2012 Nissan Versa Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2012 Nissan Versa, 34% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “cvt transmission” (15% of reports).
- 163power train complaints
- 70,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- CVT transmission: mentioned in 24 of 163 complaints (15%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2012 Nissan Versa at $5,400, and half of them between $4,750 and $5,650.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 135 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 163 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 a fire.
Nissan Versa power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Versa | 4 | 33% | — |
| 2024 Versa | 34 | 35% | 1,700 |
| 2023 Versa | 15 | 41% | — |
| 2022 Versa | 7 | 35% | — |
| 2021 Versa | 9 | 29% | 37,511 |
| 2020 Versa | 16 | 25% | 25,000 |
| 2019 Versa | 11 | 46% | 25,250 |
| 2018 Versa | 10 | 18% | 7,590 |
| 2017 Versa | 9 | 15% | 27,113 |
| 2016 Versa | 20 | 25% | 79,000 |
| 2015 Versa | 47 | 28% | 63,500 |
| 2014 Versa | 82 | 40% | 80,788 |
| 2013 Versa | 73 | 36% | 85,904 |
| 2012 Versa | 163 | 34% | 70,000 |
| 2011 Versa | 8 | 3% | 68,784 |
| 2010 Versa | 6 | 2% | 109,390 |
| 2009 Versa | 20 | 4% | 65,660 |
| 2008 Versa | 17 | 4% | 93,934 |
| 2007 Versa | 13 | 4% | 55,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:manual transmission:shift pattern indicator
Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 versa vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and manufactured from june 9, 2011, through january 13, 2012 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114,âtheft protection.â due to interference between the shifter rod and the shift knob, the vehicles may be shifted out of the park position without depressing the brake pedal.
Risk: The operator can inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the shifter knob or the shifter assembly as needed, free of charge. The safety recall began on mearh 5, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The transmission failed on the highway making the car serging violently from high to low speeds and then to nothing
It wonât let me go over 30 without the rpmâs significantly increasing and transmission light is on
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the RPM was revving. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Nissan Versas have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 163 owner complaints about power train for the 2012 Nissan Versa (34% of the 486 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Nissan Versa power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 70,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2012 Nissan Versa?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,400 (half paid between $4,750 and $5,650), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2012 Nissan Versa?
The most frequent phrase is “cvt transmission”, in 24 of 163 complaints.
Other 2012 Nissan Versa problems
- Air Bags problems (167)
- Engine problems (50)
See all 2012 Nissan Versa problems or power train problems across all Versa years.