Adios Altima CVT!

[dkryan]

As if I don't have enough problems, the wonderful CVT on my 2014 Altima (2.5L) began to shudder while downshifting into second or first gear yesterday.

And this, the day after I receive a recall notice from Nissan telling me I need to have my Transmission Control Module (TCM) flashed to prevent low hydraulic pressure in the CVT and subsequent damage.

I have 53k well-maintained miles on the ride, as if that has done the CVT any good. The NS-3 fluid was changed by the dealer at 35k miles.

Even if they re-flash it, I am fearful the CVT may have already gone beyond any help a re-flash could provide.

The shudder occurs infrequently, only on downshifts, and when the engine/transmission is at normal temperature.

I had planned on keeping the 40 month old ride another seven or eight years.

I hate to eat the depreciation but at this point, considering what I've read on the Altima forums, I may want to cut my loss now and acquire another ride.

Honestly, I was thinking of an Accord Hybrid, though, it, too, has a CVT. No one is buying hybrids these days with gasoline at $1.88 per gallon at Costco.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Stick with it. One of the best Midsize out there.

 

[dareo]

If you like to drive manual, the accord 6MT is a nice ride, and likely much cheaper than the Hybrid would ever save you in $$$. Plus it is dead simple and reliable.

 

[CT8]

Warranty?

 

[ammolab]

CVT "shifting" into first or second gears? Explain as a CVT does not have gears and is a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

 

[AirgunSavant]

Don't you have a powertrain warranty?


Originally Posted By: CT8
Warranty?

 

[ammolab]

Originally Posted By: dareo
If you like to drive manual, the accord 6MT is a nice ride, and likely much cheaper than the Hybrid would ever save you in $$$. Plus it is dead simple and reliable.


Every one says the Accord Sport manual is a great car...and every Honda dealer I have been to says, "we never had one on our lot". I tried to buy a manual Element once. A frustrating experiance. Dealers can not order a car from the Ohio plant...Honda decides what goes where. No manual Elements for N Mexico, so my only solution was to pay extra for builds going to St Louis or Boston and have them shipped to N Mexico once they arrived at the allocated dealers. NO THANKS!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

The newer units are emulating gears. The Versa Note actual is a 2 speed with top ( direct) gear CVT and a low gear - like a powerglide with a cvt in front of it. I don't lke CVT due to high friction and other inefficiencies. Nissan 2.5 in the rogue exhibits the Worst gas mileage ever on a modern auto 4 cyl at 22-23mpg. Where are the gains? wife gets 32-34 ave in her forester 6M.

 

[DrRoughneck]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
As if I don't have enough problems, the wonderful CVT on my 2014 Altima (2.5L) began to shudder while downshifting into second or first gear yesterday.


I thought CVTs did not have 1st an second gears. Doesn't the "C" in CVT mean "constant"?

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: ammolab
CVT "shifting" into first or second gears? Explain as a CVT does not have gears and is a continuously variable transmission (CVT).


+1

I thought they didn't shift gears.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
The newer units are emulating gears.


That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Thanks manufacturers.

 

[SirTanon]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
The newer units are emulating gears.


That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Thanks manufacturers.


Agreed. When I bought my 2014 Altima, one of the main reasons was the CVT and the way it rode when I test drove it. Smooth, power in the right places, and great fuel economy.

Cut to a few months later when we brought it in for an oil change. They tell us they reflashed it. Now, half the time, it acts like it's shifting through gears. I told them to put it back but they gave us a hard time.

Now, it appears that enough customers complained - We got a letter from them saying they need us to bring it in to reflash it again.. to go back to proper CVT behavior.

If I wanted a normal transmission, I'd have bought a car with a normal transmission.

 

[dkryan]

Okay, I misspoke on the "gears."

I understand CVTs don't have gearing.

What I was trying to convey is that the shuddering occurs as I am slowing down and beginning to stop at a stop sign or stop light.

I do have a warranty. But, only 7k miles left on that powertrain warranty.

If it is roached I'd rather get it replaced under warranty, obviously. But, how good is the replacement CVT going to be?

 

[dkryan]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon


Agreed. When I bought my 2014 Altima, one of the main reasons was the CVT and the way it rode when I test drove it. Smooth, power in the right places, and great fuel economy.




+1

No issues for the first 40 months. Great gas mileage. Nice Bose. But all for naught if they cannot get the CVT right.

 

[Superflan]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
The newer units are emulating gears.


That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Thanks manufacturers.


Thanks marketing vs customers. Many drivers where complaining of continuous slipping and bringing back their car saying something's wrong. There comes the 6/7/8 soeed emulated cvts.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

My experience with Nissan doesn't support keeping a car they make for three years plus "another seven or eight years". I know a Nissan staffer that wouldn't own the cars he sells, due to reliability issues with the brand in general.

You have to ask yourself why the second largest Japanese manufacturer by volume, one who has been in North America since the 1960's, is still trying to establish the brand here.

If there is a recall, and you feel your car has an issue due to a defect, the fact that you haven't taken the car in yet should not prejudice your claim for warranty replacement or repair. Document everything... put a notebook in the car and write down every incident, the characteristics of the issue experienced, mileage, date and time. Go for a replacement on Nissan's dime.

 

[Rolla07]

I cant stand CVT's. Id take a 4 spd auto over it..id trade for the accord

 

[dkryan]

Originally Posted By: Johnny2Bad
My experience with Nissan doesn't support keeping a car they make for three years plus "another seven or eight years". I know a Nissan staffer that wouldn't own the cars he sells, due to reliability issues with the brand in general.

You have to ask yourself why the second largest Japanese manufacturer by volume, one who has been in North America since the 1960's, is still trying to establish the brand here.

If there is a recall, and you feel your car has an issue due to a defect, the fact that you haven't taken the car in yet should not prejudice your claim for warranty replacement or repair. Document everything... put a notebook in the car and write down every incident, the characteristics of the issue experienced, mileage, date and time. Go for a replacement on Nissan's dime.


The 2013 Altima has a plethora of known issues with the CVT. It had been thought, wrongly, they had fixed those issues.

CVT aside, I honestly enjoy the car.

I am having the CVT flashed on Monday at the dealer from where I purchased the car (Crown Nissan - central Illinois).
I am not thrilled about having to drive there to get the TCM flashed. But the service manager and the service department have been great over the past 40 months. It is only one of two dealership service departments (the other being the former Just Saab in Cincinnati) that, in 42 years of driving , that I would actually trust my car with).

I have family in that town so no worries on a comfortable bed and a few craft brews.

The six Nissan dealers in Cincy were not real thrilled with having to do the work. The earliest appointment was 30 days from now. I called three of the six service department. Each said they were only scheduling two "recall" cars per day since they only had one computer to perform the flash. I was not willing to wait 30 days.

I will document the issue, believe me. The service ticket will say "customer is complaining of CVT shudder at lower speeds. Determined TCM re-flash is applicable per TSB."

When it begins shuddering again in 3k miles, we'll chat about a new CVT. They don't rebuild them, they just replace them.

THEN I'll sell it!!

 

[montero1]

160k on my Sentra, never been back to the dealer, all it's ever needed was to patch a rust hole in the exhaust. Easily, the most reliable car I've ever owned. Changed CVT fluid every 30-40k.

 

[dkryan]

Originally Posted By: montero1
160k on my Sentra, never been back to the dealer, all it's ever needed was to patch a rust hole in the exhaust. Easily, the most reliable car I've ever owned. Changed CVT fluid every 30-40k.


I had hoped my usual focus on maintenance, including changing the CVT fluid every 35k miles, would negate any problems.

But, clearly, fluid changes cannot overcome bad hardware engineering.