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.

2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,864 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.

2013 Nissan Versa drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Nissan Versa Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #30

Apr 262019

Versa

  • 130,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Versa. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stopped without warning. The contact applied the emergency brake and restarted the vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Cockeysville, MD, USA

problem #29

Aug 162018

Versa

  • 11,174 miles
Takata recall: Transmission blew out after 2 years of buying off the Nissan lot. This happened when in route out of town for the day, car was stalling and seemed to be in neutral but actually in drive. Had to tow home after stopping and going on streets and freeways.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

problem #28

Feb 012015

Versa

  • 30,000 miles
Transmission shakes /studders and vibrates on acceleration at low speeds when pressing on gas. Also no delay in acceleration when pressing gas from stop or slow speeds.

- Valley Falls, NY, USA

problem #27

Dec 192018

Versa

  • 76,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Versa. When the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have the fuel tank repaired, the contact was informed that the transmission software needed to be updated. The vehicle was taken to mossy Nissan chula vista (1885 auto park pl, chula vista, ca 91911, (619) 397-6578) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,000.

- Chila Vista, CA, USA

problem #26

Nov 112018

Versa

  • 97,000 miles
Car was parked in a parking spot. It was able to move in reverse; however, when in 'drive' no power/gas was going to the vehicle. We had it towed to a service center and was told vehicle needed a new transmission.

- Aurora, IL, USA

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problem #25

Oct 232018

Versa

  • 86,600 miles
Transmission slips stalls shudders and won't pull away from stop light at times also on acceleration it hesitated badly

- Petaluma, CA, USA

problem #24

Oct 252018

Versa

  • 85,000 miles

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

When I first purchased my vehicle (new) in 2012 for the 2013 Nissan Versa, I noticed that when taking off at a red light, the engine/trans sounded like it was a hesitating to go. I mentioned this to the service guy when I went in for my first oil change, he said that it's because it a cvt transmission. About 1 year ago or so, the car would jerk when taking off at 20mph and the RPM needle would go up and down as I accelerate to go faster, I've taken this car for oil changes and kept up with the recommended services. I've had the trans oil changed and it still does this especially going on the expressway. The car hesitates to go, and now I read that there are multiple people having the same issues just like I do. This morning when getting on the expressway to go to work, I was accelerating and it hesitated (like always), then as I gave it gas, it jerked (rmp needle jumped to 4 then back down to 2) and sped up and I almost hit the vehicle in front of me. I'm so nervous right now. Please help. This is dangerous! I'm a single mom of 3 and very precious cargo with me. I don't want to have an accident because of this really bad system, and then something to be done about it. There has to be some kind of recall on these transmissions before someone gets killed.

- Summit Argo, IL, USA

problem #23

Oct 012018

Versa

  • 101,000 miles
2013 Nissan Versa struggles to turn on. Car also idles rough and has stalled at stop lights. Took it to buena park Nissan and they said there was nothing wrong with it. Recently the engine light came on, it was P0705 transmission range sensor.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #22

Aug 292018

Versa

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Versa. While driving approximately 65 mph, the transmission suddenly failed and the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the continuously variable transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer (mossy Nissan, 8118 clairemont mesa blvd, san diego, ca) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #21

Aug 242018

Versa

  • 173,000 miles
Transmission stick in first gear and will not change gears on city streets

- Folkston, GA, USA

problem #20

Aug 022017

Versa

  • 80,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Versa. While driving low speeds, the vehicle experienced hesitation. Once the vehicle registered that the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle experienced excessive acceleration. The vehicle was towed to #1 cochran Nissan of South hills (3200 w Liberty ave, pittsburgh, pa) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed software reprogramming. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a new transmission was needed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. The VIN was not provided.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #19

Jul 172018

Versa

  • 45,000 miles
I've spoken to Nissan complaints, and I've gotten nothing. Nissan Versas intermittently shutter when driving. This is dangerous. Nissan told me it could be the transmission, but refuse to dig into it because they claim they can't find the codes. This is crap. I'm not driving an unsafe vehicle. The transmission is a cvt. When I accelerate past 2 rpg it shutters repeatedly. There needs to be some kind of recall

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #18

Oct 092017

Versa

  • 70,000 miles
The transmission indicator on the display goes out frequently while in motion. When the display is out, the cvt transmission shudders, slips, and/or 'downshifts' hard. There is also a lack of power when accelerating which becomes a problem when entering traffic. The indicator will go out and then come back on intermittently while operating the vehicle.

- Appling, GA, USA

problem #17

Apr 302018

Versa

  • 44,000 miles
I drive a 2013 Nissan Versa. I've had it about 4 years, the car has about 40,000 miles. Recently, my car started shuttering (vibrating) as I accelerate. I've taken my car to the dealership twice (third time will be either tomorrow or Tuesday) and they cannot figure out what's going on with it. I don't know if this is dangerous or not and not only do I depend on this car, but I drive an 82 year old woman around to dr appointments. Nissan itself doesn't want to do anything about this problem (you know, like finding out why this is happening.) this is ridiculous and the NHTSA needs to not only hold them accountable, but also force Nissan to fix this problem. I'm paying a boat load of money and time trying to get to the bottom of this issue

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #16

Apr 242018

Versa

  • 86,000 miles
Got PO705 code, engine light on... sometimes the gear display gets black...does not display in what gear I am..I turn off and back on to make sure I see in what gear I am...while in drive, and idle at traffic light, the engine hesitates a lot like something was misplaced......

- Salem, WI, USA

problem #15

Dec 042017

Versa

  • 85,904 miles
The transmission went out at 85,000 miles, took it to a Nissan dealership and the service manager said that he deals with it all time and is a very common problem with those transmissions and didnt understand why Nissan still used them. Spoke to Nissan usa and they wanted to fight to pay for the cost and wanted to rebuild the transmission. The service tech laughed and said you couldn't rebuild it because its a closed system. Only owners of the car and had to replace the transmission with 85,000 miles on it.

- Chatsworth, GA, USA

problem #14

Feb 122018

Versa

  • 93,048 miles
Driving my Nissan since couples weeks before I start fealing loosing power keep driving took it to the mechanic and told the provlem must be the transmission I always drive at 78 West front elizabth NJ to exit 12 and never have any issue like this I only have this car for no Mar than 2 years its sad that thr car get broken the transmission so soon

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

problem #13

Jan 262018

Versa

  • 104,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Versa. While driving 45 mph, the rpms increased to 5,000. The accelerator pedal was applied, but failed to respond without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and informed the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (alan webb Nissan, located at 3608 ne auto mall dr, vancouver, wa 98662) where it was diagnosed that the ctv transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, but they were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and opened case number: 29733173 but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 104,000.

- Battle Ground, WA, USA

problem #12

Jan 192018

Versa

  • 165,000 miles
The last couple of months, I've noticed my car has been making a high whining noice-when I accelerate, the car also revs up to 4000rpms, driving on the highway at 65mph. Yesterday, 01/19/2018- my car no longer moved forward- as if stuck in neutral.I've also noticed that my back turn signal on the driver's side is out, thus affecting the front driver's turn signal. The front turn signal "clicks" qucikly. Everytime I turn on the left turn signal, my car whines and doesn't accelerate properly.

- Redlands, CA, USA

problem #11

Nov 072017

Versa

  • 62,000 miles
I recently purchased this 4 year old vehicle with 62000 miles on it. Driving on the highway at 65 miles per hour, the vehicle suddenly lost power. By the grace of god, I was able to maneuver off the highway without being run over by the semi trucks traveling the highway with me. I had the vehicle towed to a Nissan dealership where I was told the transmission was 'defective' and would need to be replaced. After looking into this issue, I find thousands of people with the exact same complaint and one class action law suit already settled over the same issue. How can a manufacturer be allowed to continue using a faulty transmission and not be made responsible for its correction? these vehicles are not cheap, and those of us paying for them did not purchase a disposable vehicle!

- Atwater, CA, USA

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