2008 Nissan Versa Problems, Recalls & Reliability
461 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Nissan Versa, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 73/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 79,376 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2008 Nissan Versa sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2017–2022.
Avoid
Where 2008 sits among all Versa years
What owners report
“Takata recall still no parts to repair. Suggested not use passenter seat. Unable to use seat since may. No repairs scheduled. Still waiting.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Versa
“The front driver's side coil spring broke. This is the 2nd time htis has happened on this vehicle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Versa
“Exhaust flange rusted out the muffler flange rotted out. Looked under the car, the entire exhaust system is rotting out. Versas have weak exhaust that do not withstand harsh conditions such as winters.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Versa
“The tire pressure monitoring system began to flash and then went to a steady signal. When i pulled over to check the tire pressure it was fine. This continued to happen almost daily and is still happening. On one occasion i ignored it and later that day i had a blow out due to low tire pressure. I…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Versa
“When attempting to take my keys out of the ignition after putting the car in park they will not come out. Key is stuck in ignition.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Versa
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 261 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 58,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 38,000 and 85,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti…
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at…
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and…
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact…
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2008 Nissan Versa sedan and Versa hatchback vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 25, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at…
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and 2007-2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term…
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the subject inflator with a new one manufactured by a different supplier, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact…
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts…
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California,…
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15,…
Nissan (Nissan North America, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Nissan Versa vehicles manufactured May 8, 2006, to November 12, 2012, that were sold or ever registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana,…
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on February 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
Fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,…
Model years named: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Led to recall campaign 15V573000.
Technical service bulletins
92 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2008 Nissan Versa. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 Nissan Versa reliable?
The 2008 Nissan Versa drew 461 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 73/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).
What are the most common 2008 Nissan Versa problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 Nissan Versa are airbags (171 complaints), suspension (73), and fuel system (29).
At what mileage do 2008 Nissan Versa problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 Nissan Versa problems around 58,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 38,000 and 85,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Nissan Versa have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 Nissan Versa. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.