Showing the 2020 Versa S. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
30–35 mpgcombined; city 27–32, highway 35–40; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,280–$10,830U.S. average; Ohio $8,290–$9,680 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2020 Versa. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Versa. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Forward collision avoidance
16
3
0
3
Power train
16
0
0
0
Engine
14
0
0
0
Unknown or other
14
0
0
0
Electrical system
12
0
0
0
Service brakes
6
0
0
0
Air bags
5
3
0
3
Fuel/propulsion system
5
0
0
0
Back over prevention
3
0
0
0
Structure
3
0
0
0
Suspension
3
0
0
0
Wheels
3
0
0
0
10 more parts
Seat belts
2
1
0
0
Vehicle speed control
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
1
0
0
Steering
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Versa over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
Risk: Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and PC811.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Versa vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the fuel tank wall thickness may be insufficient, potentially causing a small hole in the tank seam area.
Risk: If a small hole is present, a fuel leak may occur if the operator fills the tank over half full, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 130 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Versa, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (73), equipment (27), power train (19), forward collision avoidance (8), engine and engine cooling (7).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2020 Versa.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: compact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 7–8 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Versa Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
32 / 40 / 35
Versa Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
27 / 35 / 30
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data