After searching on the internet, I see dozens of complaints about Nissan Versa muffler systems rusting through or breaking at the flange on vehicles with significantly low mileage, 30,000 and up. The underside of all these vehicles, like mine, look almost brand new, but the muffler is obviously been constructed of inferior quality metal and if subjected to normal northern winter driving it rusts through. It seems like more of a quality control problem for Nissan then a "normal wear and tear" "open your wallet" problem for me!

Trying to find out if Recall on 2009 Nissan Versa. Noticed car sounded louder than usual. Mechanic found 'muffler neck' (bracket that held pipe from engine into muffler) was rusted with a hole, had to get new muffler and gasket, etc., costing $389.26 for parts/labor/tax. He showed me what they removed, and rest of the muffler/pipe/holding brackets system was not rusted, so I'm suspecting a design problem where water is somehow accumulating in that one area to rust just that spot, but causing the need to replace the whole system.

At about 81,000 miles and car is garaged, this does not seem like normal wear.