Short answer
Among Nissan Versa model years through 2024, 2016 and 2022 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2012 has the most (10). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Nissan Versa: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 19 (2007–2025)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 30
- Fewest recalls
- 2016 and 2022 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2012 (10)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (36)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2020, 2021, 2022 and 3 more years
Nissan Versa Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2024 | 1 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2023 | 1 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2022 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2021 | 3 | 5 stars | Steering, Exterior lighting |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 stars | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 1 | 4 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2018 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2017 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2016 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2015 | 2 | 4 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Vehicle speed control |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Seats, Structure |
| 2013 | 1 | 4 stars | Vehicle speed control |
| 2012 | 10 | 4 stars | Air bags, Suspension, Power train |
| 2011 | 6 | 2 stars | Air bags, Suspension |
| 2010 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Suspension |
| 2009 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Suspension |
| 2008 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Suspension |
| 2007 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20250 recalls
- 20241 recall
- 20231 recall
- 20220 recalls
- 20213 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20191 recall
- 20183 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20160 recalls
- 20152 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20131 recall
- 201210 recalls
- 20116 recalls
- 20107 recalls
- 20097 recalls
- 20087 recalls
- 20078 recalls
Nissan Versa: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Nissan Versa recalls are air bags (36), suspension (7), vehicle speed control (4), electrical system (3) and equipment (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 14 of these 19 model years, and 2020, 2021, 2022 and 3 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Nissan Versa Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Nissan Versa?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2016 and 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Nissan Versa model years have the most recalls?
2012 has the most, with 10 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Versa", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy