Scotty,
I have 2013 Nissan Altima whose CVT failed at 65,000 miles. I had it replaced with a re-manufactured CVT (don't know what brand) at an independent shop owned by a personal friend.
Question: Are such remanufactured transmissions doomed to fail again or do they generally fix the design flaws the originals had when they re-build? I'm wondering if I should sell it before the three-year warranty expires or drive it as long as possible knowing it will likely fail again. I only drive about 8,000 miles a year.
Thanks.
Nissan's Jatco transmissions aren't very good anyway, but if you don't change the trans fluid (every 30k miles), it's bound to fail again.
If you keep it, do more transmission oil changes than what is called for.
Those aren't known for lasting. Its really hit and miss with those . Just keep up with maintenance when due and don't beat the crap out it. I've seen remanufactured last 175,000 miles and others last 35,000.
Just something to look out for those transmissions it is very important that they are programmed with the right calibration data when changed. If not it will fail very quickly. Those cars had a warranty extension on the cvt’s if you had it checked with the dealer if you can provide your vin I can check the info on the car.
I haggled with the dealer for a while after it was determined my vehicle was out of the warranty extension and not included in the class action law suits. They were going to give a "good deal" by replacing the tranny for $5,300. Maybe that actually was a good deal but I'm not giving Nissan another dollar. Ever.
I took it to an independent shop, whose owner I know, and paid him $5,400 instead. I ended up with a three-year warranty instead of Nissan's one-year.
Just trying to help. Even if outside of the extension Nissan will still usually offer some kind of assistance wether they split it with you in some nature . Sounds like more of an issue with the dealer you took it to than anything else
I appreciate your help, and everyone else's, too. The best the dealer would do was to cut some of the labor cost. They originally quoted me about $6,000 and the "assistance" they offered was to knock $700 off of the repair. I refuse (to this day) to give Nissan another dollar of my money since there shouldn't have been a catastrophic failure of a major component after 65,000 miles.
That was the dealer trying to sell you a job not Nissan assistance. I generally see Nissan split repairs 50/50 if they decide the repair is warranted
You would’ve had to call Nissans consumer affairs and they would start a case and you could’ve gotten some if not all of it covered due to the age and mileage you currently have
What everyone else said about taking care of it is correct. But if you can get a good price for the car and financially feasible then get rid of it and go for a Toyota or Honda.
That's the plan. My next car is going to be a Lexus ES350.
Remember that Lexus is both more expensive when purchasing and when it comes to maintenance and repairs; so might be worth looking into a Camry or Accord too.
It is likely to fail again.
On some Jatco CVTs you can install a new belt that has more metal belt layers, on some you can change the diameter of the valve and install a larger one and also you should replace the cone bearings with better ones.
I do not know if they guy who sold you it has done anything, and if it’s actually rebuilt or just used.
But with all of that, these early CVTs like Toyota’s K11X and pretty much all recent Jatco units are weak.
