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2021 Nissan Versa

Gas
Compact Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA31
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA35 mpg
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Nissan Versa is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Versa, is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 31 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
VersaGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl324035$1,800
VersaGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl273530$2,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43432, 43433.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 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 (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Steering

PMA26
11,824 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskLoss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 a steering column replacement, under recall number 22V-693. These vehicles will need to be reinspec
NHTSA campaign 23V496000reported Jul 18, 2023Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Steering

PMA10 / PMA25
20,040 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskLoss of power steering assist can increase the steering effort required, especially at low speeds, and increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V693000reported Sep 15, 2022Nissan North America, Inc.
▲high

Exterior Lighting

PM986 / PC811
30,799 vehicles
ProblemNissan 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.RiskInoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 campaign 21V471000reported Jun 23, 2021Nissan North America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Power Train — Reduced Power After Engine Stall closed

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 Nissan Versa vehicles equipped with a manual transmission may, under specific conditions, experience a Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) along with reduced engine performance following an engine start

Opened Mar 7, 2024 · closed Oct 2, 2025 · action PE24007

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
31complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Power Train9
Electrical System7
Air Bags5
Engine5
Unspecified5
Steering4

What owners describe

“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 h…”Jan 13, 2025 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA owner report
“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!?”Sep 20, 2024 · Steering · NHTSA owner report
“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 …”Aug 30, 2024 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report

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
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆12%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Versa model years

A

2025 Nissan Versa

0 recalls · 11 complaints

A

2024 Nissan Versa

1 recalls · 95 complaints

A

2023 Nissan Versa

1 recalls · 37 complaints

A

2022 Nissan Versa

0 recalls · 20 complaints

C

2020 Nissan Versa

2 recalls · 64 complaints

A

2019 Nissan Versa

1 recalls · 25 complaints

B

2018 Nissan Versa

3 recalls · 58 complaints

C

2017 Nissan Versa

3 recalls · 72 complaints

A

2016 Nissan Versa

0 recalls · 108 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.

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