Is the 2013 Nissan Versa a bad year?
204 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 73, 7.3× a quiet Versa year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 62k–102k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Versa owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 86,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 73 (36%) | 62k–102k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 9 (4%) | 29k–88k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 34 (17%) | 10k–51k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 28 (14%) | 43k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 27 (13%) | 23k–81k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 22 (11%) | 15k–76k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 18 (9%) | 7k–40k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical system | 12 (6%) | 32k–77k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 8 (4%) | 8k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | 30k–71k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 86,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 204 complaints: 18 mention a crash · 9 report an injury · 18 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Apr 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Nissan CVT transmission experiencing issues, being very unsafe. While driving down the road normally, the car started revving very high.
2013 Nissan versa struggles to turn on. Car also idles rough and has stalled at stop lights. Took it to buena park Nissan and they said there was nothing wrong with it.
I recently purchased this 4 year old vehicle with 62000 miles on it. Driving on the highway at 65 miles per hour, the vehicle suddenly lost power.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 86,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Nissan Versa: 1
The affected vehicles have a center console trim panel that may catch the driver's shoe and delay the transition from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. A delay in the application of the brake pedal would lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 88
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Nissan Versa. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Clicking noise from front or rear axle during take-off/acceleration
EVAP leak DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 information
DTC P0456 caused by EVAP leak at vent control valve o-ring
CVT oil leak diagnosis using fluorescent dye
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Pedal Operation Interference
Pedal Operation Interference
Excessive Brake Pedal Travel
Neighbouring years
2012 Versa: 486 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2014 Versa: 206 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Nissan Versa year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · All Versa years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Nissan Versa a bad year?
204 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 73, 7.3× a quiet Versa year. At 86,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 62k–102k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Versa?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (73), fuel system (9), brakes (34), engine (28), speed control (27). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 62k–102k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Versa have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 15V-507). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.