Nissan Versa Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 564 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Nissan Versa across 19 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (163). The words owners use most often: “cvt transmission” (13% of reports).
- 564power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%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 73 of 564 complaints (13%)
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 Nissan Versa at $5,200, and half of them between $4,300 and $5,500.
Based on 27 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2026), 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 367 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 564 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury.
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
Model years: 2012
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.
Water accumulating on plastic valve cover in recessed areas exposing metal fasteners to corrosion. Metal fasteners showing sings of corrosion.
Car jerks and doesnât go into gear right away. Never know when it will happen. There is a notice from Nissan that it happens because of short in tail light. Happened approx 3 yrs ago and has started again but worse. It is available for inspection No recall but very unsafe. While attempting to…
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds, failed to accelerate while turning, and shuddered abnormally. The RPM remained steady with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was…
At approximately 135,000 miles my automatic transmission began "slipping" or lurching while accelerating. I took the car to a Nissan dealership, as well as 2 local mechanics, and all 3 sources have told me that my transmission is having identical symptoms to the recalled Versa models that…
When the vehicle was first purchased , the unit was test driven and liked it. vehicle was purchased new around end of XXXearly XXX, when they told us the vehicle was ready for pick up we went to pick it up and as soon as we drove it out of the lot the unit broke down the transmission would not go…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nissan Versas have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 564 owner complaints about power train for the Nissan Versa. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 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.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Nissan Versa?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,200 (half paid between $4,300 and $5,500), from 27 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Nissan Versa?
The most frequent phrase is “cvt transmission”, in 73 of 564 complaints.
Other Nissan Versa problems
- Air Bags problems (1,085)
- Suspension problems (479)
- Engine problems (340)
- Electrical System problems (271)
- Steering problems (188)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (184)
- Service Brakes problems (175)
- Structure problems (143)
See all Nissan Versa problems.