2007 Nissan Versa: common problems

Owners of the 2007 Nissan Versa filed 354 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 354
involving a crash: 23

Nissan Versa 2007: 3D model with the “Air bags” area highlighted — the most complained-about component — Yellow marks the “Air bags” area, the component owners complain about most for this year. Illustrative only. 3D model: Velrifea, CC Attribution.

What fails most often

1 Air bags 42% of all complaints
2 Suspension 15% of all complaints
3 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
5 Steering 6% of all complaints
6 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
7 Structure 5% of all complaints
8 Tires 5% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Air bags: 150 complaints (42% of all), 12 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Suspension: 54 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 30 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 29 complaints (8% of all).
Steering: 22 complaints (6% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

1.8 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
automatic, 4-speed
CVTnamed in 6 complaints
manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 354 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

rust, corrosion27 · 8%
warning lights, check engine20 · 6%
airbag warning light18 · 5%
knocking, grinding or other noise18 · 5%
fuel system, fuel smell15 · 4%
seat belts14 · 4%
A/C or heater12 · 3%
won't start12 · 3%
smoke, burning smell, fire12 · 3%
windows, sunroof11 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Air bags	150	12
Suspension	54	1
Engine and cooling	30	2
Electrical system	29	0
Steering	22	4
Fuel system	21	0
Structure	19	1
Tires	16	0
Powertrain	13	1
Wheels	12	1
Seat belts	11	1
Service brakes	11	6
Visibility	11	0
Engine	9	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Seatbelt on driver's side didn't lock. Seatbelt on passenger side did lock no one riding there. A deer jumped right in front of me going 55mph air came out but I didn't get any powder burns and seatbelt pulled all the way out. I'm a small woman lucky I didn't go through the windshield.
Air bags · crash · 2022-11-06 · NHTSA complaint #11492505
As I came to realize what happened my son was in the backseat screaming and i had smoke coming from my hood. I hit a city light pole outside of a 7-Eleven store. I was unsure of what happened that caused the accident, but after it happened I got out of my car in complete shock of what hit me.
Air bags · crash · 2021-09-17 · NHTSA complaint #11433294
Vehicle was in motion on a highway when it unexpectedly started shaking and sliding/skidding from side to side ending in a crash. Furthermore, malfunctioning airbags resulted in severe cuts, bruises and other injuries to face and other body parts.
Air bags · crash · 2016-11-01 · NHTSA complaint #10920621
Reporting an issue with the 2007 nissan versa intermittent brake failure. When driving on dry roads and braking hard, the brake pedal would go to the floor, then recover itself and have adequate pressure within about a minute. Car has been regularly serviced since purchase, including annual brake service.
Service brakes · crash · 2015-12-22 · NHTSA complaint #10811674
She was sitting at the dining room table with full view from a window...she thought I had a heart attack. And the neighbor who winessed the gear in reverse was never contacted. In light of the cases of "unexplained" sudden acceleration I find it hard to believe that nissan is satisfied with the results in this case.
Powertrain · crash · 2010-12-31 · NHTSA complaint #10373593
The brakes failed. I had turned the wheel anticipating a normal turn however the car kept moving straight ahead. The car jumped a concrete island and came to rest. I knew immediately there was significant damage to the driver side although the damage was underneath the vehicle.
Service brakes · crash · 2010-08-31 · NHTSA complaint #10352914
While driving 25 mph, the contact suddenly noticed that the vehicle began to stall. Neither the brakes nor the power steering were operable. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle on the opposite side of the road. There were no injuries, but a police report was filed.
Engine and cooling · crash · 2009-07-24 · NHTSA complaint #10278227
The air bags deployed and knocked the contact unconscious. As a result, he struck another vehicle. A police report was filed. Both the driver and contact sustained injuries. Prior to the failure, the vehicle would not crank at all.
Engine and cooling · crash · 2008-03-14 · NHTSA complaint #10221182

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20069
200711
200810
200921
201021
201124
201225
201318
201422
201523
201644
201785
201818
20197
20208
20211
20223
20233
20251

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 1,136 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 3% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Versa has 175 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 354, above average.

What to check before buying

Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2007 Nissan Versa?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, suspension, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 354. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (8%), warning lights, check engine (6%), airbag warning light (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2007 Nissan Versa?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2007 Nissan Versa from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2007 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.