Nissan Versa Ownership FAQ v1.1

Q) My Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) light is on. What do I do?
A) The Tire Pressure Monitoring System checks the air pressure in all of your tires, and will notify you if a tire drops below about 28 psi. However, we have noticed there is a high occurrence of faults in this system on the Nissan Versa.

Just because the light is on does not necessarily mean your system is faulty. If the light comes on steady, more than likely you have low air pressure in one of your tires. Find some place to get air for your tires, fill them all to 40 psi, then reduce pressure to 32 psi. This should shut off the TPMS if there is no fault condition.

If your TPMS flashes for one minute then goes steady, or if the light does not turn off when proper air pressure is restored to the tires, then you have a TPMS system fault. Take your vehicle to your Nissan dealer for service.

Revision 1.1: Nissan has issued a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) on Versas built prior to July 17th, 2006. The TSB states that incorrect or faulty Body Control Modules were installed in some vehicles built before this date. So far, vehicles that have had the Body Control Module replaced have not had the problem re-occur. Also, in some cases, failure of the wheel sensors has been found to cause this fault, and replacement of the sensors can fix the problem. Multiple sensor failures usually indicate a failed Body Control Module.

While it will not hurt the car to drive with a failed TPMS system, please remember that the system will not be able to inform you of pressure problems in your tires, and you will need to manually monitor them

Q) The clutch on my brand new Versa seems to be slipping, I push the gas and it revs up but the car doesn�t move quickly!
A) There has been a problem found in some Versa SL�s with manual transmissions, relating to the cruise control system. Take your Versa in to your Nissan dealer and have them adjust or replace the ASCD switch in the cruise control system. It has been found that on hot days, this switch MAY move, and cause the hydraulic clutch to disengage prematurely. So far, all vehicles with this fix applied have remained trouble-free.

Revision 1.1: This problem is not dangerous unless it occurs in a remote area or on a heavily trafficked road. This problem will severely compromise your vehicle�s ability to move, and your car may end up disabled or possibly with a burned out clutch if you ignore it.

Q) There is an awful lot of wind noise on my Versa, particularly at 40mph or more; this noise comes from only one side of the car.
A) On a few Versas that we have seen, there have been some dented door panels put on cars at the Aguascalientes plant. This dent is small, and it is centered on the hole in the door on which the side mirror is mounted. We do not believe either the dent or the use of dented doors is intentional, and this complaint has not been found recently so we also believe that Nissan has corrected the problem. In any case, this dent causes a slight gap between the mounting of the mirror and the door surface, and the noise you hear is wind rushing into this gap. Take the vehicle to your Nissan dealer, it should be corrected under warranty.

This problem is not dangerous, simply annoying.

Q) I would like to get the windows on my Versa tinted. What can you tell me?
A) Tinting makes Versas look very sharp, and also helps the car cooler during the summer by blocking out a large portion of the sun�s rays. It also helps preserve the interior of the car and your skin by blocking UV rays.

Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding tint. Go to your state government�s website and look at the regulations regarding automotive equipment and tinting, and that will let you know what you can legally have done to your car. Reputable tint shops will also know this information.

For actual installation we recommend finding a reputable shop, and having them install a tint film with a lifetime warranty. Some shops may also offer a lifetime warranty on labor as well. It is up to you to make the determination as to whether or not this is necessary.

If you are having trouble finding a reputable shop, consult your Nissan dealer. Most dealers have a specific shop that they trust and work with, and it is in the dealer�s interest not to steer you to a bad shop, since they want your repeat business.

Q) When I turn on my climate controls, my Air Conditioning turns on automatically! What gives?
A) Virtually every modern car automatically turns on the air conditioning when the select switch or knob is in a �defrost� position (there are 2 on the Versa). The A/C allows the window to de-fog quicker. If you do not need the windows defogged, simply turn off the A/C.

The other condition under which the A/C will automatically turn on is if you last left the air conditioning turned on, regardless of where the climate control knob was turned. Again, this is a normal design function. If you do not need A/C, turn it off.

On a side note, air conditioners need to be run every so often to keep lubricated and in shape, even in the winter. Even in circumstances you do not normally use A/C, it is wise to turn it on at least every couple of weeks. This does NOT mean setting it to cold and blasting it in the winter time. A/C also works with heat, so even just defrosting your windows using hot A/C will do the trick.

Q) My passenger airbag cover is popped up slightly, and won�t go down.
A) There have been a few Versas with this problem reported. It is one of the more serious defects, so you should immediately take your Versa to the dealer for service. They may be able to take out the air bag assembly and put it back in, but they may need to order a whole new air bag assembly.

Though we have not tested it yet, we do not believe that the airbag will deploy properly if the cover is loose, so it is imperative you take your car in for service!

Revision 1.1: According some Nissan dealers, this problem will not affect ability of the airbag to deploy. However, we would take this with a grain of salt: The airbag and the cover are one integrated part, without an affected vehicle being involved in a collision that warrants deployment of this air bag, and most people would agree that they would not want to personally test that theory. Our advice: take your Versa in to the dealer ASAP for service.

Q) My dash airbag light or passenger airbag light seems to be turning on and off inconsistently, is there a problem?
A) There have been a couple reported incidents of this. Any failure regarding an air bag system is a serious safety defect. We have found that this problem could potentially be from a faulty seat belt tensioner.

Revision 1.1: Also, some people have changed out their stereo head unit and reported a malfunction being reported by the light. This happens if the air bag light is disconnected during stereo installation. If you are installing your own stereo, pop the whole light assembly out of the dash but DO NOT disconnect the light itself. Having the system reset by a Nissan dealer after making this mistake will cost you in the neighborhood of $100.

Take the vehicle to your Nissan dealer immediately!

Q) My 6-disc MP3 changer cannot read MP3 discs, or can only read a few tracks of the disc.
A) This is actually more likely an incompatibility between your media and your CD burner, not an actual problem with the Versa. Try using a lens cleaning kit on your CD burner, reduce the CD burning speed to 16x or slower in the software, and switch to a different brand of discs. This will more than likely fix the problem.

If not, then there may be a fault in the read mechanism in the stereo head unit. Take it to your dealer for service.

Q) My Bluetooth hands-free system cannot understand what I am saying.
A) Consult the owners manual for the calibration of the Bluetooth�s voice recognition software. It was based on a generic west-coast USA accent, and does not always recognize east-coast, southern, or foreign accents, or you may be speaking too softly. There is a calibration program that will have you speak several words so that the system understands how you speak.

When properly calibrated, people you call will think you are either calling from inside a tin can, or calling on a speakerphone. This is perfectly normal, as the Bluetooth system IS effectively a speakerphone. Just speak as clearly as you can.

If the hands-free system cannot HEAR what you are saying, there is likely a fault in the system, probably at the pick-up microphone. Take it to your dealer for service.


FAQ by: Geoffrey Reuther (Ever Victorious) - Versa Moderator