NissanVersa Note2018Overview/nissan/versa-note/2018/base/

2018 Nissan Versa Note

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Versa Note.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2018 Nissan Versa Note is a compact passenger car that balances practicality with efficient performance, offering 31/39/34‑mpg EPA ratings on its automatic transmission with variable gear ratios. Its engine runs on 3.7 qt of 0W‑20 oil, a standard that supports the vehicle’s modest powertrain while keeping maintenance straightforward. In terms of owner feedback, the model year received only three complaints—primarily concerning suspension, power‑train, and service‑brake issues—and it has three recalls, indicating a relatively clean safety record. Within the broader Versa lineup’s complaint history, the 2018 sits near the bottom of the reliability spectrum, following 2019’s even lower complaint count, suggesting that this generation represents a solid, dependable choice for consumers.

Model year201920182017201620152014

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque83 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/39/34 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI T4 · 470 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI T4 · 470 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP185/65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter165461HK0A
Spark plug224011HC1B
Battery24410ZW40C
Front wiper blades288903WC1A discontinued · alt 288903WC0B
Serpentine belt117201KT0A
Thermostat21200ED00A alt 21049ED00B

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length163.4 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height60.6 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Curb weight2456 lb
Track (front / rear)58.3 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 39 / 34 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 83 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidNissan CVT fluid NS-3
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.3
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Brake FluidDOT 3
Clutch FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantUse Nissan long life coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity7.6-7.8
Engine Oil0W-20

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.1 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.1 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)58.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts80 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts80.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts20 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts83 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub183.0

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group NumberT4
Standard BCI Cranking Performance470 cca
Standard BCI Group NumberT4
Standard BCI Cranking Performance470 cca

Service checks

RPM73.0
Engine Compression184

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque62
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish.787
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0001
Maximum Rotor RunoutRotor attached to vehicle: .002
Maximum Drum Diameter8.040

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6014 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 4 stages
120.0 ft. lbs.20 ft. lbs
2Back off 360.0 degrees360 degrees
314.0 ft. lbs.14 ft. lbs
460.0
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
126.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6026 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
125 ft. lbs.25 ft. lbs
225
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
124 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6024 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
124.0 ft. lbs.24 ft. lbs
260.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Keyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal data shows the 2018 model year marks the culmination of a steep downward trend in owner complaints for this generation, dropping to just three complaints from 337 in 2014 and 106 in 2016, with technical service bulletins also declining to 82 from 168 over that span. While complaint volume fell dramatically, 2018 still carried three recalls—matching 2017’s count and exceeding 2016’s zero—though the data does not specify whether these recalls correlate with the limited owner feedback received. The single crash complaint and zero fire complaints align with this low overall incident reporting, and the sparse complaint distribution across suspension, powertrain, and unspecified categories indicates no concentrated defect pattern emerged in federal records. Compared to the earlier model years’ triple-digit complaint volumes and multiple investigations, 2018 sits at the bottom of the arc with minimal owner-reported issues and no open investigations. Given the dramatically reduced complaint frequency relative to 2014–2017 and the absence of recurring specific failure modes in the federal record, 2018 represents a statistically safer used-car bet within this generation, provided buyers verify completion of the three outstanding recalls.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
82
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Suspension,Power Train,Service Brakes1
Power Train1
Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V551000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 21/08/2018

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan… Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1…

19V654000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: CameraReported 12/09/2019

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and… Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 82 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB13-107G2024-05-20Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB13-027D2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…
NTB10-066C2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Versa Note. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 Versa Note take?

3.7 qt of 0W-20 STARBURST, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Versa Note have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Versa Note get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 39 highway / 34 combined mpg.