CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012-2017 Nissan Versa has an expensive CVT transmission failure defect that shows up plainly in our complaint data.

In late 2019, the CVT defect was subject to a class action settlement. However the settlement only covers transmission repairs up to 7 years after purchase or 84,000 miles (whichever occurs first).

Because many owners commonly drive 20,000 miles/year or more, Versa owners experiencing CVT transmission problems may find they are not covered by this settlement due to the mileage limitation.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,915 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Nissan Versa miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2012 Nissan Versa Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #49

Jun 152022

Versa

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Horn issues horn isn't working Car shuts off constantly Multiple misfire codes reading permanent Codes won't clear on code reader Air bag light keeps blinking

- Queensbury, NY, USA

problem #48

Nov 122021

Versa

  • miles
Upon purchasing my vehicle the frame bolt had rattled loose and the motor mounts were broke because of how hard the engine rattles.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #47

Feb 042023

Versa

  • miles
Unknown

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #46

Jul 092022

Versa

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

IN reference to NHTSA Recall 15V-507 on this vehicle which included a CVT transmission reprogramming, which I handled by taking vehicle to the dealer on 10/20/2015! The letter I received added this issue as if it were a COURTESY action of Nissan and made NO mention of the CVT transmission having MAJOR ISSUES! As MOST Car Owners, I assumed that this 2015 CVT reprogramming would resolve any PAST or FUTURE issues with it.! I was still concerned that my vehicle was only 3 years & already had 2 recall items! Sadly, I trusted the dealer & once these were handled, I felt good about driving the vehicle, thinking it should go to about 150,000 miles! I have NOW learned that so many of the CVT transmissions were totally failing and lawsuits were being filed because of it. Apparently in 2017, NISSAN admitted it and extended the warranty on CVT transmissions. If I ever received notice of this, I have no printed copy or memory of that! I lived 2 minutes from work in 2012 and retired a year after purchase. I primarily drive locally and short distances and have very low miles on this vehicle. NOW..My 6-week dilemma:*Check engine light came on 7/9/22, right after I got gas! Garage kept, only 52,000 miles on it, routinely serviced and in stellar condition, I am NOW being told that the CVT transmission needs TOTAL replacement. MY CAR however, did PASS NC inspection at a Nissan dealership (with Check Engine light STILL ON) 7/21/22, with them giving a $4200 estimate When I said I had no money, they sent me out the door and said they hope I don't break down! NISSAN of North America is going totally by VEHICLE'S AGE, even though I have found reference that the CVT warranty should be 10 years or 120,000! Since 7/9/21, I have been given totally conflicting information on current SAFETY of MY CAR and the best offer given by NISSAN is to reduce my repair cost to $2381.09 for a REBUILT transmission with ONE-YEAR warranty! MY main concern: IS MY CAR SAFE TO DRIVE? I am 64!

- China Grove, NC, USA

problem #45

Jan 082021

Versa

  • miles
I-??ve had problems with this car from day one. All manor like Ac and heater going out that-??s OK. All issues I can deal with in time. But Now this can-??t handle I-??ve had to actually stop driving my vehicle. The check Engine light starts to flash then the car doesn-??t want to shift feeping like your about to blow up the car if you go over 20mph. transmission start to jerk and sUpper like your not get fuel or something. It-??s been missing up so bad not to mention it-??s freakin scary and you terrified you-??ve got to pull it over. Turn off the car try again. I-??ve had to leave my vehicle at random places multiple times too scared to drive it home. Now I tried to finally look at the problem to see what it might be happening cus nobody else seems to know what the issue is. And I see there several people with the same issue on the 2012 Nissan Versa.

- Pottsville, AR, USA

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problem #44

Jun 062021

Versa

  • miles
When driving the car slows down to a crawl or just stalls and want pick up speed or while driving comes to a complete stop, also it makes a noise and when it rains it sounds like Rain is trapped in the doors or walls of the car.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #43

Mar 012021

Versa

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Muffler is rusted and the manufacture doesn't care keep saying it's your problem right now is broken and cat doesn't even have 60000 miles very upset

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #42

Nov 082020

Versa

  • 45 miles
Transmission is not changing gears like it is suppose to and stutters at stop signs and stop lights.

- Lillington, NC, USA

problem #41

Sep 152020

Versa

  • 60,000 miles
The key will not come out of the ignition and it is stuck. Nothing happened to cause this, it just happened. Took it to Nissan and they couldn't get it out. They took it apart for diagnostics and said the entire shift lever assembly needs replaced and it is $865 estimated repair.

- Somerset, KY, USA

problem #40

May 292020

Versa 4-cyl

  • 75,500 miles
The transmission does not work. It takes about 2 seconds before the car moves when you step on the gas.

- Pomona, CA, USA

problem #39

Apr 012020

Versa

  • 20 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission completely quits working sometimes in the middle of driving down the road and then start back working just fine. It's like a dead paddle but I have replacement everything but the transmission. It has no check engine lights or ABS codes. It will only allow rpms up to 1 until it comes back then it starts working again it even kick off the cruise control and started blinking

- Muskogee, OK, USA

problem #38

Jun 202019

Versa

  • miles
Car drive with no power and has transmission problems

- Lakeside, CA, USA

problem #37

Sep 302019

Versa

  • 115,000 miles
My car had a R1709 recall. This was to fix the airbags. I took it to my local Nissan dealership to had the repair done. The waiting time I was told would be about 1 or 2 hours. It took about 5 hours and I was told it was because a new inexperienced mechanic was working on it. When I got my car back the lights telling me there is something wrong with the airbags were still blinking. I had no time to go back since they had just wasted all the time I had. The very next day I realized that now my car's horn doesn't work either. This was never a problem before. I called to tell them I believe they may have messed up the work they were supposed to do. They simply told me they did the work they had to and that if my car has additional issues it's not their problem. I even told them I find it hard to believe that all the car's airbags are failing at the same time and that now the horn doesn't make any sound right after I took it to get it fixed. I believe they did the wrong work on it which might explain why they took far longer than they were supposed to. They gave me no solution so I had to make a case with Nissan corporate. The only solution I was given by corporate was to take it back to the same repair shop and they will check it, however I will be charged for this, unless they find it was their error. I think its pretty obvious what they are going to say, so there is no way I can take it back to the same place that possibly screwed up in the first place so they can charge me to tell me they did a fine job. What I need is someone to check my car to see if they did the job they were actually supposed to do and not get charged for it.

- White Plains, NY, USA

problem #36

Sep 242019

Versa

  • miles
I have a 2012 Nissan Versa and at 51,000 miles the transmission failed and will be upwards of $4,500 to repair. I went and got two options and both places said failed transmission and I went and saw pieces of it in the pan. I've had the car for a year and a half and bought it used.

- Boulder, CO, USA

problem #35

Jun 152019

Versa

  • 59,000 miles
The drivers side interior door handle does not open door. In order to open door to exit car at all (much less in an emergency) you must first keep car running, then engage power door lock to the unlock position, then roll down power window all the way in order to reach the exterior door handle and pull out away from the car. Note: The car had approximately 59000 miles on it. When notified in mid June 2019, Nissan customer 'advocate' instructed me to bring the problem to chula vista, ca. Dealer to verify the issue, document it then contact them with the result. When I did so and explained the safety issue and that I was instructed to go there by Nissan the service manager there said I'd be responsible for paying a $175 'diagnostic fee' since they claimed they needed to take off the door panel in order to estimate a cost to repair. When I explained that I was there at the behest of Nissan he insisted I still would be required to pay the fee but in this case he would authorize it to be credited toward the actual cost of repair should I choose to go forward with the repair. I was and am still not able to do so.. after several unresponsive attempts to relay all this to Nissan I believe some government action should be taken to force them to take this safety issue seriously enough to prevent any foreseeable tragedies.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #34

Feb 062015

Versa

  • miles
Transmission. Car loosing power specially when going up a hil. When car is in motion will not go passed 45mph & feels like is going to give up.L took the car to Nissan dealer of buena park & was informed to trade in the car. In March 29 of 2015 car stop running took it to the mechanic & paid $1800 & car started runing.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #33

Mar 122019

Versa

  • 71,447 miles
My gear is stuck in reverse

- Albany, GA, USA

problem #32

Jan 302019

Versa

  • 90,000 miles
When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle did not accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle did not accelerate. A diagnostic testing was done on vechicle at dick smith Nissan columbia, S.C. transmission problem detected. The failure milage was 90,000.. vehicle was at the gas pump to fuel up will not move once shift to drive.

- Eastover, SC, USA

problem #31

Mar 202018

Versa

  • miles
I took it in for repair, to the Nissan co. But now the horn does not work, do I take it back or who is to fix the horn, it was working at first,

- Pharr ,Texas, TX, USA

problem #30

Dec 012018

Versa

  • 84,678 miles
Takata recall Nissan Versa 2012 come with alot of electrical issues door locks wont open causing the doors not to open if this occurs when you have kids inside car can even cause death if you dont have anyone to provide immediate attention when it do this the car would turn on starts to shake and turns off and it can last doing this for an hour and also doors have a black door sealing band that comes off since I bought my car of it occurs with children it can stangle them ver Y dangerous the electric issue can cause a car accodent of ot turn off highway or street it would do it when driving as well it may come from the fuse box under the front hood that its so hard and dangerouse to check

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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