The Nissan Versa is a simple yet stylish subcompact sedan that caters to those looking for an easy-to-drive vehicle. It’s also inexpensive and quite user-friendly. When compared to its competitors, the Nissan Versa differentiates itself by offering a bit more. This includes standard active safety features such as AEB. This article and video below explores the top 5 Nissan Versa Problems.
Top 5 Nissan Versa Problems – 2012 to 2019
1. Automatic Transmission
The first problem on this list relates to a common safety issue that affects most Nissan vehicles. It involves the CVT transmission. When it goes bad, it starts to hesitate and can sometimes refuse to kick into gear when you need it to.
One of the symptoms that many people report seeing is increasing RPMs while the vehicle is sitting still. The RPMs start to go up but for some reason, the car’s speed stays the same. If you’re in traffic, you’d have to wait for the transmission to kick into gear before you can drive off.
In severe cases, owners also report having a transmission that refuses to shift from Drive to Park. In such a situation, the transmission still stays engaged. Turning off the ignition while the car is in Park and engaging the Parking brake would help solve the problem temporarily. However, it all boils down to an internal issue. You’ll need to replace the transmission to completely solve the problem.
2. Canister Vent Control Valve (P0442, P0455, P0456)
The canister vent control valve controls the flow of air in and out of the EVAP system. This helps the EVAP system to collect and store fuel vapors inside the charcoal canister. When the canister control valve goes bad, the only symptom that you’re going to have is a Check Engine Light that generates the P0442, P0455, or P0456 trouble code.
These codes tell you that you have a major leak in your EVAP system. It also means that the fuel system is not venting properly. The canister vent control valve is located on the driver’s side beneath the rear bumper. It is found inside a large black canister that you’d have to remove before gaining access to it.
However, before replacing the valve, it’s always best to first check the gas cap. You want to see if the gasket is dry rotted or cracked. If it’s not making a good seal, it is going to cause a leak in the EVAP system and generate the same diagnostic codes. You also want to check if the gas cap clicks into place when you reinstall it. If it doesn’t, that means it’s damaged inside and may not be sealing well.
3. Carbon Canister
The carbon canister is also known as the charcoal canister. It is the part of the EVAP system that captures hydrocarbon vapor emissions that escape from the fuel tank. On the 2nd Generation Nissan Versa, it is located right where the canister vent control valve is found. It also causes the same problem except for this time, it does not come down to a Check Engine Light that translates to an EVAP leak.
One of the symptoms that you’ll notice is going to the fueling station and seeing the pump fill for a few seconds and then cut out. When you push it in for a second time, it continues to fill gas into your fuel tank and then cuts out again. If you listen a little closer, you’ll hear the fuel go in and then try to push back up for some reason.
The cause of this is a failing charcoal canister. It’s supposed to have a vent that helps to purge fuel vapors. When it fails, you’ll hear some guggling coming from the system every time you try to fuel up. The best solution here would be to replace the canister. It contains parts inside that would be very difficult to clean or fix.
4. Ignition Cylinder
The ignition cylinder is the part of the car where you insert the key to start the vehicle. When its mechanical system gets damaged, you may find yourself having to turn the key back and forth severally in order to start the car.
The key’s grooves are designed to sit copacetic with little locks and tumblers that are located inside the ignition cylinder. When the locks and tumblers wear out, the ignition cylinder is not going to recognize the key.
This problem is prevalent where car owners attach long, heavy, and dangly items to the key fob. When all these items hang on the ignition cylinder, they cause a lot of pressure on the internal mechanical components, causing them to wear. The best solution here is to replace the ignition cylinder and lighten the load on the key fob.
5. Axle Click
An axle click is a common Nissan Versa problem that occurs in many front-wheel vehicles. When you start the car, the transmission activates the front axles and tries to turn the wheels as you accelerate. The axle is connected to a wheel bearing through splines. If there’s a gap in between that’s filled with air, the axle is going to twist a little bit every time you apply pressure or torque through acceleration.
This mainly occurs when there’s not enough grease in between the moving parts. Grease helps to eliminate the clicking sound that you hear. Ideally, the axle is not really supposed to be moving where it connects to the wheel bearing. You may need to replace the nut that goes in there to fix the issue.
It will require you to remove the axle from the wheel bearing, put some grease in there, and use the new nut to secure the assembly. Remember to torque it to the manufacturer’s specification which is 133 foot-pounds. This is a common problem that is seen on most Nissans that were produced as early as 2007.
Shop by Part:
- 2012 Nissan Versa Parts
- 2013 Nissan Versa Parts
- 2014 Nissan Versa Parts
- 2015 Nissan Versa Parts
- 2016 Nissan Versa Parts
- 2017 Nissan Versa Parts
- 2018 Nissan Versa Parts
- 2019 Nissan Versa Parts
Related Content:
