Used 2012 Nissan Versa Consumer Reviews

Deceptively Appealing

The Versa is definitely geared towards people who shop for a car with their head rather than their heart. It's quite practical and efficient. What economy cars generally aim to be. It's the cheapest car to buy in its class. It's near tops in fuel efficiency. Running costs are low. It offers a lot of room for its size. Overall, it's a fantastic value...on the surface. If you want something stylish, fun-to-drive, with loads of personality, the Versa will disappoint. Think economy car for middle-age folks. It's like driving an appliance. It does its job ok, but isn't inspiring and won't win over your heart. After 2yrs and 56k miles of ownership, I can report that reliability and overall quality were poor. Shockingly poor for a Japanese car. Enough so that I traded it in, which I did not want to have to do. I just was not interested in continuing to own a problematic car out of warranty, however. The black paint peeled in various areas. The front suspension made creaking noises. The catalytic converter heat shield broke on its own twice. Faulty design. The interior was full of squeaks and rattles. The transmission never felt like it operated correctly. it randomly made squealing and grinding noises. When letting off the throttle going down steep hills, the engine would rev up and down erratically causing the car to buck like a bronco. It was atrocious. There was an annoying and dangerous delay from the transmission when pulling out into traffic. It felt as if the car was trying to start off in 2nd gear. Yes, I'm aware the CVT has no gears. Just trying to explain the sensation. About 2 seconds after takeoff, the transmission would kick down and the car would finally go. The low beam headlights were very dim and had too focused a beam of light, making night vision poor. Although the interior was cavernous and the front seats very comfotable, the driver ergonomics were really poor. I never found a comfortable driving position in 2yrs. I could go on and on. When you take into consideration the troubles I had, along with the additional common failures of this car, it's just not worth considering at any price. Seriously disappointing quality from a Japanese vehicle. I replaced it in 2014 with a new Mitsubishi Mirage, which I owned for 4yrs and 56k miles. Although cheaper and much less refined, it proved to be superior in build quality and reliability. No repairs required and it had a superior 10y/100k mile warranty. If the Versa is on your shopping list, for the sake of your wallet and sanity, cross it off your list.

Not bad for $10,990!

I just bought my 1.6L Versa sedan in manual transmission, and I enjoy it. I especially enjoy not having a car payment! It's practical and economical, but it's not for everyone. I have a basic model, and had a brief moment of buyer's remorse when I realized that the car didn't come with floor mats, rear speakers, or even a trunk lid release! But, it gets great gas mileage, shifts smoothly, has an adjustable height lever on the driver's seat, an AUX jack for iPhone/iPod, a basic trip computer with MPG info, and front, side and curtain airbags. It also has good safety crash ratings. I think that Nissan did a great job of incorporating the important things into the car.

Don’t buy

I have owned this car for almost 2 years now and I have a a few complaints about it. One of the most annoying things about this car is that my tail light goes out all the time I have replaced the bulb 2 in about 4 months and I have to replace it again today another thing is that since the tires are so small on the car the get torn up easier so u have to be careful I have had to replace 8 tires so far. It’s radiator went out a few months ago and that was really expensive to fix. But there are some good things about this car. Like there is a good amount of room is my car. It also has amazing turn radius and it gets great gas mileage. Also getting the headlights out of the car to change is a pain in the ass. I can’t say the safety on the car is good or bad cause I haven’t been in a wreck. I wouldn’t not recommend on buying this car for your kids first car. Just because something is cheap and looks good doesn’t mean that it is.

Love this car

Knock on wood, I bought this car used w 12,000 miles back in 2013 and have so far never had a single problem with it other than an alignment after running over a deer carcass I couldn’t avoid. And I recently got new tires. Mileage is up over 70,000 now, and I hate to temp fate. But It has been up and down the east cost several times including a partial move packed to the brim, and getting over 40 mpg. Plenty of leg room even in the back seat and the trunk space is great. People seem to see this a throw away vehicle- Drive it into the ground and be done. So far I disagree. The only problem I have run into though is after heavy rains water built up under the tire in the trunk. I pulled one of the rubber stoppers and problem solved. Also AC sometimes empties water out on floor of passenger side. Not a real ongoing problem so I keep forgetting to get it checked. I guess if the trans goes I’ll decide then about repairs. But this is a great little car. Oh yeah one more thing, my car didn’t come with outside locks on both front doors, only the driver side so it’s sort of a pain to lean over or back to manually unlock the doors, but hey, one less possible problem.

2012 Nissan Versa Sedan

Was just told my transmission needed to be replaced on my 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan. I only have 40,120 miles on this car. I’m very upset to have to go through this right now. I have to make a decision to replace the transmission, junk the car or get another car and have car payments.

Reliable and a great value!

I bought my new 2012 Versa about two and a half weeks ago. I absolutely love it! For the price, you really are not going to find anything better. The interior is surprisingly spacious. My 6'4" boyfriend fits in with plenty of room to spare. The ride is incredibly smooth. I noticed it the first day. There is a pothole near our apartment which I inevitably hit driving home. But, I barely felt it. The tires bumped over it, but the cabin stayed riding level. That was a huge surprise. I am incredibly happy with my purchase. Despite a couple drawbacks, it is still an amazing value!

2012 Versa Good design & great value

We purchased a 2012 versa SV sedan about 2 months ago & love it so far. I already have a 2009 Versa Hatchback & have had Zero problems with it this last 3 years & drive it EVERY day. I like the design of the new 2012 sedan & chose it because so many sub sompacts are made to be small & sporty. The 2012 Versa sedan is like a small family car with lots of room. It may not be sporty but it has lots of room & the price is right, we have 2 6ft sons who hop into the back seat with no problems, try that in a Yaris or Fiesta, good luck! I still marvel at how nice this car looks, kinda like a smaller version of the Altima or Maxima.

Good Car at Good Price

I've had this car and driven it daily for for two years now. I've put 34,000 miles on it in that time. I've had no problems with it. It's solid and reliable. This is a no-frills economy car. It does not handle like a sports car, and it is not as comfortable as a luxury car. But it gets the job done without giving you headaches, and it gets excellent gas mileage. It has a very roomy interior for its size, and it has a huge trunk. I've been averaging between 35 to 39 mpg in all kinds of driving conditions.

Very bad car

I have so many issues with this car. Changed fuel pump, oxygen sensor and many other things.The car only has 105 miles. Now the engine light is on again and I was told it could be the transmission. I will not buy a Nissan car again.

Makes me wish for my 20-YO Ford Escorts

Electric, mechanical, and body integrity no better--and far more costly to repair--that the 20-YO Ford Escorts (sedan and wagon) I formerly drove: ELECTRICAL: nobody in service at the dealership where I purchased the car can figure out why I periodically get shrieking warning blasts from somewhere in (?) the center console: they "never heard" of this (although 5 mins of online research show this reaction is not uncommon); brake, fluid, & all else that should be indicated by warning lights (and inspections) revealed nothing wrong. A/C noisy and barely adequate when the outside temp is over 90 degrees (it;s a roomy interior and would benefit, I think, from a bigger compressor. Had to replace the behind-the-dash fan (for both heating and A/C ) at 55K. Heating: the car's "cool" temp setting on the dash really mean just degrees of very hot air unless the A/C is turned on. The car lacks a temp gauge and oil pressure gauge. MECHANICAL: $250 wanted by the dealer to replace rear brake shoes (drum brakes in 2012? I didn't even think to look). Cracked control arm bushings seems reasonable on a car with 60K, but using parts ordered online, I had OEM struts, rear shocks, all of the control arms, bushings, an alignment, and rear brakes replaced and installed for less than than the dealer wanted to replace the cracked bushings and install new rear brake shoes. Mileage is worse than my auto-transmission Ford Escort STATION WAGON: lucky to get 30 mpg in the Versa at 55 MPH (with cruise control) on a 300-mile flattish stretch of open highway (the wagon routinely got 33-34, and the sedan, at that speed, 34-36). City mileage is horrifying: I'm a "gentle" driver and am not stuck in stop-and-go traffic, but Nissan in "city" driving gets a remarkably low 17-18 MPG. Interesting: there is a two-mile stretch of road I can coast down, and the Escorts reached 55-60 MPH on that mild decline, but the Versa is apparently not as aerodynamic, as it settles in at about 47-48 MPH. The Versa is tall and noticeably easier to get into and out of, however. BODY INTEGRITY and TRIM: laughable. I bought the car when it was two years old, but did not expect the "rubber" window seals to crack and turn brown nor come away and hang down, nor the trim at the front door to come away, nor the metal panel on the body (which the door slips over) to come off. Had none of these problems with the old Escorts. The Versa is noticeably more peppy than the old Escorts, but it's not going to win many races. Factor in the depreciation . . . Ouch! Note that I opt for Mobil 1 synthetic oil, which, I would think, ups MPG a little. Also, I very rarely have a passenger so there is little "extra" weight.

Nothing special, just a good little car

Excellent economy car!!

Where to begin with the Versa. For $10,990 it's one of the best values I've ever seen. The interior is exceptionally roomy for a small car. Honestly it has as much room as a full size car. The trunk is huge! It has decent power for climbing and accelerating but gets well over 50mpg on the highway. Good quality all around. Awesome car. Buying one was the best decision I've made in a while.

Don’t buy or you will cry

Seriously DO NOT invest in a 2012 Nissan Versa. These cars are money pits and I wish I would have known before I bought mine. I bought it used from a dealer at 60k. I had had bad experiences with cars before so I made sure to keep up with the maitence on it. I had to replace the front brakes. Got the transmission oil changed. Little electrical issues were always occurring and then the transmission went out at 115k with no warning. I even had it checked out before going on a road trip and two Nissan places told me everything was fine. It obviously was not fine because it broke down and would not accelerate leaving me and my sister stranded in the middle of Kansas. Talk about the start to a horror film. The brakes always squeaked even after replacing them. Just don’t get a Nissan. I’ll definitely get a Toyota or Ford after this experience, something that would AT LEAST get to 200k.

300,000

Bought this car back in 2015. Now I’m 2022, my car is still running. Original engine and transmission. Only thing I had to replace was the alternative and fuel pump. Other than that, very reliable car!

Bummer

See "Car and Driver" review here - http://buyersguide.caranddriver.com/nissan/versa for a succinct and accurate description. However don't believe the fuel economy claims. The first time I used this car for a trip, it ran out of gas in only 320 miles at highway speeds. The driver's manual says it has an 11.7 gallon tank. That's only 27 mpg. Also the gas guage cannot be seen in bright sunlight wearing sun glasses, and even without sun-glasses cannot be seen safely while driving. Also the low fuel indication started flashing only 20 miles before the fuel ran out, and I got off the freeway once in a failed attempt to find a gas station in that 20 miles.

A good little car with great mileage!

Bought my Versa in September and have been relatively happy with it. Most important: great gas mileage. I drive 40 miles each way to work and, according to the computer, I am averaging 40.4 mpg. Amazing. That figure reflects mostly freeway driving. In-town stop and go driving brings the average down. This is a car for cruising. It is quiet inside the cabin and pretty smooth going over bumps. A lot of room inside the cabin. I call my car The Beast, because it is a big car inside, although it looks little outside. Very high roof, so it feels very spacious. I am happy....though not overjoyed.

Nissan Versa SV Sedan

If you are looking for a great, safe and affordable car then the Nissan Versa SV 2012 Sedan is a wonderful option, I bought mine in early 12/2011, The car has great gas economy, is sporty looking for a sedan and handles very well, it is a small car but yet it is very roomy! I am very pleased with this car and would highly recommend it if you are looking for a great,safe and affordable car.

Great Car

Very, very nice car for the money. Excellent fuel economy with the cvt avg mpg between 38-45, with 2500 miles on the odo. Nice body stype, much bigger then the 2011 model, very large truck and back seat paid $15.3 delevered for my SV model

Six-year Versa owner

I purchased this vehicle new in October 2011 as the re-designed 2012 Versa SV sedan. I've only ever driven small, economy cars, so I wasn't expecting luxury. I buy based upon low cost of ownership. After almost 6 years, the car has almost 190,000 miles on it. I maintained the car regularly at Nissan through the warranty period, then myself or an independent mechanic thereafter. Overall, you will get what you pay for. My CVT transmission went out at 65K (first time owning an automatic let alone a CVT, so fortunately I purchased the extended warranty-covered--$3500 without the warranty). Other than the transmission issue, I've only done oil changes, one battery replacement, tire replacements, brake pad/shoe replacements. The bluetooth software is not upgrade-able with the new phones, so that feature ended when I upgraded my phone. Also, the CD player stopped working at 180,000 miles. Other than that, reliability has been satisfactory overall. This is a good car for highway commuters who only want point A-to-B. If you are wanting something fun to drive, or in areas where you need good acceleration, this is not the vehicle for you. Also, it's light and the wind will take it easily while driving. If you are a parent shopping for teens or less-experienced drivers, consider buying a used car with more substance/mass. I'm 6'1, 220#'s, have driven for nearly 30 years, and never felt safe in this car.

Terrible transmission died at 45,000 miles

Another example of Nissan's failed CVTs. (2012 Nissan Versa SV, 1.6L). Kept car in perfect condition with regular maintenance, safe/efficient driving habits, personal use, with only 45,0000 miles. Averaged 35 mpg, mostly city driving. Yet transmission suddenly failed, and mechanic response was just, "Ah, yeah, that happens with the Nissan CVTs. Sucks." Cost to replace transmission is greater than Blue Book or Edmunds estimated value.

Can we say Buyer's Remorse

I owned a 2011 Versa Hatchback that was stolen out of my driveway so I decided to look at the Versa Sedan. I wish I hadn't. I ended up buying a 2012 Versa Sedan SV mainly for the gas mileage. This car does indeed have a cheap interior and doesn't even have clothes hooks in the back seat. The CVT transmission is almost impossible to get used to. The vehicle is bland and don't believe what others say. It is not fun to drive.

A Bargain Worth Driving

At the time of writing this, I've owned my 2012 Versa SV sedan for 4mos. and have driven it 11,000 miles. So far, it's been a fantastic little car and I love it! Fuel economy has proven much better than the EPA rating of 30/38. My lowest MPG on a tank was 39 and my highest was 49. Seriously! I have my little quibbles with the car, but what car is perfect, right?

Nice Surprise

My son needed a commuter car for college, so I spent days looking for the right vehicle for him. I looked at new cars, used cars, cars on Craigslist and finally I ran across this vehicle at Hertz Car Sales. Most sub compact cars have very little head or backseat leg room, but I was amazed it had enough room, even from a 6-2 guy like me. It’s phenomenal on gas and was a good value, compared to other vehicles I considered. We just purchased this vehicle, but so far we are ecstatic with the performance and gas mileage

Good car and excellent gas mileage!

I recently bought the 2012 Nissan Versa SV with the CVT transmission and let me tell you the CVT takes a while to get used to. There are NO actual gears in a CVT transmission only pulleys and a belt. It seems to hesiate when you step on the gas from a dead stop and that's because it's looking for the right belt/pulley ratio. It's only momentary but you will notice the difference between the CVT trans and a regular 4 or 5 speed trans. Not a bad thing, just something to get used to. it also seems to "downshift" a tad when you let of the gas...again the CVT trying to optimize engine transmission synchronization. Overall I am very happy with the Versa but would like to see minor improvements.

A basic auto

Great car with 5 speed manual transmission, and roll up windows, great mileage. A very nondescript car with plenty of trunk space. Easy to park. Great CD player and AC/Heat

2012 Nissan Versa s

I just bought a 2012 Nissan Versa and got took .. the tranny was leaking so my brother fixed that but it is slow to accelerate and the tranny is slipping I paid $3,700 for this car just had it one week ..so this guy knew the tranny was going he was in a hurry to sell it only has 54,000 miles on it Nissans are know for tranny issues and I know this now a little to late ...I will never buy any kind of Nissan again ....they are all having tranny issues in all styles ......I will never recommend a Nissan period....if you are thinking of buying any Nissan I warn you don't do it.......

Nice clean car

This Nissan seems mechanically fine pretty clean for 2012 just feels a little bit too small for me I'm used to bigger cars.

Great for sending your kids off to college.

My parents got this car for me to drive to school and I love it. Sure its not the fastest of the best looking but its more comfortable than the mustang we traded in, gets way better mpgs and me and all my friebds can fit in it.