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2012 Nissan Versa
The 2012 Nissan Versa appears in 10 NHTSA recall campaigns (air bags, suspension and vehicle speed control) and in 404 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is air bags: 277.6 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 113 per 1,000 across all 2012 model-year vehicles and against 297.9 per 1,000 for the Nissan Versa line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 145.5 complaints per model year across the 17 Nissan Versa model years on this register; 37 complaints reported a crash and 6 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2017 (128); the most recent in the file is dated 30 Apr 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 7 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2011-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Nissan is also recalling 2010-2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2010-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Versa Hatchback, and 2009-2011 Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Versa Hatchback, and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Nissan is also recalling certain 2009 Versa Hatchback and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles that were sold or ever registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
Consequence: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began December 6, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. This campaign expands recall 15V573.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and 2007-2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the subject inflator with a new one manufactured by a different supplier, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa vehicles. Degradation of the side impact sensor connector pins may cause the curtain and seat-mounted air bags to deploy unexpectedly if the door is slammed.
Consequence: If the curtain and seat-mounted air bags inadvertently deploy, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a new jumper harness, and replace the side impact satellite sensors, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan (Nissan North America, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Nissan Versa vehicles manufactured May 8, 2006, to November 12, 2012, that were sold or ever registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
Consequence: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on February 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc..
Defect, as filed: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to March 11, 2015. The affected vehicles have a center console trim panel that may catch the driver's shoe and delay the transition from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal.
Consequence: A delay in the application of the brake pedal would lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the console trim panel, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed by Nissan North America, Inc.; components: vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal; service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages.
Defect, as filed: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 altima and versa vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with side curtain air bags that contain an incorrect propellant mixture for the initiator component used, resulting in insufficient output of compressed gas.
Consequence: The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bag modules, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 12, 2012. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 615-725-1000.
Filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC..
Defect, as filed: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 versa vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and manufactured from june 9, 2011, through january 13, 2012 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114,â”theft protection.â” due to interference between the shifter rod and the shift knob, the vehicles may be shifted out of the park position without depressing the brake pedal.
Consequence: The operator can inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the shifter knob or the shifter assembly as needed, free of charge. The safety recall began on mearh 5, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Filed by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2012 Nissan Versa (black) against all 2012 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2012 | Versa line | All 2012 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 277.6 | 297.9 | 113 |
| Power Train | 224.3 | 87.1 | 110.4 |
| Engine | 66.2 | 46.8 | 127.7 |
| Unknown or Other | 60.7 | 47.5 | 60.4 |
| Electrical System | 49.6 | 46.8 | 134.9 |
| Service Brakes | 47.8 | 40.5 | 55.5 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 151 | 277.6 | 297.9 | 113 |
| Power Train | 122 | 224.3 | 87.1 | 110.4 |
| Engine | 36 | 66.2 | 46.8 | 127.7 |
| Unknown or Other | 33 | 60.7 | 47.5 | 60.4 |
| Electrical System | 27 | 49.6 | 46.8 | 134.9 |
| Service Brakes | 26 | 47.8 | 40.5 | 55.5 |
| Suspension | 26 | 47.8 | 135.4 | 17.8 |
| Steering | 24 | 44.1 | 48.1 | 96.7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 | 40.4 | 30.5 | 39.1 |
| Structure | 16 | 29.4 | 38.7 | 43 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | 18.4 | 21.7 | 39.5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 16.5 | 6.9 | 24.5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 8 | 14.7 | 10.1 | 24.2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 9.2 | 28.6 | 9.3 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 9.2 | 11.9 | 14.2 |
| Wheels | 5 | 9.2 | 24.2 | 13.2 |
| Visibility | 4 | 7.4 | 8.8 | 11.3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 | 7.4 | 4.7 | 18.7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 5.5 | 9.1 | 5 |
| Tires | 2 | 3.7 | 19.2 | 8.9 |
| Seats | 2 | 3.7 | 6 | 9.3 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 6.2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1.8 | 19.2 | 6.2 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3 |
404 unique complaints, 544 component mentions; 29 injuries and 1 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA21002 | Engineering analysis | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture | air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module | 17 Sep 2021 | open | — |
| PE16013 | Preliminary evaluation | Inadvertent Curtain and Seat Air Bag | air bags | 28 Sep 2016 | 20 Mar 2017 | 17V144000 |
| PE15019 | Preliminary evaluation | Front Coil Spring Fracture | suspension:front:springs:coil springs | 13 May 2015 | 2 Oct 2015 | 15V573000 |
| EA15003 | Engineering analysis | Pedal Operation Interference | service brakes, hydraulic | 1 Apr 2015 | 1 Sep 2015 | 15V507000 |
| PE14018 | Preliminary evaluation | Pedal Operation Interference | service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages | 24 Jun 2014 | 27 Apr 2015 | — |
| PE12023 | Preliminary evaluation | SRS Warning Light Illumination | air bags:frontal | 15 Aug 2012 | 22 Jan 2013 | — |
| EQ12002 | Investigation | Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture | air bags:side/window | 14 Feb 2012 | 8 May 2012 | — |
Other Nissan Versa model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 8 | 336 | 1,637,507 |
| 2008 | 7 | 362 | 1,615,962 |
| 2009 | 7 | 469 | 1,668,343 |
| 2010 | 7 | 237 | 1,620,551 |
| 2011 | 6 | 226 | 1,612,603 |
| 2012 | 10 | 404 | 1,435,544 |
| 2013 | 1 | 133 | 298,747 |
| 2014 | 2 | 135 | 313,342 |
| 2015 | 1 | 104 | 298,747 |
| 2016 | 0 | 34 | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 20 | 155,310 |
| 2018 | 2 | 13 | 1,381,877 |
| 2019 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 1,228,830 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 30,845 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 62,663 |
| 2023 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 351 |
| 2024 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 351 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Nissan Versa model years · Nissan: 46 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Versa have?
10 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 18V401000, was reported to NHTSA on 15 Jun 2018 and concerns air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Across all model years the Nissan Versa line has 26 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2012 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 7 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2012 Nissan Versa complain about most?
Air Bags: 151 of 544 component mentions (277.6 per 1,000). Next is power train with 122. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.