User Complaints and Problems for the 2017 Nissan Versa
Mechanical Problems
- Engine stalling -. The Nissan Versa engine issues have been very common for the users. The check engine light on the Nissan Versa seems to be a constant bothersome for a lot of the users, but the engine stalling was the most persistent issue. The engine would stall, especially if the weather was cold. It would also stall if the A/C was activated and the engine was idling, causing the drivers to pump the accelerator to pump more fuel into the engine and restart it. The users reported this was a very time-consuming problem. Unfortunately, it was equally a time-waster trying to get any sort of help with it from the dealership or the manufacturer.
- Brake failure and making noises -. Various users had the issue of the brakes making "high-pitched" or "screeching" noises while applying the brakes. The source of this, as reported by one dealership, seemed to be because of premature thinning of the brake pad, but most complainants were met with no answers. Some users also faced the issue of the brakes failing to stop the vehicle, causing them to meet with crashes, but nothing major was reported. Unfortunately, the vehicle was totaled as a result and no help from the dealership or the manufacturer was provided.
- Transmission disengaging and failure- The gears would disengage despite the users switching the drivetrain to "drive", the drivers would sense that the gears were not locked in properly causing the vehicle to jerk around and excessively rev or even stall. No solutions or information beyond mentioned above was provided for this matter either. There were also complaints about the transmission failure by various users. Whether the dealership or manufacturer helped out was not provided. The cause of transmission failure is vaguely suggested to be bad powertrain parts.
Electrical Problems
- Electrical malfunction with the instruments and warning lights - The instruments like the gas gauge or the speedometer will oftentimes show the wrong value, causing the users to act upon that information and land in trouble. For example, one user ran out of fuel multiple times despite the gas gauge indicating there is sufficient fuel. Another issue that seems to trouble the users of the 2017 Versa is the various warning lights. It seems the light for the cruise control, ABS, seatbelts, etc comes on and off as it pleases, confusing and worrying the occupants. The reason behind this is yet to be known, despite seeking professional help on this issue.
Safety Problems
- Airbags failing to deploy - This was a cause for major injuries to almost all that were affected by it. When the vehicle crashed, the failure of both or either the front and side airbags deployment caused serious injuries to the occupants. Ironically, the accident occurred in the first place due to the brake failure for at least a couple of the users who complained. Nissan is aware of the reason behind the deployment of the malfunctioning airbag. For the front airbags; it seems the assembly is defective, and for the side curtain airbags; the fabric used. Hence, they have issued a recall pertaining to both those matters and you can refer to NHTSA ID: 17V275000 & 16V724000, respectively for more details.
- Seatbelts retractions and warning sound- Pertaining to the matter of the seatbelts, users have faced the issue of a loose seat belt retraction, hence facing a safety hazard if an unfortunate circumstance arises. Also, despite the occupants wearing the seatbelts, the warning sound for the respective seatbelts seems to go off, causing disturbance to the occupants, especially the drivers.
Exterior Problems
- Water leaking from the windshield area - The water would fill in the trough right below the windshield, which in turn overflows into the drain and clogs it, and proceeds to leak into the driver and front passenger side of the cabin. For one user, the wiring harness was destroyed due to the water, causing malfunction of the dashboard electronic instruments. Unfortunately, the dealership seemed to be of no help pertaining to this matter, according to various users.
- Issues with the various latches- The latches on the 2017 Nissan Versa are not built to last long. For one user, the hood popped open while they were driving, the issue? The hood latch was defective. For another, both the trunk and door latches were defective and wouldn’t close properly. The dealership was very problematic to deal with and would argue on whether it was included on the warranty, or the warranty would have already expired by the time the issue arises. Users had to usually pay out of their own pocket to fix this problem.
- Tire failure- Tires, especially the “Continental tires”, would pop or fail for the users, especially when driving due to low thread counts in the tires that occurred prematurely. Whether the dealership fixed the issue or not is unclear.
- Hydrocarbon leaking- The leaking of hydrocarbons caused one user to get Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Despite showing a medical report, the dealership was very difficult to deal with. Nonetheless, the issue was fixed by the dealership, but the reason why it occurred in the first place couldn’t be provided. Owners stated that they had to go through a lengthy legal procedure to obtain the reason.
Recalls for the 2017 Nissan Versa
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional remarks. |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
August 21 2021 |
18V551000 |
Ignition switch may turn off. |
Over time due to reasons like; key weight, road conditions, etc, the ignition switch might go into the accessory position and turn off the engine. |
The dealership will change the ignition switch, if necessary for free. |
|
2 |
April 26 2017 |
17V275000 |
Separation of airbag cushion from the assembly. |
The ring plate that secures the front airbag cushion to the passenger may fail and cause an improper deployment of the airbag during a crash. |
Those who have received the notice should get their passenger frontal airbag module changed from the dealership, this will be done free of cost. |
|
3 |
October 11 2016 |
16V724000 |
Side airbag curtain seams might tear. |
During the event of a side curtain airbag deployment, a seam in the fabric section might tear, as such it fails to comply with the FMVSS regulations. |
The dealership will replace both the left and the right side curtain airbags, free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2017 Nissan Versa
For the 2017 Nissan Versa price, the value provided is expected. Working around a cost-efficient vehicle will arise issues as the vehicle is being used over time. Not to mention that the vehicle has no official safety rating with the NHTSA and an overall mediocre rating with the IIHS as well. Although, the number of complaints raised was only 46, compared to the 100,000 plus sales. So, it's not an altogether bad choice, just not the best either. If you want a better alternative, the 2017 Kia Rio seems to be a good alternate option, with fewer complaints and an actual rating in the NHTSA. Additionally, it is typically ranked higher than the 2017 Nissan Versa.
