But end of the day, they said they just check the car and order parts. Recall service need to wait for parts come in. They said it may take a couple day or a couple month. 2018-01-08 I text messaged to service manager for the update. No replay. It's been more than 2 weeks.”

   NHTSA complaint #11061387, filed 2018-01

   “The vehicle was involved in a side impact collision at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss after the accident, as the side impact was the drivers side door and wheel well. The air bags never deployed, despite the high rate of speed and the entire front drivers side of the vehicle being affected.”

   NHTSA complaint #11727553, filed 2026-03, 69,443 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake noise, soft pedal and longer stopping

   • 9 complaints (15%)
   • median 19,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2021

   Complaints describe screeching or grinding when braking, a pedal that slowly sinks toward the floor, and cases where the pedal was pressed but the car did not slow as expected. Some owners had pads replaced and the noise returned; others say the dealer declined to repair it or attributed it to needing more grease. One owner links water intrusion into the electrical harness with the ABS light and loss of braking assist. Reported early, mostly between a few hundred and about 36,000 miles, sometimes within weeks of purchase.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the pedal for firmness with the engine running and listen for noise during slow stops; ask for brake service records and whether any ABS or stability-control codes have been stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I've had to fix my brakes 3 times and it's only been a year, to to mention I'm still hearing a scratching sounds when I brake. So there's obviously something wrong with something else and I shouldn't be coming out of pocket this much for brakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #11160945, filed 2018-12, 18,000 miles

   “I purchased my 2017 Nissan Versa in july of 2017, with 10 miles on it and that was the 10 miles that I put on it during the test drive. March of 2019 my brakes start to make this high pitch sound when I break. My car does not have 28,000 miles on it yet. Took it to midas (because brakes are not covered under the warranty) and they told me my front break pads were thin, so had those replaced. Three days later the sound is back. So midas did not fix the problem they just took me for $200.00. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11196625, filed 2019-04, 27,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power, often in cold weather

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 22,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2022

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off or losing power while driving or after stopping at a light, sometimes with no warning light, and needing an ignition cycle to restart. Some owners tie it to cold temperatures or to the air conditioning being on at idle, and one describes the car stalling at an intersection and not moving in any gear. Diagnosis has been inconsistent — some were told sensors or the ECM and wiring harness needed replacement. Mostly reported at low mileage, several under 10,000 miles, and often in cold weather or at idle.

   Recall 18V5510003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car cold and let it idle with the A/C on, and test a stop-and-go drive; ask whether stalling was ever diagnosed and whether the ignition-related recall and any software updates were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The AC ok my car keeps going out. This year it was so bad that if I had accidentally turned it on while I was driving that the car would completely stop and I could be dangerously hurt while driving. The steering wheel would lock up also. I have contacted Nissan numerous times and they wouldn't even let me talk to anyone that could possibly help. The vehicle initially turned off when I was making a uturn after leaving work so I parked it so I wouldn't be stranded or black traffic.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330355, filed 2020-06, 69,000 miles

   “When it is cold outside the engine stalls or lose power during acceleration. Today 11/29/2018 it was 28 degrees. I warmed the car up for a few minutes because of the stalling problem. I was driving on the street for two miles when I came to a stop sign. I put on the brakes and the car just shut down. The car was still in drive. There was no check engine light or warning prior to, during, or after the time the car shut down. I had to turn the ignition to the off position. Put the car in park. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11154861, filed 2018-11, 8,500 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Water leaking into the cabin, especially the passenger side

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 33,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners report water entering the cabin from the cowl area under the windshield during heavy rain — pooling on the passenger floor, gushing from the glovebox area, or soaking the rear seat. Complaints blame a small cowl drain that clogs easily, and one owner connects the moisture to electrical problems and an ABS warning light. Described after rain or car washes, from roughly 33,000 to 40,000 miles in the accounts given.

   What to check: Check the passenger floor and under the glovebox for dampness, musty smells or water stains, and look at the cowl drain area under the wiper blades for debris; a test with a hose can reveal a clogged drain.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It happened on the passenger side water was filling up on the passenger side of the car about a week ago last Friday evening when I got off work I don't know where it is coming from but it is in the front and back seat of the car on the passenger side”

   NHTSA complaint #11424529, filed 2021-07

   “These vehicles have a cowl drain located on the passenger side under the wiper blades. The drain is really small so it clogs easily. When there are heavy rains, my car floods. It has happened on several occasions, including Monday 7/8/2024. It happened while driving in June 2023. I am not sure why Nissan hasn’t done anything to mitigate this problem. I am not even sure of this is the appropriate place to contract but I figured I would try. Thanks.”

   NHTSA complaint #11600998, filed 2024-07

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission and a cold-start test drive is worthwhile on this model year, along with confirming both air bag recalls were completed. Because several complaints involve water leaks and electrical symptoms, check the carpet and interior for moisture before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 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.