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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Nissan Versa powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Nissan Versa have filed 70 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 85,904 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
70
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Versa | 18 |
| 2010 Versa | 5 |
| 2011 Versa | 6 |
| 2012 Versa | 153 |
| 2013 Versa (this page) | 70 |
| 2014 Versa | 129 |
| 2015 Versa | 45 |
| 2016 Versa | 17 |
| 2017 Versa | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 70 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Nissan Versa, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Powertrain accounts for 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 70 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC LOGIC FOR CVT This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Nissan Versa CVT transmission is the center of a widespread pattern of failure across multiple driving scenarios. Owners describe the transmission jerking or shuddering upon acceleration, hesitation that forces sudden RPM spikes, and complete loss of power without warning—sometimes at highway speeds. Several owners report the transmission slipping into neutral unprompted or refusing to engage from a stop, creating dangerous traffic situations where the car won't respond to throttle input. The check engine light appears inconsistently; many failures occur with no warning lights at all.
Mileage varies widely but clusters around 50,000–100,000 miles. One owner's replacement transmission failed again within six months. Dealers often reprogram the transmission control module as a first step, but the problems recur. When repairs are pursued, replacement is the only solution—owners cite quotes ranging from $2,500 to $4,500 or more. Nissan has denied coverage for many vehicles once out of warranty (typically 5 years/100,000 miles), and owners report the manufacturer either refused assistance or covered only partial costs. Multiple owners mention the transmission fluid turning dark, suggesting internal wear. The CVT design itself is referenced by dealers and shops as inherently problematic for this model year; one service manager stated he deals with these failures constantly and couldn't understand why Nissan continued using them.
Same Nissan Versa powertrain reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Jerking, shuddering, and hesitation on acceleration
Transmission jerks or shudders when depressing accelerator; vehicle hesitates to move, especially at low speeds or when pulling into traffic. RPM needle fluctuates erratically. Symptoms often occur with no check engine light. Repeated dealership visits sometimes result in TCM reprogramming with no lasting fix.
When: Typically 40,000–100,000 miles; one owner reported it starting at 50,000 miles and getting worse over time
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking or shuddering on acceleration; Hesitation to move from stop or low speed; RPM needle jumps and drops suddenly; Vehicle nearly hits other cars due to sudden power loss during merge or intersection entry; Audible whining noise from transmission
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (sometimes absent), PO705 (transmission range sensor)
Repairs/costs cited: TCM reprogramming attempted but failures recur; replacement transmission quoted $2,500–$4,500+. Fluid may be dark, indicating internal wear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers reprogram TCM; manufacturer denies warranty coverage for most vehicles over 5 years/100,000 miles. One case: manufacturer agreed to pay 60% of replacement cost ($4,000 quote).
Complete transmission failure and loss of motive power
Transmission suddenly fails mid-drive with no warning. Vehicle stalls, loses all power, or becomes stuck in neutral, forcing owner to coast to safety or be towed. Often occurs at highway speeds, creating collision risk.
When: Ranges from 3,000 to 145,000 miles; clusters at 50,000–110,000 miles. Replacement transmissions can fail again within 54,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power while driving at 35–70 mph; Vehicle stalls mid-drive; Transmission shifts into neutral unprompted; No acceleration response to pedal input; No warning lights or very brief check engine light before failure
Codes mentioned: No code or intermittent code that clears
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement only remedy. Costs quoted $2,500–$5,500. One owner reports original transmission replaced at 60,000 miles in 2016; replacement transmission failed again at 114,000 miles (54,000 miles after replacement). Fluid dark at second failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty expired for most cases; Nissan refused further assistance or offered partial cost share. One dealer service manager stated these are 'very common problem' and transmission is a 'closed system' that cannot be rebuilt. Class action lawsuit mentioned by multiple owners; one settled case referenced.
High RPM with no power (limp mode/flare)
Engine revs to 4,000–5,000 RPM or higher without vehicle accelerating; throttle response fails. Vehicle crawls at 10–25 mph despite high revs. Can occur after TCM reprogramming and recurs intermittently.
When: 50,000–110,000 miles; some owners report multiple occurrences requiring vehicle restart
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs jump to 4,000–5,000+ with minimal or no forward motion; Vehicle stuck at 10–25 mph despite high engine revs; Transmission won't shift into higher gear; Requires engine restart or pulling over to reset; Particularly problematic on highway merges, hills, or when accelerating to pass
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (sometimes), No specific code mentioned
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership TCM reprogramming attempted; one owner reports worse performance after reprogramming. No lasting fix reported by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers reprogram TCM; manufacturer declined further support. One Nissan dealership case #29733173 opened but no assistance provided.
Slipping and delayed engagement on inclines and from stops
Transmission slips on hills or from stops, losing power or delaying response. Transmission physically lurches forward or fails to hold on inclines; RPM flare without speed gain.
When: 72,000–100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips or lurches forward when coming to stop, pushing vehicle into traffic; No power or delayed engagement going uphill; RPM flare when climbing incline without proportional speed increase; Jerking when turning corners during acceleration; Car doesn't move when pulling out from traffic light or stop sign
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement transmission required. One owner mentions fluid exchange performed at independent shop with fluid turning dark/similar to motor oil.
Soft or failed transmission electronic controls (sensor / electrical failure)
Transmission warning light illuminates; unknown sensor or electrical fault diagnosed. Multiple sensor replacements and battery replacement attempted without permanent fix. Electrical system involvement suspected but not resolved.
When: 62,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission warning light illuminates; Vehicle hesitates and stalls; Check engine light may appear; Vehicle requires jump-starts multiple times; Failure recurs after sensor replacement
Codes mentioned: Transmission warning light, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown sensor replaced; battery replaced; electrical failure suspected but not diagnosed or repaired. Vehicle not returned to dealer or manufacturer.
Transmission overheating (post-repair complications)
Vehicle overheats after transmission repair attempts by third-party shops. One case involved improperly installed transmission cap after fluid addition, leading to repeated overheating.
When: Days to weeks after transmission service at independent shops
Symptoms owners cite: Engine overheating; Vehicle shuts down on highway at speed
Repairs/costs cited: First repair shop forgot to replace transmission cap after adding fluid. Tow shop charged $235 (billed to dealership, dealership charged customer). Longhorn Transmissions diagnosed transmission issue requiring $1,500 repair.
Synthesized from 70 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan versa. When the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have the fuel tank repaired, the contact was informed that the transmission software needed to be updated. The vehicle was taken to mossy Nissan chula vista (1885 auto park pl, chula vista, ca 91911, (619) 397-6578) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
CVT transmission doesn’t shift in high gear.
Speed Control, Engine and Transmission issues: After the recall from the manufacture was issued for the the acceleration problems this car still takes long to accelerate and get the car going. It feels like the transmission/ and or engine is ready to go out also and this car is only roughly at 80,000 miles. This car is well maintained.
Every time I want to speed my car slow down, and has a weird sounds in the moter.
Car won’t accelerate past 25mph and is very loud. I took it to a Nissian dealer service center and they told me that they can’t get the code to come up for a transmission but they think that’s the problem. However, the Nissans that came out in 2013 with my make and model had bad transmissions and Nissan won’t help or cover the transmission expenses that existed at the time of manufacturing.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 Nissan Versa?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 Nissan Versa?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 70 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 51 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 60,933 and 101,000 miles, with the median around 85,904. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,933; a quarter make it past 101,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Nissan/Versa.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.