KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, SportsNissan recalling 39,000 Versa small cars in US and Canada for automatic shifter problem

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is recalling 39,000 Versa small cars because the transmissions can be shifted out of park without the driver's foot on the brake.

The 2012 model cars were made from June 9, 2011 through Jan. 13, 2012 and sold in the U.S. and Canada.

Federal safety regulations require that a driver's foot must be on the brake before a car can be shifted into gear.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that a driver could inadvertently put the car into gear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Nissan said Friday that no crashes or injuries have been reported. The company says it will replace the shifter knob for free and make sure the car works properly.

The problem affects cars with automatic and continuously variable transmissions.