2016 Nissan Versa Note

Routine

Owners filed 29 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train7
000
Unknown or Other5
000
Service Brakes5
100
Air Bags4
204
Suspension2
000
Electrical System2
000
Steering1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System1
000
Engine1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Sep 8, 2026120,000 milesIN

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa Note. The contact stated that the exhaust became loose and was melting the brake line, which affected the braking system. The vehicle was driven 5 MPH to an independent mechanic, who discovered the failure. The exhaust was repaired. The independent mechanic advised the contact to replace the brake lines due to the damage caused by the exhaust system. The contact stated that the brake pedal was mushy and had to be depressed almost to the floorboard to stop the vehicle, and the stopping distance was extended. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 16, 2026100,000 milesNY

The contact owned a 2016 Nissan Versa Note. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH in a parking lot, the vehicle failed to stop as needed while the brake pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure caused the vehicle to crash into a nearby wall, which was not damaged. The driver’s side steering wheel air bag deployed, and the front windshield fractured on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed away to a local tow yard and deemed a total loss by the insurance provider. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The air bag deployed and struck the contact in the face, causing her front teeth to become loose and her mouth to bleed. A passenger was seated in the front seat when the windshield partially shattered, causing lacerations to the lips and the upper right eye. Medical attention was sought. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 13, 2025MN

After arriving home, I stopped in my driveway and waited for the front passenger to exit. The vehicle was still running and may not have been in park. Immediately after the passenger exited and closed the door, the passenger curtain airbag and passenger seat airbag deployed unexpectedly. The vehicle was stationary and had not been involved in any collision. This sudden deployment posed a serious safety risk — anyone still inside or near the vehicle could have been injured. I brought the vehicle to a Nissan dealership, where technicians scanned the airbag system. I am awaiting additional diagnostic results or a written report. The manufacturer has indicated the situation is considered “out of warranty,” though I believe it represents a safety defect. The issue has not been reproduced or confirmed as a known defect by the dealer or manufacturer. There were no warning lights, error messages, or other symptoms prior to the deployment. The failure occurred immediately after the passenger closed the door, with no prior indication of any malfunction. The airbags and related components remain available for inspection.

Power Train
Filed Nov 19, 2023SC

Engine keeps losing oil level when no leaks found which causes transmission and engine to act making weird noises when gas pedal hit when driving car. Transmission is making weird noises like it is slipping when driving when gas pedal is pressed down. A settlement with Nissan was reached due to a class action lawsuit as car is having the issue as car pass 120000 mileage limit when issue started. Volume on internal bluetooth speaker is too low for people to hear when on phone calls with cell phone paired to car thru bluetooth as issue on two different phone models.

Power Train
Filed Sep 22, 2023OH

My vehicle was jumping when accelerating. It then went into limp mode to protect the engine due to code NTB17-034g. The mechanic stated this code is coming up and is a safety issue. The car is not accelerating as normal, car is jumping and will go into limp mode randomly.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 30, 2023AL

My transmission gave out. My car stopped in the middle of the street as I was crossing to the next intersection and would not go. I had to have my car pushed to the curve until tow truck came. The car was towed to the dealership (nissan of mobile) the dealer confirmed the transmission was bad. No lights or warning came on prior just stopped and would not go. This was a very scary situation and I'm still devastated.

Suspension
Filed Jul 31, 2022SC

Sway bar link broken, causing dangerous risk of steering failure. Rear hub bearing disintegrated, causing worn tires and high risk of wheel randomly separating from axel while driving! Wow! Car not old enough for such problems!

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 24, 2022NE

Vehicle was shuddering or hiccuping accelerating and decelerating on its own without any warning lights turning on. Warning light (MIL) only came on after total failure and car would not move forward at all.without any control of acceleration I was forced to let the vehicle roll down the hill I was on to coast it into a parking lot to be off the road, while traffic was behind me causing a potentially dangerous situation as it was on a short street so line of cars driving the wrong direction with traffic entering behind going the appropriate direction.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 18, 2022NY

The car was parked over night and it was raining that night. The next day I went to move the car, started & warning lights went on. The windshield wiper water trough got clogged due to tree leafs falling in & the water overflow & entered the car by the air vent in to the car floor The 360-deg. Camera system module under the carpet, under the front passenger seat. It Drowned in rain water. Causing the car computers to Mel function. Drove it to a mechanic & that is when he told me that I need to replace the camera module & the air bag module. I was not able to go faster then 15 or 20 MPH in the HWAY & lost my left & right signal flashers. 1) Car MFG should put a leaf filter screen in the trough. 2) never put electronic computer under a carping. MFG are aware that water can go there. And it’s a water trap.

Power Train
Filed Nov 30, 2021PA

Car has had problems since day one when it was purchased for lack of power going up hills, and when changing lanes it shutters. Also since day one door latches have a problem working in cold weather.....Now at 46,ooo miles the right front passenger door does not want to open from outside, and sometimes will not open from inside, and the rear hatch will not open at all. The drivers door you have a 50/50 chance of it..may or may not open. This is a long term problem with Nissan cars and is a major safety problem if you cannot get out of a car. It is also problem that effects the safety of those who ride in Nissan Cars.....This has been a service bulletin and should be a major recall... It needs to be address...just look at the youtube video's its a common problems..

Power Train
Filed Sep 14, 2021NC

We have a 2016 Nissan Versa Note with 85,000 miles on it. The car transmission failed while driving. The car suddenly decelerates even with the gas engaged. This is a serious safety issue and could case a serious accident. Nissan extended the warranty to 84,000 miles because they know this is an issue but won't issue a recall. They also want stand behind their vehicle and help with repar costs. They want $4,000 to to replace the transmission.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 24, 2021101,000 milesVA

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa Note. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle would inadvertently decrease in speed to 30 MPH. The contact stated that the RPMs would fluctuate while driving. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but could not be diagnosed by an unauthorized dealer. The vehicle was not repaired but the contact had an oil change. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with nothing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact then stated two days later, the contact heard a loud scraping noise coming from the engine compartment. The contact then took the vehicle back to the same dealer for a second time where it was diagnosed with the transmission needing to be replaced due to metal shards being found in the transmission pan. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 22, 202050,000 milesCA

THE BREAK PEDDLE WILL SINK ON ITS OWN. IT HAS DONE THIS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE CAR OFF, ON THE HIGHWAY, ON CITY STREETS, IN CORNERS. IT GOES OFF SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. IT HAS DONE THIS IN SUMMER AND WINTER. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER I GOT THE CAR, BUT I'M GOING TO ENTER TODAY'S DATE. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2018 IN JULY

Electrical System
Filed Aug 20, 202025,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL SHUT OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES AND TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES. OUT OF ALL THE TIMES IT HAS SHUT OFF MY 6-MONTH-OLD HAS BEEN IN THE CAR TWICE. ONE OF THE TIMES IT SHUT OFF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHILE THE OTHERS WERE ON THE STREET.

Suspension
Filed Jul 3, 2020CA

I GOT 2 FRONT TIRES AFTER I NOTICED THE FRONT OF CAR HAD DROPED ABOUT 10 INCHES FROM SIDE FRONT DOORS TO THE FRONT OF CAR.I DRIVE THE CAR EVERY DAY FOR 2 YEARS I CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE. A SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAYS ITS FINE BUT I KNOW MY CAR IT WASN,T THAT WAY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. AFTER GETTING THE TIRES THEY WENT KINDA HARD DOWN OFF THE JACK.SOMETHING HAPPENED?

Engine
Filed Jun 29, 202027,000 milesMD

I USED MY CAR TO PICK UP MY SPOUSE. IT WAS A HOT SUMMER AFTERNOON. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE STALLED. IT WILL NOT RUN. THE ENGINE HAD TURNED OFF ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT A WARNING.GOOD THAT I WAS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT WITH MY YOUNG SON.IF I W AS IN A STREET I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. IT WAS SCARY!THEN I TURNED ON AGAIN THE ENGINE,I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FROM YORK ROAD TO MY HOME BUT I USED THE BACKROAD TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. *TR

Power Train
Filed Mar 20, 202080,000 milesDE

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, HAS SHUT OF THE ENGINE. HAVE TO GO TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED!

Power Train
Filed Feb 5, 202083,984 milesCA

YOUR TRANSMISSION IN YOUR VERSA NOTES ARE CRAP I HAD TO HAVE ONE REPLACED LAST YEAR 15,000 MILES LATER I WAS DRIVING AND I ALMOST WAS KILLED WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN WHEN I HAD THE AUDACITY TO THINK I COULD ACTUALLY MAKE A TURN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT GET KILLED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC EVERYTHING WAS WORKING IN THE CAR EXCEPT FOR GOING FORWARD BACKWARDS EXCETERA AND THEN TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY YOU GUYS STILL MADE ME PAY FOR PART OF IT YOU WON'T EVEN COVER THE WHOLE SYSTEM BEING REPLACED EVEN THOUGH I'D HAD IT DONE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO GUYS ARE KNOWINGLY PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AND DANGEROUS AND DON'T CARE.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 4, 2020100,500 milesIN

WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE CAR WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. I HAVE TO PUSH THE BREAKS HARD TO MAKE IT STOP. LOOKS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD ON THE SECOND GEAR. SOMETIMES, I HAVE TO PUSH IT WAY HARDER TO THE END. SURE IT WILL GET WORSE. IT COULD BE WAY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAYS WITH HIGHER SPEEDS.

Power Train
Filed Jan 28, 202077,007 milesCA

FIRST YEAR OF OWNING VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE FREEWAY AND SHIFTED GEARS - AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR ENGINE REVED, BUT NO GEARS. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, NO CHARGE. A YEAR LATER I'M ON THE FREEWAY I PUSH CLUTCH IN AND IT BOTTOMS OUT AND CANNOT ENGAGE GEAR. I CAN NOT DOWN SHIFT AND I CANNOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THERE WAS NOT A HINT OR A CLUE THAT TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING.

20 of 29 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20191100Routine
20183300Routine
201710200Routine
2016 — this page29000Routine
201586220Routine
2014136310Routine

Compare every Versa Note year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.