Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans Nissan Altima Nissan Altima CVT
84 messages, Last post on Nov 20, 2009 at 11:10 PM
You are in the Nissan Altima Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
|
|---|---|
Hi guys and girls...I'm looking at getting a 2009 Altima 2.5 S w/ the auto CVT transmission. In my research, I've read a lot about the knocking, grinding and speed issues but my main concern is about the transmission breaking down. I have heard that if the belt goes, you have to replace the transmission. Does anyone know much about this or know how often this actually happens. My mechanic and his transmission shop have never worked on a CVT so they provided no help on this issue. I love the Altima and can live with some of the noise/shaking if I can drive with confidence that I won't have to buy a new $4000 transmission as soon as the warranty runs out. Any help is much appreciated.
|
|
|
Replying to: wantanaltima (Mar 09, 2009 3:50 pm) As for the reliability, Nissan says that their CVT has been (bassed on waranty claim numbers) more reliable than their automatic transmission. Now that what nissan says, but I tend to agree with them. I do not believe they would expanding their use if they knew they were inferior. It just wouldn't make sense from a business standpoint. But one way to look at the CVT is like this: Basically, it consists of two pullies connected with a belt (chain). There are no gears, gear cluster or any of the other parts in a conventional automatic transmission. That pretty much means there are far fewer things to go wrong with it. Personally, I would see no reason to worry about it. they're not new. Nissan first started using them with the murano back in 2002 or something like that. and now, with several generations of them having been made, the bugs and quirks have been worked out.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: jd10013 (Mar 14, 2009 5:54 am) There are lots of forums on the web with people complaining about their reliability and Nissan's inability/lack of motivation to fix them. I've already been told that tranny shops aren't seeing them in for repairs b/c you can't repair them. And they're not getting the Altima's in for replacement as it's cheaper to just get it done through Nissan directly...sort of a captive market created by Nissan. Consumer's reports say nothing bad at all about the CVT transmission. I do absolutely service my current car as much as required and always do the "recommended" items just to spoil it so it treats me better in the long run. I'm still really on the fence with this. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: wantanaltima (Mar 14, 2009 6:36 am) I purchase a 2007 Altima in July of 2007 and due to my long commute to/from work, I've place a lot of miles on the vehicle. After hearing an unusual noise, I had the dealership look at it, they told me I need a new transmission. parts cannot be replace, you must purchase the entire tranny. I only have 66,000 miles on the car. Of course they do not want to provide any assistance for replacement to fix the car. I would not recommend purchasing Nissan vehicles. I returned to the Service Manager to plea my case and is currently waiting for a response. |
|
|
Replying to: wantanaltima (Mar 14, 2009 6:36 am) Transmission shops will replace them, and are probably cheaper than a dealership. Like I told you before, they are actually much less complicated than an automatic transmission. And don't put much stock into what you see on message board on the internet. People seldom go to message boards for any other reason than to complain, vent, and talk bad about the car they're having problems with. nothing wrong with that, it is what it is. As for you choice, thats a tough decision to make. I own both a civic and an altima; and both are great cars. but which ever one you get, BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY! I can't overstate that enough. first off, you can get them cheap. Dealerships love to sell them, and will give you a great deal on one if you push for it. getting one for half the price they initially offer you in not uncommon. And second, fixing cars is expensive. Auto or CVT, replacing (or in the case of an auto, rebuilding) will cost thousands. And even honda (despite their stellar record) have had problems with their auto transmissions before. but aside from transmissions, it just isn't that hard to need a thousand or more in repairs for a car. It's just not worth taking the chance.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: jd10013 (Mar 15, 2009 7:26 am) I totally agree with you about internet hype and I take everything with a grain of salt. Regarding the Extended warranty, i agree for the Altima it's probably a good buy. A friend of mine who knows tonnes about cars and knows that I'd probably buy the Altima even if I knew there were inherent problems with it suggested getting the extended warranty too. I very well may try to do that and haggle the guy on the price. I'm in Canada so I'm not sure how much they will haggle on the price of that like they do in the US. I will definitely try though...that's just my nature. Thank you so much for the info so far. I really appreciate it. Any other insights are gladly welcomed as it sounds like we think on the same wavelength.
|
|
|
Replying to: wantanaltima (Mar 15, 2009 7:36 am) another thing you might want to know about CVT' is, nissan is not the first company to use them. ford used them before, as has subaru. and I believe both toyota and honda offer them in foreign markets. Nissan is simply the first company to make widespread use of them in the all so important North American market. the CVT is neither new, nor revolutionary. The only two factors that have held them back are finding a material for the belt that will hold up in higher torque and HP cars, and public acceptance. Nissan solved the first, and is working on the second. as for warranties, the transmission is just one reason to get one. anything on a car can cost a fortune to fix. even something as simple as a power window motor can run $600 to fix. A blown head gasket can run $1600. so much depends on the car. you could have a $25 doallar part that requires 15 hours of labor to replace, and end up running 3k to do. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. As for the cost, I could be wrong, as I'm not a car salesman; but I believe the finance people get a financial incentive to sell those things. I'm also pretty sure there is a HUGE mark up on them. Hence why the dealerships love to sell them. but If you hold out and bargain hard, you should be able to get a platinum 10yr 100k extended warranty for somewhere between 1000 and 1500. yea, thats a good chunk of money. but having spent nearly 20k on the car, 10 years of worry free driving makes it seem like a good deal to me. |
|
|
|
|
Hello, I have an Altima 2.5s 2008 with CVT tran. and I would like to change this one with manual tran Could someone give me informations about the cost and if it posibile to be done. Thanks
|
|
|
Replying to: nexusprime (Apr 15, 2009 1:27 pm) |
|
You are here:
Forums
Sedans Nissan Altima Nissan Altima CVT
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Nissan Altima
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
