Here are some reasons why you should stay away from this transmission. Nissan CVT Fail Teardown video link: • I Teardown my Nissan C... Like and Subscribe!
The whole point of the CVT was it could keep the engine consistently at its powerband meaning better efficiency smoother drivining etc. Then people thought that was strange and didn't like the way CVTs worked so then various manufacturers started making CVTs that simulated normal automatics with "fake shifts" and to me that defeated the whole point of haviny a CVT in the first place
I owned a 2013 Nissan Versa. The transmission failed on me after owning it for a year. I had the CVT replaced for $3500. They had a Nissan of America class action lawsuit. I signed up and recieved a reimbursement check. I no longer own Nissan vehicles. The last time I driven a Nissan was a car rental back in early September. CVTs are good for gas, bad for everything else.
@@denizenofclownworld4853 Yep. CVTs failures are almost all because of one of four reasons 1) Driving the piss out of it 2) Driving it too hard in hot weather 3) Long road trip through the hills without giving it time to cool down 4) Not changing the fluid ever or after Scenario #2 or #3. Changing the fluid @30k miles is bad advice. You change the fluid when it burns up. That could be at 1,000 miles or 100k miles. That fluid will last 100k if it doesn't overheat. If you think you drove in tough conditions, change the fluid. Don't buy knockoff CVT fluid. Only put in Nissan OEM. Yeah, it's expensive - over $150 just for the fluid. But a new CVT is much more expensive. Also, change the damn stepper motor and both filters whenever you change the fluid around 100k miles. Things will last forever, possibly longer than a Corolla if you listen to my advice.
I always let the nissan with CVT get rolling for a half second before I roll into the throttle, it engages much more smoothly that way. Also waiting until you feel it “bump” into D or R to let off the brakes instead of slam-shifting and gassing it as soon as the lever’s in the right spot. However that applies to most automatics not just belt-driven models
yeah, it makes me cringe when I see people just slam the transmission into the next mode when the car is still rolling. Then you have the ones that throw it in park when the car is still moving a decent amount and it jolts off the parking pawl.
When you think about it, the only safe gear to shift into when moving is neutral, and even that shift you should be careful. And people need to learn that unless you're gonna be waiting a while, don't bother shifting into park while waiting, it causes just as much wear doing that as it does waiting while in drive.
All transmissions seem to have the “one Mississippi, two Mississippi” engagement theses days. My ‘18 Mustang with the 10 speed automatic does the same thing. So if you’re reversing out the driveway and hitting the gas as soon as you go to D, you’re going to make trouble for yourself.
I have a 2014 Altima. CVT was replaced at ~40000 miles. I have been replacing the CVT fluid every 10,000 miles. Now it has 155000 miles and is doing fine. 🤞
@@Manvscars I brought the car to the nissan dealer where i bought. Still not repaired. I bought 2 years ago for 11.000 Euro and the repaircost will be around 11.500 Euro. I give it to my lawyer to handle this case. Btw i had no accident. This is just what need to be repaired from engine. 🤮 I drive car for more then 30 years. I never give to lawyer if my car need to be repaired. This is first time. The repaircost is shocking me. Never again Nissan.🤮
@@Pretty_Boy_Proud_Fil-Am Nothing to do with me. I brought my Nissan to 4 different service because no one wants to repair the CVT of Nissan. I called 30 service and explained and asked if they can repair. Answer: No This is a Nissan quality problem. At the end i found i service station they can repair. It cost me more then 5.000 Euro. The guy from service told me Nissan CVT not good. This not only quality problem of Nissan. Even the service from Nissan Europe not good. My first and last Nissan.
Without knowing what you bought, whether it was new or used and without you saying what the actual mechanical problems you have, your comment is largely irrelevant. If it was a new car, then yes, fair enough to complain. If it was something with a bit of age and a heap of mileage, then that isn't so surprising. Good luck taking legal action. Who is at fault, Nissan or the dealer who sold you the vehicle? It's no surprise at all that the repair costs increase in relation to the purchase price and current market value as a car ages. All cars suffer wear and need maintenance, that's not just a Nissan thing.
got a 2010 Altima with over 250k on it and still original transmission. did a fluid and filter change recently. still going perfectly fine. no complaints here
@@rafaelg9016the rule is that most people don't do proper maintenance of transmissions. Every car manufacturer knows that. Smart car manufacturers expect that and engineer their transmissions accordingly.
Looking for a good used car is discouraging right now. Newer vehicles fall into two general categories: those with bad engines and those with bad transmissions.
@@shaungranger2166Even Toyotas are falling down the spiral of unreliable transmissions. At this point. Just buy a babied 2000s or older car. They don’t make things like they used to.
Don't forget ones that aren't maintained like a used rogue with 80k miles with original fluid in the trans. Gee I wonder why it's slipping?!?!??!?!?!?!?!
I'm sorry, you make a couple valid points but are way off on others. Yes CVT's in cars can suck for reliability when compared to other reliable transmissions. But don't forget not all traditional auto trans were reliable. There have been many duds through the years. Your missteps: Using headphone I never heard CVT whine in your vid. I've never heard CVT whine in a CVT equipped vehicle. Sometimes you get engine whine in cheaper setups where the engine is being held at in it's power band. Powerband....Traditional transmissions are incapable of hold an engine in it's power band like a CVT. If the CVT isn't doing so it is A: programmed not to do so (in order to simulate shift to a certain extent) or B: failing. Not all CVT's simulate the fake shifts. I've driven several that do not. One example is the Nissan Pathfinder. There are different ways to drive different transmission. Though I agree the reliability should not be drastically affected from "normal" driving. Yes CVT's will get better fuel economy than a traditional automatic transmission. You can't say you don't see it unless you have the exact same car driven the exact same manner in both traditional auto trans and a CVT. I mean...what are you comparing it with to make that claim? The oil change issue...I agree most won't but that's user error if the manual specifies it. What would happen if you never changed your engine oil? The SAME THING, but faster. So it's good you bring this point up. READ YOUR MANUAL PEOPLE. The maintenance schedules were created by the manufacturers to ensure the vehicle lasts for it's guaranteed amount of time. Look I'm not a CVT fan boy by any stretch. I think they work fine in ATV's and SXS's but the more power and weight you put on them the more the reliability seems hit or miss. I largely think this is an engineering problem as CVT's in vehicles is relatively new. Just think about all the dud traditional automatics that manufacturers have made in the past. A CVT that's programmed to be a CVT rather than simulate a tradition trans is the smoothest you'll ever ride in a gas powered car. Unfortunately they have a bad wrap because in many cases they weren't engineered to be as tough as their traditional trans counterparts. My biggest gripe with CVT's as should be yours is the reason auto makers started putting them in cars to begin with...To meet GOVERNMENT regulations!!! The government is continually forcing products on us that we don't really want... Just this year Dodge stopped making their V8 Hemi engine due to the regulations. One of their if not their most popular engine options. Have you notice all cars are getting smaller and smaller engines that are usually turbo charged? This isn't because turbo's are the cool new thing. It's because you can strangle more horses out of an engine with a turbo. But this comes at a cost of reliability and longevity.
The CVT transmission does give you higher gas mileage , But Nissan has done something very different They are configuring their vehicles, so did you have to take it back to the dealership to To have general maintenance on a vehicle.
I own a 2013 Altima and no issues with the CVT transmission by avoiding jack rabbit starts and hard stops which is pretty typical of how I see most drivers doing on the road today. I regularly get 34 mpg highway and 29 mpg local driving.
The "special" way to drive them is by not hitting the gas pedal from a dead stop, stop light or stop sign. Also, you need to let the CVT fluid warm up for 3 minutes from a cold start, fluid must be at a certain temperature before operating. When you hit the gas pedal from a dead stop or start the vehicle from a cold start and start driving without the warmup, you will decrease the life of the CVT.
ahhh, baby it and don't move it until fluid reaches operating temp. Got it. To add on to that the cooling for the transmission fluid is also horrible. So don't let it get toooo hot.
Drive it like no one hs ever driven from the beginning of time. Cars are expected to take a certain amount of abuse. I would think that hitting the gas from a dead stop should cause no damage to a modern automobile.
@@DigitDesign You would think, but to save money some mfg no longer care about reliable transmissions or motors. CVT transmissions are the worst and must be pampered to get 100K life without any issue. Most regular transmissions are durable and are capable of reasonable abuse such as gassing it from a dead stop, doing donuts, drifting and minor off roading (sedans) in emergency situations. But the CVT's are horrible, I have one, not by choice, but I have had all mfg suggested maintenance done on it since i owned it new and no issues so far with 112K on it.
@@gregnixon1296 Sad but true, I have a CVT and I must drive it exactly as you described. I now have 112K on it, but it still runs like new and when I'm on the hwy, the passing gear is still fast, i was surprised by that, but it runs smooth.
I have a 2019 Nissan Rogue with CVT, naturally. I have read lots about proper treatment of CVT'S. Basically, I really like the quickness, but I baby it. Had the oil changed at 30plus K. Gas mileage has been as high as 38 mpg, but it is usually around 30 on average. Hope I can keep gremlins at bay with goog service. I am not a lead-foot driver, but am easy and steady.
That’s because at least in their hybrids Toyota uses e-CVT which has planetary gears. I don’t know about their regular petrol CVT models. They’re rare in our market.
Toyota and Lexus vehicles use a planetary gear arrangement to produce a CVT, not a belt. When paired to a hybrid system they appear to be bomb proof and in Lexus's case pretty quiet. If you are gunning away from every junction then it is still not the transmission for you, but if you want relaxed cruising at highway speeds with good gas miles, then probably not much better around.
Bought a 2014 Altima last month, resold it 23 days later, something was wrong with that car that the dealer couldn’t figure out. These are good new and they are good as trade in cars, not used or long lived car. Don’t expect more than 10 years out of it.
You're full of it. If properly driven and properly maintained an Altima will last forever, like 300k+. Problem is people burn up the fluid driving the piss out of them in hot weather. Sounds like you got one that someone burned up. Not an ideal car for a long road trip. If you go on a road trip in the hills or mountains, change the fluid immediately after the trip. The biggest problem is there is no maintenance interval on the fluid. Could be 1,000 or 100,000. Changes should be done when you find your fluid to have a tinge of black in it. light brown is okay. The bottom line is Americans are too fat and lazy to get under their car to check the color of the fluid.
My 2012 Altima has over 218,000 miles on it. Original engine. Original transmission. I change the oil every 3000 miles. Drain and fill the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. The car has been good to me.
I've seen a few of them last, specifically if they were only highway driven and well maintained. However, I saw enough of them fail in the time before I left the automotive industry that I won't recommend friends or family buy one. I also have a coworker who lost his 2013 Nissan Versa to CVT failure. Cost was more than the car was worth so it was scrapped.
That's a lot of changes. A lot of people hate gm but I do my oil changes every 10k miles and have never changed the transmission fluid on my 2015 Cadillac XTS and zero problems at over 70 thousand miles 😂
Wow that's terrible. Engine oil at 3k and trans at 30k is way too often for a modern car. Big waste of money. How much are you really saving on gas on cvt?
@@mofayer the actual requirements should be engine oil/filter at 20000 miles or annually and CVT at 60000 miles. Carrol synthetic Transmax CVT meets the new Nissan standard is is about the same as the engine oil.
Thank god Mazda at the very least gave the 3 a 6 speed auto although an 8 speed would have been nice. The Kia Forte GT-Line cvt had no issues but I only put 20,000 miles on it.
I think the v6 CVTs like my 2009 Murano fares better. Because with the power of that engine, i can get up and go and not exceed 2000rpm so the CVT doesnt have to spin has fast. I let the car roll a bit before I press gas. I drive it pretty gently. 110k miles on original CVT.
IT is NOT a CVT problem it is an Nissan problem, pay a little more for Toyota/Honda and your good. Toyota Prius with E-CVT are the MOST reliable transmission's $ can buy.
Reliable it has never been , but it always sucks and takes the life out of the engines performance making it work harder and noisier , horrible experience no matter what brand , just cheap econo box feeling in all Honda's Subbie and Nissans ... No refinement from the engines attached to CVTs😂😂 Electric versions in Toyota are a tad better but Hybrid can be done with real geared automatic , ECVT is just cheaper to make , not more refined . Stay away from this garbage and at the same price you can get a vehicle with real geared tranny not crappy substitute like CVT.
My Toyota’s CVT is terrible. 2012 Corolla. Leaks constantly, shifts hard, and revs way higher than any other transmission I’ve had. Just avoid CVTs in general.
It’s not a CVT or Nissan problem. People fail to do the tuneups and they ride them hard ! Go down hill in neutral ! I had 2 and never had any problems ! I ran mine 280k and sold it running and in good shape ! Don’t run the car on idle long periods ! I still have the second one 162k running smoothly
If you still have this vehicle, it would be best to change the transmission fluid immediately, regardless of its mileage with a full synthetic CVT transmission fluid. It does not have to be Nissan CVT oil none of the vehicle manufactures actually produce their own fluids. a good alternative would be Castrol full synthetic universal CVT/ATF FLUID changed every 20,000 miles due to the excessive heat buildup within the 5 L capacity transmission with little to no transmission cooling which is the primary reason for premature bearing failure. Even when manufacturer removed the number one reason for transmission failures due to dirt and other contamination within the transmission has still not proven any more reliable with Nissan. You can purchase an aftermarket dipstick to put in place of the dipstick tube plug that is installed on what used to be the dipstick housing in order to check your level, which will likely be within the safe range if you don't have a leak.? Drain out you can measure it, and reinstall the exact same amount of a full synthetic transmission fluid again every 15 to 20,000 miles if you want to maintain and best prevent transmission failures because the problem is not going away anytime soon or you'll have to step up to the top tier Japanese market, Toyota and Honda?
If you are a DIY ,Changing the CVT fluid is as easy as changing the oil . Just more expensive.Just changed mine at 52k. 3 3/4 qts. Black Black Black.New fluid is a clearish light blue/greenish color. Has been running like a top since the day I bought it. Honestly, my transmission doesn’t make any noise at all. Keep my fingers crossed.Note: the entire transmission holds about 6 quarts but when you do a change only three and three-quarter quarts come out
My 2017 rogue has not been that bad it has 70,000 miles and I had the transmission serviced at 60,000 miles. Still runs and drives like new even though I can’t stand how it drives at all.
Yeah honestly the car for me has been ok in terms with the engine and other components. The CVT failed at 95,000 miles for me. I agree with the driver “feel” experience lol. But it’s economy class I suppose.
wait till you get close to 100,000 miles. There are no transmission rebuilding or parts to replace. There is only replacing the whole CVT, which costs at a minimum $4,000. That's a hard pill to swallow
My wife loves her 2017 Rogue. With 141K miles, CVT gave out last year and I limped it to the dealership for her. $7,000 parts/labor, her treat. Other issues: Front wheel bearings went out @ 73K, left rear brake caliper chewed a rotor @ 127K, minor intermittent electrical ghosts, no tranny dipstick, and body panels made from recycled Coors Light cans. I don't get it. Then again, I have a 2009 Tacoma with terminal frame rust, so I'm leading in the race to the junk yard.
I rented a 2022 Toyota Corolla with a CVT and it was actually one of the better CVT's I've driven. The Toyota models have a "launch gear" and the whole driving experience was very smooth, the transmission was very well behaved for a CVT with no wild rpm fluctuations.
@@Afrocanuknah those mofos last, it's a Toyota. They put that transmission through the ringer to make sure it could have that badge placed onto it. Already have a friend that has 265,000 on his 2021 Corolla SE (same car as 2022)
I’ve test driven one fully loaded couple of years ago and I actually liked it. So much space in that thing and it was so comfortable. As for the CVT, I really didn’t like how whiny it became when you accelerate. Something felt wrong 😂. Drove for about 20 minutes inside of traffic and stopped for couple of minutes and I was shocked by the fuel economy when I turned off the car. 6.8/100km with the 4WD on auto mind you. Those are Toyota Corolla numbers. At least the 2.0 ones. I’m kind of tempted to get one and I don’t blame others who choose to get one either.
Basically he said all CVT transmissions. While ignoring the fact that the original Prius is one of the most reliable cars ever made. Transmission included.
I agree with the things you say, but between myself and parent's that have CVT transmissions, gotta be running on luck. 2010 Altima with 120k miles, 2012 Versa with 85k miles no problems. I just don't get how these companies just don't go back to putting in regular automatics. I would think with all the negative feedback, warranty repair, etc. that all of the brands and reputation get tarnished and well lastly listen to customer feedback
I know people with CVT's (including Nissan) that are 300,000 KM (186,000 miles) that are still going. Mind you they did all the maintenance and did transmission fluid changes when they were supposed to and put in the fluid designed for the tranny. The other factor is that they are all on 4 bangers around 2.0L so they are not being driven that hard. Ignore maintenance on a tried and true old school torque flite, turbo 350 etc. and they will expire before their time as well
Tell that to the thousands of people with CVTs failing at 40k miles or even less. I can't think of any traditional automatic with a failure rate anywhere close to Jatco's crappy CVTs. The only transmission comparable is Ford's awful Powershift DCT.
I had a 2011 Honda CRV, but I managed to drive it 12 years without a CVT failure, but I only drove it 147,000 km. (91,341 miles) I don't know if Honda had failures with those CVTs or not. I remember doing a transmission flush at least once at the Honda dealership. Whatever they recommended I did. Now I have a 2023 RAV4 Hybrid, but they have an eCVT, and the only thing in common with the CVT is those 3 letters according to Car Care Nut. They don't have any belt, and Car Care Nut describes them as very reliable. He's a Master Toyota Diagnostician, and I believe him. When I bought our Honda, I had no idea what a CVT transmission really was. But I had no complaints about that transmission. I don't like to accelerate fast because that's a waste of fuel, so maybe that is what that comment before meant about how you drive it? Maybe if a person hits the accelerator hard it puts more stress on the CVT transmission?
Yeah it seems the common theme with the Nissan CVT is the cooling situation for the transmission isn't very good. So fluid changes are very important. Yeah I would agree if you were "beating" on the vehicle like harsh accelerations all the time that failures would arise. However I'm like you with this particular vehicle as well. Fuel savings. I do like those rav4's too. Great fuel economy and a great looking vehicle.
Just about to buy a used Nissan with a CVT. I will say that it is a 2y.o. replacement in a 2009 model X Trail, but the current owner hasn't had any issues with it. Also not sure about the noise comments. On the test drive I didn't find it at all noisy, or hear it make sounds it shouldn't. I actually found it very responsive. Best of my understanding is the CVT failures we hear of are from drivers giving them a good work-out off-road, or constantly carrying full payloads and/or towing. Don't punish them, keep oil fresh and temperatures down and they aren't as unreliable as many make out.
I just rented a 23' Maxima last week in Quebec (the car had just over 3K kilometers on it, literally almost brand new). My first experience with a CVT and I must say I was not impressed. I noticed that you could never really find a good spot on the throttle when pulling into traffic and also Quebec is very hilly and the trans seemed to always be bogging in the wrong spots. The cruise control was really bad in that the car would constantly surge on and off especially as you're going downhill. I like the Maxima as far as the interior, the ride was pretty good, the MPG was pretty good, the power was good if you completely mashed the throttle. But, every time I parked the car, I could smell what seemed like burnt oil coming from under the car. I first thought it was the brakes when I parked, so I walked around and sniffed each wheel and nope, it was coming from the mid part of the car where, yep you guessed it, where the CVT is located. So, not a fan of the CVT and anyone who tries to support them are only doing it because they bought a car with one and they are trying to save face. Good luck people.
Me I really disappointed with nissan I bought nissan pathfinder 2018 with 64k now 72k I heard something weird noise on the motor I hope it will last a little bit so that I can swap it on mazda or Toyota....
I used to drive a lot of different cars as a car dealer service helper back in university. Hyundai CVTs in particular on the accent and venue felt like rubber bands with molasses delay. A complete snooze fest next to the Mitsubishi Mirage cvt. Honda ones are so so but I have a 20 Civic Sport Hatchback and surprisingly it is very responsive, even with the cvt. It feels great and already has 44k miles of...very abusive driving haha. Try merging on the Chicago expressway without a lead foot and you won't get far! Major thing I do is replace the fluid every 30k miles.
Holy crap, people think the CVT is a technical marvel. Literally anyone with any car knowledge knows the CVT is crap. I'm a mechanic by profession. CVT's are designed to save manufacturers money. The screwed up part is, it costs a fortune for the owner to replace. Nissan CVT equipped cars are throw away cars. Toyota CVTs are far more reliable. If you want an economy car from Nissan, get the Versa s with a manual transmission. 35-40mpg all day long and it will last far, far longer than the CVT variant.
Jatco is the top worst CVTs. Renault went for as cheap as possible, charge more and any possible mpg gain is lost by having to lay on the gas to get power to move! It's just pure car maker greed, and I'm glad I have a plain 4 speed auto. Simple and will last just about forever.
Right. Yeah their claim to fame had to do with fuel economy supposedly. We’ve had this rig for awhile and haven’t noticed much of anything. Also power band is horrible.
If you change the CVT fluid every 30K by the dealer there should be no problems. I have a 2015 Nissan (Versa) Note with 84K miles. No issues. I don't "gun it" between traffic lights or "floor it" on the interstate. Once you get used to the different sounds, you should be fine. 2 pulleys with a steel belt isn't supposed to sound like 6 finite gears. Get over it.
Toyota's cvt's hold up...strong as hell.. Qashqai CVT's..problems.. Only on time gear oil change can hopefully keep you preventing huge costs.. But than in the end ....still costly...because all the cash spent on gear oil could be spent on gas...
I've had my Nissan CVT for seven years and it was built in Japan. It seems good, so far. It is a Tiida Latio, a Versa in America. I have changed the transmission fluid twice over the last 80000 kms. It only has a 1500cc motor and I don't go over 3500 revs on the tach. There is no need too. Good motoring.
I have three Sentras (2011, 2013, 2015). All well over 100K miles. The only problem we ever had was on the 2013. At 129K miles, it needed 2,500 rpm’s to go 70 mph. Normally it’s 2,000 rpm’s to go 70 mph. Otherwise it was running fine. I had the dealer install a NEW transmission for $3,500.
Thanks for the video. I have a 2017 Sentra, 65,000 miles, looks showroom (I'm an auto detailer; it better). My CVT was $5,200 and replaced at about 60,000 miles a year or so ago. My warranty was to expire in 3 days and went in for an oil change. They offered to replace it and gave me a loaner car. I did not detect any problem with it, other than a little "clank" when putting it in gear; something I assumed all older cars do. It did not whine and the new one doesn't either. I'm basing my post on what you've said and my car, not on others' comments. I do think the CVT cars should be driven differently than conventional transmissions. I joke and say mine goes 0 - 60 in about 3 hours. But it really can do it in about 2. You must change your fluids, do not drive over 85, never pass with it (it has no overdrive to boost) unless you have a clear mile to do it (that isn't a joke), never tow anything, always use your parking brake when you put it in park and before you let off the brake- always. Warm it up until it falls under or around 1000 RPM (2 minutes) before driving, never pull out in moving traffic (you can't get up speed), drive like you are 65, retired and have nowhere to go fast. It's best if you're over 45 and patient. I am going to make this 2nd transmission last and I'm grateful Nissan gave it to me and I never asked why. I'm getting a motorcycle for about the price of a transmission and keep the miles off my car except when it rains or I need to carry something. I bought it new so it's paid for (no car payment is bliss), I have nothing but a battery invested in it, it looks new and I don't want to buy someone's used car. New cars are too expensive, I don't want a car payment and I like mine, so I have no plans to replace it and I put less than 2500 miles on it now anyway. I had a 2015 Sentra before this one, but someone hit me so I bought another. I would not buy one again however, knowing what I do now. Aside from the CVT itself, it has absolutely no power at all. I'm stupid that I didn't inform myself better. 124 HP sucks but I do like my car otherwise.
Had a 2016 Altima 3.5 SR. Transmission started slipping at 32k miles. Sold it to carmax for $15k and bought mazda3 because it's practically the only compact car (wanted a smaller car) without a cvt.
They can't be reliable even in theory, because CVT is based on friction, which produces great amount of heat. And you can't lubricate too much as friction will drop. A vicious circle.
Great video. I have a CVT trash mission for a 2009 Altima, I change the stepper motor then I change the valve body from a 2012 car, nothing works my car doesn't have reverse and goes 20 miles and hour, why the gears doesn't shifted? any idea? Thx
I think they are all known to have some issues but the actual feedback I can give honestly is on the Nissan. (Because I’ve owned since new) with that being said I have driven them and the response is similar but longevity I can’t speak on. Never had to do anything but maintenance to the Hondas and Toyotas.
Honda and Toyota cvts are much much better built… as a mechanic, I can say this with complete certainty… the cooling systems in Honda, and Toyota are much better able to keep the cvts cooler as well… an Uber driver had a 14’ Corolla equipped with a cvt that lasted for 325k miles, and he beat the hell out of it.. had a lead foot… and Honda which I have a 2013 accord with a cvt still going @ 170k miles.. their failure rate is almost nonexistent under 150k without proper maintenance… of course with the proper maintenance, 200k miles is no problem on the vast majority of them… Nissan has jatco who build their cvts… they have a history of being a trans-garbage transmission manufacturer …Honda and Toyota make their own .. for the most part..
@@XDMIIIIIIIII Nissan CVT’s over heat primarily because the cooling system for the transmission fluid is inadequate… I speak of pre 21 models…plus the cvt themselves are not built like Honda’s or Toyotas…in the Nissans, those units ran hot… many Nissan owners have had an auxiliary cooler installed which helped tremendously… pre 2021 models I’m speaking of… however, both the cooling systems and cvts have been redesigned…
Just bought a 2024 Outlander ES gas. First time owning a vehicle with CVT transmission. When stuck in traffic on highway going between 20-35km per hour, the car makes a slight jerk when using gas pedal to break and accelerate, also makes slight jerks when breaking between 20km per hour to 0 (full stop). Does anybody know if this is a normal function for cvt's?
The cvt in the Highlander is made by the same makers (Jatco) then the cvts in Nissans… get the extended warranty if you decide to keep this vehicle more then then the warranty period… also do the fluid changes every 25,000 miles… keep all receipts…. But honestly, I wouldn’t tow with it..
As a retired aerospace engineer, I wouldn't get any vehicle with a CVT period. I'll keep driving my old vehicles with geared transmissions or get a truck. Trucks have geared transmissions.
Had a 2012 Rogue that went into limp mode each summer. Nissan said we can fix it for $1900. I put in an aux generic trans cooler & changed the fluid each summer. It fixed the limp mode but trans always whined. At 97K some guy hit it while my wife was driving. I am glad the SUV is gone. Bought a Mazda CX-5 with trans gears. Problem solved.
Pros and cons to everything. One area the CVT shines is cruise control. No transmission is better for riding in cruise control. They're smooth as butter.
I agree with the cruise control but it bothers me that I spent 42 K for a car that I have to change the transmission oil every 25/30 K. To me that sounds like a design flaw. I have a 2016 Murano Platinum with 109 k miles and I am looking for a new car because of hesitation, when starting, changing gears over and over on hills, No more CVT's. No more Nissans.
@stevefarris9433 you don't have to change the fluid that often. Check the owner manual. Most nissans say every 60k if used primarily in extreme use such as towing or taxi driving. Otherwise you have it checked at the dealer with the CONSULT (some sort of scan tool I assume). I won't advocate they're great or for everyone, but they're certainly not nearly as bad as the internet painted them and they just take getting used to.
It is shifting. But it is not called shifting but is the equilivent. It is spooling. One pully is opening up groove getting wider while the other is closing getting narrower. Opening allows the belt to go deeper into the pully simulating a smaller pully while closing getting narrower makes the belt ride up in the groove simulating a larger pully. Those changes occur in slow motion thus the rubberband feel.
My buddy's 2019 nissan kicks CVT just blew up on him a few days ago at 90k miles, and he had been changing the trans fluid and keeping the car maintained. It also wasnt a cold day (it was about 60 degrees). The only thing is that he is a bit of an aggressive driver. But he was otherwise conscientious about his car. It surprised me a bit because I thought they had sorted the issues with the cvt in more recent models and that the 2019 would hold up since it presumably has the "new and improved" cvt. It seems like you need all the stars to align to keep these things from failing. And btw I personally enjoy the driving experience with the nissan cvt, which i had in some recent rental cars (Versas), but i wasnt trying to drive aggressive. Even though ive enjoyed the rental experience of cvt cars, i dont feel assured about the ownership experience.
90k miles on a kicks.. how do you drive a kicks... aggressively? Like... what? Bottom line is when CVT fluid changed and the cars are driven like a normal daily driver most of the time unless you need to floor it randomly to pass or merge.... zero problems.
@@TGZ32 aggressively as in going 90mph on the highway instead of 60, and accelerating harder as opposed to easier from dead stops. But he was changing the cvt fluid and otherwise maintaining the car.
I have a 2017 Rogue which I bought new it now has 141, 000 miles with the same transmission and not one problem. I live in Canada and we have drove it coast to coast twice.4500 miles each way with no problem. I think like anything else you always hear about the lemons but you never hear about the good ones, which are probably far more than the bad ones. Every manufacturer has lemons, nothing is perfect.
My wife's Toyota 2018 CHR had a CVT transmission replaced at 76200 miles. Thankfully we bought this car used and had the Toyota 7 yr 100000 miles warranty. The CHR cvt's are well documented having transmission failures anywhere from 20000 miles to over 100000 miles. I feel sorry for the owners who bought a CHR new as the warranty is something like 3yr 36000 if memory serves. BTW Toyota would have charged me $11000 to replace this transmission if it was not under warranty.
I had an ‘08 maxima with a cvt that I put a stillen charger (with supporting mods) on it running on 10lbs. I street raced that thing constantly. Only thing I did with the cvt was 2 fluid drain and fills in the 150k miles of ownership. I never had a problem with that cvt. But, my friends ‘13 nismo juke needed a new cvt and car has barely 90k miles and only 2lbs over stock boost. From my experience, the pre ‘12 Nissan cvt’s were just better made
The other problem I have with CVTs is that the fluid and filter cost like 2-3x more than a regular ATF and filter. So, whatever fuel savings I get from the CVT is cancelled out from periodic maintenance.
I had an Xtrail (Rogue). I found the CVT to be noisy and awkward to drive... it was the only negative of the vehicle. got rid of it. An epycyclic a/t with a lockup torque converter is vastly superior imo.
While I transmission flush can sometimes be necessary in order to repair or in an effort to repair a transmission problem? in most circumstances, it can cause more problems than it fixes and often times an automatic transmission becomes far worse and doesn't work at all due to the Nature of a flush removing built up varnish, contaminants and debris becoming stuck within the valve body assembly during the flashing process. Pro tip. It's best to drain the transmission fluid as per the vehicles manufacture instructions, then measure the amount that was captured in the drain bucket and then install new full synthetic transmission fluid to the same amount drained. Some vehicles still have the old dipstick housing with a rubber cap, installed in order to prevent what they say to be the number one reason for transmission failure from foreign debris. I feel that manufactures used this tactic to remove their own accountability for poor R&D manufactured transmissions & not employing quality with incremental changes to a given model. The transmission dipstick for your particular vehicle can't be purchased on Amazon and simply installed by removing the rubber cap located near the lower front portion of your engine compartment. This allows someone such as yourself whom is actively engaging in proper regular vehicle maintenance in order to be proactive in preventing unnecessary vehicle running costs. With that being said, all the maintenance in the world cannot fix a poorly designed transmission or vehicle. If your still set on purchasing or driving an economy vehicle, then a very good alternative would be a MAZDA CX SERIES SMALL TO MIDSIZE SUV'S simply because Mazda has tremendously, stepped up their quality game, while always being a very fun performing vehicle zoom zoom. They have also partnered up with another Japanese manufacturer who happens to know a thing or two about quality coming first rather than quantity. With TOYOTA now backing some of Mazda research and development. I can assure you that they have solidified the number 3 spot and can only go up from there. If they do offer a hybrid SUV option at a similar price point to a Nissan rogue, then that would be an even better option even with the Canadian winters we experience that are becoming increasingly shorter and warmer than decades ago.
Cvt definitely have low reliability rates. Especially nissans. But they definitely are more fuel efficient and they usually are smoother when they run right. And you can barely here the noise. You are being a bit biased I think. My wife likes them but we never keep her cars over 100k and we change the fluids at 50k. Never had a problem but I would never buy em any more than lightly used.
I know that you are not supposed to try to drag race with these transmissions, they won't last long if you have made alot of fast starts. Just slowly and reasonably engage the acceleration, don't treat them like a racecar because they are anything but. I was told this by a Nissan representative when I bought a 2011 Nissan Rogue. Now I have a 2015 Nissan Rogue Select and I have no problem with it but the mileage is only 14,300 and I still avoid fast takeoff with it. Call it babying it if you want but I like it so far, I only paid 19k for it when I bought it new and have had it 8 years so I feel like I got a bargain.
It's a problem mostly endemic to Nissan (Jatco) CTVs. Seems like they were not designed to handle a lot of torque from larger engines but on smaller displacement applications, they seem fine. Toyota and Honda CVTs seem to fair better with Toyota now primarily using a CVT with an actual 1st gear that used when driving off from a complete stop to reduce the strain on the belt.
The cvt is expensive? I thought the whole point of them is that they are cheap? Also, my understanding is the tech for CVT is awesome, but car companies kinda mucked them up, so you don’t get a the actual benefit.
That’s the funny thing, they equip them in the economy class vehicles for fuel savings and cost (so they claim) but then the replacement units have a more expensive price tag. For sure a reason for it that makes sense for these companies which I have zero knowledge on.
They are cheap for the car makers to build, but NOT cheap to repair, because there is usually no such thing as "repair". Transmission shops do not have the skills, nor the parts, nor the desire, to do a "rebuild" of a CVT, and neither do Nissan dealerships. They just swap out the whole thing as a unit. That's why repairs are so expensive - they are "replacements".
My mom drove a 2008 suzuki sx4 sedan with a CVT. She just donated it to Teen challenge last year with 320 thousand kms on it. It was still driving fine, but the car’s accessories started getting electrical gremlins from rusted grounds and connections. It had no “fake shifts”, it accelerated at a fairly steady rpm. She bought it before i even knew much about CVTs in cars. I would describe the acceleration or power feeling as like it was wound up with a clock spring or rubber band…. Starts kind of slow, but then gets going all behind a steady push of G force. Similar to an electric car, but with much less torque. Not sure why Nissan is struggling with them so bad… suzuki had it down more than 15 years ago!
Your video is great. Thank you for the information. CVTs are not going away,,, for better or worse they are here to stay in IGP engines. I currently own a Rogue with the "new and improved" CVT. I believe they got rid of the metal belt and replaced it with a "chain drive system". I may be incorrect??? Hopefully they upgraded the small cooling system?? That said... This is my 4th Jatco CVT,, (Nissan owned). I have never trusted the manufactures about their recommended maintenance schedule. I am an old man so,, I have the fluids changed every 20K,, along with the filter system! As stated in an earlier comment,, the " special way" to drive a CVT,, If you want longevity is to NEVER go from a "stop" and leave the line quickly! Gradual acceleration is the only wat to drive these things. That thin metal belt acts like a rubber band. it will stretch and YOU will regret that! once up to speed you can drive it like any other car. As you said.. I don't think the MPG is a lot better than a normal system. My Rogue is an AWD Platinum. It is a good sized crossover and where i drive I average 35 MPG. I'm happy with that. I have never had a problem with any of my CVT cars but maybe I just got lucky.. As for the noise,, I sang in a rock band for years and I cant hear high pitches. HA! Thanks again. Rev
I owned an 04 Nissan Quest Van. The transmission went 188k before I sold it in 2023 for a Nissan Truck. Subaru has the CVT in their vehicles and they run fine.
My 2018 Camry has 300k on its original CVT transmission. I change the fluid every 40k and it seems to be fine so far. Now, it doesn’t act like a spring chicken, it drives like a chicken with 300k on it.
I had a 2015 Murano and the trans kept slipping. It wouldn't move the car from a standing start. I was lucky when after taking it back to the dealer four times, the area engineer was there and he took it out, came back and told the dealer to replace the trans. That car was totaled a month later and I bought another Murano 2016 (my 3rd) That trans started slipping with only 3,000 miles and the dealer immediately started playing the lemon law game with me. A call to Nissan West Point GA and they called the dealer who claimed there was nothing wrong with it. The car also had a high frequency vibration in the steering system (more common in smaller Nissan SUVs) that made it painful to hold the wheel at highway speeds. The dealer claimed they felt nothing but never took it on the highway to really test it. I called a lawyer, and he told me he tried suing the dealer before but lost because they were experts at playing the lemon law game. It was Preston Nissan in Preston MD. I later found out Nissan used statistical analysis to determine they sold more cars to new customers than returning customers, (probably because they didn't like getting screwed on warranties) so they decided to screw the current customers and rely on screwing new ones! Never buy another Nissan or any car from Preston.
As a tranmission specialist, almost all CVT break-down I've seen is due to poor maintenance. He's absolutely right about people blowing off recommended CVT fluid change. I've drained CVT fluid with chunks of metal. Also, OEM transmission fluid is crap. I strongly recommend AMSOIL CVT fluid if you plan on prolonging the life of your transmission.
I am driving a 2028 Subaru Forester with CVT and no problems and works fine. CVT transmissions are not bulletproof so they do not take abuse like manual transmissions.
I have a 2015 nissan pulsar with cvt in Australia. I drive it easy, warm it up and the traffic laws here are so strict that i drive like a grandpa. Do its still going fine at 120000kms. Should i do the fluid myself?
A new model hyundai use the same technology as cvt,but the difference is they use chain instead of using belt in their transmission, so it got to be more durable, they call it IVT,other car manufacturers should adopt this kind of technology
The issue with CVT is that it's junk even when it works perfectly. I don't care how "efficient" it is, it feels like driving a broken car. It's literally only fit for cars and drivers who have no interest in cars at all and just want to get from A to B. Anyone who has any, and I mean ANY interest in cars, driving, driving enjoyment, etc. should stay away from CVT's like the plague. Don't fall for numbers on paper, for consumption stats, for acceleration stats, etc. Actually driving any car with a CVT makes it feel much slower, less responsive, less controllable than they should be.
Absolute rubbish. After changing gears for 35 years (Eaton Road Ranger) I'm over manuals. I just know about mechanical sympathy and don't abuse its parameters.
I really don't mind them. I have a handful of more interesting and fun vehicles to drive, but I can't complain about the gas mileage on our 2019 Sentra. The computer tells me high 40s, low 50s - hand calculated , it's pretty accurate. I do wish it would CVT under moderate throttle and not fake shifts. Every 15-20k miles, it gets a fluid and filter change. Idemitsu N3 isn't terribly expensive at Napa, not more than regular transmission fluid. The only person I know who had one fail personally was someone who wrecked the front of the car and had a shoddy body shop fix it. They forgot to hook up the radiator fan and the car was driven for a summer with the car constantly overheating. Too much overheating for it. The belt itself isn't the primary cause of failure. It fails from something else failing first.
I am surprised the aftermarket hasn't come up with solutions to these problems. I haven't found any rebuild kits or transmission swap solutions anywhere. My uncle's 2014 QX60 hybrid is in pristine condition and runs perfectly except for the transmission shudder problem. I feel like there is a MASSIVE market for this.
My friend bought a 2010 rogue for 5 grand transmission failed less then a yr she had it. She bought it from auto solutions repair shop . The owner told her he fixed everything on it. The shop did nothing
See lots of complaints, but my 2021 Nissan Altima with 34,000 miles on it runs great….so maybe got lucky so far…..but wondering if I should flush or change fluid to N3 fluid with filter….can’t get straight answer from dealerships as to filter change either….so kinda concerned overall.
I would recommend changing it. These units do seem to build up a large amount of heat which causes the fluid to breakdown. The fluid change and filter change cost is minimal. Fresh fluid can't hurt unless it's too late.
@@Manvscars kinda figured as such…much thanks 👍. However some are saying don’t need filter change for 2021 Nissan Altima…..who is correct….would think with sifter inside filter you would need to extract from metal casing…correct?
2017 Altima here, change my fluid every 30K, almost up to 90K now, still good. Keep in mind a "drain and fill" only gets 4.7 quarts (out of 7) and if you drop the pan, you can get pretty close to 5 quarts out AND you can clean the magnet, pop in a new filter. Drain and fill means you leave 30% or so of old fluid behind, so at 79K I pulled the pan for the first time, everything looked good, then at 86K I pulled the pan again, "flushing" it with 10 quarts (over 7K miles) and I figure it got my trans to about 91% good fluid with about 5% okay fluid, and about 2.5% really bad old fluid. Its impossible to get rid of ALL the old fluid, no matter how many times you flush it. One of the drawbacks to drain and fill v cooler line total replacement (NOT RECOMENDED FOR CVT). I've heard of them going past 200K with regular drain and fills though.
2014 Altima w/ 197k miles, I change the CVT fluid and filters every 30k, I run Pennz Ultra Platinum in the engine with a Purolator BOSS filter change every 4k, also other parts/ fluids as well. It's been a great car, especially for road trips. It's not fun to drive however, but that's not why I bought it.
1st gen 2003 Murano. No service CVT went 370,000 km. 2014 Juke went nearly 200,000 km no issues until kid wrecked it. 2012 Suzuki SX4 (same CVT) no issues so far. Drain and changed twice. Our PDK Porsche is far more maintenance heavy and fickle. Don’t bag drive your car.
I'm definitely not a cvt fan but my SR20DE Nissan Primera P11/G20 cvt has done 220,000k's, its been serviced once @ 100,000k, yet the fluid looks like I just poured it in there yesterday, and it runs fine. Go figure
I have a 2017 nissan sentra with 120,000 miles with no issues. I bought it new and its served me well. If and when the cvt dies, ill just have to get another car.
My first CVT experience was a rental Mitsubishi Mirage. That thing droned like crazy. Second experience was a 2016 Altima that I purchased. It wasn’t horrible and the fake shift points helped with the drone but it was extremely boring.
Just purchased a 2014 nissan juke acenta, less than 3months, and the transmission seems it's coming through the floor. Got collected by the dealer who said he can fix it ,? If it comes back giving me shit.than i will back it ,will not purchased a car with CVT..Again....
I have a 2012 maxima since 2020. No issues w the cvt at all up to date. 91k miles. I change the oil twice ( nissan oem) my car has good power but i do notice the lack of power at the same time. I put a air intake in the car and it accelerates better and gives the engine that nice rawww sound. I can say this will be the last time i do buy a car with cvt because of the high % of failers. But the bad news is all auto makers are using cvt. But i only hope for the best for ppl that have cvt in their cars. Change your oil every 30k. Use the official brand rather than aftermarket.
Own a 2013 Altima and 2016 maxima purchased both new . I change the cvt fluid every 30k and both are running like the day of they we’re purchased. , maintenance is key
What about the new cars like 2021 onwards?? Because im sure with any technology it gets improved each year following all the problems and complaints.Let us know us about the new 1nz because im looking at a 2023 Rogue
Nissan went CVT (on the Altima) in 2007, those early units weren't great, but I understand they could regularly go 120K, by 2010-2012, the units got worse, going out sub 75K, with failures at 30K pretty common... then they started slowly improving again. Sort of an odd learning curve, probably too many accountants in the engineering department at JATCO, shaving pennies.
Have a 2006 Altima with a (bulletproof) REAL 4 speed transmission AND a 2017 Altima with the flimsy CVT, pretty much same engine / weight / car etc, makes for a good comparison. Fuel savings on the CVT is significant. the fuel savings is about 30% city, 15% highway, with low fuel burn even at higher speeds. What's so odd is it gets about the same MPG at 65 as it does at 80, which tells you how efficient the infinitely variable design can be. The CVT is very smooth and boring and quirky when you need to stomp on it, and does odd things when decelerating, particularly when descending a hill. The engine revs quite high at times while coasting down hill, for whatever reason, we're talking 3500 RPMs at 20 MPH, which is just freaky. It also gets unsettled when slowing suddenly after an hour or so cruising on the freeway, hit the exit and it takes it a while for it to realize it needs to "downshift" and gets a pinch jerky, but once it settles down it works great again. I suspect the fluid gets a bit of foam buildup on long trips, and the foam doesn't quite work the servos as it should, just a guess, who knows. I'm not an engineer, so I could be totally wrong, but based on my research its my opinion that temperature is the Achilles heel of the CVT. Slapping an aftermarket cooler on it, isn't the solution either. The CVT fluid is tough and robust, but its not really working properly till it reaches 95-113 degrees. In fact, you can't even check the level without a scanner, because if you check at the wrong temp you'll under / over fill it (which is why the newer CVTs don't have dipsticks) THIS MEANS when you're driving your CVT "cold" you're probably damaging it (like a cold start causing bad wear) and it can take 5 to 8 min to get your CVT to proper temp. To mitigate this, the "cooler" isn't a cooler at all, its a heater. Its a heat exchanger that takes warm radiator fluid and uses it to HEAT your CVT as quickly as possible, to get it to the 95-113 degree range. As a heater, its not really designed to dissipate heat, its more of a temp regulator, using 180-200 degree radiator fluid, rather than ambient air. The trouble with this is, when the CVT gets too hot (which it can quite easily) the heat is being dissipated into the engine coolant (200 degrees) rather than the outside air, so it takes a long time to cool it down, should you overheat the CVT (from say climbing a steep grade) it can take 15+ minutes of normal driving to bring the temp down This also really really bad for the unit. An aftermarket cooler will likely end up doing more harm than good, because its extending the warmup time and counteracting the "heater". I highly recommend two things: First, change the fluid every 30K miles; Second, get an aftermarket temp gauge for the trans fluid and watch it like a hawk.(I use a Scanguage II) If it starts to drift toward 220, slow down, reduce throttle, ease back, and the temp will start to drop. When you first start it, drive it real easy till it gets warm. Don't beat on it cold, ever. My CVT has 85K on it, still runs great, love the MPG, and aside from the quirks I'm happy with it, but I do watch the temp like a hawk and I do have to slow it down often (keep it under 220), and I'm very gentle with it when its cold. I like to get it to around 85 degrees in idle before I even leave the house (takes 2 or 3 min) We'll see if its still going strong at 125K! HA! Shame on Nissan for not installing a trans temp gauge, AND a two stage temp regulator, to RAPIDLY warm it when cold, and a second stage, to kick in and cool it RAPIDLY with outside air, when it goes over 200.. instead they use a stupid, compromise, single heater/cooler thing, which does neither job very well. BAD DESIGN IMO. (feel free to add your two cents, as I really have no idea what I'm talking about, its just my opinion based on research) [As a note, the highest temp I ever recorded on my Scanguage II was 242, and that was climbing a steep grade, in the desert, with 3 people on board, on a 102 degree HOT day. Had I not had the Scanguage II I would have had no ideal how close to losing the transmission I was, and would have kept going at 65+, instead of slowing down to 45 and cooling off. Scanguage II, the best $120 you can spend if you have one of these fragile CVTs]
Well you’ve certainly done some homework. Pretty neat that you understand and follow it that closely TBH. Yeah I agree 100% about the fluid temperature as well. We live in the colder climate too, so it definitely acts differently to a very noticeable point like you’ve stated. And I get it, cars from every manufacturer will do something completely different than the next. I will also add that 90% of vehicle owners could probably careless because it’s point A to B for them lol. Appreciate the detailed response man, good work! 👍
@@christiansoto9755 Mixed. At 89K its still working perfectly. It delivers stellar fuel economy, the lack of gears makes it smooth and pretty cool, but it comes at a cost on performance. (not that 06 Altima 2.5 with the regular 4 speed was "performance" but it would go more swiftly) Off the line CVT not too bad, but passing can be weird when it starts hunting for the best ratio, but the worst cost is the fragility of the thing and its horrible reputation. You just never know when its going to go out.. and THAT is the worst thing about the CVT. That and the CVT fluid is $22 a quart.
@@christiansoto9755 IF you own a cvt vehicle it actually would have educated you. Don`t be lazy, the man took the time to explain how you may be able to save yourself some money and headaches. People today want it fast and dirty. I want to completely understand what is carrying the people I love around, why don`t you?
