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2023 Nissan Versa Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2023 Nissan Versa carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering inflator module. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Post-stall power loss and limp mode on manual transmission.” 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.

1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #24V154000 · Feb 27, 2024

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.

Risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2023 Nissan Versa.

Reported to NHTSA

Post-stall power loss and limp mode on manual transmission

ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN

30 NHTSA complaints · 2023-07-08 → 2025-10-06

“The car lost power and would not go over 40 MPH. This made for a dangerous situation on the road. P2615-00 A Crankshaft Position Sensor code was thrown, but when I took it to the dealer they could not replicate the problem”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11531028
“Car has manual transmission: If engine stalls from starting on a hill or any other reason, when restarted it runs on limp mode with severe loss of power. Problem usually resolves on next restart, but may take up to 2 restarts to resolve”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11644467
“2023 Nissan Versa S has manual transmission. Car will intermittently lose acceleration. When this problem starts, car is unable to go over 30mph in any gear and even with the accelerator pedal pushed to the floor. This has occurred 5 times so far”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11562193
“Multiple incidents where car has failed to accelerate properly. When it happened this morning, I was in the vicinity of the dealership. Foreman mechanic road-tested vehicle with me, and back at Nissan my car put out the engine code P2615-00 camshaft posi signal”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11569102

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine shutdown while decelerating or at stop

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2024-10-18 → 2025-05-28

“I had two incidents occur where the car turned off suddenly while in drive. The first incident occurred April 15th, 2024. As I slowed down to stop at a red light then my engine suddenly shut off and the oil and battery light came on”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11663468
“The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11620663

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical system failure and battery drain

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 NHTSA complaints · 2024-06-04 → 2024-08-08

“The car completely dies. No power at all. Battery has been checked and is fine. Advanced auto parts said alternator was bad but 2 dealerships have said it’s fine. Both dealerships looked at the car and cannot find the issue. Car has gotten towed to both when it dies”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11595090
“I had a oem battery replaced 6 months ago and the battery went dead again in 6 months and now I have to jumpstart the battery to start the car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11607213

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Manual transmission and drive axle failure

POWER TRAIN

1 NHTSA complaint · 2025-01-29 → 2025-01-29

“Accelerated from a stop sign on a hill. Heard something snap up front and the car rolled backwards. Luckily no one was behind me. Had car towed to Nissan Dealer in Frederick Md where we bought it. The transmission and left drive axle were replaced under warranty”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11639468

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

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.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

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.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

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.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

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.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD models)

Every 60,000 mi

Rogue AWD, Murano AWD, Pathfinder 4WD: 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.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

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.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

3 crashes 2010–2024

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

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.

0

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

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 2023 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.

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