2016 Nissan Versa Note: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2016 Nissan Versa Note? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 106 complaints, with Transmission / Drivetrain as the top reported area.
2016 Nissan Versa Note Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
14.7% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
14.7% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2016 Nissan Versa Note has 106 owner complaints, 15 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Transmission / Drivetrain. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Versa Note
- Model year
- 2016
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 106
- Crash-related complaints
- 15
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Top reported component
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 3/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2016 Nissan Versa Note Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Airbag Malfunctions
Uncategorized Issues
Complaint patterns center on Transmission / Drivetrain, Airbag Malfunctions, Uncategorized Issues. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2016 Nissan Versa Note?
The 2016 Nissan Versa Note shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2016 Nissan Versa Note
Inspection Focus
- Inspect the transmission and drivetrain for any signs of issues or previous repairs.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for airbag and brake system repairs.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on reported components.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect the transmission and drivetrain for any signs of issues or previous repairs.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for airbag and brake system repairs.
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on reported components.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2016 Nissan Versa Note, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on 106 NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note, the data suggests that transmission and drivetrain issues are the most frequently reported concern, followed by airbag malfunctions and uncategorized problems. Crash-related complaints account for 15 of the total, but the overall confidence in these patterns is low due to the limited dataset.
- Transmission and drivetrain complaints are the most common, with 30 reports.
- Airbag malfunctions are the second most reported issue, with 24 complaints.
- Brake system problems were reported 14 times, and engine problems 13 times.
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Brake System
All 2016 Nissan Versa Note Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 30 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 24 | 9 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 24 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 14 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
0 The vehicle has a CVT transmission failure causing severe shuddering, jerking, and progressive loss of acceleration. Initially the vehicle would not exceed 20 mph, then worsened to 15 mph, then 10 mph, and now will not exceed 5 mph. The issue consistently occurs after the vehic…
While merging onto [XXX] toward [XXX] , my 2016 Nissan Versa suffered a total loss of power while crossing active railroad tracks. The car stuttered and jerked before completely stalling and stopped responding. I was stranded in a high-traffic zone around [XXX] PM. I was worried…
The vehicle has a CVT transmission failure causing severe shuddering, jerking, and progressive loss of acceleration. Initially the vehicle would not exceed 20 mph, then worsened to 15 mph, then 10 mph, and now will not exceed 5 mph. The issue consistently occurs after the vehicl…
After arriving home, I stopped in my driveway and waited for the front passenger to exit. The vehicle was still running and may not have been in park. Immediately after the passenger exited and closed the door, the passenger curtain airbag and passenger seat airbag deployed unexp…
There is a shutter leaving 1st gear
The airbag warning light has come on and is flashing.Brought it in twice for it was in diagnosis mode the first time. History mode second time and two days later it is on again and flashing that is three times in one month! Nissan needs to have this problem fixed!
My Check Airbag light came on without any incident and has stayed on since January, 2025. I took it to a Nissan dealer and they told me they would charge me $4,000.00 to see if it could be fixed. Charged me $209.96 just to look at the car. Their report said AIRBAG SIDE MODULE LH…
I own a 2016 Nissan Versa, and the air conditioning system has completely failed due to what I’ve been told is an evaporator core issue. After researching, I’ve found that this is a very common problem among Versa owners across multiple model years. The failure causes extreme hea…
I own a 2016 Nissan Versa, and the air conditioning system has completely failed, making the car almost unbearable to drive in the Florida heat. I have already spent over $1,000 trying to fix the issue — including replacing multiple A/C components — and the air still doesn’t work…
A critical safety concern arising from the evaporator core defect in the Nissan Versa relates to the vehicle’s inability to properly control interior humidity and prevent window fogging during rainy conditions. When the evaporator core fails, the air conditioning system cannot ef…
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. There was no warning light i…
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost motive power, and started jerking while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the RPM needled was fluctuating erratically. …
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the contact approached oncoming traffic and depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle continued to surge forward without warning. The contact deactivated the cru…
"Leaking injectors causing cylinder wall wash, resulting in low compression." Per Nissan of Chattanooga East. Stated they have seen this before and can be a "common" malfunction. Puts others and self at risk of catastrophic engine malfunction and fuel injector malfunction. Car fi…
Transmission failure
Engine keeps losing oil level when no leaks found which causes transmission and engine to act making weird noises when gas pedal hit when driving car. Transmission is making weird noises like it is slipping when driving when gas pedal is pressed down. A settlement with Nissan w…
My vehicle was jumping when accelerating. It then went into limp mode to protect the engine due to code NTB17-034g. The mechanic stated this code is coming up and is a safety issue. The car is not accelerating as normal, car is jumping and will go into limp mode randomly.
A while ago my airbag light began flashing, we reset it a few times and it would come back after a week or two sometimes longer, either a flashing or solid light, it felt almost random. No codes came up when we had it ran, and then we took it to the dealership for inspection. It …
My engine light has always been on in my car contacted the dealership and they never cared to take care of the situation. My car has a problem with picking up speed and turning corners. Took it to a mechanic and said it’s my transmission and that it was never good especially the …
Since buying car used last summer ive have numerous scares for the car stalling jerking and shutting off while driving or slowing down and taking off. I drove over train tracks on my way home and the car jerked stalled and died luckily i made it over the tracks and there was no t…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note.
2016 Nissan Versa Note Recalls
0 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note. No recall campaigns are currently listed for this model year in the dataset, but VIN-level recall checks are still essential. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.
2016 Nissan Versa Note Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2016 Nissan Versa Note reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 106 owner complaints, 15 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2016 Nissan Versa Note shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Nissan Versa Note?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (30 complaints). #2: Airbag Malfunctions (24 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (24 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Nissan Versa Note?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Nissan Versa Note?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2016 Nissan Versa Note, NHTSA complaints include 15 crash-related reports and 1 fire reports out of 106 total complaints. 18 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Nissan Versa Note have any recalls?▾
No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.
Should I buy a 2016 Nissan Versa Note?▾
The 2016 Nissan Versa Note shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Transmission / Drivetrain during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Versa Note reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2016 Nissan Versa Note based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.