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…
2013 Nissan Versa powertrain problems
moderate 70 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
70
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
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.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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.