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:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,679 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Nissan Versa Owner Comments (Page 2 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #136

Apr 102020

Versa 4-cyl

  • 115,800 miles

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

The transmission has had ongoing issues since manufactured. Nissan has known of the issue but has made patch work of the issue instead of replacing the transmission. Since the recall deadline was May 9,2020 they are recommending the transmission to be replaced but unwilling to repair it under the recall at my cost. In good faith of the company, they knew of the issue and should cover the majority of the cost and I was willingly to pay a portion however they are not willing to help. I was unable to take the car to their shop before the deadline due to the government lockdown. The code that the always comes up on when the check engine light comes on is P0486. The have replace the valve body and reprogrammed several times but the check engine light come on and the reprogram it and did not want to replace the transmission until after their recall was expired. I have barely put 4300 miles on it since the patch job they did. They said that this patch would correct the issue and the same issue should not happen again.this is my daily driver and the light would stay on but went off prior to my first visit in June but on three days later. The dealership couldn?T get me in until June 10.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #135

May 282020

Versa 4-cyl

  • 78,189 miles
P0846 fluid pressure sensor - replacement of transmission control valve body/ replace complete transmission. I got a check engine light which showed P0846 code in mid 2018. However the check engine light disappeared after a while. The light reappeared now in 2020 showing the same faulty code. I went to dealership to check it out and they said that this is a common issue in Nissan 2012 Versa and that I will need to replace the transmission. They told me that the warranty has also expired as the vehicle is above 84000 miles. ( I got this light at 79K miles with the same code and it had disappeared.) I had photographed it with dates and time showing. Nissan told me that they will not help in any way and that I will need to cover the complete cost. Vehicle works pretty okay I don't feel any issues in it.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #134

Apr 152020

Versa 4-cyl

  • 53,000 miles
My 2012 Versa, won't shift gears, stalls and even with the gas all the way down, it won't accelerate. Took it to Nissan rossen in milwaukee, wi. For a diagnostic, result: Transmission failure, cost to replace it $4,200. I see a lot of complaints for the same issue. Also if there is a recall for that why my VIN number is not included? Nissan should be liable for that issue and repair the affected cars. Note : my transmission went off at 53000 miles.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #133

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 #132

Apr 142020

Versa

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that on various occasions, the vehicle stalled while the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who linked the failure to a defective transmission. The contact called Nissan of roanoke rapids (407 premier blvd, roanoke rapids, nc 27870) and was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted and case was filed. The contact referenced the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 12V032000 (power train) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Roanoke Rapids, NC, USA

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problem #131

Jan 082020

Versa 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,700 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving 55-60 mph, the RPM revved up and the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was later taken to lokey Nissan located at (27758 us hwy 19N, clearwater, fl 33761) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the cvt transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,700.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #130

Jan 112020

Versa

  • 90,000 miles

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

My cvt transmission went out just 5 months after purchasing the vehicle from the used car dealership, ebersole of lebanon. The vehicle has 94,000 miles on it currently. It is an automatic cvt transmission and tends to slip in and out of gear a lot. The vehicle has these problems when sitting, driving and accelerating as well.

- Conshohocken, PA, USA

problem #129

Jan 082020

Versa

  • 115,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway with my two kids on the far right lane when my car suddenly would not switch gears. In the past my car would jerk and I would push on the gas and it would not go anywhere.I looked this problem up on line and alot of people seem to have the same problem. I called Nissan than they will not do anything about it they have told me the recall on the 2012 Versa is closed. This was a very scary situation to be in. I do not feel safe in this car.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #128

Nov 202019

Versa

  • 77,500 miles
While driving the car at almost any speed above 15mph the car has jerky shifting movements like it can't find the right gear. While travelling at a constant speed on the highway the rpms continue to fluctuate. Took it to the Nissan dealership and they suggested "valve body" replacement. That cost an astounding $2100+ to fix. Got it back and the problem is worse than before. Checked online and tons of people are reporting problems with the cvt transmissions. There was even a recall for the previous model years. Nissan has not fixed the issue and car's transmission is junk. I'm out big money and they are likely to recommend more "fixes" for the issue. Look at all these complaints https://www.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Versa/2012/transmission/transmission_failure.shtml

- Kirkland, WA, USA

problem #127

Oct 302019

Versa

  • 28,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. While the vehicle was at a stop, it shook and hesitated without warning. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

- Venice, FL, USA

problem #126

Nov 122018

Versa

  • 98,000 miles

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

Transmission failing without other mechanical cause. Unable to accelerate quickly without bucking and loud whining. Merging on to the highway very difficult- it takes long periods of time to build up speed. Only responds to very slow acceleration. Worse in cold weather- unable to go up a hill, rolled backward in drive with no response from gas pedal at all. Issue happening since first purchased in 2017. Frequently reported online by other drivers.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #125

Nov 012019

Versa

  • 61,511 miles
When sitting in heavy traffic at stop lights, my car would automatically turn off causing the need to restart the vehicle, to which point sometimes it would turn on and sometimes it wouldn't. there were also times the vehicle would stall or pull back while slowing down and speeding up in traffic. I visited midas to have the vehicle repaired and after diagnosis, they attempted to save the transmission by replacing the fluid. This attempt was not successful and they determined the transmission would need to be replaced. This is a fairly new car and should not have this issue. There is a transmission recall for a slightly different model of the Nissan Versa 2012, but not the Nissan Versa sl 2012. This should also be on the recall list.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #124

Oct 102019

Versa

  • 35,000 miles
The cvt transmission slips and gives uneven acceleration under all circumstances. This is extremely dangerous when merging into traffic or turning into oncoming traffic. This is a known issue to Nissan na & many lawsuits have been filed over the years. The first transmission was replaced at 20,000 miles & another was just replaced at 85,000 miles. Nissan knows that they are providing an inferior product, based on the # of lawsuits it has faced over the years concerning the cvt. Not only is the product unreliable, it is also dangerous to the driver, the vehicle's occupants and anyone else who may affected by an accident caused by cvt failure.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #123

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 #122

Apr 112017

Versa

  • 130,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway as my car came to no power engine on will not drive I had my insurance totaled the car to the nearest dealer the dealer tells me I need a new transmission I don't have $4,000 for a new transmission!

- Yucaipa, CA, USA

problem #121

Jun 152019

Versa

  • 107,000 miles
I was driving down the highway and suddenly the car stopped accelerating. Was able to pull over before it completely stopped. RPM kept spiking when the pedal was pressed and the engine had a revving sound, but no movement with the car. It could go in reverse, but not forward.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #120

Apr 172019

Versa

  • 68,000 miles
While accelerating the vehicle jerks as if it cannot find a gear, the rpms jump around and the acceleration is slowed dramatically. This happens whenever I accelerate but gets very bad when accelerating from a stop an or attempting to speed up to pass other vehicles.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #119

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 #118

Feb 152019

Versa

  • miles
All the warning lights came on, want go off. Even when you lock and unlock the car the lights don't blink off and on. Went to a Nissan dealer, had a diagnostic ran on it, told faulty transmission. It has 106,00 miles... is there a warranty or recall on this... Nissan dealer in Decatur, al. Lynn layton Nissan, Cadillac dealer.

- Hartselle, AL, USA

problem #117

Jan 142019

Versa 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle did not accelerate and an unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Eastover, SC, USA

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