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2016 Nissan Versa problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
54% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Nissan Versa are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 26 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 41%).
Does the 2016 Nissan Versa have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 45 of 83 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Versa concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%), and the largest group is filed under power train (30). For comparison, the 2015 scores 49% and the 2017 scores 43%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Nissan Versa years
Of the 13 Nissan Versa years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 7th-best on engine and transmission share (54%). The worst is the 2023 (76%), the best the 2011 (17%). By volume, the 2016 drew 109 complaints (45 drivetrain), against 254 for the 2015 and 72 for the 2017.
Nissan Versa years to avoid and best years →
2010 Versa problems · 2011 Versa problems · 2012 Versa problems · 2013 Versa problems · 2014 Versa problems · 2015 Versa problems · 2016 · 2017 Versa problems · 2018 Versa problems · 2019 Versa problems · 2020 Versa problems · 2021 Versa problems · 2023 Versa problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Nissan Versa
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Nissan Versa said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 45 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2016 Nissan Versa? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Nissan Versa have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 45 of 83 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Versa concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Nissan Versa?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Nissan Versa is power train: 30 of 109 complaints (28%) name it, followed by air bags (26) and service brakes (15). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Nissan Versa reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 54% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Nissan Versa years we score, it ranks 7th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2016 Nissan Versa.
Which Nissan Versa years are better?
Among the Nissan Versa years we track, the 2011 (17%), the 2010 (23%) and the 2017 (43%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (54%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/nissan-versa
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.