Sounds normal to me.
2012 Versa Transmission Problems?
Hey all,
I've had my 2012 CVT Automatic Versa since last summer and I've been having what appears to be some transmission problems with it. The symptoms are:
I've had it in for warranty work once and had them look at it, but they didn't find anything. I find it hard to describe exactly what the problem is, but it feels like there's something wrong.
Anyone have any ideas of what the problem might be, that I might be able to take back to the dealership and ask about?
I've had my 2012 CVT Automatic Versa since last summer and I've been having what appears to be some transmission problems with it. The symptoms are:
- If I brake from about 40km/h to around 20km/h, the car continues to slow down, as if it were in first gear. It feels like the car is slowing down way faster than it should (exactly as if it were in too low a gear), and if I pop it into neutral, it feels "normal". It still feels normal when popping it back into gear - it's like the transmission just picked a gear too low.
- I occasionally get the same "gear too low" feeling when going down slight hills. In other vehicles, I find that the vehicle will accelerate slightly with my foot off the gas. In the Versa CVT, it keeps roughly the same speed. Popping it into neutral again fixes the problem.
- Occasionally when putting my foot on the gas at low speeds, I hear a "clunk" in the engine. This usually happens when hitting the gas when one of the above problems is happening.
I've had it in for warranty work once and had them look at it, but they didn't find anything. I find it hard to describe exactly what the problem is, but it feels like there's something wrong.
Anyone have any ideas of what the problem might be, that I might be able to take back to the dealership and ask about?
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Oh - is this just common with all the Versas? I haven't had the same problems in other cars I've driven, so I though there was something wrong.Sounds normal to me.
It's the cvt, its constantly trying to keep the car in its peek power range.
I'm non expert on transmissions and I agree that the cvt is trying to keep the rpms in a peek range based on the other inputs from the ECM.It's the cvt, its constantly trying to keep the car in its peek power range.
I have the regular transmission in my Versa ( 1.8) and it does seem to brake more than I would like going down long hills with my foot off the gas and brake.
From my understanding the cvt has kind of variable pulley flanges that change the speed of the steel belt so there is a optimum points on the pulley flanges for best power and efficiency. So based on vehicle speed the transmission finds that range.
Maybe some other cvt owners can comment. This is a topic that I find very interesting.
on the down hill issue the transmission is allowing the engine to do the braking instead of you having to use up you brakes.
The clunk noise could be and engine mount or lower control arm that is starting to fail dealer needs to check thoroughly. my lower control arm was doing a clunk when taking off from dead stop and it failed after 1500 miles after clunk was first heard/ felt.
The first problem is related to engine braking so you don't have to use your brakes as much. it is a normal condition.
The clunk noise could be and engine mount or lower control arm that is starting to fail dealer needs to check thoroughly. my lower control arm was doing a clunk when taking off from dead stop and it failed after 1500 miles after clunk was first heard/ felt.
The first problem is related to engine braking so you don't have to use your brakes as much. it is a normal condition.
My car has 83,000 kms now and I have the CVT in mine. It makes an occasional clunking noise, but not often. Sometimes it feels like the transmission is slipping, but its working fine. I still have 5 years of warranty left (up to 200,000 kms just for the CVT).
I'm experiencing the first two symptoms. As for the third one, I hear and feel a jerk/jolt from the engine/CVT.Hey all,
I've had my 2012 CVT Automatic Versa since last summer and I've been having what appears to be some transmission problems with it. The symptoms are:
- If I brake from about 40km/h to around 20km/h, the car continues to slow down, as if it were in first gear. It feels like the car is slowing down way faster than it should (exactly as if it were in too low a gear), and if I pop it into neutral, it feels "normal". It still feels normal when popping it back into gear - it's like the transmission just picked a gear too low.
- I occasionally get the same "gear too low" feeling when going down slight hills. In other vehicles, I find that the vehicle will accelerate slightly with my foot off the gas. In the Versa CVT, it keeps roughly the same speed. Popping it into neutral again fixes the problem.
- Occasionally when putting my foot on the gas at low speeds, I hear a "clunk" in the engine. This usually happens when hitting the gas when one of the above problems is happening.
I've had it in for warranty work once and had them look at it, but they didn't find anything. I find it hard to describe exactly what the problem is, but it feels like there's something wrong.
Anyone have any ideas of what the problem might be, that I might be able to take back to the dealership and ask about?
can someone please consolidate these transmission threads into just one thread....as for your issue TKO, i think you'll find that it's pretty normal for these transmissions or at least thats what i have come up with when researching the same things you are now, you just have to keep in mind a CVT is not at all like a regular automatic transmission and as such will not exhibit the same behaviors as a regular automatic transmission. Just give yourself and the car time to adjust to each other as the transmission does take time to adapt in this car to your driving style, not saying that their isnt an issue in your case, but you just have to keep in mind not to jump to conclusions that their is something wrong with the transmission. this transmission does have it's quirks though, i know mine for example when i leave it parked on a steep incline and i dont let the parking brake engage before i set the E-brake when i go to start it and put it into gear it will make the same type of jerking motion that yours does, but other than that the transmission operates like it's supposed to and i've just chalked it up to me having to adjust to the car. Until something major happens to it though i dont worry about it and even if something did happen, i have a warranty in place to take care of it...my point is just dont stress over it to much and just have the dealer take a look at it when you get a chance
Normal engine braking like others have stated, I've gotten use to it because in my old Maxima 4 speed auto I would run regular gas (I know, I know) and it would retard the timing and it kind of feels like that in the Versa when you let off the throttle.
Just relax and utilize it to your advantage. I find the engine/transmission braking very handy in city stop and go traffic.
Sometimes if you don't come to a complete stop and apply the gas CVT might engage or grab harshly and make a sound, I believe this is normal also. Probably just the torque converter engaging, I've found being gentle with the throttle it's not that bad.
Since the CVT is computer controlled you can't really do anything about all it's quirks, the best thing is just be gentle with the throttle and let the computer sort itself then gently build up power. You just have to get a feel for the "sweet spot" with respect to throttle inputs and understanding how the CVT will react.
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Just relax and utilize it to your advantage. I find the engine/transmission braking very handy in city stop and go traffic.
Sometimes if you don't come to a complete stop and apply the gas CVT might engage or grab harshly and make a sound, I believe this is normal also. Probably just the torque converter engaging, I've found being gentle with the throttle it's not that bad.
Since the CVT is computer controlled you can't really do anything about all it's quirks, the best thing is just be gentle with the throttle and let the computer sort itself then gently build up power. You just have to get a feel for the "sweet spot" with respect to throttle inputs and understanding how the CVT will react.
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I would say mine (also a 2012 versa CVT) behaves similarly. In addition, the CVT seems to want to find a lower "cruising gear" (drops to a lower RPM) sooner than when the engine is warming up. I've read where the CVT will respond differently depending upon how warmed-up the engine is.Hey all,
I've had my 2012 CVT Automatic Versa since last summer and I've been having what appears to be some transmission problems with it. The symptoms are:
- If I brake from about 40km/h to around 20km/h, the car continues to slow down, as if it were in first gear. It feels like the car is slowing down way faster than it should (exactly as if it were in too low a gear), and if I pop it into neutral, it feels "normal". It still feels normal when popping it back into gear - it's like the transmission just picked a gear too low.
- I occasionally get the same "gear too low" feeling when going down slight hills. In other vehicles, I find that the vehicle will accelerate slightly with my foot off the gas. In the Versa CVT, it keeps roughly the same speed. Popping it into neutral again fixes the problem.
- Occasionally when putting my foot on the gas at low speeds, I hear a "clunk" in the engine. This usually happens when hitting the gas when one of the above problems is happening.
I've had it in for warranty work once and had them look at it, but they didn't find anything. I find it hard to describe exactly what the problem is, but it feels like there's something wrong.
Anyone have any ideas of what the problem might be, that I might be able to take back to the dealership and ask about?
Don't write off that clunk sound. I had a clunk sound and then my mileage reduced a few miles per gallon. I thought the decrease was the new tires I had put on. After another set of tires, it was still low and started getting lower. RPMs started settling around 3k at 65mph. The problem was the torque convertor solenoid. At 68k miles (normally out of warranty but I had purchased the 120k) the transmission finally started reporting it. I was 2k miles away from home at the time. It made it home but only got about 29mpg the whole way. Nissan is replacing my transmission today. The code that finally came up was P0740. I drove with the clunk, then loss of power, worse gas mileage, then surging at take off, for 38k miles before the transmission gave a code so they could find the problem. Still love my Versa but the CVT is not built tough enough for hilly roads. Everyone I know that has a Versa in our area has lost a transmission now.
Wait, where does one get a 5 year warranty on the CVT? Are you in Canada?
Regarding the clunk..
when i first bought my 2011 versa with 40k miles i also noticed the clunk at low speeds & in Reverse, and took it back to the dealer so they could check it out. they said nothing was wrong. so i was assuming it just didn't do it when they were testing it.As it doesn't do it every time.
So later on it kept happening, well long story short...i Looked in the owners manual...yes that huge book. and other maint. intervals/suggestions. That clunk is most likely the Anti-Lock brake system performing its self check. It says it happens at low speeds and reverse =P
but if the clunk is very loud or effects the car/handling/shifting/or acceleration of ur car i would get it looked at for sure. Hope this helps someone! :wink
when i first bought my 2011 versa with 40k miles i also noticed the clunk at low speeds & in Reverse, and took it back to the dealer so they could check it out. they said nothing was wrong. so i was assuming it just didn't do it when they were testing it.As it doesn't do it every time.
So later on it kept happening, well long story short...i Looked in the owners manual...yes that huge book. and other maint. intervals/suggestions. That clunk is most likely the Anti-Lock brake system performing its self check. It says it happens at low speeds and reverse =P
but if the clunk is very loud or effects the car/handling/shifting/or acceleration of ur car i would get it looked at for sure. Hope this helps someone! :wink
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
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