The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2012 2012
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…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
Cvt failed while driving ,stalled in middle of the road ,car would not move .floored the car ,barely moved ,had to pull over, car jerked .
2012 Nissan Versa owner · NHTSA complaint
Car will not go in reverse nor park and is in drive when I stopped. It will nor start it is in my drive way. It was slipping out of gear while travelling forward.
2012 Nissan Versa owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Nissan Versa years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Nissan Versa years are 2012, 2014, 2013.
What are common Nissan Versa transmission problems?
Owners most often describe lost power while driving, hard or jerky shifting, transmission replaced.
Which Nissan Versa years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Nissan Versa years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2025, 2011, 2010.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Nissan Versa reliability by year. How we count