9.0
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- No data
- Average Mileage:
- 83,650 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 6 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (3 reports)
- replace transmission (3 reports)
This is the worst transmission that Nissan could have mounted to any engine. I had a 1989 Maxima, 1989 Stanza, 1995 Maxima,1997 Maxima. I was in the Army and would drive the 1995 Maxima from Fort Riley K.S. to Philadelphia.
I had the 1989 Stanza that was brand new, shipped to Germany and drove the car on the Audubon with no speed limit, and had no problems with that transmission driving at speeds up to 120mph. This C.V.T. has to be the worst transmission built. You would think that the transmission would be almost perfect over the years.
I could understand a new alternator,oil pump, or new radiator replacement but a transmission. I also just had the transmission serviced at 50,000 miles with the replacement of the transmission Filter and C.V.T. fluid.I will not burn-up the Transmission, but i will get rid this car as soon as i can.I drive for Uber and Lyft.
- Randolph B., Philadelphia, US
The CVT is in need of replacement. Nissan wants $4500 because the car is out of warranty. Nissan extended the warranty on Nissan Altima CVT transmissions for years up to 2010. For 2011 the warranty was 60,000, naturally mine started to go out at 83,000, so it was not covered. Nissan Consumer Affairs does not care about the customer or the situation their known to fail transmission gets their customer in.
I have been able to get through an additional 2 years and 20000 miles by driving on the streets and replacing the CVT fluid every 3 months. But now the CVT is at the end of its rope, the whining occurs within just a few minutes of driving and the hesitation is horrible, I can no longer drive the car I pay $443 a month for and still owe $11000 on. I will end up having to surrender this vehicle and get sued by the finance company because I cannot make it to work to pay for a vehicle that is no longer driveable.
Thank you Nissan, if I am ever able to purchase a vehicle again, it certainly will not be a Nissan. Oh and guess what else? Not a single person, family member or associate I know will ever buy a Nissan because of how they handled my case. If anyone is planning a lawsuit, please count me in. . .
- kbff77, Orange, CA, US
New transmission seemed alright. After a few hundred miles got a slight rear end roar and then the whine. It was like I had to back off accelerator so it would not whine. Hotter transmission gets, worse it is. Taking back to dealer today. Drove car a long time first time. Now car has hit 80,000. Couldn't take it in until today, but called dealership that problem was back.
- Cynthia S., Phenix City, AL, US
The car started making a small whirring noise about 30 days ago but still drove fine.
We couldn't get it in for service until today due to the dealers lack of availability on their schedule and ours. (We were going out of town for 10 days so it wasn't being driven anyway).
Today the dealer told me it's $4700 to replace the transmission. With all the other complaints of the same issue there clearly is a design problem. Now, do I spend $4700 to replace the transmission which clearly has a design flaw and wait for it to happen again or just trade it in for another brand?? Thinking this Altima will go away unless they stand behind the product.
Update from May 23, 2015: Thankfully Nissan has opted to replace the transmission under warranty. No charge. Thank You Nissan for standing up for your product.
- trexsg, Gilbert, AZ, US
I have experienced a high pitch whining sound and a vibration on my vehicle. Vehicle taken to local Nissan dealer and car was supposedly checked out thoroughly, at no cost to me. Car was with dealer for two days. I also took service manager on a test drive so that we could replicate the sound. The sound was replicated and the service manager said the car checked out fine and there appears to be nothing wrong. The sound gets louder and louder although the car appears to run fine.
I feel that as a car owner I have the right to determine what the sound is. The sound appears to be originating near the passenger seat which leads me to think it could be the transmission.
- Diane O., Cockeysville, MD, US
Alright, I bought this Nissan Altima 2.5Ss WITH a CVT TRANSMISSION Feb- 26,2021 and heard all these nightmares about the transmission!! Which were true...
It wasn't shifting out of 1st gear and a whining noise coming from the engine. So in May-24, 2021 I thought I did the right thing and had it serviced at Colonial Nissan in Medford Massachusetts... everybody said DON'T change the oil. I did call today 30 days from the service date and they said WE ARE SO BACKED UP WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS and I would have to drop it off for 2-3 days until they can get to it. I will drop it off, BUT I will have my lawyer with me. I will see if they fix the problem.
So I will write to you and tell you if they did the right thing on Mon June 28th 2021.
Oh I am disabled, on a fixed budget, and saved for that car... I am sure they will do the right thing...
Thank you, Bob.
- indorato, Revere, mass, US