2016 Nissan Versa Note Safety Report
2016 Nissan Versa Note Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Nissan Versa Note. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (106) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 16 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2019 | Compare against the 2019 Nissan Versa Note with 1 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Nissan Versa Note before buying across this generation. |
Nissan Versa Note Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Nissan Versa Note years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Nissan Versa Note | 70 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Nissan Versa Note | 251 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Nissan Versa Note | 3 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Nissan Versa Note | 1 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Nissan Versa Note Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Nissan Versa Note, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Nissan onlyAir Bags
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Nissan onlyUnknown Or Other
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Nissan onlyService Brakes
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Nissan onlyEngine
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Nissan onlyTires
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Tires issues Nissan onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note
Reliability Score
The 2016 Nissan Versa Note receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cvt Transmission Failure Severe shuddering, jerking, and progressive loss of acceleration. Initially the vehicle would not start. |
High | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag Malfunction Check airbag light has come on and stayed on, requiring multiple visits to the dealer. |
Medium | Common | N/A miles |
| Engine Issues Engine failure has been reported, including a shutter leaving 1st gear. |
Medium | Rare | N/A miles |
| Steering Issues Steering issues have been reported, though less frequently. |
Low | Occasional | N/A miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Nissan Versa Note:
Transmission and engine issues are the most common problems.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Nissan Versa Note with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
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 vehicle has been driven for more than approximately 2 minutes. There are no warning lights or alerts prior to the failure. Th...
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 that the vehicles coming behind me would not see my small car right away, as I was positioned past the railroad tracks ...
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 vehicle has been driven for more than approximately 2 minutes. There are no warning lights or alerts prior to the failure. Th...
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 unexpectedly. The vehicle was stationary and had not been involved in any collision. This sudden deployment posed a serious s...
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 FAULTY. I am very uneasy now driving around not knowing if my airbag will deploy if ever needed. It is now July, 2025 a...
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 effectively dehumidify the air inside the cabin. As a result, drivers are forced to keep the windows rolled up in rain or ...
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 mechanic told me the evaporator core needs to be replaced, but that repair alone is too expensive for me right now. ...
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 heat in the cabin, especially in summer months, and creates a serious distraction and discomfort while driving. It becomes ...
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 illuminated. The contact was able to drive back to the residence, where the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restar...
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 vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The...
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 cruise control; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to pull off to the shoulder of the highway and placed ...
"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 fire, an engine explosion, or simply breaking down in the middle of the interstate, "Repair" occurred and sent home, 2 ti...
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 was reached due to a class action lawsuit as car is having the issue as car pass 120000 mileage limit when issue started....
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 is the back of my driver seat, the airbag for the driver side back seat. I don’t know what the qualified number of compl...
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 cvt transmission in my 2016 Nisan versa that it was recalled and no one contacted me. I would like it fixed I’m a single...
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 train. Had a mechanic look at it and said the Cvt transmission more than likely blame for this problem. After researchin...
Showing 20 of 106 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2021-09-17
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Nissan Versa Note
Has the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE been recalled?
No, the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE have?
The 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE has 106 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 15 involved crashes. 18 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
The 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 3/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE involve power train (16 complaints), air bags (15 complaints), unknown or other (10 complaints). Other affected components include service brakes, engine, tires.
How many crash reports does the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE have?
There are 15 crash reports associated with the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE out of 106 total complaints (14.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE out of 106 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
18 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE is acceptable with caveats. It has 106 complaints, 0 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE are: 1. POWER TRAIN (16 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (15 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (10 complaints), 4. SERVICE BRAKES (7 complaints), 5. ENGINE (4 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 16 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
Be cautious of power train and airbag issues. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing. The 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE has 106 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
The 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 106 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 16 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include CVT Transmission Failure and Airbag Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE?
Known issues with the 2016 NISSAN VERSA NOTE include: CVT Transmission Failure, Airbag Malfunction, Engine Issues, Steering Issues. These are based on patterns found across 106 NHTSA complaints.
Are there any known transmission issues with the 2016 Nissan Versa Note?
Yes, some vehicles have experienced severe transmission failures causing shuddering and loss of acceleration.
What should I do if the check airbag light comes on?
Take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnosis and repair as soon as possible.
Can the air conditioning system failure affect the car's safety?
While primarily a comfort issue, a completely failed air conditioning system can make driving uncomfortable, especially in hot weather.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of power train and airbag issues. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Nissan Versa Note
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Nissan Versa Note. The data includes 106 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 15 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 18 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Nissan Versa Note an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 3 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16