2018 Nissan Versa Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 18%of 57 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,590miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Nissan Versa, 18% of the 57 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,590 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I had only had my car for a couple of weeks, was driving down the road going about 40 MPH, and it completely stalled out on me. I was able to guide it to the side of the road. To my astonishment, it turned out to be my transmission. The Nissan dealership told me they had to put in a whole new transmission. It scares me to think what would have happened if I had been going faster, or if someone had crashed into the back of my car. I later read where Nissan had been having transmission problems for years.”
NHTSA complaint #11175890, filed 2019-02, 179 miles“I was driving on the express way in rush hour traffic, and my car started to judder and rpm were reving high.i tried to accelerate and the car just stop in mid traffic, I had to have the car towed home,and from home to the nissan dealership. They told me that my transmission had failed and needed to be replaced.i had no warning light or any other problem and I could have been hurt really bad if the car behind me hadn't stop and help me get out of the rush hour traffic.”
NHTSA complaint #11685820, filed 2025-09“Purchased New in January, 2019, with 10-20 miles on it. In February/March of 2020 it started lurching forward, giving rough idles. It would rumble, and you could hear the engine move around. This reported to Nissan dealership, the Tech. could not find code, simply reset computer. In 2021, I took it back to dealership of purchase, they could not diagnose any problems, they claimed to repair some component in rear break light area. The Service Advisor never sent the completed paperwork to my email. I asked for a copy on site, but he had to review papers . …”
NHTSA complaint #11551620, filed 2023-10“The check engine lamp light came on and vehicles current shift lamps not visible. Vehicle began to slip gears and Rev at high rpm. Risk of taking kids to school and myself to work was resolved by parking the car back in driveway. The car diagnostic machine put out code P0705 Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit. Also our vehicle is available for further inspection.”
NHTSA complaint #11505366, filed 2023-02“My Versa appears to have the same transmission issues as other Nissan vehicles where it has a harsh downshift slow speed shutter and bump when when coming to a complete stop vehicle has loud wine coming from transmission and has a slipping feeling under hard acceleration Nissan refuses to do anything about it at the dealer because it is not under the VIN covered vehicles”
NHTSA complaint #11485279, filed 2022-09Related service bulletins
- 10246457Nov 2, 2023CVT Warranty Extension REVISION 1 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from May 23, 2023 has been revised to include the following: ⢠The voucher…
- 10236629May 23, 2023CVT Warranty Extension In an effort to assure customer satisfaction, demonstrate our confidence in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), and to address customer concerns…
- 10233904Mar 29, 2023CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10229597Dec 15, 2022CVT Class Action Owner Notification In mid-December, current and former owners and lessees of the following vehicles will receive a postcard from a Settlement Administrator…
- 10227268Nov 23, 2022DRIVE SHAFT BOOT SERVICE INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION If a Drive Shaft (Axle Shaft) Boot on an APPLIED VEHICLE is found to be leaking grease, AND There is no abnormal noise or…
- 10222714Sep 27, 2022CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10218747May 11, 2022ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC FOR CVT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10199148Jun 9, 2021CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of…
- 10177216Jun 25, 20202018-2019 VERSA SEDAN AND VERSA NOTE; CVT JUDDER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10176250May 19, 20202018-2019 SENTRA, VERSA SEDAN, AND VERSA NOTE; ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC FOR CVT IF YOU CONFIRM The customer reports a transmission judder (shake, shudder, single or multiple…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 33% |
| 2024 | 34 | 35% |
| 2023 | 15 | 41% |
| 2022 | 7 | 35% |
| 2021 | 9 | 28% |
| 2020 | 16 | 25% |
| 2019 | 11 | 46% |
| 2018 | 10 | 18% |
| 2017 | 9 | 15% |
| 2016 | 20 | 25% |
| 2015 | 47 | 28% |
| 2014 | 82 | 40% |
| 2013 | 73 | 36% |
| 2012 | 163 | 34% |
| 2011 | 8 | 3% |
| 2010 | 6 | 2% |
| 2009 | 20 | 4% |
| 2008 | 17 | 4% |
| 2007 | 13 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2018 Nissan Versa
17 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsEngine
14 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsForward collision avoidance
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Nissan Versa
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology