Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Versa, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 51 | 25% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 18 | 9% |
| Air bags | 15 | 7% |
| Engine | 8 | 4% |
| Power train | 6 | 3% |
| Structure | 5 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 2% |
| Steering | 4 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I purchased this vehicle from a private owner. I see that there was a recall on the transmission and since there are no recalls at the moment I believe the original owner must have had it repaired. I am having the same p
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The transmission hoses don't stay on well, I have had to take it to a specialist mechanic on two separate occasions because it's a CVT and no dip stick transmission. Reached 102,000 mi and transmission started to shutt
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The driver side door is stuck in the closed position and will not open. The only way for the driver to get out of the car is to move to the passenger seat and open the passenger side door. To get inside and drive the ca
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Versa. The contact stated upon inspecting the vehicle, she noticed water intrusion in the tail lights and headlights. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the elect
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The Gear Shift Selector is stuck in Park. Being forced to use the manual override in order to drive, reverse or place car in neutral every time the car is being used. This is ridiculous!
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Speed Control, Engine and Transmission issues: After the recall from the manufacture was issued for the the acceleration problems this car still takes long to accelerate and get the car going. It feels like the transmiss
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Car unstable while driving all of a sudden will not shift into 2cd gear will not go over 20mph car is 2013 but only has 32,000 miles. Dealer said no recalls warranty only 5 years or 100,000 miles, it is past that period.
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart on the third attempt; however, th
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2013 Nissan Versa. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to March 11, 2015. The affected vehicles have a center console trim panel tha
Risk: A delay in the application of the brake pedal would lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the console trim panel, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
| Reliability raw | 66 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 58 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 51 of them (25%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.