2011 NISSAN VERSA Electrical System Problems

Driver door handle will not open from inside car at times. The exterior handle locking mechanism gets stuck not allowing the door to open from the inside. When this happens, I need to roll down the window to reach outside and jiggle the exterior door handle in order to be able to open the door from inside the car. This poses a serious safety hazard of the driver not being able to exit the vehicle in an emergency. This is a common issue with the Nissan Versa car on many car forums online. I believe there was a recall issued for newer model cars, but not the 2011 year.

I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER CAUSE THE FIX MY AIRBAG RECALL BUT WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK MY HORN STOP WORKING IT WAS WORKING WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEM THEN I WENT BACK THE THIRD TIME CAUSE THE AIRBAGS LIGHT CAME BACK ON NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR WHAT THEY DID IM I RESPONSIBLE TO FIX MY REPAIR

THE MATERIAL WHERE MY ARM REST THAT HAS THE CONTROLS FOR MY WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS, ON DRIVER SIDE, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE IS COMING APART. MY SLEEVES GET CAUGHT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT, DUE TO THE AIR BAG, THE HORN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V449000 AND 16V349000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,012.

RECENTLY, I EXPERIENCED AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2011 NISSAN VERSA. IT WAS A LEAK THROUGH THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO DEFECTIVE, ARCING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. I REPORTED THIS TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY JUST "BLEW ME OFF". THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY SO I WAS SHOCKED BY THEIR LACK OF CONCERN. I AM A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WITH CREDIBILITY AND CREDENTIALS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE THIS HAZARD. ATTACHED IS SOME OF MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH NISSAN AS FURTHER DETAILS. PLEASE REVIEW AND CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, BUT IT FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT ACCURATELY INDICATE THE DESIRED GEAR IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

STARTING ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE A/C NOT WORKING PROPRTLY. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHEN YOU TURN THE ALARM ON THE HORN WOULD NOT BEEP LETTING YOU KNOW IT WAS ARMED. YESTERDAY WHEN I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR TO GO TO WORK NOTHING WORKED OR CAME ON. MY WIFE BROUGHT HER VEHICLE OVER TO JUMP START IT. AS SOON AS THE JUMPER CABLES WERE HOOKED UP THE BATTERY ON THE VERSA EXPLODED AND THERE WAS ALOT OF SMOKE. NOW THE CAR IS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY CANT EVEN GET IT OUT OF GEAR TO MOVE IT. EVEN IF IT GETS FIXED MY WIFE IS NOW AFFRAID TO PUT OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON, HERSELF OR ME IN IT TO DRIVE ANYWHERE. YOU CAN STILL SMELL THE BURNT SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD

THIS MORNING, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. I USED A BATTERY CHARGER PACK, AND IT STARTED. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING 3 MILES TO THE LOCAL AUTO ZONE CAR STORE TO CONDUCT A FREE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TEST, THE CAR STALLED OUT. AFTER USING THE BATTERY PACK TO JUMP START IT AGAIN, THEIR BATTER/ALTERNATOR CHECK MACHINE CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. IT IS 1/19/2015 AND THE CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2011 NISSAN VERSA WITH 33,000 MILES ON IT; THERE ARE NO MODIFICATIONS ON IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAS STOPPED WORKING AFTER ONLY 33,000 MILES WHEN THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF NISSAN FACTORY ALTERNATORS TEND TO LAST TO OVER 100,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 NISSAN VERSA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHED, AND THE DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM BRUISES TO THE UPPER CHEST AND BURNED HANDS DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AND WAIST AREA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100.

DROVE CAR TO STORE, CAME BACK OUTSIDE AND CAR WOULD NOT START, ONLY A FEW INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. JUMP STARTED THE CAR IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY, TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND CAR INSTANTLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *TR

2011 NISSAN VERSA WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR NOT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. AT THE TIME, POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. DEALER ADVISED, THAT THE SHIFTER SOLENOID IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THE SHIFTER SOLENOID IS APPROXIMATELY $600.00 DOLLARS. I CONDUCTED A RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED NISSAN HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH MOST OF THEIR VEHICLES AT LOW MILEAGE. NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPENSION IS ALSO MAKING NOISES AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN, WHO HAS ADVISED THE STRUT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE MAKES CLICKING NOISED WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE COST FOR OEM STRUT IS APPROXIMATELY $ 200.00. I AM HAVING TO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND CONSIDERED TO TRADE IT IN IF NISSAN DOES NOT RECALL VEHICLES. *TR

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO GO ON AND OFF AS WELL AS A KNOCKING SOUND HAD DEVELOPED. WE HAD OUR SON, WHO HAD ATTENDED SCHOOL TO BECOME A MECHANIC, CHECKED IT LOOKING AT THE OIL LEVEL. THE OIL WAS ABOUT A QUART LOW AND HE ADVISED US TO TAKE IT TO CARMAX WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE CAR. AFTER TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND AN OIL CHANGE AT $140.00, MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. IT IS BURNING OIL AND IS BEING EMITTED OUT THE EXHAUST AND HAS EXCESSIVE ENGINE BLOW BY. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY MAXCARE, CARMAX'S WARRANTY COMPANY, THAT IN ORDER TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINE IF IT IS COVERED BY WARRANTY WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $400.00 TO HAVE THE ENGINE TORN DOWN WITH NO GUARANTEE REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY THE ANOTHER $400.00 TO PUT IT BACK...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE POWER LOCKS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD TRAUMA AND BURNS TO THE HANDS. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, A HEMATOMA AND BRUISING TO THE LEFT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,150. *TR

MY CAR THAT I BOUGHT IN 2011 BRAND NEW HAS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING EVERY OTHER MONTH . IT IS VERY RANDOM AND NO LIGHTS COME ON IN THE CAR. THE LAST TIME MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND SHE HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND START IT BACK AGAIN. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY HAVE DRIVEN IT OVER 140 MILES, SCANNED 4 TIMES FOR FAILURES IN WHICH NONE CAME UP. I COMPLAINED TO THE NISSAN CORPORATION AND THEY SAY ONLY WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN THE PAST YEAR. MY CAR HAS ALSO NOT CRANKED UP FOR A TOTAL 10 MINUTES AT A TIME. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT...

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT (WITH A HERTZ RENTAL CAR IN KAUAI HAWAII) AND SWITCHING BETWEEN HIGH BEAM AND LOW BEAM AND TRAVELING AT 40 MPH ALL THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE STALK MOUNTED SWITCH CONTROLS BOTH HEADLIGHT ON/OFF (ROTARY MOTION) AND HIGH BEAM-LOW BEAM WITH BACK AND FORTH STALK MOTION. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND SUCCESSFULLY USING THE HIGH-BEAM LOW BEAM SELECTOR OFTEN, ON THE NEXT CHANGE BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM THE ROTARY MOTION OF THE KNOB ALSO ENGAGED AND TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. I HAVE SIMILAR CONTROLS ON MY CAR AT HOME AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED. THE ROTARY MOTION OF THE ON / OFF KNOB REQUIRES JUST A VERY LIGHT TWIST AND THE IN-OUT MOTION NEEDED TO CHANGE BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAM ALSO TWISTED THE OFF SWITCH. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A HALT WITH THE BRAKES AND STAY ON...