The 2014 draws 8.27 complaints per run and the 2018 1, a 8.3-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 69.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 86 complaints, typically at 4.9 years.
Nissan Versa Note years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 2017 | 10 | 7 | yes | |
| 2016 | 30 | 12 | yes | |
| 2015 | 79 | 14 | yes | |
| 2014 | 124 | 15 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2014 Versa Note asks a median $4,500, against $4,995 for a 2015, the next model year: about 10% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 5 Nissan Versa Note years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2014, 2015, 2016; the three worth hunting are 2018, 2017, 2016.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 12.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 18.1% | covered | |
| 2 years | 30.8% | covered | |
| 3 years | 40.5% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 55.3% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 68.8% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 77.2% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 86.5% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 88.6% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 94.1% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 96.2% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 98.7% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 30.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 69.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 48% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Nissan Versa Note, the early trouble is Air Bags and Service Brakes — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 4.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4.9 yrs | 2 | 1 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 4.7 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Air Bags | 3.5 yrs | 14 | — | |
| Engine | 4.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Service Brakes | 2.7 yrs | 6 | — | |
| Electrical System | 6.1 yrs | 1 | 4 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4.5 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Steering | 4.2 yrs | 2 | — |
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nissan Versa Note reliable?
By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.75 against 3.73 for the average car.
Which Versa Note years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2014, 2015, 2016. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2018, 2017, 2016. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Versa Note problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 4.9 years, followed by Unknown Or Other.
Will the warranty cover Versa Note problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 30.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 48% of the complaints here.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.