CVT 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 program has been updated and the program rules and dealer instructions have been added to the FAQ section of this dealer announcement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Nissan Versa powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Nissan Versa have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain 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 →
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Versa | 129 |
| 2015 Versa | 45 |
| 2016 Versa | 17 |
| 2017 Versa | 8 |
| 2018 Versa (this page) | 9 |
| 2019 Versa | 9 |
| 2020 Versa | 15 |
| 2021 Versa | 8 |
| 2022 Versa | 7 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
CVT Warranty Extension In an effort to assure customer satisfaction, demonstrate our confidence in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), and to address customer concerns including those expressed by customers in the class actions, Nissan will extend the warranty coverage on the CVT. The warranty extension includes the CVT assembly and internal CVT components, gaskets, and seals, CVT control valve body, torque converter, cooler kit (if applicable) and reprogramming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), on the vehicles listed in this announcement. The warranty is being extended from its original duration of 60 months/60,000 miles to 84 months/84,000 miles (whichever occurs first). Co
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLICKING 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 this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CVT 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 informing them of the terms of a proposed class action that, subject to final court approval, could extend the warranty on the CVT for the following vehicles: 2017-2018 Altima (L33) 2018-2019 Sentra (B17) 2018-2019 Versa Sedan (N17) 2018-2019 Versa Note (E12) The proposed settlement (including the proposed warranty extension) is still subject to final approval by the court presiding over the proposed settlement. The court will determine if the settlement will be approved at or shortly after a hearing that is scheduled for
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DRIVE 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 obvious CV Joint risk due to water intrusion and/or complete grease loss, check for REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (CV Joint Boot Kit) availability. ï· If there is a REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (CV Joint Boot Kit) available for the vehicle being repaired, do NOT replace the axle. Install a new boot kit following the procedure in the ESM. o Refer to the ESM: TRANSMISSION & DRIVELINE > FRONT AXLE > REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION > FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BOOT o If the complete axle (drive shaft) is replaced when only a new boot is required, the
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Unknown! Repeatedly spent thousands of dollars on repairs but car never fixes. Check engine light on every month and car stalls often.
I have a 5 speed manual transmission that has a defective throwout bearing clutch assembly that 'sticks' and does not engage or release in a smooth manner. Each shift is 'jerky' when the clutch pedal is released and the power transfer from gear to gear is is a sudden jerk instead of a smooth continuation of acceleration. Downshifting is not as jerky as up thru the gears shifting. My assumption is…
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…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Nissan Versa?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 9 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?
Based on the 9 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 15,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2018/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.