2012 Nissan Versa reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Nissan Versa — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 672
- 70 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 165 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 10
- see below
- Reported harm
- 65 reported crashes · 41 injuries · 1 death · 11 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#722
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Nissan median
+450
median 222 across 220 Nissan records
Vs 2010-2014
+380
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
25%
Air Bags: 165 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Nissan Versa
- AIR BAGS 165
- POWER TRAIN 160
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 51
- ENGINE 50
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 32
10 recalls on record for the 2012 Nissan Versa
- NHTSA 17V449000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or
- NHTSA 18V401000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 18V044000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 17V144000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW If the curtain and seat-mounted air bags inadvertently deploy, it can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 17V637000 · 2017 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Nissan Versa
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Nissan Versa units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Nissan Versa reliable?
NHTSA has 672 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Nissan Versa and 10 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (165 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Nissan Versa units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Versa?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (165), power train (160), unknown or other (51), engine (50). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Nissan Versa?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.