CVT transmission problems: the signs, the Nissan and Honda years, and what to do
Quick answer: the most common CVT problems are a shudder or judder when accelerating, RPM surges when the belt slips, whining noises, and a sudden loss of power when the CVT overheats and goes into fail-safe. Several Nissan and Honda models got warranty extensions for CVT trouble, so check your coverage before you pay for a repair.
Written by Mark Dannunzio, co-owner and ASE-certified lead technician at Shift Masters Transmissions in Phoenix. Mark and Ken and their team rebuild CVTs from every make, including a 2013 Nissan Maxima CVT rebuilt in 2019 that is now at 140,000 miles with no complaints.
(Lowers voice. Leans into the microphone.) If you read our transmission problems guide, you met Gary’s younger cousin, Kevin the CVT. Kevin has no gears, very strong opinions, and a habit of shivering when he’s upset.
This page is about what Kevin’s shivering means, which cars have the most famous Kevins, and what to do before you hand anyone your credit card. I promise to keep the jargon to a minimum. (I’ve already failed once. It was “CVT”.)
CVT extensions and bulletins, by make and year
Each row links to the manufacturer’s own document. These are the years with official action, not a complete list of every CVT that ever had trouble.
What are the signs of CVT problems?
CVT trouble sounds and feels different from a regular automatic, because there are no gears to bang into. (Kevin can’t slam a door he doesn’t have.) Here is what the manufacturers and the Nissan class action actually describe:
Nissan CVT problems
Nissan is the name most people associate with CVT trouble, and the paper trail explains why. A class action alleged that affected Nissan CVTs “judder, shudder, clunk, jerk and experience acceleration problems,” per CarComplaints. (Kevin’s family reunion is a loud one.)
The 2013 Altima carries CarComplaints’ “Avoid Like The Plague” badge, with 180 reports of “CVT Shuttering, Vibration, Hesitation, Running Roughly” and 73 of “Transmission Stopped Working,” per CarComplaints. Nissan has since extended CVT coverage on several later models, which the table above lists year by year.
Nissan Rogue CVT problems
The Rogue gets its own section because it gets its own paperwork. Nissan extended CVT coverage on the 2014-2018 Rogue and 2015 Rogue Select to 84 months or 84,000 miles, and the extension covers the CVT assembly, valve body, torque converter, cooler kit and computer reprogramming, per Nissan’s bulletin. (Kevin the Rogue has a very generous insurance policy. Use it.)
Earlier Rogues have a heat story. For the 2011-2013 Rogue and 2014-2015 Rogue Select without the tow package, Nissan lists the conditions that can trigger the low-power fail-safe, and one of them is driving in “ambient temperature of 96 degrees or higher.” Nissan’s fix includes installing a CVT oil cooler kit. (Ninety-six degrees. In Phoenix, that’s a light jacket day.)
Honda CVT problems
Honda has had its own CVT moments, handled mostly with software. On the 2015-2016 Accord and CR-V, Honda says an incorrect learning value “may cause a pressure problem in the CVT,” causing “a surge in RPM because the CVT belt slips at highway speeds.” The fix is a software update. (Kevin’s Honda cousin just needed a firmware patch. Very modern of him.)
The 2016-2020 HR-V got a bigger response: a software update plus a warranty extension for CVT belt deterioration to “7 years from the original date of purchase or 150,000 miles,” for original and later owners, per Honda’s owner letter. If you already paid for a replacement, the letter says you may be eligible for reimbursement.
Why Phoenix heat matters for a CVT
Nissan puts it simply: “Over time, heat and contaminants can cause CVT fluid to lose the necessary properties.” And Kelley Blue Book notes that because a CVT has no gears, “it requires a special transmission oil to function properly.” (Kevin is a picky drinker, and he hates summer.)
Use the exact fluid your manufacturer specifies. Nissan’s own bulletin says to use Genuine Nissan NS-3 CVT Fluid only and never regular automatic transmission fluid. Our transmission fluid change and flush service checks the fluid first.
Check your warranty before you pay anyone
This is the money-saving step. If your car is on the list above and still inside the time and mileage, the manufacturer may cover the repair. (Yes, a transmission shop telling you to call the dealer first. My accountant has asked me to stop doing this.)
If you’re outside coverage, that’s where we come in. (Kevin doesn’t care who pays, as long as somebody fixes him.)
What we see in the shop
We see CVTs from every make, with no single brand stealing the spotlight. (Kevin has a big, complaining family.) Every one gets a free check first. From there, we rebuild when the parts for that model exist, and recommend a replacement when the belt or pulleys are badly damaged or the case is damaged.
Rebuilt CVTs can go the distance. In Mark’s words:
“Rebuilt a 2013 Nissan Maxima in 2019, the customer is at 140,000 miles and still going strong with no complaints!”Mark Dannunzio, co-owner and lead technician
For the full answer on repairs, read can a CVT transmission be rebuilt. Every rebuild carries our 3 years or 36,000 miles warranty on parts and labor.
CVT problem questions
Which Nissan years have CVT problems?
Nissan extended CVT coverage to 84 months or 84,000 miles on the 2014-2018 Rogue, 2015 Rogue Select, 2015-2018 Pathfinder, 2017-2018 Altima and 2018-2019 Sentra, Versa Sedan and Versa Note. It also issued a heat-related bulletin for the 2011-2013 Rogue and 2014-2015 Rogue Select without the tow package.
Is my Nissan or Honda CVT still under an extended warranty?
It depends on the model, year, mileage and purchase date. Nissan's extensions run 84 months or 84,000 miles, and Honda's HR-V extension runs 7 years from purchase or 150,000 miles. A dealer can check your VIN.
What is CVT limp mode?
Nissan calls it the CVT fail-safe: when the CVT fluid gets too hot, the car reduces vehicle speed to protect the transmission. Owners usually describe it as a sudden loss of power.
Can a CVT be repaired instead of replaced?
Often, yes. It depends on what failed and whether parts are available for your model. A diagnosis tells you which.
How do I make my CVT last?
Use the exact CVT fluid your manufacturer specifies and follow its fluid service schedule. Nissan, for example, says to use Genuine Nissan NS-3 CVT Fluid only and never automatic transmission fluid.