The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has just announced a probe into the Nissan Versa from the 2022 through 2024 model years. Based on multiple field reports and 20 official complaints, concerns have been raised that the car enters limp mode after stalling. This could potentially result in a recall of manual-equipped late-model Versas in the near future.
In most recall scenarios, manufacturers identify an issue and initiate a recall before it escalates. However, in this instance, complaints from Versa owners to the NHTSA have prompted the ODI to independently launch an investigation. If it uncovers sufficient instances and attributes the cause to Nissan’s error, it could lead to further action.
Several Versa owners have reported their cars going into limp mode after stalling. Interestingly, this issue seems to affect only Versas with a manual gearbox, but the stalling problem can occur at any speed. Some report experiencing it after accidentally stalling the car themselves, while others say it happens randomly while driving on the highway. According to the investigation notice, once the vehicle enters limp mode, it cannot maintain speed or accelerate above 30 mph.
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The official language from the ODI explains the issue this way; “The complaints allege that if the vehicle stalls, resulting from releasing the clutch too fast (or for other reasons), the vehicle goes into the limp mode resulting in limited torque available to move, or accelerate the vehicle.”
It then goes on to say that it could happen on the highway or in city traffic. In a busy urban jungle, a maximum speed of 30 mph doesn’t sound so bad but on the highway, it makes the already very slow Versa a potential safety hazard. While the ODI mentions highway driving though, we couldn’t find an instance of a report where that happened.
Various Versa owners have reported the problem in online forums and some have made videos about the issue. Some have connected it to a check engine light code P2615-00 which is a crankshaft position sensor fault. Others believe that it’s connected to a software update regarding the switch from a push-button start to a key-crank start.
The ODI will report their findings once the investigation is done. Until then, those who experience the issue do well to file an official complaint so that the ODI has more data.