More Possible CVT Problems

[RickT2012]

I've started seeing other posts about CVT problems on here and I think there may be a problem with mine too.

I have a 2012 Versa sedan that I got at the beginning of November, so it doesn't have a lot of wear on it. For the past week or so it's been accelerating oddly. This only occurs about half the time, when accelerating from a complete stop, it will accelerate very slowly until I hit 37 or 38 mph, and then it will jerk forward, and it feels similar to a regular automatic transmission shifting hard. Also, just yesterday, it started acting strange when decelerating or braking slowly. When it gets down to 20 mph, it also jerks a bit. I've also noticed that my average fuel economy has dropped, from 37 to 38 mpg during the first few months I drove it, down to a steady 34.1 mpg.

I figured that it had something to do with my driving, but with a quick google search I discovered that one of the most common issues with CVTs is jerking, and that Nissan is no stranger to CVT problems.

If anyone else has had these problems, let me know what you did about them. I'm going to try to take it to a dealer this weekend, I feel like there could be something seriously wrong with my transmission, and that this shouldn't happen with only 1250 miles on the car.

[kc5f]

Four tanks isn't really enough to see a good trend in mileage, especially when you're still breaking it in. But the CVT definitely shouldn't be doing what yours is doing. I'd bring it in right away. (None of our three have had any "jerking" issues, or any other problems.)

[RickT2012]

I will probably bring it in if my dad says so. The jerking isn't very hard, but you can still feel it. Both my parents are going to drive it today to see if they feel anything. I just don't remember it doing this until about a week ago. Most complaints about CVTs also have a noise that accompany them, but mine is actually very quiet.

[JHR16DE]

Any updates? I hope its not anything serious.

[RickT2012]

I ended up not taking it to the dealer. The night I posted that last reply, I tried to show my dad and nothing happened. It hasn't been jerking at all since then.

[JHR16DE]

Thats good to hear. Have you done any mods to the car?

[RickT2012]

None yet, but when I get a job I'll be able to afford new wheels and tires, and a friend of mine may sell me a new exhaust tip for dirt cheap.

[Garrettcode]

I'd heard they changed the CVT in the newer models, but I guess not as significantly as I'd hoped.

I drive a 2008 Nissan Versa SL with CVT. I've had the same problem twice now, but the second time was the worst. I'd have the pedal to the floor when leaving from a dead stop at a light, then the transmission would shift, and I'd have to back off the gas really fast or go through the bumper of the guy ahead of me. The problem is a brake sensor. It's not detecting that you're slowing down and stopping, so it doesn't shift into a lower gear ratio. This results in slow acceleration off the line because it's the equivalent of trying to start in 3rd gear when driving a manual.

If you do take it in, ask them to check the brake sensor.

[RickT2012]

I will ask them about that because I have to take it in for a recall soon.