Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Nissan Versa owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Vehicle is moving in forward direction always even if the gear shift is in Park or Reverse mode. It is scary. It put us lot of stress in terms of physical health, mental health and finance. We nearly met with an accident as vehicle was moving always in forward direction as soon as we moved the car from the parking lot. We towed the vehicle considering our and public safety. Contacted Nissan dealership and consumer affairs team. They went only by the books. Told that there is no recall. They did not seem to care about the safety. They asked me to go ahead and shell out for fixing. The same vehicle stopped in the middle of the road with heavy jerk/forward movement. We were lucky that we did not meet with an accident. We had to tow the vehicle in that case. I had to replace fuel pump at my own cost. …
After having my transmission replaced with a used CVT transmission on Dec 2021, I went to leave the transmission shop only to have no power. When I gave my vehicle gas, there was no power it would not go forward or backwards. The code repeatedly coming up was P2101. My car was in the shop for 4 months with Williams Transmission in Park Hills, MO 63601. [phone]. Every time Willie would call & say it's fixed & I would go try driving g home, again same issue. Finally on March 23, 2022 I was called once again to come pick up my car after hack v another used CVT Transmission put in still the same code P2101 was coming up with the check engine light. It took me 40 mins to go home occasionally getting evcrlation to make it home, it should've took no more than 10 mins from his shop to my house.. I paid $3000 to have transmission replaced and still isn't running correctly. …
I stopped at an atm when I backed out of space cruise control lights started flashing horn going off air bag light flashing passenger door clicking. Made it to store parked car got horn to stop. When I backed up out of space and turned wheel air bag deployed. Lights flashing horn sounding alarms. Turned off vehicle call 911 fire department came to see if no danger of fire and if I was ok. Called ins company set up CV claim because air bag deployed for no apparent reason hit me in the chest possibly due to electrical something malfunctioned.police also came but said I did not need to report anything because I did not hit anything. Called geico had vehicle towed and because air bag deployed they created a claim. Had vehicle towed to firestone but they were closed today adjuster from insurance company coming out tomorrow 892021 to assess damage and repairs needed.
I've had problems with this car from day one. All manor like Ac and heater going out that's OK. All issues I can deal with in time. But Now this can't handle I've had to actually stop driving my vehicle. The check Engine light starts to flash then the car doesn't want to shift feeping like your about to blow up the car if you go over 20mph. transmission start to jerk and sUpper like your not get fuel or something. It's been missing up so bad not to mention it's freakin scary and you terrified you've got to pull it over. Turn off the car try again. I've had to leave my vehicle at random places multiple times too scared to drive it home. Now I tried to finally look at the problem to see what it might be happening cus nobody else seems to know what the issue is. And I see there several people with the same issue on the 2012 Nissan Versa.
Backing up out of a parking space the lights started flashing cruise control air bag horn started blowing whole dash lit up when I straightened the vehicle the horn stopped. Got to my destination backed up a few feet as soon as I turned the wheel and attempted to put it in drive the airbag deployey. I did not hit anything. The airbag deployed for some unknown reason. Fearful car might catch fire very startling called 911 fire dept disabled battery had the vehicle towed and reported the issue to Nissan. I also reported this on Sunday after it happened.
I carry my family in the vehicle and the lights would come on for the traction control and check engine light and speed sensor light and the car would stop moving and shut off while going down the road and the brakes would barely work and the transmission would stop pulling or slip and the engine would not rev up that is really dangerous when your traveling with traffic something needs to be done about this and I have read alot of other complaints about the same problems that other people are having
I carry my family with me and in traffic the traction control light would come on and the car would loose power and not accelerate almost causing accidents I was told it was the speed sensors malfunctioning and the brakes would not work properly when trying to stop
When driving the car slows down to a crawl or just stalls and want pick up speed or while driving comes to a complete stop, also it makes a noise and when it rains it sounds like Rain is trapped in the doors or walls of the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while on an incline and randomly while driving on a roadway. The contact also mentioned that the transmission was slow to change gears between first and third gears. The contact had to constantly check the gears to ensure they were changed over. The service engine warning light also randomly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that there was a CVT transmission failure advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was also experiencing a failure in which the distance between the accelerator pedal and brake pedal was causing his foot to become trapped between the two pedals. The contact had to maneuver his feet with the pedals to prevent a failure. …
I purchased a 2012 Nissan Versa from a private owner for my grandson to drive at college. A week after the purchase, my grandson was driving on i95 at 55 MPH and the engine started to slow down. He tried to accelerate, the car continued to slow down while making a horrible sound like it was stuck between gears. He coasted to the nearest exit, pulled onto the shoulder and turned the car off. He restarted the car and was able to make it home. I took the car to a Nissan dealer since it only had 18,000 miles and is under warranty. They were not able to duplicate the issue but did replace a "sensor". Two weeks later it happened again and Nissan again replaced a "sensor". The third time, my grandson was driving to the poconos and just made it to the lodge before the car shutdown completely. We had the car towed to the nearest dealer where it sits today. …
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to March 11, 2015.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the console trim panel, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Acceleration complaints in other Versa years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2012 Nissan Versa?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2012 Nissan Versa, 7% of the model year's 486 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Nissan Versa acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-507 (accelerator pedal, Aug 12, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Versa acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.