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2018 Nissan Versa

Gas

Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns3

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA58

Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA34 mpg

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Nissan Versa is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Versa, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 58 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Versa	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	31	39	34	$1,850
Versa	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	27	36	30	$2,100
Versa	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	26	35	29	$2,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39334, 39335, 39336.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Back Over Prevention

1,228,830 vehicles

ProblemNissan 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 included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numRiskThe lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.FixNissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

NHTSA campaign 19V654000reported Sep 12, 2019Nissan North America, Inc.

▲high

Electrical System

153,047 vehicles

ProblemNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.RiskIf the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.FixNissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

NHTSA campaign 18V551000reported Aug 21, 2018Nissan North America, Inc.

▲high

Air Bags

111 vehicles

ProblemNissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018 Nissan Versa Note vehicles. During deployment of the side curtain air bag, a component of the air bag inflator may detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection," and 226, "Ejection Mitigation."RiskIf the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.FixNissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA campaign 17V837000reported Dec 20, 2017Nissan North America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

58complaints filed

12 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 10 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Electrical System17

Engine14

Unspecified14

Air Bags13

Power Train12

Service Brakes7

What owners describe

“Has an issue with the mass flow air sensor. I had this car for 7 months with 84,000 miles on it and noticed instantly that it had poor mileage and stalled a lot. Check engine came on the first time and I took it to have a diagnostic test and a P101 code came on, a couple of days later the car wouldn't start. Replaced t…”Mar 24, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

“I pulled up to a stoplight that was on a hill and tried to put on the brake. The brake pedal was highly resistant and wouldnâ€™t let me push down fully. At that moment, all of the warning lights on the dashboard turned on. When the light turned green, I tried to hit the gas pedal but the car wouldnâ€™t move forward. Th…”Jan 26, 2025 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

“While driving the car just shuts off and I have to stop the car turn the ignition off and then back on, this has happened multiple times and the dealer said there are no recalls on rhus vehicle.”Dec 10, 2024 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	14%
5 HB FWD	not rated	★★★☆☆	not rated	★★★★☆	15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Versa model years

2025 Nissan Versa

0 recalls · 11 complaints

2024 Nissan Versa

1 recalls · 95 complaints

2023 Nissan Versa

1 recalls · 37 complaints

2022 Nissan Versa

0 recalls · 20 complaints

2021 Nissan Versa

3 recalls · 31 complaints

2020 Nissan Versa

2 recalls · 64 complaints

2019 Nissan Versa

1 recalls · 25 complaints

2017 Nissan Versa

3 recalls · 72 complaints

2016 Nissan Versa

0 recalls · 108 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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