The Most Common 2017 Nissan Versa Problems

Air bag failures, slipping transmissions, and water in the undercarriage are a few common 2017 Nissan Versa problems.
Written by Shannon Fitzgerald
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The most common problems of the 2017 Nissan Versa center around air bags failing to deploy or air bag signal alerts failing to go off. In addition to this, transmissions have been reported to slip in cold weather, and water is known to get into the undercarriage. 
When you own a vehicle, you don’t typically want to concentrate on all the “what ifs” that could go wrong with its structure and mechanics. However, getting to know common problem areas before trouble occurs can provide useful foresight in anticipating wear and repairs—and possibly preventing freak accidents on the road. 
Like every other vehicle out there, the 2017 Nissan Versa isn’t perfect. If you’re wondering where exactly the Versa’s warts are,
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—the
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savings super app—has the guide for you. From official recalls to average annual repair costs, here are the most common Nissan Versa problems to watch out for and some tips to save on your
Nissan Versa insurance costs
!  
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The most common 2017 Nissan Versa problems

We’ll start with the good: the 2017 Nissan Versa’s interior is roomy (impressively so for backseat passengers), and controls are easy to navigate and use. The 2017 Nissan Versa’s MPG also earns gold stars—receiving a “Green Choice” designation on Consumer Reports for a fantastic EPA-estimated 31/39 MPG city/highway fuel economy. 
Now for the ugly: the 2017 Nissan Versa primarily malfunctions in its air bag deployment. Out of 54 complaints reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Nissan Versa Note (the Versa’s hatchback configuration), 14 of them had to do with the air bags. While this isn’t an indication that air bag problems occur frequently in the Versa, it doesmake up a fairly sizable percentage of the problems that do occur. 
In most cases, drivers report that passenger frontal air bags and side curtain air bags have failed to deploy during collisions. Fortunately, Nissan responded to this issue fairly quickly with two consecutive recalls for both the side and front air bags in October 2016 and April 2017. It was noted that the front air bag failed to deploy due to a tendency to separate from the assembly while the side air bag was prone to tearing in the seams.  
A similar story is true for the second most commonly reported problem: transmission slipping. Several drivers complained that the transmission slipped in cold weather or upon acceleration after idling. In response, Nissan issued a third formal recall in 2018. As it turns out, the issue actually came down to the ignition switch—the switch was prone to shift out of the accessory position under certain conditions, which caused the engine to stall. 
Since air bag deployment and dependable transmission are vital to your safety while driving, it’s laudable that Nissan worked quickly to put out these “fires” with prompt recalls. That said, drivers still commonly report water collecting in the undercarriage (and damaging electric systems) and poor condenser placement allowing punctures from road damage. As of now, neither of these concerns has been addressed by Nissan.
Some other common issues in the 2017 Nissan Versa include: 
  • Blinking air bag alerts and Passenger Seat Belt Lights 
  • Loose gear shift
  • Loose driver seat belt
  • Brakes lock up when stopping abruptly
  • Flashing Cruise Control Lights
Having your brakes lock up on you is certainly a cause for concern. However, several owners suspect that the damage in the brake system may actually have something to do with water getting into the undercarriage. 
Though it’s understandably frustrating for Versa owners that Nissan hasn’t come forward with a solution to this problem yet, it should be noted that brake issues are still very rare—making up only six of the 54 complaints reported to the NHTSA. 
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Is the 2017 Nissan Versa reliable?

Despite its flaws, the 2017 Nissan Versa generally receives average reliability ratings as a subcompact car. J.D. Power gives it an “average” 79/100 for quality and reliability while RepairPal gives it a more respectable 4 out of 5 reliability rating. 
As far as safety goes, NHTSA only rates the 2017 Versa 3 out of 5 stars for overall frontal crash safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety seconds this concern, marking the 2017 Nissan Versa with the lowest “Poor” score when it comes to driver-side frontal crashworthiness—citing that the structure and safety cage leave the driver’s head and legs vulnerable during a collision. However, every other testing point for crashworthiness received a top “Good” score. 
Truly, the 2017 Nissan Versa is a solid car. Though it undoubtedly carries its fair share of problems, these problems are still very unlikely to occur. In fact, the average annual repair cost for the 2017 Versa only amounts to $321, which is much lower than some rivals. The 2017
Chevy Sonic
, for example, costs $444 a year to repair, with the
Ford Fiesta
costing upwards of $462 annually.
MORE:How to find vehicle safety ratings

How to simplify car insurance shopping (and still optimize coverage!) 

Now that you know what might go wrong in your 2017 Nissan Versa, you can better prepare for potential worst-case scenarios. While damages from collisions and weather are harder to predict, you can still arm yourself financially with quality
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Nissan insurance costs
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