I think I have a Lemon Versa

6866 Views 18 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Vern in IL, Jul 29, 2014

finlandia01

Discussion Starter · Jul 25, 2012

My 2009 Versa 1.6 sedan has honestly been a complete nightmare since I went over the 60000km warranty. I cant believe everything that has gone wrong. I had to replace the exhaust manifold and gasket, donut gasket, two wheel bearings, brakes, fan belt, electric fan. All of the problems started after a road 10 hour road trip I did through Southern Vermont. I guess Versas can't take the heat. I loved my Versa at first now I'm coming to hate it. Anyone else had any of these problems?

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iluvmyVersa08

· #2 · Jul 25, 2012

I don't think it's the heat. Took mine on a very long trip before (18 hour drive each way). Sometimes things just start to break down. A coworker had her transmission go on her 09 rogue at 90K. Not very much mileage for it to go.

Sorry to hear of all the problems.

ADOversa

· #3 · Jul 25, 2012

No offense, but things like brakes probably have more to do with your driving style. Wheel bearings very well could be as well. I don't know if your car is a manual but depending on how you downshift it can create excess backpressure that will wear out the exhaust parts you mentioned.

I haven't done any serious road trips yet, went to a cousins wedding in the states but it was only about 3200 km round trip (did it in 18 hours each way with 3 stops each way). No issues with the car on the trip. Doing a one way (flying back) road trip this winter that is just shy of 4000km, and according to google earth should take me about 41 hours.

bigdaddychia

· #4 · Jul 25, 2012

Its not the heat. I live in Texas. Its because its a Canadian Versa

ADOversa

· #5 · Jul 26, 2012

LOL I'm pretty sure they are both built in the same Mexican plant.

fukuyama310

· #6 · Jul 26, 2012

Damn that sucks..That's why warranties only last for so long...they would be losing money if they gave you a 100k mile warranty. It's kind of odd that you had to replace a Exhaust Manifold Gasket.
I doubt it's a lemon though...if it was a lemon you would have had these kind of problems WAY before 60k miles. If your car is not used to those kind of long hauls, and at 60k miles you decide to take it on a road trip these types of things are expected.
The motor/car is used to a certain kind of work load, and at that late in the game you basically shocked it by putting that much strain on it all at once.

08versailles

· #7 · Jul 26, 2012

sounds like a made on Monday car. Sorry to hear that. Welcome

finlandia01

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 26, 2012

Well Its not the long road trips that have anything to do with my car, my Versa has been to Toronto to Calgary and back to Toronto which is 3400km's each way but about a 38 hour drive around the great lakes. I drive into Toronto every morning at 530am when there is no traffic but always get stuck in rush hour every night I'm wondering if that is part of my problem.

Brakes I can understand going that is not an issue to me. The Versa is a 5 speed but I don't downshift like I am in a race car everyday. My car has been serviced at a Toyota dealership that also owns a Nissan by my bestfriend who is one of there licenced mechanics. He treats my car as it is his own and has told me to never buy Nissan parts again and to buy all aftermarket from here on out. He says just by looking at parts of the car they cannot stand up to the salt they put down on our roads in Southern Ontario.

To put this all into perspective as well my girlfriend and I have two cars and whatever car is at the back of the driveway is the one I take since I leave first so probably 40% of the time I drive her 2012 Toyota Yaris Sedan with a 5 speed and she has put a 70,000km's on her car in a year and has not had a single problem compared to my Versa. This is the reason why I am venting so much about it!

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Freestylin

· #9 · Jul 26, 2012

That's really unfortunate. None of these has happened to me so far even though I have taken it on long road trips, which could be a total of 27 hours driving.

kunfused7

· #10 · Jul 31, 2012

the northeast is tough on cars cuz they dont repave the roads they just fix potholes. I live in alabama (which means dirt roads) and never had a problem till i was up here for a week and broke a drive axle after i hit a pothole.
Things shake loose up here and rot out fast because of the salt they put on the roads bottom line is if you want your car to last dont live up north.

finlandia01

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jul 31, 2012

Haha another thing to add to how much I am starting to hate my Versa. Where the drivers side door attaches to the body of the car just decided to detach and then my door swung all the way around and pushed the metal on my door out! I can't wait to sell and I will never ever buy a Nissan again

bboy_romeo

· #12 · Aug 2, 2012

its not just nissan, it happens with other vehicles, stuff happens and things break and unfortunately you ended up on the wrong end of the stick.

Skyes_2012_RedV

· #13 · Aug 2, 2012

finlandia01 said:
My 2009 Versa 1.6 sedan has honestly been a complete nightmare since I went over the 60000km warranty. I cant believe everything that has gone wrong. I had to replace the exhaust manifold and gasket, donut gasket, two wheel bearings, brakes, fan belt, electric fan. All of the problems started after a road 10 hour road trip I did through Southern Vermont. I guess Versas can't take the heat. I loved my Versa at first now I'm coming to hate it. Anyone else had any of these problems?

I want to double check... The 60000km = 37,000 miles for us Americans correct? Sorry to hear that you are having such problems. :frown2:

rsteinbach

· #14 · Mar 16, 2014

I drive 160 kilometers round trip on the highway every day to work, and my Versa is the worst car I have ever purchased. It had problems within a month of being brand new and the issues have not stopped. Window motor failed, cluch/ignition interlock swith failed after 3 months, fuel pump burned out after 18 months. I sure the list will go on and on. I think I will try to unload the car and cut my loses. I would never buy another Nissan product again.

robj80

· #15 · Mar 16, 2014

are you inspecting these items for yourself or just going by the word of your mechanic? On an 09 in an area that has winters I can see you needing the exhaust work. It's quite common that after 5 years rusting taking it's toll.

Pretty much same goes for a belt after 5 years. Brakes as well in my experience are affected by age as well as mileage. The wheel bearings do seem premature and what exactly happened to your fan?

Also I would love to see pics of what exactly happened to the door. Maybe it is an area I should keep an eye on. Maybe you do have a lemon. You seem to have the most issues with a 1.6 out of anyone I have ever seen. To put it into perspective I have 232,000 km and I am on the original brakes, belt, fan, and wheel bearings. I have no issues with my engine fan but did have one day where my blower motor was frozen due to days of subzero temp and me not using the car. I just warmed the car up before turning it on and it has been functioning normally ever since. I think some how some condensation was on it and froze.

My issues seem to be limited to the exhaust and rust. I have a hole somewhere and it sounds like up near the manifold and another possibly starting where the rear muffler connects at the flange. So it seems the same places you had issues. I also do need a belt as it is showing some wear but it's holding strong for now and I will not swap it out until the spring. My brakes are worn down too but the car still stops acceptable except for a tiny shimmy. Another job to be done in the spring.

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Note-ified

· #16 · Mar 16, 2014

robj80 said:
are you inspecting these items for yourself or just going by the word of your mechanic? On an 09 in an area that has winters I can see you needing the exhaust work. It's quite common that after 5 years rusting taking it's toll.

Pretty much same goes for a belt after 5 years. Brakes as well in my experience are affected by age as well as mileage. The wheel bearings do seem premature and what exactly happened to your fan?

Also I would love to see pics of what exactly happened to the door. Maybe it is an area I should keep an eye on. Maybe you do have a lemon. You seem to have the most issues with a 1.6 out of anyone I have ever seen. To put it into perspective I have 232,000 km and I am on the original brakes, belt, fan, and wheel bearings. I have no issues with my engine fan but did have one day where my blower motor was frozen due to days of subzero temp and me not using the car. I just warmed the car up before turning it on and it has been functioning normally ever since. I think some how some condensation was on it and froze.

My issues seem to be limited to the exhaust and rust. I have a hole somewhere and it sounds like up near the manifold and another possibly starting where the rear muffler connects at the flange. So it seems the same places you had issues. I also do need a belt as it is showing some wear but it's holding strong for now and I will not swap it out until the spring. My brakes are worn down too but the car still stops acceptable except for a tiny shimmy. Another job to be done in the spring.

and this folks is how to be helpful unlike some people whose sole duty is to complain and never bring anything to the table as far as helpful advice that actually resolves other peoples issues lol...good job rob

...and OP i'm sorry that you had so many issues with your car, not sure if you even still own it seeing as the original post is from a couple years ago, but none the less hope you either got them fixed or moved on to a car that makes you happy

theSaj

· #17 · Jul 25, 2014

My heat shield failed at around 12K, replaced. Replaced a 2nd time just over a year ago. Repaired again today.

At around 50,000 miles the transmission was replaced. I now have 73K on my 2012 Versa sedan.

Yes, I do get concerned now that I am over the 60K warranty period.

nissantiida

· #18 · Jul 27, 2014 (Edited)

man my car after 90.000 km my engine failed MR18 , my a/c compressor failed 3 times , changed condenser , my wheel hubs failed , my shock absorbers , my paint faded , my car is a lemon and i hate it and my car's mpg is close to a v8 my gas finishes so fast.

looks like i will never buy a nissan again , i might go back to v8 more gas , but more reliable.

Vern in IL

· #19 · Jul 29, 2014

Go for a '14+ Versa Note, they are leaps and bounds better than the previous model.

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