YearToAvoid

2016 Nissan Versa Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 20 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Nissan Versa, 25% of its 80 total complaints for the year. No related recall is listed for this component. Median mileage at failure is 79,000 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
20
25% of 80
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
79,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Vehicles stall or lose power unexpectedly at low speed, including while crossing intersections or railroad tracks, sometimes with no warning light.
  • CVT transmission shudders, jerks, or slips, with some owners reporting the car cannot exceed a low speed such as 5 to 20 mph after the shuddering starts.
  • Owners report the transmission range sensor triggering code P0705, tied to sluggish acceleration and a thunk-like slip sensation.
  • Some vehicles roll backward on hills or fail to accelerate from a stop, then respond normally after the engine is turned off and restarted.
  • Complete transmission failure has been reported around highway speeds, with owners saying dealers or independent shops confirmed the CVT needed repair or replacement.

When 2016 Nissan Versa transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 25, 2016, latest Mar 11, 2026.

2016 Nissan Versa transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Dec 2016Sep 2019Feb 2020Apr 2021Jul 2023Mar 2025
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2016 to Mar 2026; peak Oct 2022 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Nissan Versa

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Versa model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200713 (4%)
  2. 200817 (4%)
  3. 200920 (4%)
  4. 20106 (2%)
  5. 20118 (3%)
  6. 2012163 (34%)
  7. 201373 (36%)
  8. 201482 (40%)
  9. 201547 (28%)
  10. 201620 (25%)
  11. 20179 (15%)
  12. 201810 (18%)
  13. 201911 (46%)
  14. 202016 (25%)
  15. 20219 (29%)
  16. 20227 (35%)
  17. 202315 (41%)
  18. 202434 (36%)
  19. 20254 (33%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2016 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA has 20 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Versa, which is 25% of all 80 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Nissan Versa transmission?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain component on the 2016 Versa.
At what mileage do 2016 Versa transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported complaints is 79,000 miles.
Have these transmission issues caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this component on the 2016 Versa shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries reported.
Is the 2016 Versa worse than other Versa years for transmission complaints?
The 25% share for 2016 is lower than 2012 (34%), 2013 (36%), and 2014 (40%), but higher than 2017 (15%) and 2018 (18%), based on NHTSA complaint data across model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.