Which Years of Used Nissan Versas Are Most Reliable?
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While today’s automotive market is focused on SUVs and trucks, not everyone wants a vehicle with such bulk. That’s where economy cars like the Nissan Versa come in. They’re compact, fuel-efficient, and affordable. But buying one second-hand can be perilous because cheaper cars don’t have the best reputation. We’ll explore this by identifying the most reliable Nissan Versa years.
With proper research, careful shopping, and smart buying (including a pre-purchase inspection), the Nissan Versa can be the right choice for a used car. It can also be a viable alternative to other economy cars like the Kia Rio and out-of-production vehicles such as the Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, and Mazda 2.
THE NISSAN VERSA YEARS TO AVOID
Some Versa model years are more problematic than others, like all vehicle lineups. We have rounded up some of the worst Nissan Versa years to avoid, along with the model years you can buy without worry.
Most Reliable Nissan Versa Years
You’ll notice a recurring theme in our recommendations; avoid the first year (or years) of an all-new car. The Nissan Versa exemplifies this. The first-generation Versa’s initial years (2007-2009) are saddled with numerous reports of engine, transmission, or other troubles. Avoiding these examples is the best way to reduce headaches later on.
This trend continues with the second generation, which debuted for the 2012 model year. You’ll want to skip this era of Nissan Versas until the 2015 model. The information gets sparser for the third-generation Versa. But given this car’s history, passing on this newest edition’s first year (2020) is the way to go.
Our determinations are based mainly on the frequency of engine and transmission troubles, the most expensive vehicle components to repair. The fewer the issues with these areas, the better the car.
Here’s an overview of the most reliable Nissan Versa years. Keep reading to learn how we reached these recommendations.
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Nissan Versa: First Generation (Sold 2007-2011)
- 2010
- 2011
Nissan Versa: Second Generation (Sold 2012-2019)
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
Nissan Versa: Third Generation (Sold 2020-Current)
- 2021
- 2022
Most Reliable Nissan Versa Years: The Breakdown
We turn to data from carcomplaints.com and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help determine the most reliable years of the Nissan Versa. As available, we also look at supplemental information from Consumer Reports and repairpal.com.
2010 Nissan Versa (first generation)
The 2010 Versa shakes off the “new-model blues” that plagued the earlier years of the first generation. Reports about engine and transmission problems are down significantly, making this model year a good starting point for used Versa shopping.
Importantly, the 2010-2012 Versa was recalled due to the infamous Takata airbag debacle. Be certain any Versa you’re considering has been fixed for this issue. You can use the Nissan or NHTSA recall checker to check a car’s status.
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2011 Nissan Versa
Engine and transmission issues continue to play a minor role in the reliability ratings of the 2011 Versa. Another positive development is a decline in complaints about the suspension, a well-known problem with older Versas. Except for the airbags, there doesn’t appear to be an overwhelming pattern for trouble areas, which is encouraging.
RepairPal gives the 2011 Nissan Versa a 4.0 out of 5 reliability rating and ranks it 9th out of 32 car brands.
2015 Nissan Versa (second generation)
Although the second-generation Versa launched for the 2012 model year, it takes several years for things to quiet down in the reliability department, just like the first-generation Versa. The dozens of engine and transmission complaints in each of the earlier years are down to single digits—a very good sign.
Regardless, this does point to a well-known weakness with the Versa’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). So even though the 2015 Versa has fewer reports of gearbox troubles, having the car thoroughly inspected by a mechanic before buying is wise.
2016 Nissan Versa
The 2016 Versa continues a trend of fewer transmission troubles (but still heed our advice about a pre-purchase inspection, regardless of the year). And many owner notes for this car on carcomplaints.com are areas with just one or two reports, again indicating a lack of concentrated problem areas.
RepairPal ranks the Versa as 9th out of 21 subcompact cars. That’s not top-of-the-class material, but this status puts this car far ahead of most competitors.
2017 Nissan Versa
Reliability continues to improve for the Versa with the 2017 model year. Carcomplaints.com says only two owners made reports about the transmission, and there are single reports about paint/body problems and brake issues. That’s it. And this comes after Nissan sold more than 106,000 Versa models in the U.S. for 2017.
Nissan offered a manual transmission with the Versa for those still worried about the gearbox.
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2018 Nissan Versa
The 2018 model year is a repeat of 2017, thanks to a single-digit volume of complaints. In other words, owners didn’t have many bad things to say about their 2018 Versas. RepairPal calls attention to the Versa’s cheap annual repair and maintenance costs of $454 (an average for all model years), which compares to $652 for all vehicles. Yet, the 2018 Versa is even cheaper to own, with an expected annual outlay of $353.
2019 Nissan Versa
Carcomplaints.com has a grand total of one owner report about the 2019 Nissan Versa; it covers the transmission. Otherwise, no other complaints about this car exist beyond single-digit reports filed with NHTSA. The automaker closes out the final year of the second-generation Versa with a vehicle worth adding to the shopping list.
2021-2022 Nissan Versa (third generation)
Nissan debuted an entirely new Versa for 2020; the stubby, economy car looks got replaced by a sleek exterior and modern cabin. But if we’ve learned anything, it’s to stay away from the first year of an all-new Nissan. In truth, there’s not a lot of data that says the 2020 Versa is bad, but why take a chance given this car’s history?
That’s why we’ve jumped to the 2021-2022 model years as the first examples of the third-generation Versa with a chance for reliability. There are also few reports about problems. However, this could be attributable to the newness of this generation. In other words, these Versas aren’t old enough to encounter problems.
That said, you will likely find examples of the 2021-2022 Versa still with warranty coverage.
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