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:
35,358 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 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Aug 012018

Versa

  • miles

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

Transmission need to be replaced at 69000 miles

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #26

Jun 152014

Versa

  • 38,820 miles
I bought my Nissan Versa 2012 in March of 2014 1 and a half later I took the car in for service at least 3-4 times waiting numerous hours, even days for - Honda dealership - to repair the transmission, brakes, and numerous other things. It was than considered a lemon by law. It kept giving us problems, I tried returning the vehicle and they promised another vehicle with the price I put down towards another vehicle, which we had signed for another vehicle, given keys, car was washed, after over 8-10 hours we're getting ready to leave, and a sales person confronts us saying they couldn't do the deal after all. See also ODI 11118262.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #25

Jun 112015

Versa

  • 38,820 miles
Transmission had to be replaced along with brakes etc. Myself and my family were on the freeway when we heard a wierd screeching loud noise, the vehicle than didn't want to excell more then 25- 30 miles. See also ODI 11118265.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #24

Apr 142015

Versa

  • 25,000 miles

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

Vehicle not in motion hitted in the back while parked, another time in motion left door. Try to contact several dealers to schedule appointments for the recall they never contacted me back, waiting time was extremely long and schedules unavailable

- Homestead, FL, USA

problem #23

Jul 012015

Versa

  • miles
4 recalls ony vehicle. I was rear-ended on the freeway when I was at a full stop because of traffic and a driver behind impacted me at her full freeway speed because she didn't notice the traffic had come to a full stop. I was whiplashed several times, hit my forehead on the steering wheel very hard a couple of times but the airbags did not deploy. There is a lawyer on the accident case but no one at Nissan believed me when the airbags failed to delpoy- I was told the accident may not have been a strong enough impact but again the driver rear ended me at freeway speed (65mph min.) and I and the rest of traffic come to a complete for about 2 minutes. The only other thing I noticed and I notified Nissan about was the passenger seat was not registering that a passenger was in the seat; the display showed that the passenger was not wearing a seat belt but that was not the case.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

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problem #22

Aug 012017

Versa

  • 64,000 miles
My car is, what the dealership calls, grounded. Stating it is unsafe to drive. I received a recall. I have been without my car since then. It sits in a lot at the dealership with, what the parts manager told me, with a whole lot full of my year, make and model for this same reason. The 'other problem' is the computer model, which has been on back order since 08/2017. On national back order I was told, which could be the next recall. I am checking by my VIN if this is the case. There are at least 8 recalls for this year Versa, depending on the VIN.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #21

Nov 172017

Versa

  • 88,000 miles

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

1) the air bag lights flash on and off without warning and reason. They have not ever deployed (yet). Vehicle is in motion when this happens. 2) my husband's right shoe often gets caught on the edge of the center console panel-making is difficult to move his foot to the brake. We have had two near missed when he was trying to hit the brakes. The vehicle is in motion and these incidences occur when we are trying to transition from accelerator to brake. 3) windshield-a small pebble hit the windshield and caused a little damage. We took it to get repaired (not replaced). It just recently cracked and now the whole windshield needs to be replaced. I have had a couple windshields repaired on other vehicles and have had not had problems. I have called a local Nissan dealer to make an appointment to fix these issues. Recall #"S 17V-144 15V-507

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

problem #20

Jun 082017

Versa

  • 60,000 miles
Takata recall. I was in a car acciendt on June 8, 2017 and my air bags did not work while I was in motion as I was being hit on the highway by another car and under my credit karma profile, its shows my car has five recall notices. How can this matter be resolved. I also have insurance papers to prove I filed a insuarce claim.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #19

Nov 032017

Versa

  • miles
I was never notified of a recall on my vehicle (no. 15V-573) that was issued 09/10/15. It appears that it is still incomplete. How are they allowed to get away with not providing a remedy in a timely manner. And now another recall (no. 17V-449) says they don't even have a part to repair the defect (takata air bag inflator rupture). The first recall says the defect could result in damages that could result in a crash and the air bag deploying could result in death. What options are available when you can't trade in the car? also, I'm not allowed to take part in the class action because I haven't taken my vehicle to the dealership for repair yet (because I can't). Now I'm very anxious every time I get behind the wheel of my car.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #18

Oct 252017

Versa

  • 77,000 miles
Takata recall

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #17

Jan 012017

Versa

  • 27,500 miles

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

My hatchback will not open. One day it worked and now wont. Do not have key fob option.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #16

Aug 232017

Versa

  • 38,000 miles
Front passenger air bag inflator housing to rupture and deploy abnormally., this is a current recall issued 7/17/2017 and no word from them yet. I have a 2nd recall from 2015 that says Sep 10,2015 manufacturer recall numberpm565 NHTSA recall number15V-573 I was never notified and live in an affected state (il) recall on your site says due to a production issue at the spring supplier, the front coil springs in certain Versa vehicles may have insufficient corrosion coating. Nothing has happened but I never received notice of either recall by Nissan.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #15

Apr 282017

Versa

  • 103,000 miles
After being on the freeway for a about an hour, I finally took an exit and stopped at a red light. When I proceeded to accelerate at a green light, the vehicle did not accelerate even after pressing all the way down on the gas, but after about gen seconds it speeded up very rapidly and I quickly had to press on the brake in order to avoid crashing into a vehicle in front. It continued to do this at any stops I made until I arrived home. The next day I took the vehicle to the mechanic, as there was no check engine light that alerted me of any issues with the vehicle. Again I felt the vehicle take a bit to accelerate after coming to a stop but it was not like the night before, it was drive able. After leaving it at the shop they let me know that the transmission on the vehicle was the problem, it had to be replaced. A $4000 replacement on a 5 year old vehicle with only 103000 miles. I decided to drive back home and after driving for about 5 minutes, I was on a busy street and the car began to jerk. It would accelerate, decelerate, then accelerate again. I turned on my emergency lights to alarm vehicles behind me to proceed with caution, as my car would decelerate out of nowhere. Again the biggest issue was that the check engine light or any other light did not turn on. It wasn't until I got home that the light finally came on. The cvt transmission in this vehicle is unsafe, and the fact that drivers don't get any sort of alert as to a problem with their vehicle is unsafe. Physically my vehicle is not damaged, but it is a safety issue that these transmissions fail in the middle of a street.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #14

May 082017

Versa

  • 108,000 miles
Cvt transmission. Car was in motion, could not accelerate from stopped at red light or stop sign. Took to Nissan in gainesville fl...told it needed new transmission, quoted over $3500. Car is unsafe to drive and puts occupants at risk for rear end collisions. Car has less than 110K. There is absolutely no excuse for this serious issue to be taking place. Had cvt flushed and reprogrammed prior (Dec 2016). And now this issue is happening. I have read many forums and complaints about this cvt nonsense and evidently safety is not a priori for Nissan. Bought car new and have been the only owner....have had other minor issues fixed when they happened, but a transmission that is faulty is unacceptable. Wrote a formal complaint to Nissan headquarters and have yet to receive a response on what they intend to do about the issue...its faulty. This corporation should be held accountable and liable for neglect on their part. You don't jeopardize the safety of your consumers in this manner. Needless to say it has to be fixed next week. Understand people have livelihoods and jobs....you expect when you take care of your vehicle, that it would last a lot longer than 110K...that's low mileage by today's standards. My son was in traffic when this happened and we should not have to worry about being slammed from the rear.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #13

Mar 212017

Versa

  • 8 miles
On 8 March 2017, my battery died and I had it replaced at tj automatics & services. I drove the car for a few days before going on vacation. On 21 March 2017, as I'm driving home on the far (fast) left lane, on I-85N, atlanta, ga.at approximately 3:30pm, the car shuts-down. I was able to coast over to the emergency lane without incident. I had the car towed to the above mentioned shop and they performed a diagnostic test that showed ECM no communication. They replaced a maxi fuse 20A and reprogramed key. On 23 March 2017, I pick up the car from the shop, drove about 5 miles and car shuts-down again. As of 9 April 2017, the car is still in the shop. They can not figure out what is causing this issue.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #12

Feb 022017

Versa

  • miles
Takata recalls my car was stationary this morning at red light with my foot on the break waiting for the light to change. After the light change I took my foot off the break and on the gas and the vehicle went backward. Praise god the car behind me moved over to the next lane, I look at my shift and it was still in drive, and sometimes although I have my foot on the break the vehicle tired to move.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #11

Aug 032016

Versa

  • 33,846 miles
I like to know. How they sell a car. Supposedly new 2012. And less then 4yrs had people contact me for additional money for warranty on air conditioner. As if they knew air blows in this model. Dont have money to pay mechanic.. an could you let me know if this car was a recall. 100 degree weather.. did they sell me a lemon..

- Riverview, FL, USA

problem #10

Apr 062016

Versa

  • miles
I have a 2012 Nissan Versa with a shift knop problem I looked it up and it says it has a recall on this. I called the Corp office to ask about the recall and she says that my car does not have the parts from the same part maker in the recall. I am having the same problem so why cant they fix my car

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #9

Apr 072016

Versa

  • miles
Tamara recall. Coil spring may corrode and make cause rush crash.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 122016

Versa

  • 57,200 miles
I was driving and while the vehicle was in motion I inadvertently bumped into my gear shifter handle and my car shifted into reverse without the break being depressed or applied. I almost had an car crash/accident with the person directly behind me. In March of 2016 I contacted Nissan North America, Inc. About this issue but they are not acknowledging that this is a safety defect. My car has aprroxametly 57,470 miles as of 03/30/2016 and Nissan North America is refusing to repair this dangerous defect free of charge because my vehicle was not on any Nissan or nhsta campaign recall lists. The referenced nhsta campaign recall id number associated with my vehicle issue is id: 12V032000 voluntary safety recall campaign 2012 Versa sedan shift selector campaign id: PM253 applied vehicles 2012 Versa(N17) applied transmission cvt

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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