2012 Nissan Versa Transmission

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1. 2012 Nissan Versa Transmission Recall
2. Nissan Versa Cvt Transmission Problems
3. 2012 Nissan Versa Transmission Type

The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder has 27 problems & defects reported by Pathfinder owners. The worst complaints are transmission, AC / heater, and accessories - interior problems. Learn more about the 2015 Nissan Versa. Get 2015 Nissan Versa values, consumer reviews, safety ratings, and find cars for sale near you.

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2012 Nissan Versa (Page 1 of 4)

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Nissan dealer.

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.

Typical Repair Cost:

$3,580

Average Mileage:

73,600 miles

Total Complaints:

71 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

1. new transmission (41 reports)
2. replaced transmission with remanufactured transmission (15 reports)
3. not sure (13 reports)
4. junked the car (2 reports)

transmission problem

Helpful websites

• Nhtsa - This website will help with car recalls. If enough complaints are filed thenmanufacter may be required to fix, repair, replace, refund and mayberepurchase the vehicle.
• Odhikar - This website will show you the latest review, nearest service center, where to find spare parts and lot more.

2012 Nissan Versa Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Versa Sadan 1.6L

• Automatic transmission
• 120,000 miles

My trans mission went out in the middle of an intersection! It would not move! What an embarrassing situation, i had my mother in the car with me. She is 82 years old and was the only one who could help me push the car out of the intersection. Next came the tow truck. Then the mechanic, then the price. I contacted a nisssan dealer because i was told by a friend that a lot of complaints were because of faulty transmissions with their cars. They were very friendly till they asked me if i wanted to schedule an appointment to bring it in and i replied- wellit would need to be towed in because the transmission went out! They said they would contact there service team and get back to me. They never did. Then i had to rent a car to countinue going to work. I am really, really upset about the whole ordeal. This is a very perplexing, gut punch! To top it off, i had to borrow the money to get it working again

- Mario M., Bell Gardens, US

Versa SV

• CVT transmission
• 80,000 miles

Very expensive and time-consuming replacement. I now hate Nissan.

- Joshua G., Lakewood, CA, US

Versa SV 1.6L

• CVT transmission
• 93,000 miles

So I got this car new when I was 16 and honestly I have enjoyed the car but I have started to have major problems with it. At about 66,000 miles(while still under warranty) my car started having some problems when trying to accelerate it would sputter and take some time to start getting up to speed. So I took it into the Nissan dealership, they said they would yes drive it and put it on the computer. They had it for two days and said they could not find anything wrong with it. I was furious when I got the car back because when I looked at the mileage they had barely put maybe 2 miles on it.(in their location it would take more than two miles to get back if they left the dealership at all) In my opinion it was like they did not take me seriously enough to actually drive it. Well some people look and think oh you are young you don't know what's going on. First of all I drove the car everyday for 6 years I think I would know if it was driving different. But I let it go it has been having this problem for over a year and my engine light comes on and now they can apparently diagnose the problem without even having to drive it, their words not mine. They told me it was my transmission and it would cost $5700 dollars to fix. I think it is bullshit that they know exactly what is wrong with these cars and pretend they don't until it's too late and they are perfectly fine with continuing to sell them to people. Most people can't afford for their cars to just up and breakdown or a car payment if theirs is paid off. But I can promise you this I will NOT be getting another Nissan....

- Kristen L., Memphis, TX, US

Versa 1.8L

• CVT transmission
• 105,846 miles

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

When the CVT transmission failed in my Nissan Versa I chalked it up to the car being a piece of crap. Although it is a piece of crap, the transmission failure was the result of a known problem by Nissan. So much so, they doubled the warranty on the 2010 Versa for this very problem. However, they have not done the same with the 2012 even though they have never done anything with this transmission to correct the inherent flaw(s). I would assume that eventually a class action lawsuit will be filed.

- Mark S., Peabody, US

Versa

• CVT transmission
• 110,000 miles

Complain #2 on same car, same problem. I have another complaint listed about the Nissan 2012 transmission that occurred spring 2017. That problem ended up in Nissan replacing the transmission with approximately 61k miles. So, I'm on the 2nd transmission and now have approximately 115k miles. Notice that the mileage is almost double? Yeah, me too. And the same thing is starting to happen again. The tachometer is starting to jump and the car jerks. It drives the same way it did before the 1st transmission failed. I could add several more complaints but this is my biggest. Do I even bother taking it to the dealership? Do I even bother with it since there is ALWAYS a problem that needs to be fixed? No and no. I'm currently trying to find an affordable AND DEPENDABLE used vehicle.

- Andrea L., Cullowhee, US

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Versa

• CVT transmission
• 61,000 miles

I purchased my 2012 Versa new and had regular, scheduled maintenance done at the local Nissan dealership. The car had a few problems in the beginning but they were addressed and corrected to the best of my knowledge. Then, at about 45-50k miles the car started acting funny and I could tell that something wasn't right. On my next appointment I mentioned it to the mechanics at the dealership. They found nothing wrong with my car. Over the next several trips in, I mentioned it again and again. Nothing wrong was ever found.

Closer to the 58-60k miles mark the tachometer went crazy, jerking the car. One second it when be at 1, then jump to 4, then almost to 0, then it rev up to 5. There was no real pattern but I did notice it more on the highway/interstate. I took the car in once again and the mechanic couldn't replicate the problem. Then, the day before spring break 2017, my car just stopped on the highway. Luckily I was in the right lane and was able to pull over.

My boyfriend was with me and somehow got the car going and we pulled it in the Nissan dealership, which was on the same highway a few miles down. The next morning the mechanics took a look and I was told I would need a new transmission, a little over 61k miles. My warranty had just expired at 60k miles.

2012 Nissan Versa Transmission Recall

Nissan ended up replacing the transmission at their cost since I had noted several times before that something wasn't right. I'm still not happy with the car as I will tell about in my next complaint...the new transmission.

- Andrea L., Cullowhee, US

Versa SL 1.6L

• CVT transmission
• 79,000 miles

Bought a 2012 Nissan Versa, brand new just so I wouldn't have to deal with used cars and what do I get? Problems that even used cars don't give. Transmission started going at 80k miles. So much for buying a reliable car. Especially them being aware of this issue and not wanting to do anything about it. It amazes me how they get away with selling lemons to people. Shame on Nissan USA!!!

- Ar J., worcester, MA, US

Versa

• CVT transmission
• 75,000 miles

I was on a trip from Colorado to Phoenix. On the way back to Colorado, the car broke down 4 miles out of Flagstaff, AZ. It was AAA towed to Heath Mechanic Shop. They said it would be a minimum expense of $3,800 to repair. I had the transmission checked to make sure it was full of transmission fluid the day before I left town, by a very reliable local mechanic. Had to leave the vehicle there and catch an Amtrak back to Colorado to go back to work.

Then I started checking around to find that this engine is a big problem and needs to be recalled, replaced and warrantied!

Any advise on how to get Nissan to do the right thing or filing a lawsuit against them to get them to do the right thing would be appreciated.

Thanks!

- M P., Canon City, US

Versa SV

• CVT transmission
• 95,000 miles

TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED, STARTED AFTER HAVING REPROGRAMMED DUE TO A RECALL, DROVE FINE TILL NEXT DAY. LOST POWER BACKING UP TRAFFIC. JERKING ON HILLS. ENGINE LIGHT ON P0846 AND NOW CAN'T EVEN REGISTER DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT.

- Matt L., Seymour, CT, US

Versa Sedan 4dr 1.6L Litre

• CVT transmission
• 55,923 miles

I HAVE A 2012 NISSAN VERSA CVT TRANSMISSION WITH 90,000 KILOS OR 55,000 MILES . ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IT STARTED TO GET JERKY AND NOW IT WONT SHIFT PROPERLY UNLESS YOU NURSE IT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ABOUT EVERY 30 MILES OR SO. I HAVE OWNED MANY NISSANS AND UNLESS THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, THIS MAY BE THE LAST. I AM 73YEARS OLD AND CANT AFFORD TO ABSORB THEIR MISTAKES. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT , HOW DO I BE PART OF IT/ PLEASE ADVISE.

- Allan A., Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Versa S 1.6L Inline 4

• CVT transmission
• 63,000 miles

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

To state off first, this is actually my girlfriend's car.

The car is under the power train warranty of up to 60k miles but the transmission completely broke down at 63k miles.

All the shops she's talked to say that Nissan transmission are unreliable and it ends up being that the car is basically totaled (in cost) even though she took proper care of all its maintenance requirements. Extremely displeased that she did everything in her path to keep the car up-to-date and now she's sh*t out of a car because the manufacturer/Shift.com failed to detail that these cars have these issues and won't touch it or even bother replacing what wasn't her fault.

Not only is she never going to buy a Nissan car again, neither am I. Cars like these are easily supposed to run you at least to the 80k mile mark without major problems (besides some parts degradation) and now Nissan isn't even owning up to its own problems. Extremely dissatisfied. I'm making my friends and family completely aware of this BS situation we've been put into.

- rcarp2010, Foster City, US

Versa

• Automatic transmission
• 65,000 miles

Can't believe a car with under 70,000 miles would need a new transmission.

- Tristan J., Old Hickory, US

Versa SL

• CVT transmission
• 121,000 miles

Chalk up another 2012 Nissan Versa on the scrap heap due to complete transmission failure. The car was just paid off one month ago. Bought new from the dealership and mostly all highway miles. Car had a loud 'bang' noise on the highway and lost momentum. Had it towed to mechanic who thought it was timing chain tensioner since the engine ran but had loud metal sounding rattle. After moving it into reverse the noise went away so that eliminated that item as the source. After further research he thinks it's coming from the transmission and after reading other reviews here, it's safe to say that is the problem and not worth further effort to try to fix.

- Rich D., North Attleboro, MA, US

Versa

• CVT transmission
• 89,000 miles

We bought the car for my daughter (a single mom of 2). The problem started in August 2017. The transmission would not accelerate from time to time as time went on it got worse and worse. She took it to the dealer back in August. They told her that it needed a new transmission and that it could go out completely at any time. They told her that she should talk to the dealership about purchasing a new car (scare tactic). She can't buy a new car as she still owes over $6,000.00.

I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs to see if there was anything they could do. Of course they won't do anything. They said they don't have not enough complaints. The car has been in the shop for over 3 weeks now we choose not to take it to the dealer because they charge a lot more money. They have put 3 transmissions and it is still not working. At this point we are totally disgusted with the whole ordeal. Nissan should stand behind their product and do something about this. This is costing my daughter over $3,000.00 that she really don't have.

- Debora L., Acworth, US

Versa

• CVT transmission
• 104,300 miles

So many Nissans have transmission trouble around 110000 miles, I am sure they are aware of it. My sons has 104300 miles and has been slipping off and on for a little while, then about 8 months ago it quit slipping and has been doing fine, until today, I came to a stop to turn left, and when I accelerated, it sounded like a cinder block turned over in the transmission. It would not move in drive or low, only reverse. Also, the engine will not rev in drive, only reverse.

- Terry W., Roanoke, US

Versa SV 1.6L

• CVT transmission
• 93,560 miles

Bought the car used and it ran fine for a couple of weeks and then the CVT started acting odd. Would slip in and out of gear like it was looking for the right place to be. Today, it went into low gear and won't shift out. I'm towing it to the local dealer. There appears to be an issue with Nissan's CVT.

My first and last Nissan, never going to buy another. I will be sure to spread the word about how crappy they are.

Update from Feb 23, 2018: The quotes I have received range from $4200 for an OEM replacement by Nissan(1yr & 12,000 mile warranty), $3900 for a remanufactured unit installed by transmission shop (3yr & 100,000 mile warranty on parts and labor), $1050 for used unit and 600-700 for the install(90 warranty on the transmission). A very expensive lesson learned here. No more Nissan or CVT for me.

Update from Feb 28, 2018: Found a great local transmission shop that will do the work for labor plus parts. Apparently Nissan keeps a stock of 2012 Versa CVT's on hand because they fail so often. They wholesale to the transmission dealer for around $2146.00, installation quote was for $750.00, NS-2 transmission fluid is around $180.00, add in taxex and that puts me right at $3,000.

Comes with a 3yr or 100,000 mile (no joke on the mileage) warranty.

This is basically what I paid for the whole car in the first place. So, either I fix it and sell it for a significant loss, or I don't fix it and sell it for a significant loss, or I fix it and keep it knowing the whole time that its a POS!!!!

I'm checking out the class action lawsuits and contemplating starting one here in NY.

Update from Mar 19, 2018: Final update on this POS vehicle. I took the car to our local auto auction and sold it as is with its bad heater and crappy CVT. I lost money on this car and it has changed my view of Nissan as a reputable auto manufacturer.

Bottom line is that the Nissan Versa and Sentra models both share the same CVT problems. This is so bad that Consumers Report have identified both models as having substandard CVTs. Do not buy either car, the transmission is guaranteed to fail. Several class action lawsuits are winding their way through the courts for the 2012 Versa specifically.

If you just have to buy one make sure you get an extended warranty as the Versa CVT will likely fail just past the 60,000 mile mark (the end of the warranty). Its not a question of if, but of when. Transmission shops all around the area where I live know about the Versa CVT. Also, this is not Nissan's first CVT lawsuit. They lost an earlier one and had to provide free extended warranties for several prior year models.

Lesson learned: Nissan makes crappy cars...

- krunyon, Malta, US

Versa SL 1.8L

• CVT transmission
• 55,605 miles

Service engine light came on. Went to dealer. You need new transmission for a car with only 55,605 miles. Warranty expired 9/2017. Oh well, we(dealership) will replace it for $4800 cost to me (more than the car is worth).

I can not believe that Nissan will not stand behind its product and admit that the CVT is a bad product. There must be some type of class action lawsuit for all the money that has been flushed down the drain by consumers who invested in Nissan and the 2012 model.

- Alicia H., STONE MOUNTAIN, US

Versa 1.6L

• Automatic transmission
• 73,083 miles

I Purchased my vehicle from the Oursiman Hyundai & Madza in Laurel Md. On Sept. 12, 2017, during the credit process I told my salesman Quniton, known as Q, that I'd been a victim of ID theft twice & that I'd had a company from one of the accounts place a garnishment on my Navy Federal checking account back in April of 2010. That I once was in EXCELLENT standing with the above credit union. I NEVER went there with false information, when asked if I had anything to put down I stated to him yes my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan, I don't have any MONEY!!!!. That's when Mr. Q, came back said that I'd been APPROVED, I thought then my next step was for us to go out on the lot & pick out the vehicle that was in my price range due to my credit rating, that wasn't the issue. That's when Mr. Q, came and asked me if I could drive a STANDARD (stick shift), MY response was YES BUT, I'M TOO OLD NOW & I'VE HAD 2KNEE REPLACEMENTS SO I NEED AN AUTOMATIC. THAT'S WHEN MR. Q, SAID I'VE GOT JUST THE VEHICLE FOR YOU, I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. That's when he came back & SAID LET'S GO OUT T SEE YOUR CAR. When I saw what he'd came back with I wasn't too pleased with what I saw, but when your present vehicle is on it's last leg & you've, got the parts in the vehicle to fix it & NO monies to get it fixed, you take what you can get. I was told that I'd got $1000.00, for my van I was very grateful. After driving it for a few days I'd went back to the dealership, spoke with my salesman Mr. Q, told him that this car isn't shifting gears like it should, his response was maybe it's due to it not being driven for awhile. Then it HAPPENS, coming from dinner just about 2minitues away from home stop at stop sign, a corner from home that's when my TRANSMISSION is SHOT!!!, I spoke with Mr. Andrew Cohen, said they'd tow my car to Ourisman's Hyundai, & once there would see what's happened. I told Mr. Cohen, that my transmission is DONE. I was told by Mr. Cohen & Dennis Airington(gen., Mgr., & service Mgr.,), that they'd be taking care of the problem it's ALL STILL UNDER WARRANTY, yet when I'd got the phone call, per Mr. Dennis Airington, I'd supposingly it a BUMP, and it's now MY PROBLEM. NOW my insurance investigator, & my OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC, their BOTH are SAYING, that there's METAL SHAVINGS in the TRANSMISSION PAN, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY SUPPOSSINGLY running over a BUMP. MY TRANSMISSION IS GONE!!!!! To take it back to the DEALERSHIP, & let them know that my vehicle is under the warranty when I brought it and, THEY NEED TO PAY FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED!!!!!. I do BELIEVE that Mr. Q, was told to get that vehicle for me based on my credit score, because while at the dealership back in September 21, 2017, Mr. Andrew Cohen, made a statement to me saying,(That it's a possibility that in some cases I may be able to GET ANOTHER VEHICLE, YET HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE YOU ANY PROMISES. NOW that's when I'd made a STATEMENT to him, you're treating me like a butthole, due to my credit rating &, you're thinking that I'm NOT going to PAY, because of that. Then that's when I'd said that I'm calling the Credit Union, that's approved my loan. I then had this person (male) come in being VERY NASTY, saying that I BETTER NOT CALL THEM, for HE'S THE ONE THAT'S DONE EVERYTHING FOR ME TO GET my vehicle, & I'm NOT GETTING ANOTHER VEHICLE UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!!, BECAUSE HE'S NOT GONNA ALLOW IT!!!!!!!!. That it's HIS choice WHETHER OR NOT I GET ANYTHING DONE TO MY VEHICLE, & WHY DON'T I GO HOME & SLEEP ON IT, & COME BACK TO TELL HIM WHAT GOD HAS SAID FOR ME TO DO!!!!. THAT'S WHEN I TOLD HIM NO!!!!!!, THAT GOD has already said for me to STAY THERE, and wait until (they) OURISMAN HYUNDAI, does something for me along with getting me something to get around in & that's FINAL. NOW 1ST THING TUESDAY OR THURSDAY MORNING I'M taking the INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION'S on the NISSAN VERSA, & I'LL BE LETTING THE DEALERSHIP KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA PAY FOR MY PERSONAL MECHANIC, to do the repairs of replacing the TRANSMISSION, & ALL THAT GOES WITH FIXING IT INCLUDING THE PULLING OF THE TRANSMISSION PAN, in order for my Liberty Mutal Investigator along with my mechanic, to access the damage concerning to what (OURISMAN'S SERVICE MGR., DENNIS AIRINGTON, STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS IN MY TRANSMISSION PAN, that they'd (SERVIC DEPT., has taken care of ALL RECALLS &, it's now MY RESPONSIBILITY, OF GETTING MY VEHICLE FIXED!!!!. NOW everything that OURISMAN'S HAS SAID TO ME HAS BEEN A LIE. OURISMAN'S, NEVER TOOK CARE OF ANY RECALL'S, ALL THAT THEY DONE WAS TO TRY & HOLD UP, ANY TIME TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRES. YET I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO THEM NOTIFYING OURISMAN'S OF THE DAMAGES, ALONG WITH MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY TRANSMISSION. THEY'VE CONTINUALLY TRIED STALLING TRYING NOT TO TAKE RESPONIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TAKE THE NESCESSIARY ACTIONS, IN ORDER FOR OURISMAN TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I'M BOILING MAD!!!!!!!, FOR I FEEL THAT I WAS SOLD THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE BASED ON MY CREDIT SCORE &, THAT I'M A WOMAN!!!!!!, BUT I'M NOT AN IDIOT!!!! THEY'RE GONNA SEE JUST TO WHOM THEIR MESSING WITH.

- Teressa S., Severn, US

Nissan Versa Cvt Transmission Problems

Versa SV

• CVT transmission
• 96,000 miles

I had noticed some hesitation and slight jumping after the car heated up. I thought maybe it needed tuning up and was about to have it done. However, I was coming down the interstate one evening and got off on the ramp on the way to my house. I came to a stop and when I accelerated, nothing, it would not go. The engine seemed to be running fine but it just wouldn't accelerate.

I put it in park and stopped the engine. I then restarted it and put it in gear. There was a sort of bang and jolt and the car weakly began to accelerate with a jerking motion. I eased out into the street with my flashers on and barely made it home. I had it towed to where I have my cars repaired and was informed the transmission was bad.

I called Fenton Nissan, where I recently had a couple of recall items fixed, to inquire about the cost of having a transmission installed. They told me it would be approximately $5,000. In the course of our conversation the service person informed me that my 2012 car had a new transmission installed, in New Jersey, in 2013 with 33,000 miles on the odometer.

I bought the car from Lenoir City Ford in Lenoir City, Tennessee subsequent to that without that knowledge. I did have my mechanic install a new transmission to the tune of $4,800 which is more than the car is worth. He had to haul it to a Nissan dealer to have the transmission fluid put in it, along with the necessary programming. Help! I would love to get all or part of my money back, if possible. Do I have any recourse?

- Carl O., Lenoir City, TN, US

2012 Nissan Versa Transmission Type

Versa SL 1.6L

• CVT transmission
• 70,000 miles

The car failed driving home from Thanksgiving, leaving my fiancee stranded on a narrow shoulder next to 70+ mph traffic for 30 minutes. Took it to the dealership and found there was a 'fix' that reprograms the car's computer. The 'fix' caused the transmission to completely fail (it could limp a few miles down the road before robbing all power from the accelerator previously).

After some research, I found that the 'fix' was a technical bulletin from Nissan intended to prevent belt slippage in the transmission that leads to premature failure, so it would not have fixed a thing since the transmission had already been destroyed. Nissan did not flag this as a safety bulletin (because apparently being stranded on the side of the next to highway speed traffic is completely safe), so they avoided having to actively recall the vehicle.

Nissan has been sued for this on a number of their other models from the same time period, and was forced to refund all costs for repairs and extend the warrant on their shoddy CVT transmissions. Here's a list of the models with lawsuits so far:2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinder2004-2006 Maxima2005-2006 Altima2004-2007 Quest2001-2005 Altimas, Pathfinders, Sentras2012-2017 Sentras

Nissan has a very clear pattern of pushing CVTs and refusing to stand by their product after it fails prematurely. There have been so many class actions regarding this transmission as each new model reaches 60-70k miles on average and customers begin to experience widespread failure.

There will likely be yet another class action for this model, and the large amount of money Nissan pumped from me for a complete transmission replacement will return to my pocket, but I doubt they will stop pushing their inferior CVTs.

Nissan, do right by your customers. Extend the warranty for all CVTs to at least 100k miles and stop pushing this inferior product.

- Mark J., Austin, US

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