2012 Nissan VERSA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
486 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
60,088 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 313 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 165 of 486 complaints (34.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 144 | 29.6% |
| Braking behavior | 56 | 11.5% |
| Engine operation | 34 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 30 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 165 |
| Power Train | 161 |
| Unknown Or Other | 51 |
| Engine | 50 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Service Brakes | 29 |
| Suspension | 26 |
Air Bags: 165; Power Train: 161; Unknown Or Other: 51; Engine: 50; Vehicle Speed Control: 32; Electrical System: 30; Service Brakes: 29; Suspension: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 62 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 63 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 90 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 51 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 44 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 62; 25,000 to 49,999: 63; 50,000 to 74,999: 90; 75,000 to 99,999: 51; 100,000 to 149,999: 44; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (90). 173 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2015 | 65 |
| 2016 | 55 |
| 2017 | 128 |
| 2018 | 64 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 2; 2012: 20; 2013: 18; 2014: 40; 2015: 65; 2016: 55; 2017: 128; 2018: 64; 2019: 31; 2020: 22; 2021: 15; 2022: 8; 2023: 7; 2024: 5; 2025: 5; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 144 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 34 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10442473 · 2012-01-05 (January 5, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WAS NOT LOCKING IN PARK TIGHT ENOUGH; THEREFORE, IT BEGAN TO SHIFT INTO OTHER GEARS WHETHER THE KEY WAS IS IN THE IGNITION OR NOT. THE KEY ALSO COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF OR ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY FOR TWENTY DAYS WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT REQUESTED THEY BUY THE VEHICLE BACK BUT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,037 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454123 · 2012-04-11 (April 11, 2012)
2012 NISSAN VERSA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND QUALITY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFROSTER WAS A MAJOR CONCERN. IN ORDER TO TURN ON THE DEFROSTER, HE MUST TURN THE KNOB TO DEFROST, BUT ALSO SLIDE THE HORIZONTAL SWITCH UNDERNEATH THE DASH TO DEFROST AS WELL. THEN, HE HAD TO TURN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VENTS TOWARD THE GLASS, ALL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE DEFROSTER WORKED FAIR AT BEST. IT ONLY ELIMINATED ABOUT HALF THE FOG ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND NONE ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10454123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10430483 · 2011-10-17 (October 17, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH THE BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITH FORCE IN REVERSE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED REPEATEDLY BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DATA RECORDER WOULD BE USED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78.
Owner-reported narrative. 78 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453441 · 2012-03-29 (March 29, 2012)
THE BRAKES DO NOT BRAKE CONSISTENTLY ALL THE TIME. ON THE EXACT SAME ROADS, WITH THE SAME WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEEDS; WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKES WITH THE USUAL AMOUNT OF PRESSURE REQUIRED TO STOP BY A CERTAIN DISTANCE, THE BRAKES WILL SOMETIMES NOT FUNCTION AS USUAL REQUIRING YOU TO BRAKE HARD IN ORDER TO STOP IN TIME. THIS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND THREADWEAR AND TIRE PRESSURE WERE BOTH FINE. WOULD DRIVE 60 MILES PER DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10492923 · 2013-01-14 (January 14, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND CHEST INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE CRASH TO DIAGNOSE THE STALLING BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10492923 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522513 · 2013-06-30 (June 30, 2013)
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY VERSA WENT INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE SHIFT STILL SAID D FOR DRIVE, HAD NO ACCELERATION TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY PASSED IT OFF AS NOTHING BECAUSE NOTHING READ ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THEY BASICALLY SAID IN A ROUND ABOUT WAY I'M A WOMAN ARE YOU SURE YOU DIDN'T BUMP IT INTO NEUTRAL? THEN A MONTH LATER HAD IT BACK AS IT DID THE SAME THING BUT THIS TIME I WAS GOING 25 MPH. HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AGAIN AND THERE WAS NOTHING READING AND RESET THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. HAPPENED AGAIN BUT WAS IN OUR PARKING LOT AND JUST…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454011 · 2012-04-03 (April 3, 2012)
THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE VERY LOOSE STEERING OR IS REALLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. FEELS LIKE I AM BEING BUFFETED BY A STRONG WIND. THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T MOVE, BUT THE CAR PULLS LEFT AND RIGHT. ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, IT IS A STRUGGLE TO KEEP IN THE LANE. DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES ADD TO THE MOVEMENT. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463873 · 2012-07-01 (July 1, 2012)
I DISMISSED THE PULL I FELT WHILE DRIVING MY NEW NISSAN VERSA SINCE FEB. 2012 AS BEING NEW TO DRIVING ON MOUNTAINOUS ROADS.... BUT AFTER HAVING A MAJOR SCARE THIS WEEKEND WHERE MY STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS NOT ALL CONNECTED. WHEN DRIVING I CAN NOT LET MY HANDS OFF THE WHEEL AT ALL WITH OUT IT SIGNIFICANTLY MOVING TOWARDS THE NEXT LANE/CURB. THEN THIS WEEKEND WHEN SITTING IN TRAFFIC (YES IT WAS VERY HOT OUTSIDE) WITH AC ON I TRAVELED A FEW FEET BEYOND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN MY STEERING BECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494559 · 2013-01-24 (January 24, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A STRONG BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE WAS EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER THEN EXITED AT WHICH TIME THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789941 · 2015-11-12 (November 12, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLICKERED WHEN THERE WAS FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE CAUSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WITH SOME U…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10789941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821401 · 2016-01-21 (January 21, 2016)
I PULLED UP TO A PUMP AT A GAS STATION, GOT OUT AND WENT IN THE STORE TO GET A DRINK. CAME BACK OUT AND MY CAR HAD LOCKED UP. THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE BOTH LOCKED. THANK GOD I WASN'T IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I CUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT THERE BEFORE TRYING TO START IT AGAIN. IT CRANKS BUT NEVER TURNS OVER. THERE IS A BATTERY LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, PS LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT ON THE DASH. I RESEARCHED IT AND EVERYTHING INDICATED A BAD ALTERNATOR. I BOUGHT A NISSAN ALTERNATOR AND PUT IT ON. STILL NEVER TURNED OV…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821401 at NHTSA ↗