2016 Nissan Versa
The 2016 Nissan Versa is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Versa, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year so far (Safety Signal A). Owners have filed 108 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versa | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 31 | 39 | 34 | $1,850 |
| Versa | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,100 |
| Versa | Gas | FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 26 | 35 | 29 | $2,150 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36568, 36569, 36570.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 Nissan Versa is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (0)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseNo NHTSA recall campaigns are on file for the 2016 Nissan Versa. New campaigns appear here within a week of NHTSA posting them.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open
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 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database16 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 20 injuries · 1 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2016: 10 · 2017: 18 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 14 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 4
Most-cited components
What owners describe
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | 14% |
| 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Versa model years
2025 Nissan Versa
0 recalls · 11 complaints
A2024 Nissan Versa
1 recalls · 95 complaints
A2023 Nissan Versa
1 recalls · 37 complaints
A2022 Nissan Versa
0 recalls · 20 complaints
C2021 Nissan Versa
3 recalls · 31 complaints
C2020 Nissan Versa
2 recalls · 64 complaints
A2019 Nissan Versa
1 recalls · 25 complaints
B2018 Nissan Versa
3 recalls · 58 complaints
C2017 Nissan Versa
3 recalls · 72 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.