CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2014-2017 Nissan Versa Note 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 Note 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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,722 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.

2014 Nissan Versa Note drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2014 Nissan Versa Note:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2014 Nissan Versa Note Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #32

Oct 112019

Versa Note

  • 15 miles

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

Nissan versa 1.6 liter cvt transmition 119,800 miles transmition fail, dangerous to drive and hiway with this bad manufacture transmitions

- Ozone Park, NY, USA

problem #31

Oct 022019

Versa Note

  • 103,000 miles
Transmission pulls and tugs, sporadic acceleration/deceleration,

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #30

Jun 052019

Versa Note

  • 65,000 miles
Around 65,000 miles I started having an issue with the ctv / automatic transmission. The car sometimes jerks/shakes as I accelerate and takes longer than it used to to speed up. This has put me in immediate danger several times - for example, switching lanes on the highway, I can no longer be certain that I will switch lanes in time for the other cars not to hit me. I took this car to a mechanic who said it may be my transmission fluid - I got the fluid changed in an official Nissan shop in norwell, MA. The issue was not resolved - and when I called the Nissan shop again, they said if the engine light is not on, there is no problem. The issue has not resolved and they do not want to help.

- Rockland, MA, USA

problem #29

Sep 232019

Versa Note

  • 93,832 miles

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

Brought this car used from a used car dealer in lilburn, ga for my college age daughter to get back and forth to school/work. While she was driving, the check engine light came on, I took the car to Nissan South in morrow, ga for a diagnostic test and was told that the car needs a new transmission, that it would cost $3861 plus tax. I'm now finding that the cvt transmissions on these cars are crap! and Nissan usa Corp is aware of the problem. Nissan opened a case for the car, we received a call from joshua w/Nissan customer care and was told there was nothing they could do about the car (even though the mileage is under 100K). Why is Nissan able to profit off of consumers while selling a knowingly defective product" why hasn't the NHTSA stopped Nissan from selling this vehicle" I will never buy another Nissan again, ever!!!!

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #28

Sep 142019

Versa Note

  • 75,915 miles
Power train failure occurred while traveling at proper safe posted speed limits on the freeway and city streets and roads, which resulted in improper upshifting after complete stops and hard upshift slamming type impact on power train upon take off, as well as grinding type noises coming from beneath the engine, including excessive vibration coming up through shift column, this occurred on 9/14/2019 on our 2014 Nissan Versa note, per the information which we have obtained, this is a common failure of this model after mileage ranging from 50,00 to 80,000 miles of service, and is a costly repair, and feel the auto maker was aware of this power train life span failure, which could have resulted into a life threatening issue for vehicle owners or operators without a safe route of escape from possible traffic collision's, that would have resulted from loss of power during heavy freeway or cross traffic, and being such a small vehicle in such a situation, the injury or loss of life would be great, but the auto maker neglected to, and made no effort to inform us or the public of such issues, and deliberately made this a disposable vehicle to encourage financial losses to vehicle owners and increase auto sales. I for one have been satisfied with this vehicle till now, being it has been properly maintained since it's purchase in 2015, by a reputable certified auto maintenance and repair shop, I also feel that being the auto maker is familiar with this defect and the amount of complaints and costs related to the power train failure, that they should take responsibility for this defect.

- Fresno, CA, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #27

Jul 112019

Versa Note

  • 95,800 miles
My vehicle is at 95,000 miles, and the RPM has begun fluctuating when it shouldnt be. At idle power, it tends to stay around 1,500-1,800 RPM when it should be between 700-1,300 RPM. On the road, and on the highway, the RPM bounces erratically, and the automatic cvt transmission shifts considerably hard between gears when my speed drifts between 25-45 mph and sometimes near highway speed. Harder than it used to. I have to apply extra braking to stop my car when at stop signs or traffic lights or parking. Turning does fine, though the engine drives harder than it should due to the higher rpms. I have been looking up what causes this, and everyone and everything says my transmission is going out. Automatic transmissions shouldn't be failing before 100,000 miles. This has been happening to loads of other people who own Nissan with cvt transmissions. And I believe an investigatiom by the NHTSA is warranted. As well as a recall by Nissan to fix this issue that has apparantly been going on for a few years.

- Wareham, MA, USA

problem #26

Feb 022019

Versa Note 4-cyl

  • 82,000 miles

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

It has a hard time shifting. It goes up to almost 6 RPM's before it shifts. Please let me know if this is normal. You can call me at [xxx] my name is [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Saucier, MS, USA

problem #25

Apr 292019

Versa Note

  • miles
Car was studdering. Gradually got worse.would hesitate when pulling into traffic from a stop dont know how many times I have almost gotten T- boned. Now transmission is completely blown. Paid 12K for a car sitting in my driveway because I dont have a few grand laying around

- North Haven, CT, USA

problem #24

Apr 242019

Versa Note

  • 90,000 miles
My care was shuttering and not shifting up and down as should. The car would shake and pause at take off. Could not accelerate properly or safely to get on high ways or on normal roads. When driving the vehicle it seems to want to shut off at times and pauses when accelerating the gas pedal. Very dangerous and the transmission is not good. I took it to dealer January 2018 and it was reprogrammed but it went right back to doing the same, slipping, shuttering shaking, pausing durring accelerating, on highway, during turns and going from complete stop, and while driving on city roads. Took back to dealer had diagnosed and its said to need a new transmission. Manufacturer refuses to fix their defective cvt transmission.. the car has had it's normal services.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #23

Apr 042018

Versa Note

  • 76,000 miles
Transmisin is failing. I report for extended warranty with carmax, they state to make a report since supposedly warranty had expired.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #22

Feb 202019

Versa Note

  • miles

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

The transmission does want to change from fist to second, very high rpms and I have too let off the gas and it changes but not very smooth

- Cooleemee, NC, USA

problem #21

Feb 232019

Versa Note

  • 67,000 miles
While driving vehicle on parkway it started losing power. As I was driving, the engine would rev but it would not pick up speed. Then as I was driving up the hill to my house the car stopped moving, but it was still on. Now the car jerks as ur driving and will not pick up speed.

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #20

Feb 232019

Versa Note

  • miles
Was driving the car in on busy street the transmission started not changing and was wizzing would not pickup speed then it just stopped in middle of traffic

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #19

Aug 012018

Versa Note

  • 48,000 miles
Nissan Versa note 2014 49000 miles on 12/31/2018, transmission is failing, car doesn't accelerate correctly, I went to Nissan a month after warrenty expired and they could not help me. Car is in motion when transmission slips. Highway and residential driving.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #18

Sep 152018

Versa Note

  • 75,000 miles
This vehicle went from 60 mph to less than 30 with the rpms over 5000 on the robert F kennedy bridge. If it wasn't for the fast thinking person behind her this would've resulted in a major accident. She was not able to go over 30 with the rpms over 5000 all the way to long island. Took it to the Nissan dealer and it is the cvt transmission she needs a new transmission her vehicle is less than two years old that she has had it she bought it with 51,000 miles on it it now has 75,100 miles on it the dealer will not take responsibility for the bad transmission they want us to pay over $2000 to fix. They will not stand by their product and fix it and less we come up with $2000 this is a known problem with Nissan and there's cvt transmissions can you help the car is still sitting at Nissan because we do not have the money nor would we expecting to have to come up with this large sum

- Kings Park, NY, USA

problem #17

Sep 252018

Versa Note

  • 82,000 miles
This vehicle was bought for my college-aged daughter to drive to work and school. She was stranded in North Carolina when the car failed to accelerate, the engine revved high and the car "just died." I managed to get it back to Tennessee and drove it myself. While turning left across traffic, the car did not accelerate at all. If it had been a busy time of day, the results could have been catastrophic for my family. I had my mechanic of 30 years look at the car, he says it needs a new transmission. "might can drive it for a while but I wouldn't let your daughter get in it." This car is only 4 years old and needs a new transmission"?? plus it is a death trap for my daughter who is a young driver" I need some advice for this please.

- Seymour, TN, USA

problem #16

Aug 192018

Versa Note

  • 34,600 miles
Car has a little less than 35000 miles. The car has terrible problems engaging any gear. Transmission is wasted. I was going to cambria from orange county. I felt the car a little weird arriving in cambria, but it still ruined. As I was coming to orange county, the car abandoned me in the freeway. I had to take it off the highway and drive through streets to my house. Car is broken.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #15

Oct 202017

Versa Note

  • miles
The cvt transmission is failing loss of power while driving can't drive car over 55 mph transmission oil leaks slipping and jerking the RPM of the engine can fluctuate a lot while driving, especially when accelerating.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #14

Jan 102018

Versa Note

  • 94,000 miles
Driving car at highway speeds and lost the ability to maintain speed. Had to pull alongside road. Had car towed to my mechanic where it was determined the transmission failed.

- Lincoln University, PA, USA

problem #13

May 032017

Versa Note

  • 38,898 miles
Intermittant shudder, vibration when accelerating. Vehicle has 45,000 miles on it; this started probably at about 37,000 miles, within the last year. Bought it new fall 2013. Have mentioned it to krenzen motors in duluth, mn. They have test driven it but have not felt the shudder. Have told them about the problem at least twice when I've had the car in for oil changes. They told me the transmission warranty is 60,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. I've really liked the car and have had only a few other minor problems. However, I'm beginning to feel unsure about driving the car, especially out of town. My son had a similar transmission problem with his 2010 Nissan including lack of acceleration. They traded the car right away.

- Duluth, MN, USA

Read the next 12 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?