Nissan Versa jerking problems

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 Jul 9, 2026 · Transmission · OH

At approximately 135,000 miles my automatic transmission began "slipping" or lurching while accelerating. I took the car to a Nissan dealership, as well as 2 local mechanics, and all 3 sources have told me that my transmission is having identical symptoms to the recalled Versa models that previously had transmission issues. I'm now forced to replace the transmission before it hopefully goes out completely (the CVT). The problem has been diagnosed and reproduced by 3 separate auto mechanic shops, including one Nissan dealership in Colerain, Ohio. There have been absolutely no warning lights, messages, or signals from the car. When I accelerate from a stop, the car lurches at about 20-25 MPH. When I'm driving on the highway at a steady, high speed, I don't have the issue.

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 Mar 25, 2026 · Fuel system · 13 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended and made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was driven to the nearest family member's residence due to safety concerns. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was driving significantly sluggish and was jerking abnormally. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The contact turned off the vehicle. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle was driven but failed to drive at the intended speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that fuel was not reaching the engine and two other unknown failures were found. The dealer added fuel to the vehicle, and unknown clamps were installed on the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to Nissan of Downtown LA (635 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015); where it was determined that the failure could be related to the fuel quality. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the dealer that an unknown computer part for the engine needed to be installed, and the vehicle needed to be reset. The vehicle was not repaired because the first dealer who sold the vehicle declined to cover the repair. An unknown yellow warning light was intermittently illuminated. The failure mileage was approximately 13.

Filed Mar 24, 2026 · Transmission · 155,146 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle unexpectedly jerked and stalled with the transmission warning light and the malfunction indicator warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 155,146.

Filed Mar 17, 2026 · Acceleration, Lights · MN

I got into the car and started it up. Put in reverse car shuts off. Re started and put in reverse. Was able to drive out of apartment parking lot then no power to speed and car was a little jerky and on dashboard it said warning malfunction see owners manual with a few pictures on dashboard

Filed Mar 14, 2026 · TX

When you take off from stopping, it jerks some and doesn't want to move. It also will stop in the middle of the road while driving. I bought this car new in 2024. It's very dangerous especially when I have children in the car. It has happened several times.

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · Airbags, Transmission · AL

0 The vehicle has a CVT transmission failure causing severe shuddering, jerking, and progressive loss of acceleration. Initially the vehicle would not exceed 20 mph, then worsened to 15 mph, then 10 mph, and now will not exceed 5 mph. The issue consistently occurs after the vehicle has been driven for more than approximately 2 minutes. There are no warning lights or alerts prior to the failure. The vehicle has completely lost power while driving and has stopped in the middle of the road with no ability to accelerate or restart the vehicle, creating an extremely dangerous situation and risk of collision. This appears to be a known and common defect with the CVT transmission on this vehicle model and year. The condition has progressively worsened and makes the vehicle unsafe to operate.

Filed Mar 10, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · MI

While merging onto [XXX] toward [XXX] , my 2016 Nissan Versa suffered a total loss of power while crossing active railroad tracks. The car stuttered and jerked before completely stalling and stopped responding. I was stranded in a high-traffic zone around [XXX] PM. I was worried that the vehicles coming behind me would not see my small car right away, as I was positioned past the railroad tracks and partway down the middle of the downhill slope. Because of the crest of the hill behind me, I lost sight of approaching traffic in my rearview mirror, which meant drivers coming over the top of the hill wouldn't see my stalled car until they were already descending toward me. I was fortunately able to get it restarted and drove it immediately to a Nissan dealership. A diagnostic scan confirmed Code P0746. The service technician told me the CVT assembly is internally destroyed ('toasted') and requires a full replacement. This catastrophic failure happened at only 50,484 miles, which is dangerously premature for a major transmission component. (note- i have a tech video that they sent me of there diagnostic just cant apply to the notes) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 10, 2026 · Brakes · WV

When making a left hand turn the left front brake will lock up an jerk the steering wheel