Home · 2012 Nissan Versa · Complaints

What 485 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Versa

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (485)Crash / fire / injury (46)Airbags (167)Transmission & drivetrain (162)Engine (50)Electrical system (34)Speed control (33)Brakes (32)Suspension (28)Steering (24)Body & structure (18)Fuel system (15)

32 of 485 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Jun 6, 2023Speed controlBrakesEngine

I carry my family with me and in traffic the traction control light would come on and the car would loose power and not accelerate almost causing accidents I was told it was the speed sensors malfunctioning and the brakes would not work properly when trying to stop

NHTSA ODI 11525740

Apr 7, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlBrakes

I carry my family in the vehicle and the lights would come on for the traction control and check engine light and speed sensor light and the car would stop moving and shut off while going down the road and the brakes would barely work and the transmission would stop pulling or slip and the engine would not rev up that is really dangerous when your traveling with traffic something needs to be done about this and I have read alot of other complaints about the same problems that other people are having

NHTSA ODI 11516003

Oct 19, 2020SteeringAirbagsBrakes

THE FRONT AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. BECAUSE OF THE STEERING I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT, MY WHEEL DIDN'T WANT TO TURN. THE BRAKES ALWAYS MAKE NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11365167

Jul 5, 2018BrakesEngineVisibility & wipers

BAD TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, BEARING WHEELS, ETC. CAR IS PARKED IS CAN'T BE USE RISKY.WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD FIVE TAMARA RECALLS IT WAS A RISKY CAR TO DRIVE, DEALERSHIP DIDN'T SAID A THING ABOUT IT. LOSS MY MONEY. CAR WAS IN A CAR DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11109736

Jun 15, 2018Brakes

RANDOMLY ONE DAY, I WENT TO BRAKE, IT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP MY CAR, FREAKING OUT I PUMPED IT AND THEN IT STOPPED BY THE 3RD TRY AND JOLTED. IT HAS SINCE BEEN DOING THAT EVERY DAY. WE'VE REPLACED THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER, THAT DIDN'T WORK, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BREAK AND ROTATORS, REPLACED THOSE, THAT ALSO DIDN'T WORK. THERE ARE NO LEAKAGES, THE HOSE IS FINE, AND BRAKE FLUID IS GREAT. I HAVE A ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THEM TO HAVE A TECH RIDE WITH ME TO SEE WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. BUT THIS ISN'T SAFE AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR 3WEEKS NOW AND FIXED EVERYTHING I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE, WASTING MY MONEY, AND IT'S STILL NOT FIXED. MILES ARE 130,000ISH. I DRIVE IT MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY TO GET TO WORK, FOR AN HOUR THERE AND BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11101979

Dec 4, 2017Brakes

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND NO BRAKING WHATSOEVER. FORTUNATELY, STOPPED THE CAR BY USING THE HANDBRAKE. PROPER FUNCTION RETURNED AFTER TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11052315

Nov 16, 2017SuspensionAirbagsBrakes

I AM REFERRING TO CHAPTER 11 CASE NO. 17-11375(BLS)

NHTSA ODI 11046620

Nov 8, 2017BrakesVisibility & wipers

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON 495 HIGHWAY (APPROX. 65 MPH) THE BREAKS FAILED TO WORK WHEN PRESSED TRYING TO PULL OFF AT MY EXIT. ONCE DRIVING ON BACK ROADS THE BREAKS SEEMED TO BE WORKING AGAIN. THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES PRIOR TO THIS BUT NOT AS SEVERE. HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE THEN (APPROX. 3-5 MONTHS).

NHTSA ODI 11044759

Jul 12, 2017SteeringBrakesEngine

THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD NO CONTROL OF BRAKES OR STEERING. IT COASTED TO A STOP. I CONTACTED KTNV CHANNEL 13 INVESTIGATIVE NEWS AND THEY FILMED ME AND MY STORY. THE EPISODE AIRED LAST NIGHT AND TODAY. I HAVE TWO 2012 VERSA'S; THE OTHER ONE DID NOT DO THIS. THEY ARE MY TWINS CARS; I TRY TO DRIVE ONE EVERY TWO WEEKS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OK. THE VEHICLE WAS DEFINITELY IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED; HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI 11004976

May 26, 2017Electrical systemBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER LOCATED IN CHICAGO, IL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HOSE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *JS

NHTSA ODI 10991775

Oct 27, 2016BrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BACK PAINS AND WHIPLASH, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V507000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI 10919378

Sep 1, 2016Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V507000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,753.

NHTSA ODI 10903029

Aug 22, 2016Brakes

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. PEDAL TO THE FLOOR- NO BRAKES. AFTER THE INITIAL "TO THE FLOOR", I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT OF BRAKES NOT ENGAGING- THE FIRST HAPPENED AT SIDE-STREET SPEED, AND I WROTE IT OFF AS A FLUKE. VEHICLE HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP IN TWO DAYS.

NHTSA ODI 10897738

Jul 1, 2016SteeringAirbagsBrakes

SOMETHING MAKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL INSIDE WHEN MAKING TURNS ... AND PASS AIRBAG SOMETIMES OFF SOMETIMES ON WHEN DRIVING... AND THE LAST ONE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT SMOOTH AS OTHER CARS AND ALSO YOU CAN HEAR A CRACK ON IT WHEN PRESSING ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 10881945

Jan 27, 2016SteeringBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS DISTRACTED AND SWERVED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND LEFT ARM, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 10822482

Dec 31, 2015SteeringSuspensionBrakes

SALESMAN/DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REPORT WHEN REQUESTED. WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. 1) VEHICLE ROLLS BACK AFTER IT IS PUT IN PARK. MAY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH PREVIOUS RECALL. 2) WHEN PUTTING CAR IN GEAR, CAN FEEL TUGGING IN THE FLOOR BOARD OF DRIVER SIDE. CALLED RECALL.GOV AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE 4 RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE IN WHICH 2 HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. CALLED NISSAN DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE FOR 12/31 TO RECTIFY THOSE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 10817204

Dec 28, 2015BrakesFire

BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR NO RESPONSE ON STEEP HILL ALMOST KILLED. RESORTED TO EMERGENCY BRAKE. 180 HALF TURN INTO OPPOSITE LANE. NEARLY HIT WALL BUT AVOIDED GOING OVER CLIFF AT END OF HILL.. HAPPENED THREE TIMES PUMPED TO GET BRAKE PRESSURE SUBSETQUENTLY USING LOW GEAR TO GET TO A SAFE LOCATION. BRAKE FLUID OF DOLLAR RENT A CAR WAS IN BETWEEN FULL AND MINIMUM. CAR HAS 23000 MILES APPROXIMATE. INCIDENT RESEMBLES NO OTHER VEHICHILE EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD. MASTER CYLINDERS DID NOT PROVIDE PROPER PRESSURE. USED LIGHT BRAKING AND WAS ON MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. RECOMMEND INVESTIGATION. DEATHS WILL ENSUE IF NOT DEALT WITH THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. VEHICHLE WAS IN MOTION AT 60KPH DOWNHILL STEEP WITH SHARP TURNS. NISSA VESA WAS SOLD AS TIIDA LIBERIA, COSTA RICA DOLLAR RENTAL CAR FLEET).

NHTSA ODI 10816646

Oct 2, 2015BrakesSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ODI 10779366

Jun 9, 2015Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAIALBLE.

NHTSA ODI 10724370

May 21, 2015Brakes

I PURCHASED THIS CAR JULY 2014 WITH ONLY 1,700 MILES. APPROXIMATELY 7 MONTHS INTO DRIVING IT, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING A "CLICK" SOUND WHEN I BRAKE, WHETHER I GO SLOW OR FAST AND BRAKE THE CLICK SOUND IS THERE. SOMETIMES I GET A DOUBLE "CLICK" SOUND BEFORE THE CAR STOPS. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN SO I HOPE NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO US. I CALLED THE DEALER AND LEFT MESSAGES BUT NO ONE IS GETTING BACK TO ME. I MUST BRING THIS CAR IN ASAP. I APPRECIATE ANY INPUT OR CALL BACK FROM A REPRESENTATIVE AT NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI 10717689

Apr 7, 2015Brakes

WAS STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT WHEN M FOOT GOT CAUGHT IN THE DOOR TRIM BY THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND I ALMOST RUN THROUGH THE RED LIGHT BEFORE I COULD GET MY FOOT OUT TO BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10704336

Mar 10, 2015BrakesCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHIN AND NECK INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEAT BELT BRUISING AND CHEST PAIN THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10693385

Jan 2, 2015Brakes

MY BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE SLIPPING. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME THAT NISSAN HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. HE SAID MY BRAKE PADS WERE FINE. NOW, I AM UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THIS AND AM CONCERNED THAT MY DEALER WILL TRY TO MAKE ME PAY FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10669586

Jul 28, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakesCrash

I WAS GETTING READY TO BACK MY VERSA INTO A PARKING SPACE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE THE CAR ENGINE REVVED UP, BRAKES FAILED, AND THE CAR FLEW BACKWARDS INTO A WALL CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE BACK END OF THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND NOT INTO IT. ONCE I HIT THE WALL THE BRAKES CAME BACK ON. SINCE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE INCIDENT THEY SAID IT NEVER HAPPENED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BRAKES TO FAIL AS THEY ARE A CABLE SYSTEM. I ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN MOTOR CORP DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE AND PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE. I HAD MENTIONED TO THE NISSAN DEALER PREVIOUSLY THAT I THOUGHT THE BRAKES WERE FUNNY PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AS THEY WOULD ROUTINELY GO TO THE FLOOR IF I WAS TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEEDS. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10617041

Jun 30, 2014AirbagsBody & structureBrakesCrash1 injury

4/5/14 CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WITH APPROXIMATELY 9,400 MILES. 6/2/14 PRESSED ON BRAKE WHEN APPROACHING RED LIGHT. CAR DID NOT STOP. SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE, AND THE DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH INJURY. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR SUSTAINED MORE THAN $4,000 DAMAGE AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. 6/27/14 DAMAGE REPAIR COMPLETED AND RELEASED TO CUSTOMER. 6/29/14 BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPOT IN A PARKING LOT APPLYING THE BRAKE. CAR DID NOT STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10606888

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Working with the data? Download all 485 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 11, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Nissan Versa verdict →