A CVT lawsuit will proceed after a judge approved most of the plaintiffs' claims. In a class-action Nissan asked the court to dismiss. Thelawsuit accuses the automaker of concealing transmission defects since 2012 and covers owners of the 2013-2014 Altima in California, New York, and Pennsylvania. 98 99 Nissan Altima Automatic Transmission 6M Warranty 310C0-80L01 (Fits: Nissan Altima) $643.75. 2007-2009 Nissan Altima Automatic Transmission CVT 2.5L 4 Cylinder Thru 6/09 (Fits: 2009 Nissan Altima) $1,700.00.
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2008 Nissan Altima (Page 1 of 2)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Nissan dealer.
CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2008 Altima has a defect trend of CVT transmission failure showing up around the 100,000 mile mark.
It's an expensive repair at nearly $4,000 average repair cost. For more information see Nissan Altima CVT defect info on NissanProblems.com.
- Typical Repair Cost:
- $3,780
- Average Mileage:
- 129,800 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 32 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
- replace transmission (26 reports)
- not sure (6 reports)
transmission problem
Helpful websites
- No one has added a helpful site for this 2008 Altima problem yet. Be the first!
2008 Nissan Altima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)
problem #32Altima 2.5 S
- Automatic transmission
- 123,000 miles
I replaced pretty much everything in the front end. CV, Tire rod.. you name it.. spent 5k on those repairs. Less than 6 months later I was trying to accelerate and the car wouldn't! I had to punch it and it finally went but I could tell it wasn't starting in first gear. It was not pulling any codes and the check engine light was not on. I took it to four shops before a good mechanic was able to tell me what was wrong with it. Basically power wasn't getting to the transmission to tell it to go. They said I needed a new transmission and it would cost almost 7k with the installation. He said to cut my losses and sell it for what I can get. I only had 123k miles on my car and with all the problems.. I don't recommend this car!
- Ashley B., Aurora, CO, US
problem #31Altima 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 300,000 miles
I have a Nissan Altima 2008, I have had nothing but issues with the transmission since I bought this car new in 2008. Right Before the warranty expired my transmission went out started slipping at stops and when i was on the freeway all the sudden my motors running but i'm not going any faster in fact slowing down. Had to pull over put it in park and then drive to go again. Transmission constantly slips. This is the 2nd transmission I've had to purchase for this vehicle. so in all 3 transmissions I'm so shocked that there is not a recall on this. I'm so fed up with this! my car still looks like a brand new vehicle. I don't want to pay for another transmission.
- Michael O., Merced, US
problem #30Altima S
- CVT transmission
- 128,000 miles
Coolant fluid got into transmission. Total loss. I also had exhaust issues, brake issue, AC issues, and more. Worst car we ever bought. Put $5000 into the car BEFORE the transmission went out.
- steelerman, Hanover, US
problem #29Altima S 2.5L
- CVT transmission
- 103,000 miles
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
CVT transmission failure at a little over 103000 miles. It had the 10 yr/120000 extended warranty but the warranty ran out two months earlier. I called a Nissan dealership to see if they would fix it under warranty anyway since it was under the mileage and only a couple of months out of the time limit. The dealership gave me a number to call at Nissan. Nissan would not help me because the 10 years was up. Oh well. I sold the car as salvage. It would have costed $3500 to replace the transmission at a transmission repair shop.
- Joe W., Atlanta, US
problem #28Altima 2.5L
- CVT transmission
- 141,128 miles
CVT transmission problems. I only had the car for 3 months. I also cant not put my car in drive. It makes a loud grinding noise I can not move the car whatsoever.
- Jasmine G., Richmond, US
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problem #27Altima SL 2.5L
- CVT transmission
- 143,000 miles
I monitor carcomplaints often and new the CVT transmission was suspect. I took a chance and chose to keep my Nissan Altima (that I bought new in 2008) and hope for the best. My previous Nissans, 1991 Sentra and a 1998 Altima both gave me over 200k miles without any major repairs. I currently own a 12 Pathfinder and a 16 Altima 3.5SR and may decide to part with them earlier than I expected.
- pss3286, Kings Park, US
problem #26Altima ES V6
- CVT transmission
- 117,000 miles
On a recent trip out-of-town, I traveled approximately 225 miles, stopping several times along the way. I checked into a motel, made a couple of phone calls, and drove to dinner. Unfortunately, approximately 1 mile from the motel the vehicle slowed to nearly a stop. The accelerator could be pressed to the floor with no acceleration; however, the vehicle would travel at a very slow rate and I was able to “limp” it off the street and out of traffic. I sat there for over an hour.
At first the vehicle would start but would not move. In “park” there were RPMs, but in “drive” there were no RPMs. I was forced to call a towing service to have the vehicle towed back to the motel. The next day I tried to start the vehicle and it would not start. I contacted an auto repair shop and had the vehicle towed to the repair shop. Diagnostics only indicated a low battery. I asked the mechanic to replace the battery. After replacing the battery, the vehicle seemed to run normally.
I drove the vehicle approximately 150 miles on the open highway and through various towns. Coming into a town, I slowed for a traffic light and the vehicle again went into “limp mode.” I was able to limp it off the highway and into a parking lot. I waited for approximately a half hour to see if the vehicle would start. It did not. Had to have it towed again - to the Nissan dealer.
A couple of days later, Service Advisor contacted me to tell me that the transmission was most likely overheating due to the transmission fluid possibly being overfilled, and therefore failing, and that was what caused the “limp mode.” The Service Advisor asked me if I wanted her to price a new transmission. I said, No. She then suggested that I leave the vehicle so it could be driven until the failure was duplicated. I was told that the problem is CVT failure. There is no way to determine how many miles will need to be driven before a failure duplication.
All service records indicate that the transmission fluid checks OK. The July 14, 2018 inspection report states that the transmission fluid was “checked and OK at this time.” However, the description section states, in part, that: “No codes in vehicle, checked CVT level and found HE CVT overfilled by 1 quart. Overfilled may cause CVT to overheat on long drives and go into fail safe or limp mode. Test drove twice a total of 13 miles and checked codes again, nothing further found at this time.” A review of service records dating back to 2008 show that at no time has the transmission fluid been refilled.
There are several class-action lawsuits which allege that vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions slip, jerk, bind, lag, and stop suddenly without warning. Other Nissan CVT lawsuits claim that the automaker has known about the transmission issues for at least 10 years. Nissan markets the CVT as being new and more durable than other transmissions. However, it is alleged that the CVT does not last as long as the typical automatic transmission. In fact, most of them only last around 100,000 miles or less. Even more important is the fact that when they fail, 9 times out of 10 they must be replaced as a repair does not remedy the failure.
When purchasing a vehicle, the consumer relies on the integrity of the automaker. In the case of the CVT, the failure is a defect and a tremendous void in motorist safety. Consumers expect that their vehicle will be safe to drive, and it is in the automaker’s interest to make sure that their vehicles are indeed safe. Automakers have become more adept at catching potential defects earlier and fixing problems before the need to open investigations and issue recalls. To that end, in 2009 Nissan extended the 5 year/60,000 mile warranty on 2003-2010 vehicles equipped with a CVT to 10 years/120,000 miles.
I frequently travel alone, and the recent out-of-town trip was under 600 miles. It’s not uncommon for me to drive the vehicle to Wyoming, Florida or California. A breakdown is a malfunction, and transmission failure in a remote area, or on a congested freeway or interstate could be extremely dangerous or even deadly. Ensuring the safety of the vehicle and its occupants should be a priority.
The CVT in my vehicle is covered under the extended warranty, and the failures experienced are unsafe. Without a replacement transmission, failures are likely to become more frequent and my safety is being seriously compromised.
- Deborah H., Grand Junction, US
problem #25Altima 2.5 S 2.5L
- CVT transmission
- 105,000 miles
While driving the transmission began to fail. I called at least 8 repairmen including 2 Nissan dealerships. All of them said they have problems with the CVT transmission. I want to go on record saying that we spent $3,700 to replace the transmission with a new one. Many other model years also have problems with this transmission. I think it is time for a recall!
- MIck W., Morrison, IL, US
problem #24Altima 2.5L
- Automatic transmission
- 133,000 miles
I had noticed some vibration/stuttering at stop lights around ~100k miles. Took car to Nissan dealership explicitly asking them to look over the transmission. I was told there were no issues and the transmission was great. At 125k miles, took the vehicle to a different Nissan dealership with concerns about the transmission. An 'expert' test drive/fluid check came back perfect and I was told there were no issues. At 133k miles the transmission failed. Jerky sputtering/high pitch whining/engine dies etc. We're looking for a new vehicle now and I'm avoiding Nissan and CVT's like the plague.
- laknermi, Cleveland, OH, US
problem #23Altima 2.5s
- CVT transmission
- 135,700 miles
I purchased a used 2008 Nissan Altima from Sutherlin Nissan in Orlando, FL at approximately 74,000 miles on the odometer in 2014-15. At purchase I was told that there was no extended warranty being offered to me at all. I had noticed that something was wrong with the vehicle over time, as it would feel as if my car was coasting, or refusing to accelerate. But, after parking it for a few hours the problem pretty much went away and it was impossible to prove the issue to the mechanics. Each time that I had a mechanic check on this vehicle I was told that everything was fine.
I had been to Nissan to refill the transmission fluid last year and had come for an oil change some time back in 2016 and inquired about the issue and was told to bring it in the next time I experienced the problem. I was never alerted of a cvt extended warranty at all or transmission issues either. I was 2 hours out of town on interstate 95 when the transmission began failing in a peculiar acceleration deceleration manner until finally no longer allowing me to accelerate beyond 15 mph. I was lucky enough to make it off the highway without being annihilated by an SUV or Semi.
This time after working my 10 hour shift, I figured the car would run fine as it was notorious for mis-performing and then resuming without problem. However, this time the car refused to accelerate beyond 15 mph and I was forced to slowly but surely get it to the Firestone 2 miles from me and spend the night in their parking lot since I wouldn't be able to drive it the 2 hours back home. In the morning Firestone performed a diagnostic on the vehicle ($100 fee) and while I was waiting for the mechanic to come back with news, discovered VIA THE INTERNET about the issues surrounding the Nissan's faulty CVT transmission.
I was shocked at Nissan's inhumane care to do a total recall on the vehicles after being FULLY AWARE THAT THEY INSTALLED FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES as I believed whole heartedly in Nissan's reputation of being an excellent manufacturer next to Toyota and Honda. Shortly after, the mechanic returns and utters the words, 'your transmission is done, you will need to take it to the dealer or a transmission shop.' I then had to tow the vehicle 2 hours back to Orlando, while exceeding my AAA allowance, and then had to come out of pocket $180 for the remaining mileage. After replacing the transmission fluid ( $150) the transmission sensor ($50) and flushing the unit and then paying the mechanic to do the labor ($150) the car was still in fail safe mode.
I called Nissan and told them about my vehicle, which was when I learned that my vehicle was never registered through their system, despite purchasing it from their Sutherlin Nissan Dealership, they then told me that there is nothing that they can do unless their mechanics take a look at the vehicle. So, I brought the vehicle to Nissan (another $100+ service fee.) The mechanics confirm that the transmission is done and the radiator needs to be replaced. After escalating the call with Nissan I was told by the agent rep. Summer (615) 544-7198 on my case: 29776719 that since my car was over the $120,000 mile allowance that they will not offer/extend any assistance to repair the car what so ever. Despite the fact that I was not informed by their dealer of an extension in the warranty because of the issue (if in the know, I would have adamantly fought to prove the case of the transmission slipping) I was also told that they have not 1 service visit recorded on file for me which is not true ( I even have a picture of myself sitting in their lobby on July 10th and the text message that I sent to my boss specifically explaining that I was there for a transmission fluid refill), Nissan is no longer responsible for the repairs to the vehicle.
After researching the issue further, the transmissions on these vehicles are failing primarily after the 120,000 mile extended threshold/allowance and it should be noted that even after having the transmissions completely replaced they are repeatedly failing after approximately 15,000 additional mileage after being serviced or replaced. That's probably why Nissan decided to opt for an extension in warranty as opposed to a total recall. Summer also admitted that it is the dealer's job to inform the consumer and that with vehicle resales the dealers are not responsible for logging the new owners. THAT IS ABSURD!!!!!!
SO IF YOU BUY A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FROM THEIR VERY OWN LOT THEN YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOB AND LOG A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP, BUT SHOULD FULLY EXPECT THEM TO TAKE YOUR MONEY FOR ALL REPAIRS AND SELL YOU A VEHICLE IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT CONTACT/INFORM THE NEW CONSUMER OF ANY CONCESSIONS, EXTENDED WARRANTIES OR RECALLS THAT WERE ISSUED/TRANSFERRED TO THEM AT TIME OF PURCHASE!!!!!
THIS COMPANY IS INCREDIBLY SHEISTY FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THEIR CONSUMERS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THIS COMPANY AGAIN. THEY HAVE COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED ANY BELIEF AND CREDIBILITY THAT THEY ARE A RELIABLE AND RESPECTABLE AUTO MANUFACTURER. SHAME ON YOU FOR TREATING YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH SUCH DISRESPECT AND DISMISSAL!
- Shade C., ORLANDO, FL, US
problem #22Altima S
- CVT transmission
- 122,000 miles
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Car was only 2,000 miles over extended warranty Nissan put in place to cover this dumb transmission. Contacted Nissan for some type of assistance or exception since this is my daughter's car and she's in college and didn't have $4000 to fix it.
The dealer (Coggin Nissan) was nice enough, as a token of good will, to provide the labor and we pay for parts ($2000).
- flguy, Macclenny, US
problem #21Altima S 2.5L
- CVT transmission
- 163,440 miles
THIS CAR HAS BEEN VERY DEPENDABLE FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. I GET DOWN TO ONLY OWING 980.00 IN PAYMENTS AND IT BREAKS DOWN ON ME. I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT REPAIRED BUT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS I AM LEANING TOWARD GETTING ANOTHER ONE. JUST DON'T WANT ANOTHER CAR PAYMENT! NISSAN IS VERY SLOW WITH THEIR RESPONSES. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND TO GET IT TO A DEALER WILL BE OVER 50 MILES AWAY WHICH MEANS TOO MUCH FOR TOWING. AND I JUST BOUGHT A NEW SET OF TIRES TOO!!!
Nissan Altima Transmission Replacement
THE CAR QUITS WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE. I HAD A TRANSMISSION MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. HE THINKS IT MAY BE THE CVT TRANSMISSION COMPUTER, WHICH APPARENTLY, HE CAN'T FIX. I AM SORRY TO SAY BUT I DON'T TRUST DEALER REPAIR SHOPS AT ALL!!!
ANYONE HAVE SOME ADVICE TO OFFER?
- Sandra C., Jonesboro, AR, US
problemNissan Altima Transmission Warranty
#20Altima 2.5L
- Manual transmission
- 90,000 miles
Ammco in Roseville, said I had a seal leak and the had to fix twice, then they said I need a new Transmission for 4K, then they ran over my key pod and destroyed it, now I have to bring them my second POD, they are on my sh*t list
- Nelson K., Roseville, US
problem #19Altima SE 3.5L V6
- CVT transmission
- 117,240 miles
The CVT failed at 117,240 miles. Fortunately, the CVT was replaced by Nissan. The dealership advised Nissan had extended the CVT warranty to 120,000. Very disappointed at the failure of the CVT.
- fromo, Lubbock, US
problem #18Altima SE 3.5L
Nissan Altima Transmission Oil
- CVT transmission
- 61,000 miles
I purchased a 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5 and had a wonderful experience. The car was totaled in an accident and I was blessed that this vehicle saved my life, I couldn't wait to purchase my next Altima and so I did. I purchased a 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 with an extended warranty. The dreaded CVT Transmission has become a nightmare with repeated trips to Nissan Dealerships. While the warranty was in effect the car began to lose power during acceleration. Initially it was subtle and I thought it was my imagination as I'm driving city miles. I took the car to the dealership for diagnosis and repairs several times and they continuously told me that the problem did not exist (after holding onto my vehicle for at least a week at a time) and that the problem would have to be occurring at the time in order for any diagnosis could be made. I continued to drive the vehicle because the car was stalling on occasion until while I'm driving the car wouldn't accelerate or I wouldn't have any power driving on an incline. Very dangerous. Funny thing the car would operate fine if the car was either cold from sitting or driven in cold weather. No help from Nissan, I sought help from transmission specialist to be informed that the problem absolutely exists but its a manufacturers defect inside of the CVT transmission. Nissan has known about it probably always but unable to assist their customers with a recall. I did find out that the CVT trans has been discontinued. Don't think I'll be purchasing any other Nissan products based on their deception and the cost to repair running between $2M and $4M dollars
- butlerpa, Philadelphia, PA, US
problem #17Altima 2.5L
- CVT transmission
- 99,000 miles
My car is paid for, thus really stinks! I heard a grinding noise when driving, then the car lost power, I was told I needed to replace the throttle body, spent 200.00 to do this, then the RPM's would go down under 200, spent another 129.00 at the dealer only to be told the brand new part I just bought is defective, then I was told the solenoid.
- Patricia H., Durham, NC, US
problem #16Altima SE
- CVT transmission
- 132,000 miles
Today my Nissan Altima's Transmission Died! The kicker-- I just made my very last car payment this month!!!! I was driving on my way to work and had my baby in the car to drop off at Grandma's house and my car started grinding really bad and shifting horribly. Then all of a sudden it simply stops moving and won't shift into drive. I manage to steer it to the side of the road. I power the car off and then restart (that works for computers, right?!) put back into drive and it's making the most awful noise ever. Had it towed to a mechanic specializing in transmission work, he groaned when I told him over the phone it was an Altima CVT trans.
Got the call this morning that it is beyond repair. Needs to be replaced. What?! I thought Nissan's last for a long time. I've had the car for 5 years. He doesn't work on CVTs so it needs to go to a dealer. Called Nissan.. It's 10,000 miles over the extended warranty they wont fix it. So I'm on the hook for 4k?! I don't think so. I'll sell it for scrap metal and get a new car. Guarantee it won't be a Nissan I am buying. Shame on Nissan for putting such a crappy transmission in their cars then giving you no recourse. I was going to buy a Rogue but I hate Nissan and will never buy a car from them ever.
Update from Aug 18, 2016: CVT Transmission completely failed at 132000 miles. Nissan Consumer Affairs refuses to help because it is out of their 'extended warranty of 120k' Car lost power wouldn't shift while driving in traffic, luckily we were not in an accident. How can Nissan put these junk transmissions in and refuse to stand by their product. Going to small claims court.
- Erika W., Wyandotte, MI, US
problem #15Altima
- CVT transmission
- 115,000 miles
Transmission broke down yesterday am, on my way to work. I knew it was transmission so I had it towed to Aamco. They're putting in re-manufactured tranny, cost of $3,600 all in.
I just found out today that the warranty was extended, and so I called Nissan. He tells me, 'yes your car is covered. Just bring it to a Nissan dealer.' Uh oh, I just heard from Aamco that they put the new transmission in. So I ask whether they can reimburse me for a third party repair. They're not sure, and they're assigning a 'Regional Specialist' to the case, who will call me back.
Does anyone on here have experience with this situation? Surely I'm not the first person to get an emergency repair at somewhere other than a Nissan dealership.
thanks,
Frank
- Frank S., Summit, NJ, US
problem #14Altima 2.5S 2.5L 4
- CVT transmission
- 144,540 miles
On August 1, 2015 I purchased a 2008 Nissan Altima 2.5S with 130,812 miles for $7,500. On January 27, 2016 the transmission went out with 144,540 miles. The diagnosis for the Nissan Altima was a transmission failure requiring replacement with an estimated $4,135 cost. This is over ½ the amount I paid for the vehicle and 60% of the current market value.
I began doing research into transmission issues with the CVT transmissions in Nissan Altimas. I was completely amazed to discover numerous reports of similar failures. I learned from Nissan USA’s website that Nissan extended the warranty on the CVT transmission on 2007-2010 Altimas to 10 years and 120,000. This is a clear indication to me that Nissan recognizes a major quality issue with the CVT transmission,
I am a Quality Manager for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company, so began doing additional searching for data. I discovered that self reported transmission failures for 2008 Nissan Altimas are 3.6%. Comparing this to a similar class competitive model average for 2008 of 0.76%, the Altima is nearly 5-times the industry average failure rate. I am certain Nissan has much more detailed data on failure by mileage. However, using the same data source for comparison across 8-manufacturers and finding a 5-times greater incidence rate is an obvious indication of an inferior product.
This is most likely the last Nissan I will own.
- Keith H., Ellerslie, GA, US
problem #13Altima 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 132,000 miles
This is simply a crappy transmission. Nissan knows about the problem and extended their warranty. After researching the complaints the transmissions are going out after their 120k warranty. I have contacted Nissan to see if there is anything they will do and will update this comment when I find out.
- Jim R., Shawnee, KS, US
Read the next 12 complaints »
Nissan has been in the news a lot lately, and unfortunately, it’s been for all the wrong reasons. Over the course of the last year or two, Nissan’s profitshave plunged (and thenplunged some more!) as sales of the company’s vehicles have started trending in the wrong direction. Nissan has also been forced to deal with a slew of ongoing Nissan CVT transmission problems in a variety of the company’s vehicles. Those who own Nissans have been forced to pay anywhere from $3,500 to $8,000 on average to fix Nissan CVT transmission problems. This has, in turn, forced Nissan toextend the warranties on many of their cars from five years or 60,000 miles to 10 years or 120,000 miles.
It remains to be seen whether or not Nissan is going to be able to get this problem under control. If they aren’t, it could very well lead to their profits plunging even further than they already have, and it could threaten to put the company into a precarious position as far as their future is concerned. But in the meantime, many Nissan owners are having to deal with the Nissan CVTtransmission problems found in a bunch of Nissan’s most popular vehicles. Learn more about some of the specific problems below.
What Is a CVT?
Before we get into talking about some of the specific Nissan CVT transmission problems that are out there, you need to know exactly what a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, is. Sometimes called a shiftless transmission or a pulley transmission, a CVT is a type of automatic transmission that utilizes variable-width pulleys and a flexible belt as opposed to fixed gears like a regular automatic transmission. CVTs are designed to deliver seamless acceleration by helping cars avoid having to shift from one gear to another, which can sometimes cause a car to hesitate or jerk suddenly.
Over the last 20 years or so, there are a number of car companies that havestarted using CVTs in their vehicles. From Audi and Honda to Subaru and Toyota, many of the major car companies have bought into CVT technology to some degree. But none have bought into it more than Nissan. Nissan quite literally bought into CVT technology at one point by purchasing a stake in JATCO, a company that has been responsible for building many of the CVT transmissions found in cars all throughout the world. This should illustrate just how committed Nissan has been to CVT despite all the Nissan CVT transmission problems that have popped up over time.
The Introduction of the Nissan CVT
There isn’t anything particularly new about CVT technology. Believe it or not, Leonardo da Vinci came up with one of the initial concepts for the technology way back in the late 1400s, and it appeared in some of the earliest automobiles that were invented in the late 1800s. Nissan has also been using CVT technology in its cars for decades now. They first started incorporating CVTs into their vehicles in the early 1990s when they released the1992 Nissan March that contained the N-CVT, which was based on the Fuji Heavy Industries ECVT. They then went on to design their very own CVT in the years that followed and worked them into several of their Japanese models.
Nissan didn’t get serious about adding CVTs to their U.S. vehiclesuntil the early 2000s, though. The 2003 Nissan Murano, which was released in 2002, was the first Nissan to feature a CVT transmission in the U.S. It came in the form of the XTRONIC CVT from Nissan, and it marked a complete change in the way that Nissan would approach transmissions. Within just a few years, Nissan shifted to including CVTs in almost all of the vehicles they released in the U.S. CVTs were soon found in Nissan Altimas, Nissan Pathfinders, Nissan Rogues, Nissan Sentras, and Nissan Versas. It seemed like such an exciting time for Nissan, but it wouldn’t be long before the Nissan CVT transmission problems would start to appear.
Beginning of the Nissan CVT Transmission Problems
When Nissan first started introducing CVT technology into their North American cars in the early 2000s, there was a lot of fanfare that surrounded them. People thought that CVTs could potentially be the transmissions found in all cars at some point in the near future. But it didn’t take very long for some people who owned the 2003 Nissan Murano to start to see signs that the CVTs in Nissans might not be all they were cracked up to be. They noticed Nissan CVT transmission problems like:
- Difficulty accelerating
- Shaking and/or stuttering during acceleration
- Transmissions running too hot
- Transmissions shutting down without warning
Transmission failure was—and is still is—one of the most common complaints that people had about the 2003 Nissan Murano. The CVTs in these Muranos would give out unexpectedlyright around the 118,000-mile mark on average and force people to pay upwards of $4,100 for transmission repairs. In many cases, the owners of Muranos had to have their transmissions replaced altogether, which eventually led to Nissan having to extend the original warranty that came with the car. It would, unfortunately, be a sign of things to come as it was the first Nissan to experience Nissan CVT transmission problems, but as you’re about to find out, it was not the last.
4th and 5th Generation Nissan Altima Transmission Problems
The 4th generation Nissan Altima—which was introduced in 2007 and replaced by the 5th generation Nissan Altima in 2012—was the recipient of a series of complaints from those who drove them. People who owned an Altima during this time period reported experiencing everything from steering wheel lock failure to instances in which their dashboards melted. But one of the biggest issues in these Altimas was CVT failure. In 2007 Altimas, for example, many people reported CVT transmission failure ataround the 100,000-mile mark and found that it cost about $4,400 to repair. The problem persisted over the next five years with many people also reporting CVT transmission failure in 2012 Nissan Altimas ataround the 110,000-mile mark and at a cost of about $3,200.
Nissan vowed to try and fix the issues that so many people were having with the CVT transmissions in their Altimas, but they were unable to do it throughout the duration of the 4th generation Altima’s lifespan. The issues continued with the 5th generation Altima, and some might argue that they even managed to get worse. Many people who owned the 2013 Nissan Altima started to notice Nissan CVT transmission problems ataround the 53,000-mile mark and found that they cost around $3,100 to fix. It caused many Altima owners to second-guess their decision to buy Nissans and is at least partly to blame for Nissan’s current predicament.
3rd and 4th Generation Nissan Pathfinder Transmission Problems
Nissan CVT transmission problems have become pretty much synonymous with the Nissan Altima at this point, which is why we decided to discuss the Altima first. But the Nissan Pathfinder was actually one of the first Nissans outside of the Murano to have a CVT transmission installed in it way back in 2005 when the first 3rd generation Nissan Pathfinder was released. And not coincidentally, that year’s Pathfinder ended up going down as one of the worst Pathfinder model years for transmissions in the Pathfinder’s history.
Nissan Altima Transmission Fluid Change
Those who owned a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder had a variety of widespread transmission problems, including coolant leaking into their transmissions and causingtransmission failure. These problems started to appear ataround the 90,000-mile mark in these Pathfinders and cost right around $3,500 to fix. They also showed up in the 2006 and 2007 Nissan Pathfinders before Nissan appeared to get its act together and reduce the CVT-related issues found in Pathfinders.
But they reared their ugly head again when the 4th generation Nissan Pathfinder was released in the form of the 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. That model Pathfinder would go on to beinvolved in a class-action lawsuit that claimed the Pathfinder would shake very violently when it was driven between 15 and 30 miles per hour in some instances. It was a problem that appeared in some 2014 Pathfindersas soon as the 32,000-mile mark and cost $4,000 to fix on average.
1st and 2nd Generation Nissan Rogue Transmission Problems
First released in 2007, the Nissan Rogue has, somewhat surprisingly, turned into one of the most popular Nissan models ever. When it was first released, some people didn’t know what to make of it, but thanks to the rise of crossover SUVs, it’s transformed into a staple in the Nissan lineup. But with that being said, it’s not without its Nissan CVT transmission problems, which it has experienced since pretty much the beginning. Both the 1st generation Rogue, which was manufactured by Nissan from 2008 through 2013, and the 2nd generation, which was manufactured by Nissan from 2014 through 2019, have been hit with the same transmission issues as other Nissans.
The initial 2008 Nissan Rogue, for example, would sometimes stop accelerating or stop driving completely for some people due to Nissan CVT transmission problems ataround the 86,000-mile mark. It cost almost $3,000 to fix the issues that caused this to take place. Many early Rogue owners also reported their transmissions failing completely ataround the 125,000-mile mark, thus forcing them to pay almost $3,200 on average to repair or replace their CVT transmissions.
This trend kept up once the 2nd generation Rogue was released with the 2014 Rogue starting to show signs of trouble in many cases ataround the 80,000-mile mark and forcing Rogue owners to endure average repair bills in the $3,500 range. There haven’t been as many Nissan CVT transmission problems reported with Rogues in more recent years, but all of this has scared off some people who might normally consider buying a Rogue.
6th Generation Nissan Sentra Transmission Problems
The Nissan Sentra is one of the longest-running models in the Nissan lineup. It was first released way back in the early 1980s, and it continues to be a linchpin for the Nissan name. But that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t without its fair share of Nissan CVT transmission problems. When the 6th generation Nissan Sentra was put out in 2013, many people who bought it reported problems like revving and jerking and total CVT transmission failure. It often struck ataround the 80,000-mile mark and cost about $3,500 to fix. The 2013 and 2014 Nissan Sentras, in particular, seemed to give drivers the most fits as far as the Nissan CVT transmission problems go.
1st and 2nd Generation Nissan Versa Transmission Problems
There was one very prominent problem with 1st generation Nissan Versas released between 2007 and 2011 that earned Nissan a lot of negative press. They came equipped with Takata airbags that were later found to be defective. Nissan wasforced to recall these vehicles in May 2016 and July 2017 to replace the airbags that were in them.
But this wasn’t the only problem that portrayed Nissan in a negative light. While the company was dealing with its airbag problem in Versas, they also had to deal with transmission problems in many 1st generation Versas. Owners of the original 2008 Versa, for instance, started reporting Nissan CVT transmission problems that appeared ataround the 120,000-mile mark and cost $3,700 on average to fix.
And those problems only seemed to get worse once the 2nd generation Nissan Versa started to hit showroom floors. Owners of the 2012 Nissan Versa were forced to put up with major transmission problems, including transmission failure. These problems presented themselves ataround the 72,000-mile mark and cost more than $3,500 on average to fix. The Nissan CVT transmission problems got to be so bad that a group of Versa owners eventually filed a class-action lawsuit against Nissan alleging that the CVT transmissions they put into 2nd generation Versas were defective. Nissansettled the case and agreed to provide extended warranties to those who qualified for them based on certain conditions.
What Should You Do With a Car With Nissan CVT Transmission Problems?
To Nissan’s credit, they have stepped up and tried to make things right with many past and current Nissan owners by offering extended warranties to them. These warranties have helped many people cover the costs associated with Nissan CVT transmission problems. But there are some people driving around in Nissans that have Nissan CVT transmission problems that aren’t covered by a warranty. There are also others who don’t feel comfortable about driving around in Nissans because of the Nissan CVT transmission problems that they’ve heard so much about.
If you want to get rid of a Nissan that has CVT transmission problems and get your hands on something new, Cash Cars Buyer will gladly take your Nissan off your hands and give you cash for it. It’ll allow you to go out and buy something that’s safer, more reliable, and less expensive than the Nissan you’re driving now. Contact us today to obtain a quote for your car.