Is the 2009 Nissan Versa a bad year?
503 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Versa years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Nissan Versa are in line with other Versa years. Suspension and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Versa owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 65,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 181 (36%) | 48k–87k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 180 (36%) | 51k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 34 (7%) | 30k–86k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 28 (6%) | 32k–82k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 28 (6%) | 37k–68k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Wheels | 26 (5%) | 37k–78k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (4%) | 40k–120k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 18 (4%) | 47k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 14 (3%) | 12k–92k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 12 (2%) | 8k–83k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Tires | 18 (4%) | 12k–44k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 65,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 503 complaints: 27 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Driving on the highway car tends to lose power and sputter and in some cases it will stall. When trying to restart it, it will not start.
My oil plug came out during a 45 mile drive home. I had my oil changed in feb. And in june it fell out during the drive.
When I went to proceed through an intersection after being stopped for a red light my car suddenly lost power.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 65,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Nissan Versa: 8
The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing. If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
The batteries contained in the affected GPS units can overheat. Overheated batteries could result in a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 62
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Nissan Versa. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
DTC P0456 caused by EVAP leak at vent control valve o-ring
The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks
MIL on w/dtc P0116 (Ect sensor) stored
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Front Coil Spring Fracture
Neighbouring years
2008 Versa: 380 complaints, keep it · 2010 Versa: 269 complaints, keep it.
Every Nissan Versa year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · All Versa years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Nissan Versa a bad year?
503 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Versa years. At 65,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan Versa?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: suspension (181), air bags (180), engine (34), fuel system (28), steering (28).
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan Versa have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 22E066000), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-008), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-044), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-449) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.