2021 Nissan Versa Safety Report
2021 NISSAN VERSA Safety Analysis
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Nissan Versa
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 Nissan Versa. 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 | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (29) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 5 | 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 | 2022 | Compare against the 2022 Nissan Versa with 16 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2024 | Check the 2024 Nissan Versa before buying across this generation. |
Nissan Versa 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Nissan Versa | 16 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Nissan Versa | 58 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Nissan Versa | 37 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Nissan Versa | 22 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2024 Nissan Versa | 90 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Nissan Versa | 52 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Nissan Versa Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 Nissan Versa, 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
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Nissan onlyVisibility/Wiper
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Visibility/Wiper issues Nissan onlyUnknown Or Other
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Nissan onlyEngine
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Nissan onlyAir Bags
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Nissan onlyPower Train,Exterior Lighting,Vehicle Speed Control
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Exterior Lighting,Vehicle Speed Control issues Nissan onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Nissan Versa
Reliability Score
The 2021 Nissan Versa receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 Nissan Versa
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 2021 Nissan Versa
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Nissan Versa:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission Failure Multiple owners have reported transmission failures, including popping and no forward drive, leading to traffic issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering System Recall Nissan has issued a recall for the electric power assist system, affecting 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Seatbelt Buckle Issues Owners have reported instances where the driver's seatbelt has come unbuckled on its own, sometimes sticking or difficult to use. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Jerking And Smoke Several owners have experienced engine jerking and smoke coming from the vehicle, indicating potential engine issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Nissan Versa:
Transmission failures are a common issue, with reports of popping and no forward drive.
Steering issues, including an electric power assist system recall, are reported.
Seatbelt buckle issues, including instances where the seatbelt has come unbuckled on its own.
Engine jerking and smoke are reported, indicating potential engine problems.
Recall Details for the 2021 Nissan Versa
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Nissan Versa by NHTSA:
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA26. This recall involves vehicles that were previously inspected, but did not receive ...
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
Consequence: Loss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PMA10 / PMA25.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
Consequence: Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and PC811.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Nissan Versa
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Nissan Versa with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5 complaints involved crashes. 3 reported injuries or fatalities.
I got into the car and started it up. Put in reverse car shuts off. Re started and put in reverse. Was able to drive out of apartment parking lot then no power to speed and car was a little jerky and on dashboard it said warning malfunction see owners manual with a few pictures on dashboard
Cvt Transmission failed While driving transmission popped and no forward drive leaving us in traffic unable to move in forward. Had to get out and push the car to the side of the road. No warning lights no warning signs. Just immediate loss of forward drive. Engine revs up but no movement. Dangerously leaving us in harms way. Haven't had the vehicle inspected by nissan yet but will be doing so i...
Transmission failure 2 Times. First time experienced jerking and some smoke coming out and second time same jerking and smoke along with electrical system failure. Nissan paid 40% the first time to help and I paid 60% even though I did not agree with that I did it. 2nd time they refuse to pay anything because of warranty even though it only took 40, 000 miles and transmission went out gain. Obvio...
My 2021 Nissan Versa was struck at high speed while parked and required extensive repairs that exceeded the vehicle’s value. After the repairs, the transmission began acting erratically. The car shudders, hesitates, and feels unstable while driving. Acceleration is unpredictable and the vehicle does not feel safe or reliable. These issues were not present before the collision and have continued to...
Mileage: Approximately 45,000 Current Status: Inoperable; held at Joe Machens Nissan pending evaluation by Nissan Consumer Affairs. Description of the Problem The vehicle has become completely inoperable, making it unsafe to operate. In the months prior to the failure, traction control warning indicators intermittently appeared on the dashboard. I did not recognize their significance at the time a...
Need to put in complaint the CVT transmissions has been doing a lot of whining and jerky. Spoke to the dealership they stated had no idea what it was. Started to investigate and found out there were recalls in the 2012 to 2015 CVT transmissions on Nissans and there is pending investigation in the years 2020 to 2023 for the same thing. Was told by a car repair to put in complaint. Due to the fact m...
On three separate occasions while driving, my driver seatbelt has come unbuckled on it's own. Most recently today. It also sometimes sticks and is difficult to unbuckle.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while attempting to reverse at 2 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. Additionally, the contact stated that the high-beam headlights were failing and were independently deactivating. The contact stated that the high-beam headlights switch had to be held manually for the high-beam headlights to remain activated. No warning light ...
The brakes fight and lock from time to time. The steering will get a tug like a car is in front of me. The engine has a weird tug before pulling of and switching gears.when I pull off while turning the car feels like it completely losses power!?
Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. It stalls often and feels as if it's struggling to switch gears. It only has 68k miles on it with regular maintenance being done. It is too new to have these problems.
I purchased 2021 4 months ago. Two weeks ago on a very hot day my driver side visor broke. I called Nessan holiness and told them the visor drops. It obstructs vision of driving. I called today and first was put on hold, then call was disconnected. I recalled back and informed Nessan about driver side visor. As we were talking she asked me if I bought car with extended warranty. I said no. Car was...
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Versa. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V496000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution dis...
Driving down the road, the car enters a phase where you can not accelerate at all. It seems like the fuel injectors are cut off by 90% and you can only accelerate to about 35 mph. Although this has happened the whole life of the car 26,000 miles, today I was fed up with it and decided to make it known there is an issue. I've tried different fuel and that did not fix it. As a mechanic myself, I fee...
Water collects on spark plug coils and the car does not exceed 50 mpg, check engine light comes on. This has happened twice so far, the first time was 1/04/2024. I actually didn't drive the car for two weeks after the first repair, it just sat in the driveway in the rain and snow. The first time I drove it after the first repair, the exact same thing happened. "The water is diverting improperly...
When I bought the car, I knew it was not going to be a fast car. After driving for a couple months, I would be going to turn left at an intersection, and it would be sluggish getting across. Eventually you could feel it kick into gear and take off. It now seems to be getting worse. A local mechanic said it had a code P17F4. They would not do touch it there. I took it to Greeley Nissan now and am a...
Battery continues to die after 6 months of having a new one. Alternator and starter have been checked and are in good working condition.
First the furl gage reads the wrong amount I filled up and the gauge never changed. The radio which is a known problem cuts in and out or just stops working
2021 Nissan Versa S on Aug 26th 2023 driving back from NY heading toward Ma. when a Malfunction sign came up on the dashboard of the car. we pulled over trying to figure out what was happening and took a picture of the warning sign also the Break Assist showing something just happened. turned the car off and the driver turned the car back on. Continue driving. 20 miles down the road the Car brake...
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal from a stop sign, the vehicle started stalling. The contact stated the crash indicator warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. T...
My tires go flat EVERY TIME I put in my rim caps. I spent so much money on new tires, thinking it was the tires but it’s actually my rim caps cutting where my air goes in at. I had to take all of the caps off and I’m still having problems. Besides that, it does not notify you when you need an oil change, my first time going…I could’ve messed up my car. Glad I went in early enough!!! And when I plu...
Showing 20 of 29 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2021 Nissan Versa
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: Power Train
Opened 2024-03-07 · Closed 2025-10-02
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on March 7, 2024, after receiving twenty (20) consumer complaints and multiple field reports describing reduced power (limp mode) after re-starting the vehicle following a stall on certain 2022-2024 model year (MY) Nissan Versa. A Preliminary Evaluation was opened to gather information and assess whether the subject vehicles contain a safety-related defect. During this investigation, Nissan explained that certain 2022-2044 MY N...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Nissan Versa
Has the 2021 NISSAN VERSA been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 NISSAN VERSA has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 NISSAN VERSA have?
The 2021 NISSAN VERSA has 29 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 5 involved crashes. 3 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
The 2021 NISSAN VERSA received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 NISSAN VERSA involve power train (3 complaints), visibility/wiper (3 complaints), unknown or other (3 complaints). Other affected components include engine, air bags, power train,exterior lighting,vehicle speed control.
How many crash reports does the 2021 NISSAN VERSA have?
There are 5 crash reports associated with the 2021 NISSAN VERSA out of 29 total complaints (17.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2021 NISSAN VERSA have?
There are no fire reports for the 2021 NISSAN VERSA in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 NISSAN VERSA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
3 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 NISSAN VERSA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 NISSAN VERSA is generally recommended. It has 29 complaints, 3 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 NISSAN VERSA are: 1. POWER TRAIN (3 complaints), 2. VISIBILITY/WIPER (3 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), 4. ENGINE (2 complaints), 5. AIR BAGS (2 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 3 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
Be cautious of transmission and steering issues, as they are common and can lead to traffic problems. Consider the reliability of the vehicle before purchase. The 2021 NISSAN VERSA has 29 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
The 2021 NISSAN VERSA receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 29 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 5 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Transmission Failure and Steering System Recall.
What are the known issues with the 2021 NISSAN VERSA?
Known issues with the 2021 NISSAN VERSA include: Transmission Failure, Steering System Recall, Seatbelt Buckle Issues, Engine Jerking and Smoke. These are based on patterns found across 29 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2021 Nissan Versa?
Transmission failures and steering system problems are the most common, with recalls and reports of jerking and smoke from the engine.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 Nissan Versa?
Yes, there is a recall for the electric power assist steering system.
What should I do if I experience transmission issues?
Contact Nissan Consumer Affairs for assistance and potential repairs or replacements.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of transmission and steering issues, as they are common and can lead to traffic problems. Consider the reliability of the vehicle before purchase.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Nissan Versa
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Nissan Versa. The data includes 29 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 5 reported crashes, 3 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 Nissan Versa an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 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