What Are the Problems With Nissan CVT Transmissions?

Several lawsuits have been filed against Nissan regarding alleged defects with their Nissan CVT transmissions. The plaintiffs claim that these faulty transmissions cause shuddering and acceleration delays that could lead to collisions.

Law360 reports that, as a result of the suits against them, Nissan has been ordered to pay millions in settlements and have extended the warranties on cars with affected Nissan CVT transmissions. If you own a car in the effected class and have experienced transmission issues, you may be able to join a class action suit against Nissan

Nissan CVT Problems Overview

According to a suit against Nissan filed by Christopher Gann, the Nissan CVT, or continuously variable transmission, was specifically used as a “major selling point” for Nissan vehicles and was particularly advertised for its “smoothness.”

However, according to the plaintiffs against Nissan, those who’ve driven cars with CVT transmissions might disagree with that statement. In fact, the plaintiffs site “sudden, unexpected shaking and violent jerking” as the main cause for concern with these allegedly faulty transmissions.

Owners of Nissan vehicles, model years between 2013 and 2020, have filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claiming that their vehicles have been affected by CVT transmission defects.

Drivers have cited their transmissions jerking, stalling, shuddering, hesitating, or even suffering from premature transmission failure. Some drivers say that these incidents are followed by an unexpected engine power surge. Many drivers have noted that these CVT issues kick in when they attempt to accelerate.

These kinds of vehicle defects can be dangerous, since unexpected problems like this could take a driver by surprise and cause them to lose control.

Issues that are believed to cause this effect include transmission slipping, hose leaks and failures, CVT transmission error messages, and a loss of power.

What Does Continuously Variable Transmission Mean?

CVT stands for continuously variable transmission. According to Car and Driver, these transmissions are meant to “seamlessly” change through a continuous range of gear ratios while the car is being driven. Other types of transmissions only provide a fixed number of gears and have “hard shifts” between them. Other terms for CVT transmissions include single speed, step-less, and shiftless transmissions.

Transmissions like the Nissan CVT are intended to offer drivers more flexibility regardless of the speed at which they’re driving. They tend to have better fuel economy, an easier time driving uphill, and are meant to provide a smoother driving experience.

However, they also tend to be more expensive both initially and in the form of repairs. Unlike traditional transmissions, Nissan CVT transmissions use a pulley system to work through the gear ratios. The flexibility of the system allows for quick shifting and boosts fuel economy

Which Nissan Models Are Affected?

Nissan CVT transmission problems are common throughout a wide variety of Nissan vehicles. Broadly, anyone owning a Nissan vehicle with a defective CVT transmission may be able to seek compensation from Nissan.

Individual class actions stipulate the specific model years included in their Class, but any models manufactured between 2013 and 2018 may be affected as these are the outer ranges of the classes currently stipulated. However, Nissan’s warranty extension applies to all CVT vehicles from years 2003 through 2010.

The models which may include defective Nissan CVT transmissions include Nissan model lines Sentra, Pathfinder, Quest, Versa, Versa Note, Altima, Rogue, Juke, Maxima, and Murano.

What Are the Nissan CVT Transmission Warranty Rules?

According to CARCHEX, all Nissan vehicles come with a standard warranty offer. This warranty covers the first 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, as well as an additional 5 years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage.

The first part of the warranty, the basic coverage, covers any defects in the parts original to the Nissan vehicle. The powertrain coverage covers the major systems of the vehicle including the engine, drive systems, and pumps. Most importantly, powertrain coverage includes the Nissan CVT transmission.

However, due to pushback from consumers, Nissan has extended the warranty on their CVT vehicles specifically. According to the manufacturer’s site, the Nissan CVT warranty covers all 2003 to 2010 models with CVTs. The Nissan warranty covers CVT vehicles for 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first. For complete information, Nissan recommends consulting your Warranty Information Booklet.

What Nissan CVT Transmission Lawsuits Have Been Filed?

At least three class action suits have been filed against Nissan regarding Nissan CVT transmission problems.

In June 2018, Salome Madrid and Terese Miranda filed a class action suit against Nissan regarding issues with their CVT transmissions including “catastrophic failure.” The Class established in this case includes 2013-2016 Nissan Altimas with defective CVT transmissions. Salome and Terese allege that Nissan knowingly sold them vehicles equipped with defective transmissions.

This Nissan CVT lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-00534 filed in the United States District Court of the Middle District of Tennessee.

Christopher Gann filed a similar class action against Nissan in September 2018. This suit establishes a class of vehicles including all 2013 and 2014 Altimas with defective CVT transmissions. Christopher alleges that a defect in the Nissan CVT transmission caused his vehicle to shudder, stall, hesitate, make “unusual noises” and ultimately lead to premature transmission failure.

This Nissan Defect lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-00966 filed in the United States District Court of Tennessee.

A third class action suit was filed by Cheyne Norman and Sophia Wescott in June 2019. This Class includes owners of Nissan Jukes years 2013 through 2017. Cheyne and Sophia alleged that defects in their Nissan CVT transmission vehicles caused “sudden, unexpected shaking and violent jerking” which the plaintiffs claim could put the driver in considerable danger.

This Nissan CVT class action is Case No. 3:18-cv-00534 filed in the United States District Court of the Middle District of Tennessee.

In each of these suits, plaintiffs are seeking compensation for compensatory and statutory damages as well as attorney fees. The first and last suits listed seek further relief either in the form of a recall or repairs of affected vehicles by Nissan.

Should You Join a Nissan CVT Class Action Lawsuit?

A growing number of consumers are turning to litigation after allegedly experiencing issues with their Nissan CVT transmission.

According to the lawsuits filed against Nissan, if you own a vehicle with a defective Nissan CVT transmission, it’s likely that you will either need to pay to have that transmission repaired or buy a new car. Both of these options are expensive not including the original cost of the vehicle. Joining a class action lawsuit against Nissan may be an effective way to seek compensation for these expenses.

One such class action lawsuit reached a settlement agreement with Nissan in Nov. 2019, and was approved in March 2020. Nissan agreed to extend the warranty on cars affected by the alleged defect, and also agreed to reimburse any out-of-pocket costs associated with the problem, though the company continues to deny any wrongdoing.

If you have experienced a Nissan CVT transmission defect with your Nissan vehicle manufactured since 2013, you may be able to file or join a class action lawsuit and pursue compensation. Pursuing litigation can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexity of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join this Free Nissan CVT Transmission Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a Nissan vehicle that is newer than a 2013 model year and have been affected by CVT transmission problems, you may be eligible to join this FREE Nissan CVT transmission class action investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.