2020 Nissan VERSA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
15,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 64 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 16 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 10 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Power Train: 16; Engine: 14; Unknown Or Other: 14; Electrical System: 12; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 10; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 10; Service Brakes: 6; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 47 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 19 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2020: 8; 2021: 10; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 19; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 11375800 · 2020-11-22 (November 22, 2020)
ALREADY HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CAR JERKS AND SLOWS ME DOW AND THE STEERING HAS GOTTEN ALMOST UNMANAGEABLE IN LESS THAN 200 MILES. THE WHEELS ALREADY NEED ALIGNMENT AND I'VE HIT NO CURBS. THIS CAR IS ANOTHER DISASTER FROM NISSAN. THE CVT WAS A TERRIBLE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO VEHICLES
Owner-reported narrative. 178 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11398799 · 2021-03-02 (March 2, 2021)
FIRST ISSUE WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE PART THAT COMPRESSESS AIR TO MAKE A HYDROLOGIC HAD A HOLE. YOU COULD HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BASKETBALL BEING DEFLATED NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEY FIXED IT THIS WAS AT ABOUT 25K MILES. AND NOW THE PERSISTENT PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT MAKES MY CAR JERK OR RUN WITH REDUCED POWER, OR SOMETIMES MORE POWER. ITS VERY ANNOYING AND A BURDEN. ALSO THE FUEL OXYGEN INTAKE RATIO HAS TO CONSTANTLY BE RESET BY ME EITHER SWITCHING THE CAR TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING OR BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF THEN TURNING BA…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363848 · 2020-10-12 (October 12, 2020)
THE FUEL DOESN'T PUMP CORRECTLY AS IT SHOULD. THE FUSE BURNT OUT. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING RANDOMLY ACTIVATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO DOESN'T ACTIVATE AT ALL. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR LIFTS UPWARD LIKE A WHEELIE FROM A STOP LIGHT. THERE WAS SMOKING AND BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366403 · 2020-10-26 (October 26, 2020)
CAR BRAKES WHILE DRIVING FOWARD
Owner-reported narrative. 11,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11593716 · 2024-06-11 (June 11, 2024)
I am not sure which component or system is failing neither does Nissan however it is available for inspection. This vehicle will stall in traffic starting at high speeds and it fails to accelerate while driving which’s puts my safety and other drivers at risk. The dealership has not been able to properly diagnose or repair this ongoing problem. This problem has persisted for 2 years. It has only been inspected by the dealer ship at two different locations. Of the seven times it has been to the shop only one time the check engine light came on. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11593716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11653022 · 2025-04-06 (April 6, 2025)
All the dash lights come on car acceleration will either speed up or slow down on its own the transmission slips shakes and stalls at red lights
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11653022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11456328 · 2022-03-11 (March 11, 2022)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2020 NISSAN VERSA SR BACK FROM A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT AT 3:30 PM ON 14 FEB 2022 TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH THRU RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS EXPLODED AND TOTALLY ENCAPSULATING HER SO SHE COULD NOT BREATH NOR MOVE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ALL SHE COULD DO TO APPLY THE BRAKES. A FIRE TRUCK WS RIGHT BEHIND SO SO WERE ABLE TO RENDER ASSISTANCE AND CUT HER OUT OF THE AIR BAGS SO SHE COULD BREATH. THE AIR BAG IMPACT SEVERELY HURT AND CAUSED BRUSES AND HEARING LOSS AND SHOCK. THERE WAS NO IMPACT NOR DOOR CLOSURES …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11456328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11557235 · 2023-11-28 (November 28, 2023)
Safety is at risk for multiple reasons one because a month upon receiving this brand new vehicle with 40 miles on it I’ve been experiencing malfunctioning problems. I am not able to receive a forward collision warning at times. I’m not sure if these electrical problems also caused my battery to die a few weeks later. In these moments is the start of when the malfunction notification would appear daily. Two, The transmission has been having issues for a long time as well. My drives no longer have a smooth transition when I press the gas it stutt…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11557235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11668222 · 2025-06-20 (June 20, 2025)
Good afternoon This is [XXX] The car wholesale auto Naugatuck CT number We got a Nissan versa 2020 picked it up on [XXX] the car is having same issues twice it is drifting to one side mostly when braking I first got it fixed myself with new control arm in the front because the car was favoring the the passenger side and wheels would get locked we got it fixed form the dealership first then the bolts came off three weeks later the tire got dislodged we had it fixed again they extended the warranty but same problem show up again it’s safety i…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11668222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422064 · 2021-06-23 (June 23, 2021)
The gas tank is no longer going up to the standard amount of 210 like when I initially bought it last week. It is now at 171 miles maximum with a full tank of gas.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11480716 · 2022-08-23 (August 23, 2022)
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while attempting to add fuel to the vehicle on several occasions, the fuel tank release lever popped and became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 37,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11480716 at NHTSA ↗