Nissan Versa manuals and technical guides
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Vehicle loading information for your Nissan Versa

WARNING

  • It is extremely dangerous and strictly prohibited for anyone to ride in an unseated cargo area or trunk space inside a vehicle.

    In the unfortunate event of a collision, passengers riding in these unapproved areas are significantly more likely to suffer severe personal injury or loss of life.

  • Never allow any passengers to ride in any interior area of your Nissan Versa that is not originally equipped with proper factory seats and functional seat belts.
  • Always ensure that every single occupant in your vehicle is securely seated and properly buckled up before driving.

Terms

It is very important to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the following standardized automotive weight and loading terms before packing cargo or transporting passengers in your Nissan Versa:

  • Curb Weight (actual weight of your vehicle) - the total weight of your vehicle including: all standard and optional equipment, operating fluids, emergency tools, and the spare tire assembly. This baseline weight does not include passengers or cargo.
  • GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) - the actual curb weight plus the combined weight of all passengers and cargo currently loaded in the vehicle.
  • GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) - the maximum legal total combined weight limit of the unloaded vehicle, all passengers, cargo, trailer hitch, trailer tongue load, and any other optional equipment. This critical information is permanently located on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. vehicle certification label.
  • GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) - the maximum weight load limit specified for either the front axle or the rear axle.

    This information is also clearly located on the official F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. vehicle certification label.

  • GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) - the maximum total combined weight rating limit established for the vehicle, all passengers, cargo, and any towed trailer combined.
  • Vehicle Capacity Weight, Load limit, Total load capacity - the maximum total weight limit specified for the total load (consisting of passengers and cargo combined) that the vehicle can safely carry.

    This represents the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo that can be safely loaded into your Nissan Versa. If the vehicle is utilized to tow a trailer, the respective trailer tongue weight must be included as part of the overall cargo load. This information is located directly on the Tire and Loading Information label.

  • Cargo capacity - the permissible weight limit available for cargo, calculated by subtracting the total weight of occupants from the vehicle's total load limit.

Vehicle load capacity

Before driving your Nissan Versa while fully loaded, always confirm that you do not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) specified for your vehicle model. Both the GVWR and GAWR figures are located on the official F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label.

Never exceed the total load limit of your vehicle, which is indicated under the statement "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed..." on the Tire and Loading Information label.

Do not exceed the maximum number of occupants indicated as the "Seating Capacity" on the vehicle's Tire and Loading Information label.

To accurately calculate "the combined weight of occupants and cargo," first add together the individual body weights of all occupants, and then add the total weight of all cargo items. Practical working examples are clearly demonstrated in the following illustration.

Calculation example chart for determining combined occupant and cargo weight limits on the Nissan Versa

Example

Steps For Determining Correct Load Limit

1. Locate the specific statement reading "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." displayed clearly on your Nissan Versa placard or door jamb label.

2. Carefully determine the combined total weight of the driver and all passengers who will be riding along in your vehicle for the trip.

3. Subtract the total combined weight of the driver and all passengers from the maximum placard figure denoted as XXX kg or XXX lbs.

4. The resulting numerical figure equals the precise available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity remaining for your Nissan Versa. For example, if the stated "XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passengers riding inside your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity left is 650 lbs. (1400 minus 750 resulting from 5 occupants multiplied by 150 lbs. equals 650 lbs.)

5. Carefully determine the total combined weight of all luggage and cargo items being loaded into your Nissan Versa. That total weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in the previous step 4.

6. If your vehicle will somehow be utilized to tow a trailer, any physical load from your trailer will be transferred directly to your vehicle. Consult this manual thoroughly to determine how this external weight reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your Nissan Versa.

Attempting to tow a trailer with a vehicle that is not engineered or intended for towing may result in a catastrophic traffic accident involving severe personal injury or death.

WARNING

Do not tow a trailer with your Nissan Versa under any circumstances.

Towing a trailer with this vehicle may result in an unpredictable accident involving serious personal injury or fatal consequences.

Before driving your Nissan Versa while loaded with cargo, always confirm that you do not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) specified for your vehicle model.

Also carefully check all tires to ensure they are inflated to the proper operating pressures.

Loading tips

  • The total Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) must never exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the individual Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) as explicitly specified on the official F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. vehicle certification label.
  • Do not load both the front and rear axles simultaneously to their absolute maximum GAWR limits, as doing so will cause the overall vehicle GVWR to be exceeded.

WARNING

  • Properly and securely tie down all cargo items inside your Nissan Versa using heavy-duty ropes or straps to help prevent them from sliding, shifting, or becoming airborne. Do not stack cargo any higher than the top of the seatbacks. In the event of a sudden emergency stop or a collision, unsecured cargo could cause serious personal injury to vehicle occupants.
  • Do not load your Nissan Versa any heavier than the established GVWR or the maximum front and rear GAWR limits. If you overload the vehicle, critical structural parts can break, premature tire damage could occur, or it can drastically alter the way your Nissan Versa handles on the road.

    This dangerous situation could result in a complete loss of vehicle control and cause severe personal injury.

  • Vehicle overloading not only accelerates wear and shortens the operational life span of your Nissan Versa and its tires, but it can also cause unsafe vehicle handling characteristics and significantly longer braking distances. This may lead to premature tire failure, which could result in a serious highway accident and severe personal injury. Mechanical or tire failures caused directly by vehicle overloading are never covered under the vehicle's factory warranty.

Measurement of weights

Always secure all loose items to prevent sudden weight shifts that could negatively affect the balance and stability of your Nissan Versa. When the vehicle is fully loaded for your trip, drive to a certified public scale and weigh the front wheels and the rear wheels separately to accurately determine individual axle loads.

Individual axle loads should never exceed either of the specified Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR). Furthermore, the total sum of the axle loads should not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These regulatory limits are clearly printed on the vehicle certification label. If any weight ratings are found to be exceeded, immediately redistribute, move, or remove items to bring all weights safely below the maximum ratings.

Towing a trailer

Do not tow a trailer with your Nissan Versa.