Tl*the contact owns a 2008 nissan versa. Driver side control arm fell out vehicle towed to an independent mechanic for repairs presumably rust/corrosion while pulling out the driveway, the driver side control arm fractured and fell out. Vehicle repaired by an unknown independent mechanic. Manufacturer notified of the failure. Vehicle not diagnosed by the dealer. Approximate failure mileage 160,476.
2008 Nissan Versa: ball joint or control arm failure
6 of the 381 complaints about the 2008 Nissan Versa describe ball joint or control arm failure.
- owner complaints
- 6
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 53,437
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 4 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Ball joint or control arm failure by model year
What owners say
The lower front control arm on the driver's side which holds the front wheel on the frame broke in the middle of the part letting the front wheel loose from the car. A small portion of metal that did not break held the tire on. The vehicle was stopped before an accident happened. The person driving was on a main road in a major u.s., city. The front tire had rubbed against the front plastic bumper and actually pealed some of it off. The lower control arm has been replaced on this vehicle and is in my possession. The replacement was done by a mechanic. The mechanic claims it is a nissan part.
Exhaust system has been diagnosed with 2 separate failures requiring a weld job in order to repair. I have completed one at the cost of $200 and the second weld estimate is priced at $200. Both instances came on suddenly and without other warning. Exhaust smell occurs when car first starts and disapates after driving several miles. Each occurred at separate times. Both front ball joints have been noted by my mechanic as being looser and indicates needing replacement in the near future in order to avoid potentially fatal collision or significant additional damage to transmission, steering, etc., systems.
Clunking noises emitted from the front of the car when turning the steering wheel at slower speeds, such as when turning into a parking space. Vehicle was taken to dealership and diagnosed with excessive play between the wheel and tie rod end. Power steering rack was replaced. This occurred at 53,683 miles.
Total failure of passenger side ball joint w/ separation of cv axel from transaxel resulting in wheel coming off the car. Occured during a low speed left hand turn on city street after stopping for traffic light. Passenger and driver side lower control arms replaced, driver's side as a precautionay measure. Related to the federal safety agency recall 15v‑573 underbody corrosion.
The car has begun to make a loud metal clunking sound at the top right suspension as well as what almost sounds like a grinding but not similar to that of the braking system. I was going around a curve at the time. The sound gets worse when going down a hill changing speeds, switching lanes, on pot holes or an uneven surface. I took it to a few different places and could not reproduce the problem at the time. While driving with a more experienced mechanic he was able to determine the sound to be isolated to the right strut and the left inner tie rod. He said that the struts are usually only replaced once in a cars lifetime so I am wondering why it needs to be replaced so soon. I am writing the complaint because I think this has been an issue all along. The car needs an abnormal amount of realignments and brake replacements. When I first received the car the rotors and brakes had to be replaced because somehow they had been installed backwards. The steering has always felt insecure as well as the feeling when pressing the gas and the brakes. The feeling I have now under the pedals when the sound of the strut malfunctioning engages I have felt all along but not this intensely. There may be an issue with the parts used as I have spoken to so many nissan owners who reported the same issue of steering and exhaust system issues on nissans.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
- What is wrong
- Nissan (Nissan North America, Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Nissan Versa vehicles manufactured May 8, 2006, to November 12, 2012, that were sold or ever registered in the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
- Risk
- If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front coil springs, free of charge. The recall began on February 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.
Recall number 15V573000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2008 Nissan Versa ball joint
Is ball joint or control arm failure a common problem on the 2008 Nissan Versa?
6 of 381 owner complaints about the 2008 Nissan Versa (2%) mention ball joint or control arm failure. The model year with the most reports is 2009.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2008 Nissan Versa?
There is 1 recall and 4 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2008 Nissan Versa
Coil spring 45Airbag light 22Fuel pump 16Won't start 14Stalling 10Harsh shifting 9CVT failure 7Tire blowout 7Grinding brakes 6Loss of power 6Fire or smoke 5Steering noise 5
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