2018 Nissan Versa: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 27, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · NM

Car jerks and doesn’t go into gear right away. Never know when it will happen. There is a notice from Nissan that it happens because of short in tail light. Happened approx 3 yrs ago and has started again but worse. It is available for inspection No recall but very unsafe. While attempting to cross street it didn’t go into gear and I was almost hit. Also almost rear ended cause driver behind me didn’t expect me to not go into gear Took in 3 yrs ago and tail light fixed. Now new mechanic tried fixing it but it only worked about a week. Have to take it back in so he can try fixing it again. Same code keeps coming up Check engine light came on and off for last three weeks. Doesn’t stay on so I can’t tell when it will happen. Very dangerous! Should be recalled

Filed Oct 24, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · GA

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". The problems arised again in March/April of 2022. I asked same Service Advisor for a new transmission. The vehicle was still within 60,000 miles warranty He said he could not do it without code and Nissan Corp. Approval. Losing acceleration when left turn signal on, fear getting stuck in intersection. I was fed up. Now dealing with a 3rd Nissan dealership for the extended warranty (84,000 miles) with 300-400 miles left . Warranty letter came July, 2023. I spoke to a Nissan Corp. Customer Service Rep. who stated that "Nissan would not tell the dealerships what to do". Yet when you go to the dealerships, they state "we can't complete any work without computer code and Corporate Approval." Nissan's Warranty Settlement is a gimmick. They lose nothing. Customers have to take vehicle to their dealerships with no satisfaction of their grievance. I know how to drive and purchased enough new and used vehicles to know when it has problem. I have not ever had transmission issue until dealing with Nissan. I did not go to work on 10-12 hours shifts, to pay over $21,000 for a Lemon. I never saw any warning posted at the purchasing dealer in relations to the CVT issues. I didn't see anything at the other two Nissan Dealers either. I need a new transmission or check. That's what customers deserve and should get. Please issue recalls before innocent lives are lost. I will never buy Nissan again.

Filed Oct 29, 2021 · Transmission · FL

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 the folks who assembled the transmission and connected it to the engine did not line all parts in a straight line, so that the throwout bearing clutch plate mechanism is not perfectly balanced, along with the hydraulically controlled throw out bearing clutch plate mechanism forcing these items to over ride the off centered spinning mass to re-connect with a sudden jerk to complete the up shifted gear power transmission. I get the sensation of the clutch being 'ridden' even tho' the clutch pedal has been completely released back to its start position. Quite often when shifting from 2nd to 3rd, the clutch gets released but the gear is still in 2nd and not in 3rd, I have to resort to pushing the clutch pedal down again and releasing it so that 3rd gear engages. Getting into reverse is not easy, either. It takes 2 or 3 attempts from neutral to get the gear shift lever to get into position to allow the reverse gear to get engaged. It was like this from day 1. Nissan mechanics tell me the car is so new, it will take time for this stiffness to ease off. Well, 3 years later that never happened. The transmission/clutch/throwout bearing assembly was mounted in a defective manner at the factory, Nissan refuses to acknowledge this mistake. A recall is mandatory so that these defective transmission/clutch/throwout bearing have to be replaced and installed to original factory specs, with the engine out of the car to ensure the alignment/balancing required can be done properly. In the Army the expression...MAKE IT HAPPEN ... applies here.

Filed Sep 4, 2019 · 27,000 miles · MD

I am at 27000 miles, and I've started to experience intermittent jerking of the car between 1000-2000 RPM. It's almost as though the transmission skips a beat, in some cases slightly propelling the vehicle forward. If your foot is starting to go down on the brake, there is a moment the car suddenly slows down (you take the foot off the brake slightly), then propels forward. This jerking action can cause a severe issue with stopping at a red light or about to make a turn. At the same time, you hear the rev counter abruptly jumping changing as well.

Filed Oct 1, 2018 · Wheels · 103,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 nissan versa. While driving various speeds, the vehicle jerked to the right. There were no warning indicators displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road to inspect the tires for knots. Nissan south of union city (4080 jonesboro rd, union, city, georgia 30291, (770) 964-4900) was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to firestone (4599 jonesboro rd, union city, georgia 30291, (770) 225-1531) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was improperly aligned and that all four tires needed replacement. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.