Mazda Mazda2 vs Nissan Versa
Head-to-head reliability comparison from 4,542real NHTSA consumer complaints. Year-by-year breakdown, shared problems, crash & fire rates.
Which is more reliable, Mazda Mazda2 or Nissan Versa?
Verdict from 4,542 NHTSA complaints
Mazda Mazda2 wins this comparison overall. Mazda Mazda2 comes out ahead on 2 of 4 reliability metrics — including a 89% lower complaint rate. The Nissan Versa edges ahead on fire-involvement rate and overall severity score.
Head-to-Head Metrics
Lower is better on every metric. Bar length = relative magnitude. ✓ = winner.
Mazda Mazda2 wins by 89%
Mazda Mazda2 wins by 37%
Nissan Versa wins by 21%
Nissan Versa wins by 1251%
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Official NCAP star ratings — government crash test data. Most recent rated model year.
Mazda Mazda2
2014 model yearNissan Versa
2025 model yearSource: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Lower star = higher injury risk in that crash type.
Complaint Volume — Year by Year
Sales-volume data not available for both models — showing raw complaint counts. Higher-volume models will appear higher even when reliability is comparable.
Most Reported Problems
Top component complaints for each model. Identical bar lengths = both have the same recurring issue.
Year-by-Year Head-to-Head
Lower is better. Click either model column to see that year's full breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mazda Mazda2 vs Nissan Versa — the most common buyer questions, answered from NHTSA data.
Which is more reliable, the Mazda Mazda2 or the Nissan Versa?
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Mazda Mazda2 wins this comparison overall. Mazda Mazda2 comes out ahead on 2 of 4 reliability metrics — including a 89% lower complaint rate. The Nissan Versa edges ahead on fire-involvement rate and overall severity score. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation via VinItel.
Should I buy a Mazda Mazda2 or a Nissan Versa?
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On reliability data alone, the Mazda Mazda2 is the safer bet — but the actual condition of the specific car matters far more than the model average. Check the VIN of any vehicle you're considering for accident history, title issues, and odometer rollbacks.
What problems do the Mazda Mazda2 and Nissan Versa share?
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Top complaints for the Mazda Mazda2: Steering Defects, Seat-Related Issues, Airbags. Top complaints for the Nissan Versa: Airbags, Transmission / Drivetrain, Suspension Failures. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
Which has fewer NHTSA complaints, the Mazda Mazda2 or the Nissan Versa?
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Across all model years, the Mazda Mazda2 has 60 NHTSA complaints and the Nissan Versa has 4,482. Normalized for sales volume (complaints per 10,000 vehicles sold), the Nissan Versa has the lower complaint rate. Raw counts can mislead — a 2× more popular model will naturally collect 2× more complaints. Detailed normalized comparison: vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/compare/mazda/mazda2/vs/nissan/versa
Which is safer in a crash, the Mazda Mazda2 or the Nissan Versa?
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Crash-involvement rate from NHTSA complaints: Mazda Mazda2 6.7% vs Nissan Versa 9.2% — the Mazda Mazda2 has the lower crash rate. NHTSA NCAP star ratings (frontal, side, rollover) for both models are also shown on the comparison page. Note: the per-VIN history matters more than the model average — a salvage-title car of any model carries higher crash exposure than the median.
Does the Mazda Mazda2 or the Nissan Versa have more fires?
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Fire-involvement rate based on NHTSA complaints: Mazda Mazda2 1.70% vs Nissan Versa 1.40%. The Nissan Versa has the lower reported fire rate. Fire complaints are a relatively rare but important safety signal — they often correlate with electrical-system or fuel-system defects. Check specific recall campaigns at vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/mazda/mazda2 and vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/nissan/versa
What years of the Mazda Mazda2 are worse than the Nissan Versa?
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The comparison page renders a year-by-year head-to-head table — for each model year (where both models have data), it shows complaint count or per-10K rate side by side and marks which model fares better that year. Buyers cross-shopping a specific model year should always check the year-level VinItel pages: vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/mazda/mazda2/{year} and vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/nissan/versa/{year}.
Where does this Mazda Mazda2 vs Nissan Versa comparison data come from?
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All complaint, crash, fire, and fatality data comes from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) consumer-complaint database — the same source insurance regulators and the federal government use. NCAP star ratings come from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. Sales-volume normalization (per 10K sold) uses US annual vehicle sales. Data refreshes every 6 hours. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
Related Reliability Comparisons
Other head-to-head matchups buyers cross-shopping the Mazda2 or Versa also look at:
Comparison data refreshed 2026-05-04 from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.·Source: NHTSA ODI
A model average can't see the car you're buying.
Even the Mazda Mazda2 has cars with hidden accidents, salvage titles, and odometer rollbacks. Check the VIN before you buy — full report $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Deep-dive into either model: