I RAN THE RED LIGHT AND HIT A CAR GOING 40 MPH. THE CAR MAINTENANCE SAID THE IMPACT OF THE CAR THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I WAS 16 WEEKS PREGNANT. THE FRAME OF THE FRONT OF MY THE CAR WAS TOTALLY BENT. *TR
2009 Nissan Versa complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2009 record →
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT RIGHT STRUT SNAPPED. LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES, DITCHES, OR ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS BREAKAGE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT..UPDATED 11/03/14 *BF UPDATED 11/06/14
VEHICLE HIT THE CORNER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BACKING AT 25 MPH. VEHICLE FOLDED AROUND OTHER VEHICLE AS IF IT WAS A POLE, CAVING IN THE FRONT BUMPER, RADIATOR, CONDENSER AND FRAME. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SUFFERED WHIPLASH, CRACKED TEETH DESPITE WEARING SEAT BELT. CAR WAS IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED. CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED AS REPAIRS WERE IN EXCESS OF $7500. BODY SHOP, ADJUSTER AND DEALER PERSONNEL ALL INDICATED AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. PHOTOS AND ESTIMATE AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. *TR
BACKING UP TO CHANGE PARKING SPOT AT WORK. HEARD A REALLY LOUD NOISE FRONT RIGHT. IT ENDED UP BEING THE COIL SPRING APPARENTLY. DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR DROVE OKAY AFTER THAT. BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION, THAT'S WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED IT WAS BROKEN. QUITE COSTLY TO REPLACE. THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014, I WENT BACK IN FOR A NEW OIL CHANGE & TIRE ROTATION. WHEN MECHANIC WAS ROTATING TIRE, THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING JUST SNAPPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS EYES. CAR STILL DRIVABLE, BUT IS COSTLY TO REPLACE. I HAVE A LIMITED INCOME. NOW, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREME PROBLEM WITH NISSAN VERSA. THIS NEEDS TO BE PUT IN AS A RECALL AND THEY SHOULD BE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THEIR ERRORS, NOT US , THE TRUSTING CONSUMER. *TR
THIS IS SECOND INCIDENT IN WITHIN 3 MONTHS PERIOD. SEPTEMBER OF 2014, I WENT BACK IN FOR A NEW OIL CHANGE & TIRE ROTATION. WHEN MECHANIC WAS ROTATING TIRE, THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING JUST SNAPPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS EYES. CAR STILL DRIVE-ABLE, BUT IS COSTLY TO REPLACE. I HAVE A LIMITED INCOME. NOW, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREME PROBLEM WITH NISSAN VERSA. THIS NEEDS TO BE PUT IN AS A RECALL AND THEY SHOULD BE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THEIR ERRORS, NOT US , THE TRUSTING CONSUMER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR DEFROSTER BUTTON FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTER BUTTON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT A LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY HALF A THROTTLE FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED 2 OTHER TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. EACH INCIDENT WAS ABOUT A WEEK APART. *TR
OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY, THE SHIFTER ON MY 2009 VERSA, WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK. IT WOULD ALSO SLIP OUT OF PARK AT THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE & PROVACTION & INTO REVERSE. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANY PERSONS OR VEHICLES BEHIND ME WHEN THAT HAPPENED, BUT SCARY AS ALL GET OUT. IF YOU ASK ME THE RECENT RECALL OF 2011 & 2009 VERSA'S FOR "DEFECTIVE SHIFTER KNOBS OR SHIFTER ASSEMBLIES" SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 2009 MODEL YEARS BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE. SINCE THIS HAPPENED I WAS TERRIBLY AFRAID TO USE THE VEHICLE (AND HAVE NOT) SINCE BY IT NOT GOING INTO PARK I ALSO COULD NOT LOCK/SECURE THE VEHICLE & FEARED SOMEONE MIGHT TAKE THE VEHICLE & UNKNOWINGLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
DURING THE MONTH OF MAY 2014 THE VERSA STARTED TO MAKE CLICKING NOISES AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE SOUNDS GOT WORSE AND THE CAR WAS NOT PERFORMING WELL. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE STATION IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD AND THE PERSON WHO REPAIRED MY CAR HAD TO REPLACE THE 2 FRONT STRUT MOUNTS, 2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND ALIGN THE 4'WHEELS! THE CAR ONLY HAD 5420 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. NOW TODAY, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SERVICE PERSON AS THE CAR IS MAKING THE SAME CLICKING NOISES AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING NOISE WHEN I TURN IT TO THE RIGHT! I SENT AN EMAIL TO NISSAN TODAY TO INFORM THEM OF THESE PROBLEMS AND ALSO TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN AGAIN TODAY FOR MORE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ARISEN! THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MUFFLER WELDING FRACTURED DUE TO ROAD SALT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TRYING TO FIND OUT IF RECALL ON 2009 NISSAN VERSA. NOTICED CAR ENGINE SEEMED LOUDER THAN USUAL. MECHANIC FOUND 'MUFFLER NECK' (BRACKET WHERE PIPE FROM ENGINE GOES INTO MUFFLER) WAS RUSTED WITH A HOLE, HAD TO GET NEW MUFFLER AND GASKET ETC., $389.26 FOR PARTS/LABOR/TAX. MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE MUFFLER SYSTEM THAT HE REMOVED. REST OF MUFFLER/PIPE SYSTEM WAS NOT RUSTED, SO I'M SUSPECTING A DESIGN PROBLEM WHERE WATER IS SOMEHOW ACCUMULATING IN THAT ONE AREA TO RUST JUST THAT SPOT, BUT REQUIRING THE WHOLE SYSTEM THEN BE REPLACED. AT ABOUT 81,000 MILES AND CAR IS GARAGED, THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE NORMAL WEAR. I'VE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS POSTED ONLINE ALSO ABOUT THE MUFFLER SYSTEM ROTTING OUT TOO SOON, AND MANY SEEM TO BE ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE AS MINE. EITHER A DESIGN AND/OR PARTS QUALITY ISSUE, IT SEEMS. *TR
FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING SNAPPED. I WAS TRAVELING ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY WITH NO BUMPS OR TURNS AT THE TIME. ALMOST CAUSED MY FAMILY TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND COULD HAVE RUPTURED THE TIRE CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE, WHICH WAS THE CASE FOR MANY OTHER PEOPLE. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I HAVE DISCOVERED A HIGH VOLUME OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME EXACT VEHICLE IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. I ASSUME THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE SALT THEY USE ON THE ROADS IN THE WINTER CAUSING RAPID EROSION. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN THIS EARLY IN A CAR'S LIFE. OTHER CAR COMPANIES, SUCH AS FORD, HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND DID ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT IF NOT ADDRESSED. *TR
A HOLE RUSTED THROUGH MY MUFFLER. *JS
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUNK WON'T OPEN. *TR
MY NISSAN VERSA 2009 MUFFLER SEEMS TO BE CORRODING OR RUSTING TOO QUICKLY. WE FIRST REPLACED PARTS OF THE MUFFLER A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO (IN 2013) AND NOW THE MUFFLER IS GOING BAD AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN OTHER 2009 VERSA OWNER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MUFFLERS ONLINE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE DUE TO HAZARDOUS GASES THAT CAN LEAK INTO THE CABIN OR MUFFLERS THAT MAY FALL INTO THE ROAD. *TR
MUFFLER RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED THROUGH NORMAL DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE PIECES DID NOT COME APART ON HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SEEMS LIKE A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT THE ONLY PART OF THE CAR UNDERCARRIAGE THAT RUSTED IS THE MUFFLER. HAD JUST HAD THE CAR SERVICED BY NISSAN WHO DID NOT EVER WARN ME THAT ANYTHING WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY WITH THE MUFFLER. NOW I'M FORCED TO PAY ALMOST $600 FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTUP, A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE SIMILAR TO AFTER MARKET EXHAUST WAS AUDIBLE AS WELL AS A STRONG VIBRATION DOWN THE CENTER LONG-AXIS OF THE CAR. I STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO FIND THAT THE FLANGE HAD ERODED AND THE MUFFLER WAS DANGEROUSLY LOOSE. NO RUST IS VISIBLE, AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS CLEAN, SO THIS IS NOT DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OR ROAD SALT. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE WHERE SERVICE STATIONS AND REPAIR SHOPS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE VERSA MUFFLER, WHICH TYPICALLY FAILS BETWEEN 50-80K MILES. ALLOWING SUCH A FAILURE TO CONTINUE ON THE ROAD WITHOUT A RECALL MAY RESULT IN UNSAFE ROAD CONDITIONS FOR ALL DRIVERS; IF THE MUFFLER FALLS OFF, IT WILL BECOME AN OBSTACLE ON THE ROAD WHICH MAY IMPACT OTHER VEHICLES OR CAUSE DRIVERS TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING THE MATERIAL. *TR
MY EXHAUST STARTED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON, THE MUFFLER WAS RATTLING. WHEN I CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR IT LOOKED LIKE THE MUFFLER HAD CAME LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SHOWED ME WHERE THE EXHAUST HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND IS DETACHED FROM THE MUFFLER. I RESEARCHED , THAT NISSAN VERSA EXHAUST SYSTEM IS KNOWN TO PER-MATURELY RUST, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OR MUFFLER DUE TO CHEAP PARTS. *TR
CAR TIRED KEEP DEFLATING EVERY 2-3 DAYS. THREE TIMES STUCK AT DIFFERENT PLACES UNABLE TO MOVE MY CAR, UNTIL MY HUSBAND GET THERE TO INFLATE THE TIRED. I HAVE BEING TOLD IS THE SENSOR VALVE FOR THE TIRE WHICH CONTROL THE TPMS SYSTEM. I CALL THE DEALER IN LAUREL AND THEY CHARGE 265.00 FOR THAT, BUT MANY OF THE SAME CAR, HAD THAT PROBLEM AND FILE A RECALL.THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
VEHICLE ACCELERATES TO A HIGH SPEED WITH SLIGHT TAP OR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. *TR
MY SUSPENSION SPRING SNAPPED WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NISSAN VERSAS. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN NA AND MY LOCAL DEALER AND THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL. I REPLACED BOTH SPRINGS AND THEY WERE BOTH RUSTED AND FLAWED. LUCKILY I WASN'T TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. I ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO CONTACT NISSAN AND FILE COMPLAINTS BOTH WITH THE NA OFFICE AND NHTSA. *TR
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2009 NISSAN VERSA SNAPPED IN HALF ON THE SAME DAY. THERE WAS NO APPARENT RUST OR FATIGUE. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS GOUGED OUT BEYOND REPAIR FROM ONE OF THE SPRINGS (I AM LUCKY IT DIDN'T PUNCTURE AND BURST WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT.) I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH COIL SPRINGS, THE MOUNTS, THE SWAY BARS, AND THE TIRE, COSTING ME NEARLY $1000 IN REPAIRS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS ACCEPTABLE ON A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH RELATIVELY FEW MILES ON IT. *TR
I WAS TAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AFTER A STOP SIGN IN A DEPARTMENT STORE PARKING LOT. I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE STOP TO CHECK IT OUT. AND THERE WAS A HALF MOON SHAPED PIECE OF COIL FROM MY DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION LAYING ON THE GROUND. *TR
FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON 2009 NISSAN VERSA WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. FOUND PIECE OF METAL UNDER LEFT SIDE OF CAR THAT WAS PART OF THE SPRING. THE RIGHT SIDE COIL WAS ALSO BROKEN. I HAVE SAVED BOTH SPRINGS FOR REVIEW. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR THAT IS DRIVEN MAINLY BY MY DAUGHTER TO AND FROM SCHOOL/WORK. VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION FOR HER. COST TO REPAIR BOTH COIL SPRINGS WITH LABOR WAS $430.72 FROM A TRUSTED NEIGHBORHOOD MECHANIC SINCE THIS DID OCCUR ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. *TR
I WENT TO PUT MY CAR INTO GEAR AND I MY FRONT END DROPPED AND I HEARD A METAL HITTING THE ROAD SOUND. I GOT OUT AND SAW BY LEFT FRONT END HAD DROPPED 3-4 INCHES AND A PIECE OF MY COIL SPRING ON THE GROUND. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED AND REPAIRED FOR OVER $580. THANK GOD I WASN'T DRIVING 65 AT THE TIME. *TR
WE HAVE HAD TWO 2009 NISSAN VERSA FOR MY SON'S TO DRIVE AFTER COMPLETING BOOT CAMP IN THE USMC. AFTER FRIDAY'S FAILURE, BOTH VEHICLES HAVE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. FORTUNATELY, HE WAS NOT TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND WAS ONLY BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW AND IT WAS PASSED ON TO MY DAUGHTER. NO ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THAT I AM REPORTING. IN APRIL, MY GRANDSON CALLED HIS FATHER AND SAID THAT HE HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THIS FLAT TIRE WAS CAUSED BY BROKEN RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING. I AM GLAD THAT THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED. MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS ABOUT 34,000 MILES. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY GRANDSONS ARE SPECIAL TO ME. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR INSPECTION AND OR REPLACEMENT OF THE COIL SPRINGS ON ALL OF THE VERSA AUTOMOBILES. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. IS NISSAN GOING TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE TABLE LIKE ANOTHER MANUFACTURER? THE REPAIRS COSTS $217 WHICH WAS A VERY REASONABLE AMOUNT. THE POSSIBLE RISK IS NOT REASONABLE. I JUST CHECKED THE WEB SITE SO THIS SHOULD BE INCIDENT NUMBER 44 THAT IS REPORTED TO YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE BACK SIDE OF THE RUBBER BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUSPENSION SPRING AND THE COIL TIE WERE FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,500.
PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HEARD A "POP" NOISE AND LATER FOUND ON THE FLOOR A PIECE OF THE COIL SPRING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. HAD BROKEN OFF WHERE IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE STRUT PLATE THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE AT THE BOTTOM. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY NISSAN WON'T COVER IT BECAUSE ITS COVERED ONLY UP TO 3YR/30000MILES. I'M CALLING NISSAN TOO BUT NEED TO CAR SO HAVING IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE COIL. COIL SPRING COSTS $111.80. I'M SURE WITH PARTS AND SERVICE, IT WOULD BE HIGHER THAN THAT. THERE SHOULD BE THE NISSAN RECALL FOR THIS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY FATAL CRASH PROBLEM. NISSAN BETTER DO THE RECALL OR GET READIED TO BE SUED BY SOMEONE SOON. I READ THE SAME PROBLEM IN CANADA VERSA FORUMS TOO. P.S. SORRY ABOUT THE ALL CAPS. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO TELL HOW UPSET I'M. I USE THIS CAR TO COMMUTE MY TWO LITTLE DAUGHTERS TO SCHOOL DAILY. I WOULD NOT WANT THIS SPRING TO SNAP AT HIGHWAY. *JS
LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING FAILURE , SPRING SNAPPED AS I BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, I SHUDDER WHEN I THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED , AS I TRAVEL THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY DAILY . THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED , AND IN MY ALMOST 40 YEARS OF BEING AROUND CARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SPRING FAILURE AS THIS . ALSO , UPON CHECKING AUTO FORUMS ONLINE IT SEEMS THIS FAILURE IS NOT UNCOMMON TO THE NISSAN VERSA . *TR
WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE THIS MORNING I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, PULLED BACK IN. GOT OUT, LOOKED FOR A FLAT TIRE OR SOME OBJECT BEING DRAGGED UNDER THE CAR, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL AND TRIED TO BACK OUT AGAIN, SAME GRINDING NOISE. GOT A FLASHLIGHT AND NOTICED THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS RESTING ON THE TIRE. LOOKING CLOSER, FOUND A LARGE PIECE OF THE COIL SPRING BROKEN OFF AND SITTING JUST BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL ON THE GROUND. CAR DROVE FINE LAST NIGHT, SPRING BROKE OFF AT SOME POINT BEFORE I LEFT FOR WORK THIS MORNING. *TR
PULLING OUT OF OUR GARAGE, THERE WAS A "POP" NOISE AND LATER WE FOUND ON THE GARAGE FLOOR A PIECE OF THE COIL SPRING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAD BROKEN OFF WHERE IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE STRUT PLATE THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE AT THE BOTTOM. *TR
I HAD THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE AND HEARD A GRINDING SOUND. I STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE CAR BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OBVIOUS. I TRIED DRIVING AGAIN BUT STOPPED AFTER A FEW FEET AND CALLED MY MECHANIC. HIS GARAGE IS ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY SO I TRIED TO DRIVE SLOWLY THERE BUT SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HIT THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. THE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE DIAGNOSIS IS A BROKEN COIL SPRING, WHICH I HAVE SINCE LEARNED IS A COMMON DEFECT ON THE VERSA. *TR
ON THE 21ST OF APRIL 2014 MY WIFE LEFT WORK. AS SHE WAS REVERSING THE CAR SHE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THEN A BOOM. THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. SHE FOUND A LARGE SHEERED OFF METAL PIECE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. WE TOOK THE CAR IN THE NEXT DAY TO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE SPRING WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE COST TO FIX EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE TIRE WAS $720. THE WORSE PART IS THAT THEY ONLY HAD OEM PARTS AVAILABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THEY HAD TO PUT THE SAME DEFECTIVE SPRINGS BACK ON OUR CAR. AFTER I FILED A REPORT WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS NISSAN CONTACTED ME BACK SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. WE PURCHASED OUR CAR IN THE SUMMER OF 2010. THE SPRING LASTED ONLY FOUR YEARS. HAD THIS BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS RECENT WINTER. THIS IS OUR ONLY CAR AND WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN UNDER THREE YEARS OLD. NO ONE SHOULD BUY A NISSAN VERSA, PERIOD, IF THEY CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR FAMILY. *JS
I WAS DRIVING APROX. 30 MPH WHEN I HEARD A SNAP IN THE FRONT.THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND WENT IN THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAFFIC. I GOT OUT AND FOUND A PIECE OF BROKEN OR SNAPPED COIL SPRING UNDER MY VEHICLE. *JS
WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED, UNDER 25 MILES PER HOUR, ON A SMOOTHLY PAVED ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A RATTLING SOUND IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. AFTER PULLING OVER I FOUND A PART OF A COIL SPRING IN THE ROAD. AFTER LOOKING AT THE COIL SPRING IN THE WHEEL WELL I NOTICED THAT THE END WAS BROKEN AND JAGGED AND MATCHED THE BROKEN PIECE OF COIL THAT WAS LEFT ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD AND HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE WELL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS COIL PRIOR TO THE BREAK. *JS
PUT CAR IN GEAR AND STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM PARKING SPOT. DROVE MAYBE 100 YARDS AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AROUND. NOTICED PART OF A COIL SPRING LAYING ON THE GROUND. LOOKING AT THE CAR IT WAS OBVIOUS IT WAS FROM MINE. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND THEY LOOKED OVER CAR. SAID THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. AFTER LOOKING OVER INFORMATION ON MY CAR AND SEEING I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW STRUT AND SPRING AS WELL AS AN ALIGNMENT. NISSAN WOULD HELP WITH THE COST OF THE STRUT BUT NOT THE SPRING OR ALIGNMENT. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE WHEN THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A COIL SPRING BREAKING. A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER BREAK. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID SPRING BROKE BECAUSE OF A LITTLE RUST SPOT ON IT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW CARS FROM THE 50'S HAVE RUSTY COIL SPRINGS THAT DON'T SNAP BUT A 2009 VERSA HAS A RUST SPOT AND IT SNAPS OFF. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. THERE MAYBE ONLY A FEW COMPLAINTS ON HERE ABOUT IT BUT GOOGLE "09 NISSAN VERSA COIL SPRING" AND YOU WILL FIND TONS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT THING HAPPENING TO THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING. SEEMS ODD THAT ITS ALWAYS THE FRONT LEFT. *TR
BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ON THE 2009 NISSAN VERSA SNAPPED. THOUGHT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNLIKELY AND JUST BAD LUCK. HOWEVER AFTER SOME SEARCHING I FOUND THAT MANY NISSAN VERSA OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME TROUBLE, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THEIR DEALERS THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A PROBLEM. THE CAR IS DRIVEN BACK AND FORTH TO WORK ON CITY STREETS AND NOT ON BAD OR DIRT ROADS. IT HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO ANY HEAVY TRANSPORT. BOTH SPRINGS BROKE OFF AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING, WHERE MOST OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED AS THEIR BREAK POINTS. *TT
ALTHUOUGH I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN IT OCCURRED, I SUSPECT IT HAPPENED WHILE DODGING WINTER POTHOLES IN STREETS LEADING INTO CLEVELAND, OHIO FOR AN EVENT THERE. RETURNING HOME ON THE FREEWAYS, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED THE RIDE WAS EXTREMELY HARSH. LATER I NOTED THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS LOW IN THE FRONT. ACTUALLY THERE WAS ONLY AN INCH BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL CUTOUT. I TRIED BOUNCING THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUT IS WAS SOLID. CLUNKING AS I DROVE OUT MY DRIVEWAY, I WENT TO MY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WHO DID A QUICK LOOK AT MY PARKED CAR . HE KNEW INSTANTLY IT WAS A BROKEN COIL SPRING AND HAD A SET FOR BOTH SIDES READILY AT HAND. THE NEW SPRINGS ARE ONLY WARRANTIED FOR 1 YEAR OR 12,000 MILES. WHICH MAKES ME THINK THEY HAVEN'T SOLVED THIER PROBLEM AND I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF PAYING FOR IT WHILE BEING A TEST DRIVER. I NEVER OWNED A CAR IN 55 YEARS BEFORE THAT I DID NOT TRUST. I DID BUY THIS CAR NEW IN JULY OF 2009 BUT FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 2008. *TT
MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN SUV. THE DRIVER LEFT A PARKING SPACE AND WAS USING A CELL PHONE. MY VEHICLE HAD STOPPED DUE TO A PARKING CAR OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UNTO TRAFFIC. MY CAR WAS SLAMMED IN THE REAR BY THE 2005 DODGE CARAVAN AT APROX 20 MPH. THE AIRBAGS IN MY NISSAN VERSA DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER OF MY CAR SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES. THERE WAS NO "WARNING" LIGHT THAT THE AIRBAGS IN MY 2009 NISSAN VERSA WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL. *TR
I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE WHEN I EXPERIENCED WHAT FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE RUNNING OVER AN EMPTY SODA BOTTLE. I EVEN LOOKED BACK TO SEE WHAT I HAD RUN OVER BUT SAW NOTHING ON THE GROUND. NEEDLESS TO SAY I CONTINUED ON MY WAY BUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE FRONT OF MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS BOUNCING UP AND DOWN AND WAS HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THIS WAS GOING TO BE A MAJOR REPAIR. I WAS SHOCKED THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD RANDOMLY HAPPEN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT (WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE) AND WAS THEN LATER TOLD THAT IS CAN OCCUR FROM "NORMAL" WEAR AND TEAR OR AGE OF THE CAR. NOW THIS IS WHERE I BECAME SKEPTICAL BECAUSE THE CAR IS ~4.5 YEARS OLD, LESS THAN 54,000 MILES, IS VERY WELL KEPT, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE A LONG COMMUTE IT IS PRIMARY ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUES AND IT APPEARS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE IN THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THIS CAR. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO ALSO FEEL THAT A 4.5 YEAR OLD COIL SPRING SHOULD NOT JUST BREAK SO EASILY AS IT DID. I DID ASK TO KEEP THE PART AND NOW HAVE IT IN MY POSSESSION. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NISSAN'S CORPORATE BRANCH BUT FOUND THAT TO BE A DEAD END AFTER SEVERAL BACK AND FORTH EXCHANGES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A FEW OTHER NISSAN OWNERS THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED AS NO
TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD CAR TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT A COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW. LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN VERSA. NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS UNHELPFUL, GETTING BASIC FACTS OF MY CASE WRONG AND CLAIMING NO LIABILITY SINCE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HIGH POTENTIAL FOR MORTALITY. I RECOMMEND AN INVESTIGATION INTO A POTENTIAL RECALL. *TR
THE FIRST INSTANCE HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AT MY HOUSE, I HEARD THE LOUD PING OF METAL SNAPPING. I BACKED UP A LITTLE FARTHER AND STOPPED TO FIND A PIECE OF WHAT I WOULD LATER LEARN WAS PART OF THE COIL SPRING ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. I TOOK MY CAR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT COULD HAVE EASILY SLICED OPEN MY TIRE OR BRAKE LINE HAD I BEEN GOING FAST. AFTER A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN US THEY REPAIRED IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME. FAST FORWARD TO JANUARY 12, 2014, 64,500 MILES. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE BREAK OCCURRED THIS TIME, BUT AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, I WOULD HERE A CLANGING SOUND WHENEVER I TURNED OR HIT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP IN THE ROAD. I CHECKED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND NOTICED THE FRONT END WAS LOW. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING IS NOW BROKEN. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT IT YET, BUT IT LOOKS BROKEN IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO THE FIRST ONE. EVERYTHING I'VE LOOKED UP TELLS ME THAT THESE SPRINGS ARE NORMALLY SUPPOSE TO LAST OVER 100,000 MILES, AND YET BOTH MINE HAVE BROKEN NOW BEFORE HITTING 65,000 MILES. ONCE AGAIN THE SPRING COULD HAVE EASILY SLICED THE TIRE OR A BRAKE LINE, AND HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THAT HAPPENED IT COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED BADLY. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, FROM ALL THE OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS I'VE SEEN, IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD BATCH OF SPRINGS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND A LOUD "THUMP" UNDER MY CAR SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING HIT THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I LOOKED BACK AND COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD. THE NEXT DAY, HEARD A "CLANG" UNDER THE AS I DECELERATED FROM 20 MPH. I STOPPED AND FOUND A PIECE OF MY RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING IN THE ROADWAY. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM COIL OF THE SPRING HAD SNAPPED RIGHT THROUGH THE METAL AND FALLEN OFF THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND COIL SPRING ON MY CAR THAT HAS DONE THIS. THE LEFT SPRING SNAPPED THE SAME WAY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THE MANUFACTURER MUST HAVE USED BAD METAL FOR THE SPRINGS, AND THEY COULD KEEP SNAPPING WHILE I AM DRIVING. IT WAS DANGEROUS WHEN THE FIRST SPRING SNAPPED, BUT IF BOTH SPRINGS SNAP ON THE SAME CAR, THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. *TR
AS HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN 29 PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, NISSAN VERSA HAS KNOWN FAILURE OF EXHAUST SYSTEM FLANGE WITHIN 36-48 MONTHS, RESULTING IN MUFFLER FAILURE AND DANGEROUS LEVELS OF TOXIC FUMES ENTERING CABIN AND OUTSIDE AIR. POTENTIAL LOSS OF MUFFLER WHILE DRIVING ALSO CREATES RISK OF ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO CAR PASSENGERS AND/OR OTHER VEHICLES ON ROAD. EXPENSE TO REPAIR VIA MIDAS IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE WAS $474, WITH THIS ONE LOCATION REPORTING THIS AS "STANDARD" ISSUE WITH ALL NISSAN'S, FOR WHICH THEY HAVE COMPLETED "NON STOP" REPAIRS. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED, AND A KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD FOR BOTH POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS AND AIR POISONING DOT NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AND HOLD NISSAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR RECALL AND REPAIR OF THIS FLANGE. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE SPRING COIL BROKE NEARLY 5 MONTHS AFTER THE DRIVER SIDE SPRING COIL BROKE. SEE COMPLAINT FROM 7/31/13. LUCKILY, COIL BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVE WAY, SO I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. BROKEN PART OF COIL IS NOW PINCHED BETWEEN COIL SEAT AND REST OF COIL LEAVING THE REMAINING SPRING UNSEATED. CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE IN THIS CONDITION FOR SECOND TIME BEFORE 5 YEAR LOAN IS EVEN PAID OFF. CASE OPENED WITH NISSAN, BUT THEY THUS FAR HAVE REFUSED TO PAY DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO CONFIRM BROKEN SPRING COIL. BROKEN COIL CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN IN TIRE WELL. DIAGNOSIS IS REQUIRED FOR ANY FURTHER ACTION BY NISSAN REGARDING REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT. BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR
A LADY (1) FALL ASLEEP THEN CRASH ON LADY (2), THEN LADY (2) CRASH ON OUR CAR, BUT INSTEAD OF BRAKING THE LADY (2) SHE PUSHES HER ACCELERATOR CRASHES AND PUSHES OUR CAR TO LADY (3) IN FRONT OF US. OUR TIRE EXPLODES, THE AIRBAG PASSENGER DID NOT BLOW OUT AND MY WIFE HAS A NECK INJURY. MY DAUGHTER 4 Y/OLD IS FINE. WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT. THE CAR DECLARED TOTAL LOSS. HOSPITAL BILL FOR MY WIFE AND A LOTS OF NIGHTMARE FOR MY DAUGHTER AND HEADACHES FOR THE HUSBAND. *TR
FRONT DOOR POWER LOCK CABLE BROKEN IN ACTUATOR FOR SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS. ACTIONS: DRIVER OPENS DOOR USING INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND ACTIVATING THE AUTOMATIC UNLOCKING OF ALL CAR DOORS. RESULT: FRONT DOOR LOCK CABLE BROKEN IN ACTUATOR. NOW THE DRIVER DOOR STAYS LOCKED WHILE ALL THE OTHER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED USING THE KEYFOB. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE TO OPEN MY WINDOW TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR USING THE OUTDOOR HANDLE AND COULD NOT GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY. FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN 2011, IT WAS FIXED UNDER THE CAR ORIGINAL 3 YEAR/36000 MILES WARRANTY. 2ND INCIDENT NOV 28 2013. NISSAN ESTIMATES $295 TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR + CABLE. *TR
COIL SPRING ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE SNAPPED AND DAMAGED THE TIRE TO BRING A COMPLETE FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
MY NISSAN VERSA'S FRONT LEFT PASSENGER TIRE WAS LOSING AIR EVERY FEW DAYS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO SHOP NEARBY, THEY FOUND THAT THE ALUMINUM VALVE STEM HAS CRACKED AND THAT'S WHAT IS CAUSING THE LEAK. THIS FAULTY VALVE STEM COULD HAVE LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE HOW TO GO ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. *TR
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2009 Nissan Versa → · Every Versa year → · How the figures are calculated →