There are 20 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Nissan Versain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE FLANGES ON THE MIDDLE EXHAUST AT DISTAL END AND THE MUFFLER HAVE COMPLETELY OXIDIZED. MAJOR COSTS TO REPAIR BOTH MUFFLER AND MIDDLE EXHAUST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
HAVE HAD MY NISSAN VERSA SINCE 2009, GOT IT WITH 50 MILES ON THE CAR. SPENT 2 YEARS IN FLORIDA WITH IT WITHOUT A PROBLEM AND IN THE PAST YEAR I'VE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN. HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES TWICE AND TODAY I WAS A MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN MY CAR HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING AND STARTING MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. I'VE COME TO FIND OUT THAT MY MUFFLER HAS BROKEN AT THE FLANGE. APPARENTLY THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE NISSANS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CHANGE IT. THIS CAN CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING GOD FORBID SOMEONE PARKS THIS CAR IN THEIR GARAGE AND COULD ALSO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE ENTIRE MUFFLER RUSTS AND FALLS OUT OF SOMEONES CAR WHILE THEIR ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
THIS CAR IS A 2008. KEPT IN FANTASTIC CONDITION. THE MUFFLER RANDOMLY BROKE OFF OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. THE FEW MONTHS IT WAS DRIVEN IN THE NORTH IT WAS WASHED FREE OF ANY SALT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS IT SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. IT WAS A CLEAN BREAK. HOPEFULLY CAN BE WELDED BACK TOGETHER, BUT THIS BREAK IS CERTAINLY DUE TO THE CHEAP MATERIAL IT IS MADE OUT OF. NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THESE PARTS. THIS IS AFFECTING ALOT OF NISSAN VERSA OWNERS AROUND THE SAME EXACT MILEAGE FRAME. *TR
MUFFLER PIPE BROKE BY THE FLANGE - CAR ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, 60 000 MILES (FAULTY DESIGN?) IF THE MUFFLER ENDS UP ON THE ROAD ON THE HIGHWAY, IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *TR
I OWN A 2008 NISSAN VERSA. RECENTLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LOSING POWER AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF DRIVING. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS, THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER AND ONLY GO ABOUT 20 MPH. IF ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED, THE CAR WOULD STALL OUT COMPLETELY. AFTER TWO VISITS TO NISSAN DEALERS, THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE THIS CAR ON ANY EXTENDED TRIPS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR THE GAS MILEAGE...NOW HAVING TO TAKE ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR SAFETY. *TR
WE TOO HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2008 VERSA. WE HAD AN ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND SO WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN AT 22,000 MILES. THEY SAID WE HAD NO OIL CHANGES EXCEPT ONE. WE ARGUED THE POINT AND GOT NO WHERE. THEY STATED WE HAD NO OIL. WE SAID WHERE DID IT GO -- THEY DIDN'T KNOW! TALKED TO THE MANAGER AND GOT NOWHERE AT BUCKEYE NISSAN. HE PROMISED TO TALK TO CORPORATE AND WE GOT NOWHERE AGAIN. THAT WAS CLEAR BACK IN MARCH OF 2010. SO MUCH FOR WARRANTIES. THEY WANTED TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE AT $4,500 ON A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN NOR WORK WITH A COMPANY THAT DOESN'T STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. WE HAVE HAD OTHER CARS IN WHICH THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD THEIR OIL CHANGES AND RETIRED THESE CARS AT 200,000+ MILES. WE PRESENTLY HAVE A 1999 DODGE RAM AND IT HAS 283,000+ MILES AND STILL RUNNING. AND....THEY SAID "WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAINTAIN OUR VEHICLES." OUR SECOND-HAND FORD EXPLORER SUV HAD 243,000 WHEN WE SOLD IT. AND OUR OTHER DODGE WHICH WAS RETIRED TO THE JUNK YARD HAD CLOSE TO 220,000 MILES. OUR OLD VEHICLES USUALLY HAD TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT AND THAT IS THE REASON WE WENT WITH THE VERSA BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY ON THEIR TRANSMISSION. WHEN WE HAD IT IN FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT, THEIR STORY CHANGED 3 TIMES ON WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND FINALLY ENDED UP WITH THE ENGINE. NO BIG DEAL -- ONLY $4,500 ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. NOW I'M DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT DRIVES WORSE THAN ANY OF OUR 15 YEAR OLD CARS EVER DID, OIL NEEDING CHANGED CONSTANTLY, DIP STICK COMING OUT ON OCCASION AND SPRAYING OIL EVERYWHERE, AND NOW STALLING OUT!. WHEN AIR-CONDITIONER IS RUN -- PUTS A FILM ON WINDOW WHICH FOGS UP. WHAT NEXT. SO MUCH FOR OUR FIRST NEW CAR IN YEARS AND DRIVING OUR GRANDCHILDREN AROUND SAFELY FOR SCHOOL. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO DISAPPOINTED NOR UPSET WITH A COMPANY AS I HAVE WITH THIS COMPANY AND STANDING BEHIND THEIR WARRANTIES. AND EVEN MORE SO WITH NO RESPONSE BACK. I DON'T THINK THE MANAGER EVEN CHECKED WITH CORPORATE! *TR
WATER PUMP FAILED. *TR
WE HAVE A 2008 NISSAN VERSA AND BOUGHT IT WITH 6 MILES ON IT. THE CAR NOW HAS 60000 MILES ON IT AND THERE IS WHITE RESIDUE AROUND THE CRANKCASE AND BACK PRESSURE IN THE MOTOR. WE HAVE GONE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WE COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE. NISSAN IS NOT HELPING US VERY MUCH SO FAR, WE WERE HOPING YOU ALL COULD HELP OUT. EVERYONE WE HAVE TALKED TO SAYS IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *TR
CAR STOPPED WORKING, LOST POWER, OIL LEAKING EVERYWHERE. *TR
CAR COMPLETELY DIED OUT AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION AT 35 MILES PER HOUR. ON AUGUST 20 / 2008 THE CAR REPEATED THE SAME FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AT 45 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN STARTED THE VEHICLE IT WANTS TO CHOKE UP AND STALL, AT LEAST 20 TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON FEB. 18 / 2008. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THAT I PAID CASH FOR NOW. THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE ARE SAYING THAT THEY CANT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER WILLING TO CORRECT THESE SERIOUS FAILURES AND ISSUE. THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT I PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY OF MY CALLS. THEY HAVE ALSO DENIED ME A LOANER VEHICLE AND I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS NOW. I AM SEEKING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THIS MATTER AND HAVE BECOME VERY DISCOURAGED. *TR
VEHICLE STARTED TAKING LONG CRANK TIMES, MULTIPLE CRANKS TO START ENGINE. INFORMED DEALER OF PROBLEM AND THAT PRIOR MODELS OF VERSA HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. DEALER SAYS THIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AFTER DATE OTHER PROBLEMS WERE FIXED. OBVIOUSLY NOT SINCE THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS IN MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER PREVIOUS BULLETIN DATE. CONCERNED THAT ONE DAY VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND LEAVE ME STRANDED. LONG CRANK TIMES NOT DEPENDENT ON WEATHER, TEMPERATURE OR LEVEL OF FUEL IN TANK. *TR
MY VERSA HAS 7K MILES AND IS 4 MONTHS OLD. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE LONG CRANKING TIME FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. ITS INTERMITTENT BUT I DO WORRY THAT IT WON'T START, HAVE TO TAP THE GAS TO GET IT TO START. *TR
2008 NISSAN VERSA; PURCHASED NEW. CURRENTLY UNDER 2,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. EXTREMELY LONG CRANK TIMES BEFORE ENGINE TURNS OVER. VEHICLE BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SERVICE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. AFTER KEEPING VEHICLE FOR A DAY DEALERSHIP INFORMED THAT THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND COULDN'T/WOULDN'T ATTEMPT TO FIX OR DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. 5 TO 10 SECOND CRANK TIMES WITHOUT VEHICLE STARTING UP - ON A DAILY BASIS - IS A SERIOUS CONCERN. *TR
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN ONE WEEK. THE MILEAGE IS CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 275 MILES. WHEN I TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR DOESN'T START UNTIL I HOLD THE KEY TURNED FOR AT LEAST 5 SECONDS. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS IF IT WILL NOT START. THIS HAPPENS DAILY, WHETHER IT IS HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE. IT IS NOT CONTINGENT ON THE TIME OF DAY EITHER. *TR
2008 NISSAN VERSA-WHEN STARTED AFTER BEING SHUT OFF AND IDLE FOR ANYWHERE FROM 1 HR OR 24 HOURS, ENGINE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT TURN OVER IMMEDIATELY. SOMETIMES CRANKS FOR 10 SECONDS. IGNITION NEEDS TO BE TURNED TWO OR THREE TIMES BEFORE IT WILL START UP. VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 2200 MILES ON IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A VERY LOUD RATTLING SOUND IN THE SLACK OF THE ENGINE. HE STATED THAT IT WAS A VALVE TRAIN NOISE. THE NOISE CAN BE HEARD AT 1,900 RPM AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE ENGINE NOISE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 432.
EVERY TIME I RIDE IN THE NISSAN VERSA IT HAS A TOXIC EFFECT ON ME. I GET SHORT OF BREATH AND HAVE COUGHING ATTACKS. THIS WILL LAST DAYS AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME TOXIC ITEMS IN THE CAR FOR IT TO HAVE EFFECTS LIKE THIS ON ME. IT GETS WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. *TR
MY HUSBAND AND I WAS DRIVING THE HIGHWAY AND OUR 2008 NISSAN VERSA LOST POWER. WHEN WE PULLED OVER, MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE DIPSTICK HAD CAME OUT AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE ENGINE. OUR CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT AFTER NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WOULD NOT FIX OUR CAR CLAIMING IT WAS OUR FAULT . WE ONLY HAD OUR CAR FOR 8 MONTHS AND WE BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW! WE HAD MANY HEATED ARGUMENTS WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN NORTH AMERICA. THEN AFTER 23 DAYS AFTER THEN THEY CALLED ME WANTING TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN OUR CAR . I REFUSED BECAUSE I WANTED A REFUND BECAUSE WE HAD TO BUY A 30 YEAR OLD TRUCK TO GET BACK AND FORTH FROM WORK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE SECOND ATTEMPT THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE NORMALLY STARTS ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE STARTED SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STARTER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FAILURE TO THE DEALER ON EVERY SERVICE VISIT AND THE DEALER NEVER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER ON APRIL 13, 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 489 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL REGULATOR. UPDATED
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026