The 2009 Nissan Versa has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Front and rear coil spring fracture.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Nissan Versa.
SUSPENSION
30 NHTSA complaints · 2017-01 → 2026-02
“FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING”
“COIL SPRINGS CORROSION AND BINDING”
“The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving out of a parking lot at 10 MPH, the front end of the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound, and the contact noticed a strong rubber odor”
ENGINE
3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-01 → 2017-07
“THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME OF A BROKEN MID PIPE ON THE MUFFLER. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE TOLD THAT IT IS RELATED TO SALT ON THE ROADS”
“EXHAUST BECAME VERY LOUD, RATTLING, ETC. VERIFIED THAT THE FLANGE ON THE MUFFLER HAD RUSTED OFF AT THE WELDS. MUFFLER HANGERS HELD THE MUFFLER IN PLACE”
“EXHAUST FAILURE AT REAR FLANGE. POSSIBLE MUFFLER DETACHMENT RESULTING IN A CAR ACCIDENT. VEHICLE UNDER 100,000KM”
STRUCTURE
4 NHTSA complaints · 2018-01 → 2019-03
“THE HATCH ON MY NISSAN VERSA IS STUCK AND WON'T OPEN. IT WON'T UNLOCK AND THERE IS NO KEY ACCESS AND NO BUTTON OR LEVER INSIDE THE CAR TO OPEN IT”
“IN 2016 THE DRIVER SIDE, FRONT, OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAD BROKEN OFF. I HAD IT FIXED ONLY TO HAVE IT BROKEN OFF AGAIN THIS PAST SPRING”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE HATCH. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE HATCH, THE DOOR FAILED TO REMAIN AJAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED”
AIR BAGS
123 NHTSA complaints · 2016-12 → 2025-04
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V349000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE”
“TAKATA RECALL. DRIVERS AIR BAG HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPLACED. NISSAN ADVISES THAT THE REPLACEMENT BAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 2015 ANS STILL NO ACTION BY NISSAN”
“THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL SPRING. THIS MAKES ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE UNTIL THEN. WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE A FREE REPAIR IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ME?”
AIR BAGS
21 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2026-07
“Airbags failed to deploy in an accident at 55 mph”
“THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK. I WAS DRIVING & TBONED, THE AIRBAG DID NOT EMPLOY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MY AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING AND CAR WAS RECALLED, BUT NO ONE HAS REACHED OUT”
“ON NOVEMBER 13, 2016, MY CAR WAS HIT REAL HARD ON DRIVER'S SIDE IN FRONT, AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT”
POWER TRAIN
6 NHTSA complaints · 2018-12 → 2022-04
“Jatco Cvt transmission failed at 70,200 miles. Bearings burned out, engine roaring, then sudden deceleration and acceleration”
“SLUGGISH CVT TRANSMISSION, SHAKING WHEN DRIVEN LONGER AND WHEN HOT OUT. CANNOT DRIVE UPHILL, LOSS OF POWER”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
5 NHTSA complaints · 2017-09 → 2021-07
“Throttle is impaired; P2138 very dangerous when accelerating across traffic and suddenly there is only partial throttle command. This now has happened twice”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LUNGED, AND LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE”
“ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. WITHOUT WARNING, TOTALLY LOST POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LANE”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
On AWD and 4WD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
154 crashes 1990–2024
How the 154 occupant deaths break down
118
driver deaths
36
passenger deaths
154
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
27
complaints mentioning a crash
2
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Nissan Versa reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.