NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Nissan Versa. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
ALREADY HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CAR JERKS AND SLOWS ME DOW AND THE STEERING HAS GOTTEN ALMOST UNMANAGEABLE IN LESS THAN 200 MILES. THE WHEELS ALREADY NEED ALIGNMENT AND I'VE HIT NO CURBS. THIS CAR IS ANOTHER DISASTER FROM NISSAN. THE CVT WAS A TERRIBLE THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO VEHICLES
I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I STRUCK A DEER. THE FLOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED ME. MY LEG HAS A BAD HEMOTOMA FROM IT.
CAR BRAKES WHILE DRIVING FOWARD
Safety is at risk for multiple reasons one because a month upon receiving this brand new vehicle with 40 miles on it I’ve been experiencing malfunctioning problems. I am not able to receive a forward collision warning at times. I’m not sure if these electrical problems also caused my battery to die a few weeks later. In these moments is the start of when the malfunction notification would appear daily. Two— The transmission has been having issues for a long time as well. My drives no longer have a smooth transition when I press the gas it stutters and will not accelerate immediately. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. I brought my car new once again so am very disappointed at how much needs to be worked on and do not want to purchase from Nissan ever again.
THE FUEL DOESN'T PUMP CORRECTLY AS IT SHOULD. THE FUSE BURNT OUT. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING RANDOMLY ACTIVATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING. IT ALSO DOESN'T ACTIVATE AT ALL. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR LIFTS UPWARD LIKE A WHEELIE FROM A STOP LIGHT. THERE WAS SMOKING AND BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD.
I am reporting a chronic and dangerous defect in my 2020 Nissan Versa that results in an unpredictable, sudden, and complete loss of acceleration (motive power) while driving. This defect has been present since shortly after purchase and remains unresolved, posing a severe safety risk on public roads. Specific Safety Incident Details: Symptoms: The failure begins with the illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light), simultaneously accompanied by dashboard messages like "Malfunction See Owner’s Manual" and "Key System Error." The Critical Safety Hazard (Loss of Power): Immediately following the dash warning, the vehicle experiences a major, sudden loss of acceleration. This is not a gradual deceleration—the throttle becomes unresponsive, and the vehicle will not accelerate for approximately 4 to 5 seconds. Driving Conditions: This failure occurs randomly, including during critical maneuvers such as accelerating from a stop, merging into traffic, or attempting to accelerate on a highway. Consequence: When the vehicle unexpectedly fails to accelerate (especially in high-speed or high-traffic situations), it creates a high risk of being struck from behind or being unable to clear an intersection or merging lane safely. Initial Report (In-Warranty): The problem was first reported on March 31, 2021 (Mileage 25,404) to Central Houston Nissan (Invoice # NICS309560) and again on July 29, 2021 (Mileage 32,229) to Sterling McCall Nissan (Invoice # 2373806). Engineering Investigation: On both occasions, the dealerships specifically noted that the issue (DTC P0101 and associated warnings/power loss) was "under investigation under Nissan Engineers." Technical Service Bulletin (TSB): Nissan has acknowledged this widespread issue by releasing TSB NTB21-049 (June 8, 2021), which addresses the "MIL ON WITH DTC P0101" for the 2020-2021 Versa model.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN THE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE DETECTED FROM THE SEAT. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. ADDITIONALLY, THE HOOD FAILED TO CLOSE AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GAP ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KINGS NISSAN (2758 CONEY ISLAND AVE, BROOKLYN, NY 11235, (718) 934-3300) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
THE SCREEN FOR THE RADIO WON'T TURN ON SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS ON. I HAVE TO DRIVE A COUPLE MILES BEFORE IT WORKS LEAVING ME WITHOUT GPS AND RADIO. ITS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN I-75 WHEN A SMALL GRAVEL HIT THE BOTTOM PASSENGER SIDE OF HER CAR WINDSHIELD. MADE A SMALL DIVOT THAT QUICKLY SHOT ACROSS HER WINDSHIELD PUTTING HER IN DANGER. SEE PHOTOS. CAR HAS ROUGHLY 1300 MILES
I am writing to formally report ongoing and unresolved issues with my vehicle that have significantly impacted its safety and reliability. The persistent problems include: Multiple simultaneous dashboard warning indicator illuminations Recurring "See Owner's Manual" malfunction notifications Intermittent Key System Error messages Continuous presence of diagnostic Code P0101 A representative from the dealership management informed me that Code P0101 is a known and widespread issue affecting multiple Nissan models, including the Versa, Sentra, and Altima. Despite this acknowledgment, I have been repeatedly told that these concerns are "under engineering review," yet no progress has been made, nor have I received any meaningful updates regarding the investigation. This lack of resolution raises serious safety concerns, and I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further. I appreciate your attention to this issue and any guidance you can provide on the next steps to ensure the safety and functionality of my vehicle. Sincerely,
FIRST ISSUE WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE PART THAT COMPRESSESS AIR TO MAKE A HYDROLOGIC HAD A HOLE. YOU COULD HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BASKETBALL BEING DEFLATED NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEY FIXED IT THIS WAS AT ABOUT 25K MILES. AND NOW THE PERSISTENT PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT MAKES MY CAR JERK OR RUN WITH REDUCED POWER, OR SOMETIMES MORE POWER. ITS VERY ANNOYING AND A BURDEN. ALSO THE FUEL OXYGEN INTAKE RATIO HAS TO CONSTANTLY BE RESET BY ME EITHER SWITCHING THE CAR TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING OR BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF THEN TURNING BACK ON 5 SECONDS LATER, THEN TURNING IT OFF AGAIN. AND TURNING IT BACK ON 30 SECONDS LATER, AND REPEATING THE 30 SECONDS ON AND OFF UNTIL THE ENGINE SOUNDS STABLE. ALSO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOTALLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME. AND THEY STILL TREAT ME AVERAGE AT BEST WHEN I GET MY LIO CHANGES THERE. AND ALWAYS MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE MILEAGE. I DON'T EVEN COMPLAIN TO THEM ABOUT THE CAR.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026