NHTSA has 32 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Nissan Versa, received from 2021 to 2026. The most-reported system is power train (9 complaints, 28%), followed by electrical system (8) and air bags (5). Owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries and 0 deaths. Median mileage at failure: 6,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026, with 8 received that year. 3 safety recalls cover this model year.
32NHTSA complaints
3safety recalls
5crashes reported
0fires reported
3injuries
0deaths
Quick answers
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Nissan Versa?
Owners report power train problems most often: 9 of 32 NHTSA complaints (28%), followed by electrical system (8) and air bags (5).
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Versa have?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2021 Nissan Versa. The most recent is 23V496000 (steering, 2023-07-18).
At what mileage do 2021 Nissan Versa problems happen?
The median mileage at failure is 6,000 miles, across 3 complaints that reported mileage.
Have owners reported crashes or fires in the 2021 Nissan Versa?
Yes. Owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries and 0 deaths in NHTSA complaints.
Problems by system
System
Complaints
Share
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Median miles
Power train
9
28%
1
0
0
37,510
Electrical system
8
25%
0
0
0
21
Air bags
5
16%
3
0
3
6,000
Engine
5
16%
0
0
0
–
Unknown or other
5
16%
0
0
0
–
Steering
4
12%
2
0
1
6,000
Exterior lighting
3
9%
0
0
0
75,000
Visibility and wipers
3
9%
0
0
0
–
Fuel system
2
6%
0
0
0
–
Service brakes
2
6%
2
0
1
6,000
Speed control
2
6%
0
0
0
–
Forward collision avoidance
1
3%
1
0
0
–
Seat belts
1
3%
0
0
0
–
Structure
1
3%
1
0
1
–
Suspension
1
3%
1
0
0
–
Wheels
1
3%
0
0
0
–
A complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints received by year
202142022520236202462025320268
Safety recalls (3)
23V496000 · Steering · 2023-07-18
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA26. This recall involves vehicles that were previously inspected, but did not receive a steering column replacement, under recall number 22V-693. These vehicles will need to be reinspected for this recall.
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Risk: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PMA10 / PMA25.
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
Risk: Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and PC811.
Automatic CVT failure confirmed by Future Nissan of Roseville CA. No warning prior to failure. Replaced by Kirkwood Autoworx Mechanical since Nissan Corporate denied a good-will replacement. Reason: 15k miles over warranty - [vin] reading at replacement on 5/27/26. CVT failed while on a busy…
Power train · NHTSA complaint 11741559, received 2026-06-02
Hi, My name is [redacted] and I live in [redacted] . In October 2023 I purchased a used Nissan Versa 2021 from a dealership. It only had 30k miles on it when I bought it. On May 9, 2026 I was driving to work when my car experienced acceleration failure. It had 80,600 miles on it. When the…
Power train · NHTSA complaint 11740221, received 2026-05-26
The car actuator failed for the left rear door. My car has less than 10k miles, and I submitted a case to their consumer affairs for it to be covered coz it's a premature failure, and they refused to pay for the repairs. I didnt know my car doors were no longer locking properly, and was left in a…
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11771010, received 2026-10-14
Automatic CVT failure confirmed by Future Nissan of Roseville CA. No warning prior to failure. Replaced by Kirkwood Autoworx Mechanical since Nissan Corporate denied a good-will replacement. Reason: 15k miles over warranty - [vin] reading at replacement on 5/27/26. CVT failed while on a busy…
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11741559, received 2026-06-02
Transmission failure 2 Times. First time experienced jerking and some smoke coming out and second time same jerking and smoke along with electrical system failure. Nissan paid 40% the first time to help and I paid 60% even though I did not agree with that I did it. 2nd time they refuse to pay…
Air bags · NHTSA complaint 11718275, received 2026-02-16
Driver lost control of vehicle and slid along fence to hit a tree stump. Driver airbags went off in time and driver was unscathed. Passenger remembers seeing tree hit car (vision was not obscured by deployed airbag). Passenger was seriously injured and needed airlift to local trauma center. Car…
Air bags · NHTSA complaint 11492174, received 2022-11-03
Other Nissan Versa model years
2007 · 354 complaints
2008 · 381 complaints
2009 · 504 complaints
2010 · 269 complaints
2011 · 269 complaints
2012 · 486 complaints
2013 · 204 complaints
2014 · 207 complaints
2015 · 168 complaints
2016 · 81 complaints
2017 · 62 complaints
2018 · 57 complaints
2019 · 24 complaints
2020 · 64 complaints
2022 · 20 complaints
2023 · 37 complaints
2024 · 96 complaints
2025 · 12 complaints
Source
Built from the NHTSA complaints flat file and the NHTSA recalls flat files, data as of 2026-10-22. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular models collect more of them.