2018 Nissan Versa Problems

Severe Issues

Shopping for a used 2018 Nissan Versa? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Based on 53 real NHTSA owner complaints, with Electrical Faults the most reported area.

20179 years2019

Before you buy

This 2018 Nissan Versa has 53 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Electrical Faults.

A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.

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53
Complaints
11
Crashes
β€”
Fires
10
Injuries
β€”
Fatalities
2
Recalls

2018 Nissan Versa Fuel Economy

βœ“ EPA Official Data

EPA-rated fuel economy across 3 2018 Nissan Versa trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.

27
MPG City
26–31 range
36
MPG Hwy
35–39 range
30
MPG Combined
29–34 range
296
g COβ‚‚/mile
Regular Gasoline
πŸ’°Saves $750 vs. avg vehicle over 5 years

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 3 trims analysed.

2018 Nissan Versa Safety Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Program

Official crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.

Overall

4/5

14.3% rollover risk

Frontal Crash

4/5

Side Crash

4/5

Rollover

4/5

14.3% probability

βœ“Stability Control: Standardβ—‹Forward Collision Warning: Noβ—‹Lane Departure Warning: No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.

Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2018 Nissan Versa has 53 owner complaints, 11 crash-related complaints, and 2 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Electrical Faults. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.

2018 Nissan Versa β€” key reliability facts
Make
Nissan
Model
Versa
Model year
2018
NHTSA owner complaints
53
Crash-related complaints
11
Safety recall campaigns
2
Top reported component
Electrical Faults
Reliability signal
Severe Issues
EPA MPG combined
30
EPA MPG city / highway
27 / 36
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline
NHTSA overall safety rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA frontal crash rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA side crash rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA rollover rating
4/5 stars
Electronic stability control
Standard

Common problems

Most common 2018 Nissan Versa problems

Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.

#1
16
complaints

Electrical Faults

#2
14
complaints

Engine Problems

Crash-related:2
Injuries:3
#3
13
complaints

Airbag Malfunctions

Crash-related:7
Injuries:5

Complaint patterns center on Electrical Faults, Engine Problems, Airbag Malfunctions. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.

Buyer verdict

Should you buy a used 2018 Nissan Versa?

The 2018 Nissan Versa 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.

Pre-purchase

What to check before buying a used 2018 Nissan Versa

Inspection Focus

  • Inspect electrical systems, including battery and wiring, for known issues.
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for engine and airbag repairs.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.

Before You Close the Deal

  • Inspect electrical systems, including battery and wiring, for known issues.
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for engine and airbag repairs.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.

Check the exact car

Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.

Before buying a used 2018 Nissan Versa, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.

AI verdict

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

Complaints for the 2018 Nissan Versa are concentrated in electrical faults, engine problems, and airbag malfunctions, with 53 total complaints and 11 crash-related reports. The data suggests potential issues in these areas, though the low confidence level and limited sample size warrant caution.

Key Findings
  • Electrical faults account for the highest number of complaints at 16.
  • Engine problems and airbag malfunctions each have over 10 complaints.
  • There are 2 recalls associated with this model year.
Top Concerns
  • Electrical Faults
  • Engine Problems
  • Airbag Malfunctions
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect. The confidence level is Low, meaning the data may not be representative of all vehicles. Only one model year (2018) was included, limiting trend analysis.

Full breakdown

All 2018 Nissan Versa complaints by category

Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Nissan Versa. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Electrical Faults16β€”β€”β€”
Engine Problems142β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions137β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues134β€”β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain8β€”β€”β€”
Brake System61β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration41β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper2β€”β€”β€”
Structural Problems21β€”β€”
Wheel Issues2β€”β€”β€”
Steering Defects2β€”β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures1β€”β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB1β€”β€”β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

In their words

Real owner complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Nissan Versa. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

Showing 53 most recent complaints

Visibility/WiperMay 3, 2026

My car was parked out front my house. Weather has been in the 60’s no major differences. I walked outside ant 1pm and noticed the entire back windshield was shattered. There was no impact marks, no hole in the window. I’m not sure how this has happened and thankfully we were at …

Electrical FaultsMar 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving approximately 4 MPH, the vehicle was shaking violently. There were no warning lights illuminated. When the heater was activated, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was ta…

Airbag MalfunctionsJan 13, 2026

Out of nowhere my airbag light start blinking, I ran the code and got a P2096 which apparently is not related to the airbag I took it to Firestone to get it checked out and they told me they cannot do anything about the airbag light I would have to go to my dealership for help w…

Transmission / DrivetrainSep 8, 2025

I was driving on the express way in rush hour traffic, and my car started to judder and rpm were reving high.i tried to accelerate and the car just stop in mid traffic, I had to have the car towed home,and from home to the nissan dealership. They told me that my transmission had …

Electrical FaultsAug 6, 2025

loss of power when using turn signal on highway changing lanes and making left or right turn on city streets. Once the signal is off I can accelerate. Left turn signal becomes more rapid as well. The Versa has a manual transmission. recurring issue for a month.

Electrical FaultsMar 24, 2025

Has an issue with the mass flow air sensor. I had this car for 7 months with 84,000 miles on it and noticed instantly that it had poor mileage and stalled a lot. Check engine came on the first time and I took it to have a diagnostic test and a P101 code came on, a couple of days …

Electrical FaultsJan 26, 2025

I pulled up to a stoplight that was on a hill and tried to put on the brake. The brake pedal was highly resistant and wouldn’t let me push down fully. At that moment, all of the warning lights on the dashboard turned on. When the light turned green, I tried to hit the gas pedal b…

Electrical FaultsDec 10, 2024

While driving the car just shuts off and I have to stop the car turn the ignition off and then back on, this has happened multiple times and the dealer said there are no recalls on rhus vehicle.

Headlight/Taillight FailuresJun 2, 2024

Brake's grind and squeal at a slow stop even with new brakes and rotors and electric problems like it's blowing headlights with in weeks of installing and tag lights as well.

Transmission / DrivetrainOct 24, 2023

Purchased New in January, 2019, with 10-20 miles on it. In February/March of 2020 it started lurching forward, giving rough idles. It would rumble, and you could hear the engine move around. This reported to Nissan dealership, the Tech. could not find code, simply reset comput…

Unintended AccelerationOct 16, 2023

TRANSMISSION ISSUES , STALLING, RPM REVVING.

Electrical FaultsJul 29, 2023

Car stalls, I’ve contacted Nissan regarding electrical issues with ignition how it’s not reading the ecu. Another things is the recalls that comes up. Here it is Recall #19V654000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Defect Description: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan)…

Electrical FaultsJul 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving 32 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and stated that the vehicle was not under …

Transmission / DrivetrainApr 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that on various occasions, after driving from a stop signal, the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not …

Transmission / DrivetrainFeb 3, 2023

The check engine lamp light came on and vehicles current shift lamps not visible. Vehicle began to slip gears and Rev at high rpm. Risk of taking kids to school and myself to work was resolved by parking the car back in driveway. The car diagnostic machine put out code P0705 Tran…

Airbag MalfunctionsNov 5, 2022

While driving the car airbag icon appeared on dashboard blinking

Transmission / DrivetrainSep 19, 2022

My Versa appears to have the same transmission issues as other Nissan vehicles where it has a harsh downshift slow speed shutter and bump when when coming to a complete stop vehicle has loud wine coming from transmission and has a slipping feeling under hard acceleration Nissan r…

Airbag Malfunctions CrashJan 12, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that she had collided with a deer that entered the roadway at 60 MPH. The airbags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact sustained sourness to her neck, back, and both shoulders but did not seek medical attention. The po…

Electrical FaultsDec 25, 2021

1) When at red light with car in drive and brake pedal pressed the car occasionally begins to roll forward and then the brakes suddenly depress even more. 2) All brake lights intermittently go out and if hit will come back on for an unknown time until u realize they're not work…

Airbag MalfunctionsDec 18, 2021

I bought this new vehicle and I am the first owner. Two months ago, the airbag light is on and the system said the front passenger seat airbag is disabled even though my wife is siting on the front passenger seat. It seems that the airbag system cannot detect someone is siting on…

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Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2018 Nissan Versa.

Safety recalls

2018 Nissan Versa recalls

2 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2018 Nissan Versa. 2 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.

Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

#18V551000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION21/08/2018
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

#19V654000BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERADec 9, 2019

Across model years

Compare Nissan Versa model years

Compare complaint and recall volume across years to see whether 2018 lands in a lower-risk or higher-risk part of the model timeline.

Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

Questions

2018 Nissan Versa buying FAQ

Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.

Is the 2018 Nissan Versa reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 53 owner complaints, 11 crash-related complaints, and 2 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2018 Nissan Versa 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 2018 Nissan Versa?β–Ύ

#1: Electrical Faults (16 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (14 complaints). #3: Airbag Malfunctions (13 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Nissan Versa?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2018 Nissan Versa?β–Ύ

Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2018 Nissan Versa, NHTSA complaints include 11 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 53 total complaints. 10 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2018 Nissan Versa have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes. 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2018 Nissan Versa. A major recall area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION. 2 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.

Should I buy a 2018 Nissan Versa?β–Ύ

The 2018 Nissan Versa 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 Electrical Faults 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 reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Owner Reliability Rating

Rate the 2018 Nissan Versa based on your ownership experience.

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Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.

Before you buy

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.