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Fuel Tank Defect — Recall 20V112 (2020)
fuel smell; fuel leak; reduced fuel range; fuel filler or fuel tank recall
Safety2020
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2020-2024 Nissan Versa CVT shudder, 5MT limp-mode, steering & airbag recalls. California lemon law rights explained. Free case review.
You bought the Nissan Versa because the math made sense. It starts under $17,000, gets close to 40 miles per gallon on the highway, and carries Nissan's name on the hood. For a first car, a family's second vehicle, or a daily commuter in a city that doesn't coddle small cars, the promise was simple: reliable, affordable, sensible. Many owners have gotten exactly that. But a meaningful and growing number have found something else entirely.
For owners of 2020-2022 CVT-equipped Versas, the trouble often starts quietly — a slight shudder when pulling away from a stoplight, a faint jolt on the freeway at 45 mph. Nissan's dealers acknowledge the Technical Bulletins on the JF015E Xtronic CVT's belt-slip problem. What they sometimes don't say upfront is that the fix — a full CVT replacement — will cost six to eight thousand dollars the moment the powertrain warranty lapses. Complaints filed with NHTSA describe owners who returned to the dealer three and four times before the transmission finally failed outright.
For the growing number of buyers who chose the 2022-2024 5-speed manual Versa S — the entry-level trim that Nissan markets as the bare-bones, driver-focused option — the issue is different and more alarming. Stall the engine once, the way any new manual driver does at an intersection or on a hill, and the car may restart in a limp mode so severe that it cannot reach highway speed. NHTSA has opened preliminary investigation PE24007 on this exact defect. One dealer service foreman, during a joint road test with an owner, confirmed the P2615 crankshaft signal code and told the owner it was a 'known concern being looked into by engineering.' The investigation remains open. The fix does not yet exist.
Three formal safety recalls — two for electric power steering loss on 2021 models and one for a potentially dangerous airbag inflator on 2023-2024 models — layer additional complexity onto the Versa's ownership picture. If your Versa has spent time at the dealer for any combination of these issues, California's lemon law may give you options you haven't been told about.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
fuel smell; fuel leak; reduced fuel range; fuel filler or fuel tank recall
tail light out; exterior light warning; reduced rear visibility
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
transmission shudder at low speed; CVT shaking during acceleration; jerking or jolting on stop-and-go traffic; transmission slipping; check engine light on with transmission warning; reduced power; CVT overheating; transmission fails before 100,000 miles; $6,000-$8,000 dealer replacement quote
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
fuel smell; fuel leak; reduced fuel range; fuel filler or fuel tank recall
A fuel tank with a manufacturing defect that allows a fuel leak — raising fire risk — is among the most serious defects in the Song-Beverly framework. If a 2020 Versa owner experienced the fuel leak symptom (fuel smell, reduced range) and Nissan's remedy attempt under recall 20V112000 failed to resolve the defect, additional repair visits for the same root cause can count toward the 'reasonable number of attempts' threshold under California Civil Code §1793.2(d)(1). Fuel system defects also qualify for the 2-repair presumption if the defect 'could cause death or serious bodily injury.'
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
tail light out; exterior light warning; reduced rear visibility
An inoperable front turn signal increases crash risk — NHTSA's stated rationale for recall 21V471000. Under Song-Beverly, a safety-related defect covered by a recall and not repaired on the first dealer visit, or a bulb failure that recurs after the recall remedy is performed, supports a warranty nonconformity claim. Versa owners who had multiple dealer appointments to address turn signal failures — including vehicles where the recall inspection and replacement occurred but the symptom returned — should preserve all repair orders.
Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and PC811.
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
Loss of electric power steering assist — especially at low speeds where steering effort is highest — is a direct crash risk and falls squarely within Song-Beverly's 'serious safety hazard' category. Recall 22V693000 required dealers to inspect the torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column only if the lot code matched. Vehicles inspected but not replaced remained at risk, which is why a follow-up recall (23V496000, see iss-04) was required. A 2021 Versa owner who experienced sticky or heavy steering after the 22V693 inspection — but before receiving the 23V496 remedy — has a strong basis for a Song-Beverly claim on multiple failed repair attempts.
Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code, and replace the column, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PMA10 / P
sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall
Recall 23V496000 was issued because vehicles previously inspected under 22V693000 and cleared without replacement still had the intermittent EPS torque sensor defect. This means affected 2021 Versa owners potentially experienced: (1) initial steering complaint, (2) recall inspection under 22V693 with no repair, (3) continued steering symptoms, and (4) a second recall remedy under 23V496 — potentially three or more dealer visits for the same loss-of-power-steering defect. Under Song-Beverly, this pattern — across two separate recall actions for the same root cause — is compelling evidence that the defect was never adequately repaired and that the manufacturer had notice of the persistent nonconformity.
Dealers will inspect the steering column torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this rec
airbag warning light; passenger airbag may not deploy; SRS warning; occupant detection fault
An airbag inflator that may absorb moisture and deploy improperly in a crash is a life-safety defect — the exact type Song-Beverly treats with the two-repair presumption under California Civil Code §1793.2(d)(1) for defects that 'could cause death or serious bodily injury.' If a 2023-2024 Versa owner's dealer was slow to schedule the 24V154000 recall remedy, or if the vehicle was out of service for a cumulative 30 or more calendar days for any combination of warranty repairs, the owner may have a viable claim for replacement or repurchase independent of repair attempt count.
Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.
transmission shudder at low speed; CVT shaking during acceleration; jerking or jolting on stop-and-go traffic; transmission slipping; check engine light on with transmission warning; reduced power; CVT overheating; transmission fails before 100,000 miles; $6,000-$8,000 dealer replacement quote
Under Song-Beverly, the defect must manifest during the express warranty period. Owners who experienced CVT shudder within 60,000 miles (Nissan powertrain warranty) and returned the vehicle multiple times without a successful repair may qualify. Nissan's own dealer-level technical bulletin acknowledgment — referenced in multiple NHTSA complaints — supports that Nissan had notice of the defect. A pattern of repeated dealer visits for the same shudder complaint, even without a stored DTC, can satisfy the 'reasonable number of attempts' standard under California Civil Code §1793.2.
CVT fluid flush and replacement (temporary relief for mild cases); full CVT assembly replacement at dealer cost of $6,000-$8,000 out of warranty. Nissan Consumer Affairs has declined goodwill assistance in documented complaints.
severe loss of power after engine stall; car will not exceed 20-40 mph; limp mode after dropping clutch; check engine light after stall; P2615 crankshaft position sensor code; car barely accelerates on restart; dangerous loss of speed on highway or merge; resolves only after full key-cycle restart; intermittent reduced power without warning
This defect is particularly strong for California lemon-law purposes because: (1) it creates a genuine safety hazard — inability to merge at highway speed after a stall is a non-collision crash risk; (2) NHTSA has opened a preliminary investigation (PE24007), establishing manufacturer notice; (3) dealers uniformly cannot duplicate on demand because the trigger condition is an accidental stall, yet multiple dealers have confirmed the P2615 code. Under Song-Beverly, a hazard that substantially impairs the vehicle's use or safety, with multiple repair attempts and no fix, supports a buyback or replacement claim regardless of whether a recall has been issued.
No published software update or TSB fix as of June 2026. Dealers advised to 'monitor' the issue pending engineering resolution. Workaround: turn vehicle off completely, exit vehicle (open and close door), then restart. NHTSA investigation PE24007 is open.
radio screen black on startup; infotainment system will not turn on; screen stays dark for several miles after start; no GPS or navigation; radio cuts in and out; screen intermittently goes blank while driving; Bluetooth disconnects; NissanConnect app link fails
While infotainment failures are classified as Functional rather than Safety, a screen that is consistently dark at startup denies the driver access to the backup camera display (if equipped) and navigation — both of which Nissan warranted as functional at the time of sale. Under Song-Beverly, a repeated failure to repair an infotainment defect under warranty — documented across multiple dealer visits — can support a claim if the defect substantially impairs the vehicle's value or utility.
Dealer software update to head unit firmware (if applicable for specific unit revision); head unit replacement in persistent cases. Some owners report the issue as recurring even after dealer software updates.
check engine light with P0101 code; rough idle; hesitation under acceleration; car stalls at intersections; engine runs rough; acceleration unsafe at traffic lights; MAF sensor replaced but problem returns; 'see owner's manual' dash message; traction control and collision warning lights on simultaneously
A recurring MAF sensor failure that causes the vehicle to hesitate at intersections or stall in traffic — and that reappears after each dealer repair attempt — is a textbook Song-Beverly drivability defect. The California standard focuses on whether the defect has been presented for repair a 'reasonable number of attempts'; owners with three or more dealer visits for the same P0101 complaint, with the defect returning each time, should document each repair order carefully. The failure mode (unsafe acceleration through intersections) also has a latent safety dimension that can elevate the claim's urgency.
MAF sensor cleaning or replacement; throttle body cleaning; air intake system inspection for oil contamination from PCV system. Repeated replacement at dealer cost if outside warranty.
remedy available
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
remedy available
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
remedy available
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Versa and Kicks vehicles. An intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the power steering assist.
remedy available
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
remedy available
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Versa vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the fuel tank wall thickness may be insufficient, potentially causing a small hole in the tank seam area.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act gives Nissan Versa owners the right to demand a buyback or replacement when a warranty defect cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. You do not need a recall to file a claim.
For the CVT shudder (2020-2022 Versa): if you returned to the dealer two or more times during your powertrain warranty for CVT shudder, slipping, or jerking — and the problem was not fixed — you may already have a viable claim. Nissan's own Technical Bulletins, referenced by dealers and owners alike, establish that Nissan had notice of this defect.
For the 5MT limp-mode/P2615 defect (2022-2024 Versa): because this issue can prevent the vehicle from reaching safe highway speeds, it has a safety dimension. California Civil Code §1793.2(d)(1) creates a presumption of entitlement to repurchase after just two repair attempts for a defect that 'could cause death or serious bodily injury.' NHTSA's open investigation PE24007 is strong public evidence that the risk is real.
For the steering recalls (2021 Versa, 22V693 and 23V496): two overlapping recalls on the same defect — with the first inspection failing to resolve it — represents a pattern of unsuccessful repair attempts under different campaign numbers. Song-Beverly counts repair attempts for the same defect, not the same recall.
For the airbag inflator recall (2023-2024 Versa, 24V154): airbag defects are per se serious safety hazards. If your vehicle has spent 30 or more cumulative days at the dealer across any warranty repairs — including waiting for recall parts — you may be entitled to repurchase or replacement under the out-of-service provision.
This is general legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it. Law as of June 2026.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
The cannot-duplicate finding is the single most common obstacle for Nissan Versa owners pursuing a warranty claim. Here is how to fight it:
1. Document every visit in writing. When you drop the car off, give the service writer a written description of the symptom — date, mileage, speed you were traveling, which light came on, and what the car did. Ask them to copy your description verbatim onto the repair order. Keep every repair order.
2. Capture video before you drive to the dealer. For the CVT shudder, record the acceleration from a stop. For the 5MT limp mode, record the dashboard and speedometer immediately after the stall and restart. Video timestamps are date-stamped evidence that survives a cannot-duplicate finding.
3. Request the P2615 code capture. If your 5MT Versa enters limp mode, go directly to the dealer without turning the car off. The P2615 code clears after a full key-cycle restart. Arriving with the code still stored gives the technician something concrete to document.
4. Ask the dealer to reference NHTSA investigation PE24007 in the repair order. For 5MT limp-mode complaints, the investigation is open. Asking the service writer to note it signals that you know the defect is acknowledged at the regulatory level.
5. Request a Nissan Consumer Affairs case number at the first visit. Call 1-800-867-7669 and open a case. Reference this case number at every subsequent dealer visit. Nissan's internal escalation records become part of your claim file.
6. If the CVT shudder produces no codes, ask for a fluid sample and fluid analysis. A contaminated or degraded CVT fluid is objective, documentable evidence that does not depend on replication.
7. Count your days out of service. California Civil Code §1793.2(b) requires the manufacturer to complete repairs within 30 days. Track every day the car is at the dealer across all visits. The cumulative total matters.
The Nissan Versa N18's recall record is a tale of two vehicles. The CVT-equipped Versa carries the long shadow of Nissan's widely documented JF015E reliability issues — a transmission that was problematic in larger Nissan models and appears equally fragile in the entry-level Versa. The 5MT Versa, meanwhile, has a distinct and troubling software defect that NHTSA is actively investigating. Neither issue has produced a recall as of this writing. For California owners, that gap between a manufacturer-acknowledged defect and a formal recall is precisely where Song-Beverly becomes relevant. The law does not require a recall — it requires that the defect exist, that Nissan have warranty responsibility, and that a reasonable number of repair attempts have failed. Many Versa owners meet that standard and do not know it.
— The Margarian Law team
If your Nissan Versa has been to the dealer two or more times for CVT shudder, post-stall limp mode, steering problems, or any recurring warning light — and the problem keeps coming back — you may have options under California's lemon law. Margarian Law has handled thousands of lemon-law cases and offers a free case review. Your repair orders are the evidence. Keep every one.
The shudder you feel when pulling away from a stop or accelerating at low speeds on a 2020-2022 Nissan Versa is a well-documented symptom of the Jatco JF015E Xtronic CVT. The transmission uses a steel push-belt running between variable-diameter pulleys; when the belt slips under light load — often due to fluid contamination or pressure loss in the valve body — it produces the characteristic shudder. Nissan dealers have acknowledged internal Technical Bulletins on this defect (per NHTSA complaint ODI 11709576 ). Unfortunately, Nissan has not issued a recall, and out-of-warranty CVT replacement typically costs $6,000-$8,000. If you experienced this shudder during your powertrain warranty period and the dealer could not fix it, you may have a lemon-law claim.
This is a known defect on 2022-2024 Nissan Versa 5-speed manual transmission models. When the HR16DE engine stalls — from releasing the clutch too quickly, stalling on a hill, or any driver error — the ECU enters a limp mode on restart that severely restricts power, often limiting the car to 20-40 mph even with the gas pedal floored. NHTSA has opened preliminary investigation PE24007 specifically on this issue. A dealer service foreman confirmed the stored code (P2615, camshaft position signal circuit) during a joint road test and told one owner it is a 'known concern being looked into by engineering' (ODI 11569102 ). As of June 2026, no software fix or recall has been issued. The workaround is to turn the vehicle completely off, exit and close the door, then restart.
Yes — there are actually two overlapping steering recalls for the 2021 Nissan Versa. Recall 22V693000 (September 2022) covered an intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor that can disable power steering assist. Dealers were required to inspect the torque sensor lot code and replace the steering column only if the lot code matched. However, vehicles inspected and cleared under 22V693 were later found to still carry the defect, leading to follow-up recall 23V496000 (July 2023), which required a second inspection and possible replacement for the same root cause. If you own a 2021 Versa and have experienced heavy or sticky steering, both recall campaigns apply to your vehicle. Contact Nissan at 1-800-867-7669 to verify your vehicle's remedy status.
P2615-00 is a crankshaft/camshaft position sensor output circuit code that appears on 2022-2024 Nissan Versa manual transmission models after an engine stall. When this code is triggered, the vehicle typically enters a limp mode that limits speed to 20-40 mph — making it dangerous to merge onto a highway or maintain freeway speeds in traffic. Multiple NHTSA complaints describe near-misses with trucks and other vehicles because the car could not reach posted speed limits (ODI 11632968 ). NHTSA has opened investigation PE24007 on this defect. If your dealer tells you they cannot reproduce the problem, go to the dealer immediately after a stall event — before restarting the car — so the code is still stored. Ask them to reference PE24007 in the repair order.
Yes. Recall 24V154000 (February 2024) covers certain 2023-2024 Nissan Versa vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect, the driver's airbag inflator may absorb moisture, causing the airbag to deploy improperly in a crash — meaning it may not protect the driver as intended. Nissan notified owners via mail beginning April 10, 2024. Dealers will replace the front driver's airbag assembly at no charge. To confirm your vehicle's recall status, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. If your 2023-2024 Versa has spent significant time waiting for recall parts, those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service threshold under Song-Beverly.
Potentially yes, if you meet California's Song-Beverly criteria. You need: (1) the vehicle was purchased or leased new in California; (2) the CVT defect (shudder, slipping, or failure) was reported to the dealer during the manufacturer's warranty period; (3) Nissan or an authorized dealer attempted to repair the same defect two or more times without success — or the car was out of service 30 or more cumulative days for all warranty repairs. Nissan's own Technical Bulletins on the JF015E CVT defect (referenced in NHTSA complaint ODI 11709576 ) support the argument that Nissan had notice of the problem. The fact that dealers can often not duplicate the shudder does not necessarily defeat your claim — documented complaint visits with repair orders noting 'cannot duplicate' can still count as repair attempts. Preserve every repair order from every dealer visit.
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