Check a VIN

Nissan Versa hesitation problems

71 of the 3,330 owner complaints about the Nissan Versa describe hesitation when accelerating, most of them for the 2012 model year.

owner complaints
71
worst model year
2012
typical mileage
70,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2024
    1
  • 2023
    1
  • 2022
    1
  • 2021
    1
  • 2020
    3
  • 2019
    2
  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    3
  • 2015
    7
  • 2014
    8
  • 2013
    13
  • 2012
    21
  • 2011
    1
  • 2010
    3
  • 2009
    3
  • 2008
    1
  • 2007
    1

What owners say

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · IL

Electrical issues the entirety of owning this car. Now the car has a dead transmission at 88k miles. The car has caused me to almost be t-boned in a intersection twice due to unexpected loss of acceleration and power. Before trans went down it would stall, hesitate, and now it is completely dead and wont move and i have to put a new transmission in my car. Completely unsafe, i could have lost my life or at very least been severely injured.

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Transmission · FL

My 2020 Nissan versa kept hesitating when being put in reverse the engine light kept coming on every few months I kept being told it was other issues until the transmission went out. I got it checked on multiple occasions because of the way it was hesitating and seemed like it was heating up.

Filed Jun 3, 2026 · Transmission · CA

Vehicle: 2019 Nissan Versa SV VIN: [XXX] My vehicle experienced intermittent transmission problems including hesitation during acceleration, shuddering, rough deceleration, loss of the Drive ("D") indicator, unexpected rear-view camera activation, and entry into fail-safe (limp) mode. Diagnostic code P0705 (Transmission Range Sensor / PRNDL Input) was stored. A Nissan dealership determined that the cause was a faulty left rear tail lamp assembly. After repairing the tail lamp, all transmission-related symptoms disappeared. My concern is that a failure, corrosion, or poor connection in a rear tail lamp should not be capable of affecting transmission operation, gear recognition, or vehicle propulsion. In this case, a tail lamp electrical fault caused transmission fault codes, loss of proper gear indication, and reduced vehicle performance. This design appears to allow a rear lighting circuit to interfere with transmission control functions. Such a condition may result in hesitation, reduced power, fail-safe mode activation, or loss of propulsion while driving, creating a potential safety hazard when entering traffic, merging, crossing intersections, or responding to emergency situations. I have also located multiple reports from other Nissan Versa owners and Nissan technicians describing similar incidents involving tail lamp corrosion or electrical backfeeding that resulted in P0705 fault codes, transmission-related symptoms, incorrect gear indication, and drivability problems. [XXX] I believe the federal safety agency should investigate whether this electrical system design defect affects other Nissan Versa vehicles and poses a broader vehicle safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 23, 2026 · Transmission · GA

The vehicle experienced a failure of the transmission/CVT transmission system and is available for inspection upon request. Prior to the failure, the vehicle began showing symptoms including hesitation while accelerating, jerking, slipping between gears, and delayed response when pressing the gas pedal beginning around February 2026. Warning indicators and abnormal driving behavior continued leading up to the complete failure. The issue placed my safety and the safety of others at risk because the vehicle unexpectedly lost power and struggled to accelerate in traffic, increasing the risk of a collision. The problem has been confirmed by a dealership/independent mechanic after inspection of the vehicle. The vehicle and transmission system have also been inspected by service professionals, and documentation of the diagnosis is available if needed.

Filed Apr 14, 2026 · LA

Since 2021 my 2020 Nissan versa SR had been giving me problems with the sensors. All of the dash lights would come on. Then in 2023 my vehicle started to stall and hesitate. It’s gotten to the point where I’d be taking a left turn and I’d press the gas and my car would move a few inches. It’s become very dangerous. Even after changing the air flow sensor my car continues to have problems with acceleration, stalling and hesitating.

Filed Feb 19, 2026 · Transmission · MO

The car has 56000 miles and the power train is still under warranty. The CVT belt recently started slipping. When I stop and then take off normally, there is a jitter in the transmission that can be felt and heard. Sometimes it is quite loud and vibrated quite heavily to the point there is concern it will break or fail. It also hesitates at times when accelerating from a stop or slow down and you can hear and feel the slippage before it kicks in. I took it to St Charles Nissan stating they test drove it and the jittering happened twice. The dealership says that Nissan told them this is normal ans all Nissans do this in Ludington new ones. Mine did not do this when it was new. My daughter has a new Nissn Versa and hers does not do this. The dealership says they can investigate further by re wording the anomaly and will charge me if Nissan says they won't cover it under warranty. Very distressing.

Filed Jan 30, 2026 · Steering, Suspension · CA · crash

My 2021 Nissan Versa was struck at high speed while parked and required extensive repairs that exceeded the vehicle’s value. After the repairs, the transmission began acting erratically. The car shudders, hesitates, and feels unstable while driving. Acceleration is unpredictable and the vehicle does not feel safe or reliable. These issues were not present before the collision and have continued to worsen. I have children and do not feel it is safe to operate this vehicle, so it is currently parked.

Filed Dec 27, 2023 · Acceleration · CA

2023 Nissan Versa S has manual transmission. Car will intermittently lose acceleration. When this problem starts, car is unable to go over 30mph in any gear and even with the accelerator pedal pushed to the floor. This has occurred 5 times so far. Sudden loss of speed creates a life threatening situation when driving on a highway and speeds of 65 mph are expected. The car will suddenly drop to 30mph or lower without any warning and will not accelerate. Problem is not fixed by restarting the engine. Car was taken to Premier Nissan of Fremont, California on 10/20/23. They reported: 2560 did not verify customer concern. Road tested with additional technician, drove vehicle in every gear from 1-5 5mph to 65 mph. Also down shifted from there and no hesitation or loss of power was felt. Vehicle moves fine in all gears. All ok at this time. Car was returned to me on 10/24/23. GPS locator on car indicates that car was always parked at dealership for the 4 days and not driven. I connected a OBD code reader to the car's port and it reports Camshaft Position Error but Premier Nissan of Fremont, California refused to take that input saying they did not want to influence their technician. After the "no-problem" diagnosis they stated that they do not see any history of issues on their NISSAN supplied OBD reader. Hence the car has no problem. I am fearful of driving it on the freeway and loosing acceleration which will result in me getting rear ended and killed!!!

Filed Feb 2, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · VA

The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while reversing into a parking spot, the vehicle began to hesitate and jerk before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine and brake warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that after several attempts the vehicle restarted. The contact stated she had experienced the failure six times. The contact called and notified the Used Car dealer where she purchased the vehicle of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Nov 7, 2022 · Transmission · 62,606 miles · TX

The contact owns 2013 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission warning light illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist where it was diagnosed that an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The sensor was replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the transmission specialist where it was diagnosed that an unknown sensor needed to be replace. The unknown sensor and battery were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact then stated that her son had to jump start the vehicle multiple times before the vehicle started. The contact stated that she notified the mechanic at the transmission specialist where it was determined to be an electrical failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,606.

Related recalls

Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicatorReported February 1, 2012 · 36,608 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2012 versa vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and manufactured from june 9, 2011, through january 13, 2012 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114,”theft protection.” due to interference between the shifter rod and the shift knob, the vehicles may be shifted out of the park position without depressing the brake pedal.
Risk
The operator can inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the shifter knob or the shifter assembly as needed, free of charge. The safety recall began on mearh 5, 2012. Owners may contact nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 12V032000 · Recall details

Questions about the Nissan Versa hesitation

Which Nissan Versa years have hesitation when accelerating problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2012 (21 complaints), 2013 (13 complaints) and 2014 (8 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Nissan Versa?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history