2018 Nissan VERSA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
28,652 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 55 complaints (29.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 21.8% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 16.4% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 14.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Steering | 2 |
Electrical System: 16; Engine: 14; Air Bags: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13; Power Train: 10; Service Brakes: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2017: 2; 2018: 8; 2019: 11; 2020: 5; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 6; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 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 11130038 · 2018-09-18 (September 18, 2018)
I WAS PERFORMING A MONTHLY INSPECTION UNDERNEATH MY 2018 NISSAN VERSA IN AUGUST 2018 TO INSURE THERE WAS NOT ANY VISIBLE LEAKS. UPON MY INSPECTION I OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL LOCATED ON THE AREA WHERE THE ENGINE MEETS THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 8-30-2018. UPON THEIR INSPECTION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED IT WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS AREA TO SEEP / LEAK OIL EVEN ON NEW CARS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FURTHER STATED NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS THE OIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11175890 · 2019-02-09 (February 9, 2019)
I HAD ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 MPH, AND IT COMPLETELY STALLED OUT ON ME. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TO MY ASTONISHMENT, IT TURNED OUT TO BE MY TRANSMISSION. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAD TO PUT IN A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. IT SCARES ME TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER, OR IF SOMEONE HAD CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. I LATER READ WHERE NISSAN HAD BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR YEARS.
Owner-reported narrative. 179 miles reported. Look up ODI 11175890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271216 · 2019-10-26 (October 26, 2019)
MULTIPLE TIMES CAR HAS SHUT OFF/STALLED WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING HOME, TRYING TO CROSS A BUSY HIGHWAY, MERGED INTO TURNING LANE, STOPPED TO TURN AND CAR HAS SHUT OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,304 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11253042 · 2019-09-03 (September 3, 2019)
I WAS SITTING STATIONARY AT A STOP LIGHT IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET AND MY BRAKE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD TO GUIDE MY VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO NISSAN SOUTH MORROW FOR SERVICE. I HAD ALSO HAD SOME MINOR IGNITION ISSUES RELATING TO TURNING MY KEY AND NOT SEEING MY CLOCK RADIO BECOME VISIBLE BUT WAS REMEDIED BY USING MY SPARE CAR KEY. NISSAN SOUTH MORROW SAID THAT THE CAR DROVE WELL WITH NO ISSUES. UNSURE WHETHER IT WAS ACTUALLY LOOKED AT.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11253192 · 2019-09-04 (September 4, 2019)
I AM AT 27000 MILES, AND I'VE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT JERKING OF THE CAR BETWEEN 1000-2000 RPM. IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION SKIPS A BEAT, IN SOME CASES SLIGHTLY PROPELLING THE VEHICLE FORWARD. IF YOUR FOOT IS STARTING TO GO DOWN ON THE BRAKE, THERE IS A MOMENT THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS DOWN (YOU TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY), THEN PROPELS FORWARD. THIS JERKING ACTION CAN CAUSE A SEVERE ISSUE WITH STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HEAR THE REV COUNTER ABRUPTLY JUMPING CHANGING AS WE…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11535181 · 2023-07-29 (July 29, 2023)
Car stalls, I’ve contacted Nissan regarding electrical issues with ignition how it’s not reading the ecu. Another things is the recalls that comes up. Here it is Recall #19V654000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Defect Description: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11535181 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140381 · 2018-10-15 (October 15, 2018)
WE HAD LEASED THIS VEHICLE FROM HERTZ EARLIER IN THE DAY. THAT EVENING, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL AND THE VEHICLE'S STEERING SYSTEM HAD SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER AND DROVE INTO A TREE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY PASSENGER AND I BOTH SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT BODILY INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,298 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11207748 · 2019-05-15 (May 15, 2019)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND IGNITION SWITCH WOULDN'T MOVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11207748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444958 · 2021-12-25 (December 25, 2021)
1) When at red light with car in drive and brake pedal pressed the car occasionally begins to roll forward and then the brakes suddenly depress even more. 2) All brake lights intermittently go out and if hit will come back on for an unknown time until u realize they're not working again. 3) I have already had to replace the fuel pump twice with only 60k on miles on the car
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11444958 at NHTSA ↗