2008 Nissan Versa: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Nissan Versa: 7 recalls, 381 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V401000 · 2010 · 7,948 vehicles
What's wrong: The batteries contained in the affected gps units can overheat.
Why it matters: Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by garmin technicians by replacing the battery and inserting a spacer on top of the battery free of charge. The safety recall began on September 16, 2010.
Suspension Vehicle recall #15V573000 · 2015 · 218,019 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan (Nissan north america, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Nissan versa vehicles manufactured May 8, 2006, to November 12, 2012, that were sold or ever registered in the district of columbia, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont,…
Why it matters: If a front coil spring fractures, it May contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on February 2, 2016.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V349000 · 2016 · 413,852 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti fx35 and fx45, 2003-2004 Infiniti i35, 2006-2010 Infiniti m35 and m45, and 2007-2011 Nissan versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s.…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V028000 · 2017 · 152,554 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan) and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a". Additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, Nissan is recalling certain…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V449000 · 2017 · 515,394 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 versa sedan and 2007-2012 versa hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that May rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the subject inflator with a new one manufactured by a different supplier, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V452000 · 2018 · 233 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2008 Nissan versa sedan and versa hatchback vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, delaware, district of columbia, florida, georgia, hawaii, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maryland, mississippi, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma,…
Why it matters: If an inflator were to explode it May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 25, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V008000 · 2020 · 307,962 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 maxima, 2002-2006 sentra, 2002-2004 pathfinder, 2007-2011 versa sedan and versa hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti i30 and i35, 2002-2003 inifiniti qx4, 2003-2008 Infiniti fx35 and fx45 and 2006-2010 m35 and m45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan)…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Airbags, Airbags Equipment recall #22E066000 · 2022 · 375 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that May have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 qx4, 2006-2010 m35 and m45; Nissan 2001-2003 maxima, 2002-2006 sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 versa sedan…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 8 mention a fire, 22 injuries and 3 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (171): the most common themes are warning light on (17), deploys unexpectedly / inflator (14), fails to deploy (5).
- Suspension (70): the most common themes are noise or vibration (19), rust / corrosion (8).
- Electrical (25): the most common themes are electrical failure (6), fire / smoke (5).
- Steering (23): the most common themes are steering problems (16), noise or vibration (13).
The 2008 Nissan Versa has 381 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 19 Versa model years for complaints (2.2× the average Versa year). Complaints peaked in 2017 (94 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 52,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (354 complaints, 8 recalls), 2009 (504 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 33 | 29 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 31 | 28 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 32 | 27 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Nissan Versa.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Nissan Versa have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Nissan Versa, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Nissan Versa problems?
Owners have filed 381 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (171), suspension (70), electrical (25).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Nissan Versa get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Nissan Versa repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.