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Nissan Altima CVT

258 messages,  Last post on Apr 22, 2013 at 2:01 PM

You are in the Nissan Altima Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Altima, Transmission, Sedan

Messages Page 23 of 26

#219 of 258 CVT reliability? by tripletranny

Feb 20, 2012 (2:19 pm)

I had exactly the same problem - 2008 Altima 2.5L CVT. At about 80,000km I started hearing a whining/humming noise, faster on acceleration and slower on deceleration. Took it back to dealer for work, and they ended up pulling the whole CVT and replacing it (under warranty). Take it back and insist they look at it. My experience is that some CVTs are good from factory, but some are not.

#220 of 258 Re: CVT reliability? [tripletranny] by felicibert

Feb 21, 2012 (7:20 pm)

Replying to: tripletranny (Feb 20, 2012 2:19 pm)
We took it to 2 dealers in fact. The first tried to convince us that it was the heat shield that needed to be welded and that was the noise. We had the heat shield welded. We took it to another Nissan dealer the very next day...he said it was the plastic shield on the bottom of the car that was rattling against the engine. It is clear to us that no one really wants to honor the Nissan Corporation warranty. We should take it to a third Nissan dealer to see what story they come up with next. I take care of my cars and know a rattling piece of metal or plastic from a failing transmission. Even the guy who welded the heat shield told us we have a problem. I was an advocate of Nissans previously but because of the horrible experience we had in buying this car and the experiences that we have had with Nissan dealers, I will not be owning one again. My wife and 2 toddlers ride in that car, and I would like to know if it is reliable or not. Even the service guy at the last Nissan dealer could not look me in the eye. He just mumbled something about..."There won't be any charge for today..." And walked away. Of course there won't be a charge. Why would you charge me for telling me one of the stories that came out of the Nissan Corporation handbook.

#221 of 258 Re: 2008 Nissan Altima [felicibert] by busiris

Feb 21, 2012 (8:11 pm)

Replying to: felicibert (Feb 20, 2012 10:17 am)
My daughter has an 09 Versa SL CVT. Somewhere around 10-12K miles, A sudden noise developed as she was turning into a parking space in a parking lot. The sound was much like one would expect a faulty constant velocity joint to sound like. After a few laps around the lot, the noise went away.
 
Over the next 30K miles the noise came back for brief, 30 second periods... then, nothing. I guess one could say these sounds resembled those that a tractor might make.
 
At about 48K miles, the noise evolved into what I would describe as a bearing with a flat-spot on one or more of the rollers. And, it was constant, and speed-sensitive.
 
At that time, I took it in to the local Nissan dealer, where they immediately diagnosed it as a CVT failure and ordered a replacement. It was late December 2011, so it took a few extra days to get the new one shipped in and installed (8 days, I believe).
 
End of story: Car drives perfectly, no noises, no impace on mpg.
 
Zero $$$ out of pocket.
 
Since I have had auto tranny problems with GM and Chrysler in earlier vehicles during my 57 years, I'm not too worried about Nissan and their CVTs at this point...

#222 of 258 Re: CVT reliability? [felicibert] by tripletranny

Feb 21, 2012 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: felicibert (Feb 21, 2012 7:20 pm)
Sorry, I forget whether you are dealing with Nissan in the US or not - my experience was in Canada, and the service managers were excellent and did not give me any grief. The manager of the dealership was also good later when I returned the car itself and asked for a GOOD trade on a new Altima that hopefully DIDN'T have a CVT issue. If you're dealing with Nissan US, ask them why N. Canada has no problem dealing with replacing a whole tranny for nothing under warranty. If you're in Canada, my dealership is in Alberta.

#223 of 258 Re: CVT reliability? [tripletranny] by felicibert

Feb 22, 2012 (8:26 am)

Replying to: tripletranny (Feb 21, 2012 9:28 pm)
Thank you for your response, tripletranny. I'm glad that you have had a good experience. We are in the far southern U.S. Otherwise, I might drive to Alberta! When inside the car or from a distance, it sounds like a riding lawnmower. When you listen closely though, it sounds like a pulley that is spinning fast and wiggling on its axis. At this point, I cannot even get a dealer to acknowledge that there is anything wrong with our vehicle. When co-workers, family, or friends ride in our car, they ask what the noise is, and we have to tell them that 2 dealers have said nothing is wrong with the car. I also give them my additional opinion that all their new cars on the lot must sound the same way...since dealers have said that nothing is wrong with our car. These dealers have put my customer loyalty and the safety of my family below their bottom line in priority...and for that, Nissan will never receive my business again. I will also share my opinions freely about their products and dealers.

#224 of 258 Re: CVT reliability? [tripletranny] by dino34

Mar 12, 2012 (11:27 am)

Replying to: tripletranny (Feb 20, 2012 2:19 pm)
How long does it take the dealer to replace the transmission if they have the parts?

#225 of 258 Re: CVT reliability? [dino34] by tripletranny

Mar 12, 2012 (11:48 am)

Replying to: dino34 (Mar 12, 2012 11:27 am)
Once they had the parts in, it was about 3-4 days in the shop. I don't know how many hours per day they worked on it - it was under warranty so I wasn't billed for it. They also provided rental car free of charge.

#226 of 258 Re: 2008 Nissan Altima [felicibert] by rp10

Mar 14, 2012 (7:28 am)

Replying to: felicibert (Feb 20, 2012 10:17 am)
I just started having the same issue with my car about a month ago. I have an 08 Nissan Altima Coupe with about 67,000 miles on it. The "tractor shaking and sound" has happened three times. All three times it has happened when I'm in stop and go traffic. Usually, if I turn the car off and turn in back on it will stop. It happens right when I accelerate between 15-20 mph. I have no idea what is causing it and I haven't taken it to the dealer yet. When it does happen, the shaking is pretty bad and causes the entire car to shake and the sound is terrible. Have you gotten your issue checked out yet?

#227 of 258 Re: 2008 Nissan Altima [rp10] by mlmcgahee

Mar 15, 2012 (5:46 am)

Replying to: rp10 (Mar 14, 2012 7:28 am)
At 60,000 miles the CVT fluid needs to be checked by the Nissan Service Department. They check to see how much viscosity life the CVT fluid has left and if it needs to be replaced. It's in the service manual.
 
Mike

#228 of 258 Re: 2008 Nissan Altima [mlmcgahee] by richardseric1

May 06, 2012 (7:43 am)

Replying to: mlmcgahee (Mar 15, 2012 5:46 am)
Can you comment on the "need" to use CVT fluid? I was quoted $440 by the dealership to do the fluid flush. The technician didn't see a problem with using an after market transamission flush from Jiffylube or pepboys. More questionable was the service managers response to my further questioning. I asked him, "What sort of problems have you had with higher mileage CVT's and what can I exepct?" His reply..."I don't have enough experience to advise you"
 
I am shocked that this topic has so many varied responses to the long term quality. Shame on you Nissan for making us skeptical.

Messages Page 23 of 26

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