How has Nissan addressed their CVT reliability issues?

Asked by GuruRJZ9V Feb 18, 2020 at 11:38 AM about the 2020 Nissan Sentra

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Just wondering if Nissan has shared any information about improvements to
their CVT reliability issues. This is a really nice to car but I am hesitant to move
forward without details regarding how the longevity of the transmission has
been addressed.

7 Answers

Other than replacing some transmissions under warranty it does not appear they have done anything. Only a fool would buy a Nissan with a CVT.

3 people found this helpful.
140

Here’s what I was told by a Nissan mechanic, when my warrentee replaced my 2013 Sentras CVT transmisson. He said Nissan mechanics have raised h^}*~€+{~ over these transmissions failing, and to have the CVT transmissions modified with a chain vs. a belt. Plus, these transmissions run hot, as they aren’t properly cooled. Nissan hasn’t done anything for the heat issue, but he suggests changing the fluid every 30,000 miles, to help. As for the belt vs chain, about 2 years ago, all rebuilt CVT transmissions that use a belt, now have a WIDER belt, to both limit the possibility of slipping and the belt breaking. There will be no chain modification. But because it’s a belt, it expands and contracts, like a rubber band. And, just like a rubber band, it’s elasticity slowly starts to go, making the belt stretch out, over time, to be larger than it’s original size. So, while the rebuilds are “better,” nothing is addressed for the heat issue, and, eventually, the transmission will still start to slip, and eventually go, it’ll just take longer. So if you are lucky to get, or have gotten a replacement transmission over the past 2 years, give or take, you have a modified rebuild.

5 people found this helpful.
110

I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. I have had a 2009 Sentra SR for the last ten years with over 170,000 miles and have never had a transmission problem. I had the fluid changed at 120,000 miles, per the recommended service interval in the owner’s manual.

10 people found this helpful.
140

https://m.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Al tima/2009/ https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit- settlements/consumer-products/auto- news/901515-nissan-altima- transmission-defect-class-action- settlement-reached/

1 people found this helpful.
110

I see, apollo1980. It looks like I picked a good year to buy. I read up on the “new” reprogrammed CVT y they brought out in 2013. Apparently, they tried to program it to run like a regular old fashioned transmissions with artificial “shift points. They obviously “jumped the shark” on that, but apparently fixed it in another reprogramming in 2016.

1 people found this helpful.

wow I am on cvt no 3 on 2014 sentra and the rpm in this one is spiking and the mechanic told me they updated it to make it look like regular trans shifting , quite the story this was , Anyway i give up with Nissan they won't even answer my e-mails or letters but the dealer still harrases me to buy a new car ,after me telling them I am done with their garbage

20

I just had to turn my 2014 Murano in for a new vehicle. I was told that there were no new CVT transmissions available anywhere on the market and the best they could do for me was a rebuilt transmission with a 1-year warrantee. The amount to fix it was more than the car was worth and I faced the possibility of more expensive repairs down the road. It made no sense to keep it. The CVT transmission failed with only 72,000 miles on it. Nissan probably won't do anything until it becomes a class-action law suit.

2 people found this helpful.

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