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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,158 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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

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

2014 Nissan Versa Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #78

Oct 032023

Versa

  • miles

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

At approximately 130K miles the CVT transmission had a sudden failure. Struggles to shift gears properly and often will pick a random one, which causes further damaged. Vehicle has sat for years, the transmission is unrepairable and a new unit must be installed which cost around $3500 for the transmission alone not including labor as told by the Nissan dealership. I now sit with a giant paper weight that is useless and worth nothing. Manufacturer should be held responsible as this issue exists and has been recalled in other models and years with the same transmission or issue.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #77

Jul 302023

Versa

  • miles
The car is constantly jerking and losing power. The car has been towed for not responding after acceleration. Mechanic has told me it is the transmission. Car only has roughly 86k miles on it. Not safe to drive at all.

- Ocoee, FL, USA

problem #76

Feb 032023

Versa

  • 83,700 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that after reversing out of a parking space, while attempting to shift into drive(D), the contact discovered that the transmission failed to shift into drive(D). The vehicle was undrivable and was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined there was no transmission fluid inside the CVT transmission. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who confirmed a failure with the CVT transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 83,700.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #75

Oct 012021

Versa

  • miles

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

Transmission acts up Every time I accelerate to 30-35mph. Must remove foot from gas until RPMs go down to at least 2(if I'm lucky). If this process is not done the car continues to get louder and doesn't perform properly. I have two kids that I regularly take to school and other places so this is a big problem. Also if car is going 15mph or slower it's the same process. This started happening about 6 months after purchasing the vehicle. Odometer reading at time of purchase 75,500

- Phoenix , AZ, USA

problem #74

Jul 072022

Versa

  • miles
When I first bouth this car used in 2020, the car suddenly begins accellerating rapidly but going nowhere while driving and I had the transmission replaced very soon after 68000 miles but, luckily it was under warranty. Now, less than 2 years after NISSAN replaced the transmission, I am driving down the interstate and my car starts jumping and going really slow and sluggish to get to the next gear then just takes off normally again. This will happen with the car just driving normally after that then again a shudder and slow down but its never consistent. I took it to Nissan again and guess what, the transmission went again. These Automotic CVT RE0F11A Transmissions in Nissans are severe safety issues and I have noticed and heard from mechanics all over and on this website even.

- Croydon, PA, USA

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

problem #73

Jul 182022

Versa

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and making abnormal sounds while attempting to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 93,000.

- Riverdale, MD, USA

problem #72

Apr 202022

Versa

  • miles

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

Continuous Variable Transmission Assembly Failure; Engine Stalled on the Highway; around 4/25/2022 No warning lights came up. Took it to the Nissan Dealer; They charged $495 for reprogramming Computer and Test Drive. The problem came up PF17F0 - Judder. CVT Assembly has to be replaced. The car has run only 33,000 miles and is good condition. The dealer says to REPLACE the Transmission with a new ONE. They stopped installing REFURBISHED Continuous Variable Transmission Assemblyand will only sell the new ones for others to repair cars. It costs $6,500/== More than the worth of the cars. THEY WILL NOT SELL PART - creating Monopoly.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #71

Mar 112022

Versa

  • miles
I was told by Nissan of Tustin, CA, that I need trans repair. I was also told that several other issues exist. For minor items that cost a healthy price. After the repairs I-€™m called and told I have an additional charge for rear tail lights and brake lights which occurs when repairs on the trans are done. This sounds like something that nissan knows so why not cover that in the repair" Doesn-€™t sound separate sounds like compound issue from trans. Is there a recall order for this issue with the Sentra, which is the same cvt transmission"

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #70

Jun 012021

Versa

  • miles
My car has a CVT transmission and it jerks and stalls when trying to change gears and sometimes gets stuck in gear. I saw that their is a recall for this issue in nissan cars (versa, Sentra, Altima-€™s)from years 2012-2018 issued in 2016, but when I called the dealership they said it-€™s not for my specific car according to the VIN number. I-€™m not sure why this is and I-€™m confused and would like to know how to resolve this issue.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #69

Aug 232021

Versa

  • miles
Faulty Transmission. Replaced twice in 2 years. Nissan doesn't want to be responsible for 2nd Transmission. It cost $3,700 a Transmission replacement.

- Hartford, CT, USA

problem #68

Jun 292021

Versa

  • miles

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

ON 06-23-21 my car left me stranded on the side of the road the CVT transmission wen out. I was never contacted or called or received any mail whatsoever now Nissan says that i am out of luck and good luck I am out of a car that was giving me problems for over 2 years they refuse to help or do anything about the BAD transmission

- Portolla Hills, CA, USA

problem #67

May 282021

Versa

  • miles
the problem in my car is ethier the transmission or transmission control module. The transmission started slipping and then suddenly on the hey of 395 north bound it simply just wouldn't do anything it had no reaction at all right in the middle of the freeway and there I was stuck people at 65-70 miles an hour whizzing by me not to mention simi trucks.tge reason I am writing is I looked up the problem at it is a very common problem with this year and make of the car. I went to nissan here in reno nv and they will not honor the recall sayes it is because of a branded title. The car had been wrecked only damaging the front bumper. Nothing to the motor or transmission was rebuilt but because it had previously been turned in as an insurance claim nissan of reno will NOT honor the recall. Any damage that was done was cosmetic not to the motor or transmission. I would like to know if nissan should honor the recalls on my vehicle. It has 98,000 miles on it and falls under the 10 year under 120,000 miles. The service person I talked to treated me like I was dumb and pretty much pushed me out the door and told me that they don't have to honor it. I am tempted to get ahold of previous owner to see if his insurance claim had anything to do with this transmission issue. It has one complaint after another on YouTube over this very issue. Please help me I don't know what to do. Thank you.

- Reno Nv, NV, USA

problem #66

Apr 112021

Versa

  • miles
Transmission was replaced at 101000 miles, the new transmission failed at 109000 miles. Nissan will not repair it again. The first transmission had problems shifting to higher gears. The second transmission failed after backing out of my driveway. It would not move forward.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #65

Feb 082021

Versa

  • 88,000 miles
Nissan Versa is tugging/misfiring during normal driving. The transmission does not shift properly, RPM gets stuck at around 3500-4500 at about 35-40 mph. Once unstuck, the transmission shifts hard like a crunching sound, which sounds like metal grinding metal, not properly engaging shifting. The mileage is currently at 90K. The issue started around a month ago. The issue has gotten to the point that the vehicle is not safe to drive.

- Tracy, CA, USA

problem #64

Mar 012021

Versa

  • 73,300 miles
The car doesn't accelerate when taking off sometime. It sometimes wiil not go over 40 mph. Its coding a input speed sensor inside of the transmission

- Idabel, OK, USA

problem #63

Oct 012020

Versa

  • miles
Versa transmission started to malfunctioning at around 84,000 miles and not code on dashboard. Called Nissan for warranty but they said not in warranty miles anymore. I think Nissan should warm buyer and drivers about transmission problem with dashboard indications.

- Queens Village, NY, USA

problem #62

Oct 022017

Versa

  • 70,000 miles
The car turns off while driving and waiting at a stop sign or red light. Studdering occurs with exceleration. There is also an electrical draw somewhere. If the car is not driven in 3 days, the battery must be jump started. We have replaced the battery. This has been an ongoing problem since 2017

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #61

Oct 212020

Versa

  • 102,640 miles
A recall job, transmission computer upgrade, was completed by tracy Nissan dealership and now my Nissan Versa will go no faster than 10 mph. No indications of transmission failure were displayed upon completion of the recall correction. This car is only six years old with approximately 102,640 miles. A complaint has been logged with Nissan, but my efforts have been ineffective thus far. The car was driven to the tracy Nissan dealership on 10/20/2020 and kept over night. On 10/21/2020, the recall was complete and the Nissan was driven away. Less than 20 minutes later, the transmission experienced a catastrophic failure while driven on the freeway. The car would go no faster than 10 mph. On the same date, 10/21/2020, the Nissan was towed back, at my expense, to the dealership where it is currently located pending discissions with Nissan.

- Tulare, CA, USA

problem #60

Sep 222020

Versa

  • 82,000 miles
My Nissan Versa 2014 had to have the transmission replaced with only a little over 80,000 mile's on it. After research this is a known issue for Nissan CRV transmissions for vehicles including my make and model. The vehicle was in motion at the time of the issue on a secondary roadway.

- Walton, WV, USA

problem #59

Nov 022019

Versa

  • 90,000 miles
Car stalling, losing speed, due to failing cvt transmission

- Ringoes, NJ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?