FaultScore

2019 Nissan Versa transmission problems

11 of the 45 complaints about the 2019 Nissan Versa are about the transmission — 24% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 25,250 miles.

C

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 11 100.0%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Nissan Versa year

2007 13 2.5%
2008 17 3.3%
2009 20 3.9%
2012 163 32.0%
2013 73 14.3%
2014 81 15.9%
2015 47 9.2%
2016 20 3.9%
2019 11 2.2%
2020 16 3.1%
2023 15 2.9%
2024 34 6.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Chino, CA

POWER TRAIN

Vehicle: 2019 Nissan Versa SV VIN: [XXX] My vehicle experienced intermittent transmission problems including hesitation during acceleration, shuddering, rough deceleration, loss of the Drive ("D") indicator, unexpected rear-view camera activation, and entry into fail-safe (limp) mode. Diagnostic code P0705 (Transmission Range Sensor / PRNDL Input) was stored. A Nissan dealership determined that the cause was a faulty left rear tail lamp assembly. After repairing the tail lamp, all transmission-related symptoms disappeared. My concern is that a failure, corrosion, or poor connection in a rear tail lamp should not be capable of affecting transmission operation, gear recognition, or vehicle propulsion. In this case, a tail lamp electrical fault caused transmission fault codes, loss of proper gear indication, and reduced vehicle performance. This design appears to allow a rear lighting circuit to interfere with transmission control functions. Such a condition may result in hesitation, reduced power, fail-safe mode activation, or loss of propulsion while driving, creating a potential safety hazard when entering traffic, merging, crossing intersections, or responding to emergency situations. I have also located multiple reports from other Nissan Versa owners and Nissan technicians describing similar incidents involving tail lamp corrosion or electrical backfeeding that resulted in P0705 fault codes, transmission-related symptoms, incorrect gear indication, and drivability problems. [XXX] I believe NHTSA should investigate whether this electrical system design defect affects other Nissan Versa vehicles and poses a broader vehicle safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11741945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Park, FL

POWER TRAIN

When accelerating from a stop vehicle shutters/perks hard

NHTSA complaint #11704906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gouverneur, NY

POWER TRAIN

I had a issue with transmission and went to a mechanic that stated it’s a problem with transmission informed that there was a recall for all Nissans

NHTSA complaint #11696061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethlehem, PA

POWER TRAIN

CVT Transmissions on these versa’s are extremely wonky and very jerky. The transmission causes extremely slow acceleration, Nissan has had a really bad track record with their CVT transmissions and it appears to be the same issue with this vehicle as well.

NHTSA complaint #11539065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,500 miles Columbia, SC

POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed and the turning signals were activated, the vehicle felt as if the transmission had improperly shifted. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the brake pedal, motherboard, and taillight assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 30,500.

NHTSA complaint #11535985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Branford, CT

POWER TRAIN

2019 Nissan Versa sedan has a transmission issue where you stop and immediately or within up to 3 seconds, there is a clunk. The engine is jumps forward, causing the engine to rock. In a range of years, up to 2017, there is a recall on the transmission. For 2018, which is just for that year, is a recall for that transmission. How can I find out if 2019 recall is in a preliminary stage at nissan and will be released later this year? I feel it's a safety issue because the transmission can stop working while I'm on the highway which could cause an accident at high speeds. The mechanic at dealership said that they do not get any codes when there is an issue within CVT Type transmission. He stated basically there are no way to open transmission, to exchange parts, due to, no codes for inside of transmission. He stated Nissan Altima transmission was fixed for the year 2019. Then the made the fixes for 2019 versa. Seeing the pattern with 201? To 2017, & 2018 recall on transmission

NHTSA complaint #11502535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxford, MS

POWER TRAIN

Transmission failure

NHTSA complaint #11493360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cleveland, OH

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT A USED 2019 NISSAN VERSA WITH 34, 213 MILES FROM ENTERPRISE CAR SALES ON 07/08/2020 AND AT 45,000 MILES ON 12/20/2020 ON MY WAY BACK FROM MYRTLE BEACH CAR DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND OR CHANGE GEARS WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. OUT OF TOWN MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR AND ADVISED IT HAS ISSUES WITH CVT. CAR HAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO DRIVE AND OR REVERSE AND AT TIMES DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE. CAR ONLY MOVED AFTER TURNING IT ON AND OFF. CAR STRUGGLES TO TAKE OFF AT LIGHTS AND HAS WEIRD LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAR ALSO JERKS REALLY BAD WHEN TAKING OFF AT A RED TOO GREEN LIGHT. ALSO THE BATTERY IS 1 YEAR OLD AND IS DEFECTIVE AND GAS READING GAUGE READS WRONG WHEN CAR IS FILLED UP WITH GAS. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON IN DRY ROADS. WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY CAR STRUGGLES TO GAIN SPEED AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER NOTIFIED SINCE CAR HAS 45,168 MILES AND IS STILL UNDER THE NISSAN 46,213 WARRANTY. CAR IS PARK AND AT TIMES DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE. WAITING ON A DEALER APPT.

NHTSA complaint #11384237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,189 miles Downey, CA

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY 101 CAMARILLO TO HOME. ITS UPHILL I TRIED TO PRESS THE GAS BUT MY SPEED GAUGE STOCK ON 50MPH NO MATTER I TRIED. THEN SUDDENLY THE ABS LIGHT AND THE CAR WITH ZIGZAG APPEARED ON MY DASH BOARD. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED... THE CAR HAVE 38K+ MILEAGE. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE IF THE NISSAN VERSA HAVING PROBLEM GOING UPHILL. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC THEY SAID MYBE THERE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM GO TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY MILEAGE IS UNDER 60K MYBE IM STILL ON MANUFACTURE WARRANTY... BUT I DIDN'T BOUGHT THE CAR ON NISSAN DEALER. I BOUGHT IT ON DRIVETIME.

NHTSA complaint #11365087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Mesa, AZ

POWER TRAIN

STEERING CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. LETTER REGARDING THE MALFUNCTIONING OF GEAR SHIFTS, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH DAMAGED BY 5 SPEED MANUAL NISSAN TRANSMISSION AND STOPPED MY ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS FROM 5. NO GEARS WORKED I WAS TRAVELING ON ARIZONA HWY 60 WITH CARS GOING 75 MILES AN HOUR. I WAS HEADED WEST TO PHOENIX FOR 17 HWY AND I WAS BETWEEN EXITS 152 AND 153 THAT IS WHERE HIGHWAY PATROL WHEN THEY ARRIVED COULD STOP TRAFFIC AND USE THEIR VEHICLE TO PUSH MINE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND CARS OR TRUCKS COULD HAVE KILLED ME EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FLASHERS ON UNTIL HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED. I HAVE REPORTS. THE SUDDEN MALFUNCTION OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS ON A NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED ON FEBRUARY 27TH FROM JIM CLICK NISSAN IN TUCSON ARIZONA. THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURERED IN MEXICO AT ONE OF NISSAN'S PLANTS (AQUA).

NHTSA complaint #11279521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,472 miles Rialto, CA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 NISSAN VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, A LOUD THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,472.

NHTSA complaint #11259121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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