8 Things that will Make Your CVT Transmission Last Over 200 000 Miles
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- In this video I will talk about 8 things that will make your CVT Transmission last long. Continuously Variable Transmission is known to fail fast in most vehicles, with the following tips you can prolong its lifespan.
So If you're looking to make your CVT transmission last over 200 000 miles, then you need to watch this video! In it, we'll share 8 tips that will help your CVT transmission last longer.
By following these tips, you'll be able to keep your CVT transmission in great shape and avoid costly repairs down the road. From lubrication to proper installation, you'll learn everything you need to keep your CVT transmission running smooth for years to come!
If you found this video helpful, please subscribe and share @HonestMechanicChannel
#transmission #cvt #carmaintenance
2012 Nissan Quest with CVT 178,000 miles and I don’t have any problems. Changed fluid every 60,000 miles.
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience!
did you change the fluid with a flush? or just drain and fill?
I change it every year (drain and fill) regardless of mileage
I bought a 2014 Civic LX for $6000 cash with a CVT. Car could barely move when cold. A week later, watching RUclips, I learned that the transmission plug might have fallen out and all the fuild poured out because of a clogged breather valve. YUP. Cleaned out the breather hose; then I ordered 8 quarts of Honda CVT oil, a new plug and put in 1 quart of trans oil. Civic ran great then after I added the one quart. Then I got the new oil, plug and found the old plug sitting on top of the transmission; just like the RUclips video said it would be (WOW)! I drained the transmission and found there was only one quart of oil? That was the quart I put in a week ago. Refilled the trans til it came out the check oil level hole and that was that. I called the used car lot and told them the car was running great!! He paused for a moment and replied: "How is that possible?" So I told him. He was very mad and slammed the phone down and hung up on me. He sold me a lemon - for a third of its value. I'm just saying.
210,000 miles on my 2015 Honda Civic CVT. Change myfluid every 20,000 miles only used Honda trans fluid 👍
I have the same car and I also change the CVT fluid with Honda fluid every 20,000 miles. That is an impressive amount of miles on your car. How often do you change your engine oil? I have heard a few people on youtube saying the Earth Dreams engine is not great because of direct injection polluting the oil. I see lots of examples likes yours going many miles, so I'm hoping that is not true.
@ i’ve never heard of the Earth dreams engine, the engine I do have is a 1.8 L that they’ve used I believe since 2006 I change the oil every 5000 miles always use mobile one 0w20 I have owned the car since it was new so I’ve taken meticulous care of it
Amsoil 100% synthetic CVT fluid is better
@@BW-kv9wj How long have you been running on the amsoil trans fluid? CVT’s are sensitive to change in fluid properties that’s why I stick to OEM fluid to be on the safer side. However, I use amsoil signature series for the engine oil and it’s leagues ahead of the OEM oil.
I have a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek with 170k on it and I have had no issues with it I only use Lubegard Cvt fluid in it and I also use there Cvt booster additive. I had a 2015 Nissan Maxima that I hated but it was basically giving to me by my Dad. The transmission was funky when I got it it had 115k on it. It shuddered and I could swear the belt slipped on it and it would over heat the trans. I flushed all the fluid out slowly and put in Lubegard and a Aux cooler and it was like a new transmission in it. No more shuddering or anything. I changed the fluid every 40K and sold it a year ago with 247k miles on it. I tried to make the transmission overheat on the Dragon tail road in Tennessee and nope and it was fun.. Cvt transmissions need more attention because the power always flows through that belt /chain. Most of Nissan problems is they get hot and cook the fluid. Subaru uses a Chain always which is stronger than a push belt. Toyota has the right idea using a normal gear for starting/launch and then Cvt.
Another bonus. Never let the car rest on the transmission. Neutral with stop pedal pressed, pull ebrake then move shifter to Park.
4th tip in this alone has taken my 2020 Nissan Versa to about 85k miles currently. Definitely gotta finesse the throttling - Refuse every temptation to floor it, treat your brakes like they aren't anti-lock, full synthetic oil change every 4k miles (not 8k like if it didn't have CVT), etc.
Didn't know about the cruise control tho. But I'm pretty sus about cruise control in general.
What I find is that YOU take good care of your stuff. It’s OTHER people that drive your car (yes, even family) like it’s a rental that destroy it. And why not? It’s not their car
Very true. I let my son use my car and after a short while, noticed the front tires had half as much tread as the rear tires.
@ which means he drives the way my wife’s brother drives when he visited us. Gas is either all the way up or all the way down-nothing in between. He drives for Uber-so that explains that.
So true
My 2014 spark with the jatco jf015e made it to 198k miles before it started slipping. I have the trans completely taken apart in my shop right now. The flow control valve failed in the pump and caused by belt to slip. The main symptom was surging on the highway and shuddering upon pulling out.
When you are in an emergency situation and about to get hit at an intersection you need to put the pedal the medal to avoid it. It has happened to me a number of times.
Ive been using castrol cvt fluid for 40k miles now. Change it 2x a year. Im at 60,000 miles now. Also changed the filters.
Nice job on the maintenance routine! Your car must be running like a dream. I am sure with that, your CVT will last longer than normal.
@@HonestMechanicChannel thanks! This is my first cvt so I want it to last. I typically have driven manual since getting my license in 1999. I just really like this coupe for some reason. I'm a bit crazy with the maintenance. I do everything early, and often. I'm that guy underneath his car polishing the underside of the engine 😂. I even went so far as to get a new transmission drain bolt, and new oil drain bolt. Simply because the originals were looking a little warn out and old. I clean and protect areas of the car nobody will ever see. I keep silica packets and damp rid containers in the car just to help with moisture. All kinds of things most might find ridiculous. I want to own this car the rest of my life. Even if I get another car, and only drive this one a few month out of the year eventually.
There’s transmission filters?
@@painisvergina3693 yes, most cvts have 2 filters. One inside the cooler/warmer and one in the pan. Supposedly the cartridge type filter in the cooler/warmer is more important to change out regularly. The one in the pan can go longer. Depends on the vehicle.
Wow I thought I was overkill on maintenance 😂. I change the fluid every year-regardless of mileage. Car is a 2016 with 40,000 miles on it.
Correction don’t ever tow with cvt
Literally speaking don't load vehicle with excessive luggage or passenger
@@lilskippa2574 The belt driven CVTs should never be used for towing. But, the planetary gear CVTs are super tough transmissions that would rival manual transmissions for durability.
Don't go up mountains either.
@crand20033 Do not use it in snow, nor sippery surfaces, as well. It is best to take no chances. Maybe leaving the vehicle parked will be the best choice, if there is a CVT in it. That will maximise the service life of the vehicle.
Lol....@@indridcold8433
I have a 07 jeep with a CVT. I'm at 143k miles. & Zero issues.
You should buy a lottery ticket asap. No seriously, don't respond to this.... go buy it NOW! Thank me later and maybe give me 25%.
@@jeremywj I'm almost positive that the previous owner had it rebuilt. The plastic cover for the shifter is loose. So that's why I think that. Hopefully it was.. kinda want this thing to last.
2017 Honda Accord...192,000 transmission still like new. Those drain and fills are paying off
Hi Shawn we have the same car, what’s your maintenance schedule and fluid look like? Thanks man!
@@mylesmanchego9892 I just do my like oil change every 15%, transmission drain and full every other oil change, spark plugs and valve adjustment at every1 120k, brakes and fluid as needed... That's pretty much about it. The fluids are the most important. How many miles you got?
uh, your Honda Accord doesn't have a CVT. It has an AUTOmatic transmission.
I have a 2016 Nissan Sentra with almost 80,000 miles on it, I bought it back in 2020 when it only had 16,666 miles on it. I’ve changed the oil regularly but never had the transmission fluid flushed or drained/filled….some say I should get it drained and some tell me to leave it alone before issues arise
Great tips, thanks!
2020 accord sport. Baby it. Always check and change oil early
Agreed-however, I find its other people that drive the car (yes, even family) that treat it like a rental
I just bought a 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage, and it has 57,800 miles on it. The CVT fluid and filters have never been changed. I was wondering if damage has been done being that it wasn’t changed at 30,000 miles. Also, should the filter under the pan be changed every time as well? Thanks.
Thanks for those useful tips.
Glad you find the video helpful! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
My transmission shop said transmissions fluid doesn't degrade, it just gets dirty. I had 105,000 miles on my Nissan Rogue so I took it in for service. The mechanic said my fluid wasn't dirty. They changed it and the filter anyway.
Nissan cvts are infamous for being awful. Change the fluid every 50k.
@@mootsym My CVT is going strong at 105K miles. Love my Rogue ad would like to keep it going.
@ it’s good he changed the fluid. My point is even tho it’s “not dirty” or “doesn’t degrade”, it shouldn’t be in there more than 60k miles. Same with transfer case and differentials.
I HAVE A 2018 NISSAN ROUGE S...I BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW WITH 5 MILES... NOW I HAVE 234000 MILES ON IT..... ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION.... CHANGE FLUID EVERY 30,000 MILES...NO PROBLEM.... IT'S ALL BOUT MAINTENANCE
Automatic transmission CVT oil is changed every 40,000 km. I drive the car approximately 7,000 km per year. Should I change the oil every three or four years, or is the maximum period only two years?
My transmission shop said you can't check the fluid level with a dip stick. You have to use the two bolts under the car on the transmission.
Depends on the model. Some CVTs have the drain and fill bolt set up like a differential. My Nissan, for example, has a dipstick set up minus the dipstick 😂😂😂. The dipstick tube on mine has a cap on it -which can be removed but there’s no dipstick. Nissan does not want you playing with it 😂😂
@@grazz7865 Does that mean they think the fluid should never be changed? Should we change it or not?
@@crand20033 the fluid should be changed at least at the manufacturer’s recommendations. I’m a little gung-ho with maintenance. I do it every year-regardless of mileage
@@grazz7865 I had the fluid and filter changed yesterday for 600 dollars but the shop said it was not dirty. so maybe just a waste of money. 103000 miles on my cvt.
I’m not gunna lie, I drive the HELL out of my civic and it has a cvt. I’ve done 5 of the things on the list you’ve mentioned, currently just reached 100k and am super scared of blowing her :)
Hi, could coasting in neutral, Lexus e-cvt, be bad for the box? or is it ok?
I had Nissan 2009 Murano and drove 170000 miles with no issues. Then i drove 2014 Nissan Rougue for 145000 with no issues.
Man!!! In other words, cvt’s have to be treated like a baby. I preffer the old style transmissions.
Amsoil CVT fluid workes much better in my Nissan Versa than the Nissan factory fluid. No more chattering!
Remember folks this experiment sounds like it was done on a damaged transmission, and a lack of control makes me wonder if youve sacrificed longevity to make it work in the short term. Sometimes thats all you can do, but be careful about damaging a well working trans over time. Complex system requires careful consideration
@@tedjohansen6535 I switched fluid at 20000 miles. There were no problems with the trans then or now. It had some light throttle low speed chattering (accelerating off a stop). The Amsoil CVT fluid corrected this. The car now has 28000 on it.
Try Jilcat proline CVT transmission additive.
when my transmission is cold out at 28 degrees i would hear transmission sound like a power steering pump until its warmed up
1] Change cvt fluid frequently depending on how often you drive with passengers "average 30k miles"
And just do regular maintenance 🤷♂️. Its not rocket science.
P.S.
Most cvt aren't for fast acceleration (racing), so use it for what it was intended for.
I change the fluid every year -regardless of mileage
2019 Altima 232,000 miles and I only change my CVT fluid every 80,000 miles
That's impressive mileage! at least you are changing your fluid. Thanks for sharing
is it still original cvt or you changed it?
Here is idea for a company to make. If some company would build a regular gear transmission replacement for our cars we would buy them because it's cheaper than buying a new car and they are more durable with the proper care.
This may sound anecdotal, but every single Nissan owner that I know has had to replace their CVT before 100,000 miles
Matt here nice to meet you and now you know me. I’m on my 2nd Nissan and both CVT’s made it to 150 and 160k before trading. Never did a fluid change either.
Good transmissions can handle abuse for over 100k miles, and great ones over 200k miles.
I'd be impressed with any CVT handling even 100k of abuse, even with 15k fluid changes.
Mine lasted 177k with fluid changes every 30k at dealership.
2014 Civic and my CVT just crapped out with 346103 miles. I'm sure my regular tranny oil changes kept me going this far. I'm hoping that we can just change the belt and keep going.
300+ thousand miles? I’d say you got your moneys worth out of it. If the fix isn’t going to force you to mortgage the house, then fine. Otherwise I’d forget it.
@@grazz7865 Actually I got very good news, it was an axle. When I got on the shoulder of the road, I looked under the car for a broken axle and everything seemed fine. It's the garage that told me it was just an axle on passenger side due to rust at dampner. Car is back up and running and I'm very happy. You're absolutely right, I got my moneys worth!
I have 2012 cvt Honda accord v6 with 284123 miles. and it feels like new
That doesn't have a CVT lol
@@Alexbuilt😅
2013 was the first year for CVTs in Accords. If you have a V6, that means you a have a 6 cylinder conventional automatic. Also means you having a timing belt, not a chain.
V6 with a CVT. 🤣
Might not want to smoke before posting.
@@thomasjohn6041 what's wrong with V6 CVT?
Prayer it’s all I got
Can you do a flush with these transmissions? I've heard bad things about flushing but it seems the reason they're recommended is because all of the old fluid is removed and you fill with all brand new fluid.
Just do a drain and fill every 30k…under extreme conditions do it every 15k
DO NOT FLUSH ANY TRANSMISSION. Always drain and fill.
@@atx-cvpi_99 : Ideally both a flush first AND then an additional drain, filter change, and new fluid refill is ideal for all "old-school" torque converter automatic transmissions.
Sadly, almost nobody does it that way, due to extra fluid use & the need for redundant labor costs.
And why, you ask? Because a traditional automatic transmission utilizes a torque converter, which effectively traps transmission fluid inside of it when the engine is not running.
The only way to get the old trapped fluid out of the torque converter is to use a fluid transfusion machine (AKA: Transmission flush.)
The modern CVT and the automatically shifted manual transmissions (like Ford's DPS-6) should only have drain, filter & fluid replacements, as there is no torque converter used in such transmissions. A transfusion or "flush" is absolutely pointless in them.
@lisamoss3146 :
No, a fluid transfusion, (AKA: "flush") is not needed in a CVT. Only a drain, new filter(s) and new fluid is needed.
Not all automatics are the same. Read on & allow me to explain/educate a bit about 3 commonly used automatic transmission types:
#1.) Old school traditional torque-converter style transmissions: Ideally both a flush first AND then an additional drain, filter change, and new fluid refill is ideal for all "old-school" torque converter automatic transmissions.
Sadly, almost nobody does it that way, due to extra fluid use & the need for redundant labor costs.
And why, you ask? Because a traditional automatic transmission utilizes a torque converter, which effectively traps transmission fluid inside of it when the engine is not running.
The only way to get the old trapped fluid out of the torque converter is to use a fluid transfusion machine (AKA: Transmission flush.)
#2. & 3.) The modern CVT and the electronically-controlled automatically shifted manual transmissions (Ford's DPS-6) should only have drain, filter & fluid replacements, as there is no torque converter used in such transmissions.
Thus, a fluid transfusion or "flush" is absolutely pointless in them.
@@turbodiesel4709
What about a Subaru Outback. Gonna buy one soon. I wanna switch over to amsoil at around 10,000 miles
there's no dip stick on my cvt
Make sure the fluid is changed regularly then buddy
Seevif there's an overflow or measure fluid
Can you add an aftermarket dipstick? Otherwise change fluid often.
@jmony123 : No dipstick? First sign of a junk vehicle that you should avoid ever purchasing in the first place!
Vehicle manufacturers have been pulling the "no-dipstick" & "lifetime fluid" lies & nonsense since the late 1990's. Unfortunately, things have only gotten worse.
May the buyer BEWARE!
i got one for my 2018 rouge about 15 bucks
nissan sentra.. Bought new and sold at 320,000 kms. It worked like brand new even on the last day.
Regular engine and cvt oil and filter
Definitely! Thanks for sharing. Regular maintenance, especially consistent changes of engine and CVT oil and filters, really helps extend a vehicle's life and maintain its performance. It sounds like you took great care of it!
Have a 2009 Honda Fit cvt with 225,000 miles. I use it for delivering pizzas.
Congratulations! What maintenance have you done on it?
@@CoconutPalmPictures I bought the car with 143,000 miles. I don't know what kind of maintenance the previous owner did to it, But so far I have changed the spark plugs, water pump and thermostat. Brakes are replaced, I do an oil change every 5000 miles, transmission oil every 60,000. The suspension is not as good as it used to be but it is still functional as long there is no accidents. The A.C. stopped working, I just have to change the clutch. Also the 02 sensors need to be replaced to get rid of the check engine light. The older the car gets, the tougher it gets, but that's how it is.
cruise control is actually bs... it will rev up a lot up hills and brake killing your momentum going down hills.. you should gain speed going down a hill and lose a little speed going up hills.. thats how you can be more fuel efficient and easier on a transmission too.. cruise control is wasteful. i only use it when im in a 25 mph or school zone and the car just really wants to go 40..
Thanks for sharing.
brother… just turn if off when you’re approaching a hill.. don’t be lazy 😂
@@SlimeDisease50 its always some hills.. i dont be lazy by not using cruise control.. i use my foot and my spider sense..
@@thothheartmaat2833It's "spidey" sense😆
does engine braking bad for cvt?
Yes. CVT is a gearless transmission. Do not drive a gearless like a geared!
during heavy traffic or stoplights, do you put it to N instead of just D and brake depressed? and if you do put it to N, do you press the brake first before switching to D?
Act similar to as you have ordinary automatic transmission. Most CVT have either a type of clutch or hydropowered type of breaking the torque
Hold down on brake for 2/5seconds while transmission shifts gears. The braking force will keep the torque converter engaged to prevent belt jump when the gear is shifted.
@sumimasenpanda : NO. You do NOT take the transmission out of "D" (drive) and put it into "N" (neutral), when sitting in traffic.
You sit in stopped traffic, with your foot on the brake, and wait patiently until it's safe to move again.
It is undesirable for ANY type of automatic transmission to regularly be shifted from Drive to Neutral.
IF you must sit for an extended period of time, take the transmission out of Drive and put it into Park, and wait patiently, to rest your leg & foot.
@@FutonStories : There is NO torque converter in a CVT. There are primary and secondary clutches, a belt and gears.
CVT's are NOT like a conventional automatic transmission.
They are basically like a more complex snowmobile drivetrain.
@@turbodiesel4709that’s a good tip for those murder lights where you have enough time to read the newspaper from cover to cover before it even CONSIDERS changing back to green😂😂
I’ll stick with an older used manual transmission car.
Old school still rules!
Yeah, me too, but not many manufacturers offer them any longer.
It’s getting very difficult to find a good used car with a manual transmission. Especially in the rust belt of the U.S.
Better idea…don’t purchase one until….One wins the 24 hr Lemans….Daytona 500, 12 Hrs of Sebring , and has rebuild/repair shops at a reasonable price in every city. Junk is still junk. JATCO sucks. Never purchase a faulty hand grenade.
Don’t some of those events ban the CVT because it’s so efficient?
You can actually rebuild one for less than a grand
The problem seems to be getting the correct parts to do the rebuild.
Any cvt fluid should work, why else would companies spend the time any money making it if it doesn’t work at all or damages your vehicle
You just answered your own question. They make it to make money-whether it works or not (snake oil). I find it hard to believe that one fluid can cover over 100 different model vehicles. Castrol, for example, has hundreds of different models of vehicles listed on the label claiming that it covers those cars. Just seems unlikely. But at the end of the day, if you used it and it works, then so be it.
@ it can I read the back of approved fluids
@ I understand that. But one fluid that covers hundreds of models? I’m not sure about that. However, in your defense, if it’s working with no issues, keep using it
I thought the same thing. Until I used stp CVT fluid on my last drain and fill for my spark CVT. It went out a month later. Btw I'm a professional mechanic.
@ that’s what used 2 months ago and my rouge been running great
15 civic lx cvt went at 200.000 changed every 30,000
There not ment to last believe me
Very nice video and thank you for the great tips! Do we have to change fluid from the torque converter or just the fluid from the pan every 30,000 miles?
@maidenwildM : Unlike a conventional automatic transmission, there is NO torque converter in a CVT.
The most basic way to describe it is that there is a primary drive clutch and a secondary clutch driven by a belt. And, a bunch of gears. It's similar to a snowmobile drivetrain except everything is bathed in oil.
Without good, smooth driving habits and with improper maintenance, it's commonly expected that the belt will break somewhere between 50,000 - 100,000 miles, leaving the vehicle (and you) stranded, unable to move.
Follow your vehicle Owner's Manual preventative maintenance service intervals "to a T", if you want to obtain the best possible longevity from your vehicle's CVT.
@@turbodiesel4709 Thank you very much for your reply. There is a torque converter.
ruclips.net/video/PQHVLH8jVc8/видео.htmlsi=_pZ3mmhMQm25M15j
Uhm I have a 2015 Nissan pathfinder SL with 276k miles and original cvt.
good to know! i hear lots of people complain about nissan's CVTs, specially on the pathfinder. This is definitely a bad owner issue.
@@garmarrod : Not true. The Nissan CVT's are a well-known risk factor, with very high failure-rates.
It's true, there will always be some that are going to slip through the cracks and be successful, but on the average, the vast majority of them are unreliable, short-lived junk.
Jerry Seinfeld…? Is that you???
And here's the most important tip to make your CVT last, don't buy one!
CVT= Call vehicle tow
If you take it out, and put in a manual transmission, the CVT will last forever!
@indridcold8433 : Yes!!! Sitting on the floor in the shop, or at the scrapyard - LOL!
Too bad tranny changeovers are easier said than done, and are often times not cost-effective for the average vehicle owner.
Ummmm….its no longer a CVT at that point
@grazz7865 It is still a CVT. It is just not installed. The vehicle, however, would have received an incredible upgrade that would increase the service life of the vehicle several decades. The CVT will also last indefinitely.
This mean don't buy cvt's cars
Bottom line is they’re fragile.
True, CVT is nowhere near as robust as a conventional automatic with real gears, or manual transmissions which are becoming about as rare as hens teeth these days. That said CVTs work great and can be reliable in naturally aspirated 4 cylinder FWD family cars, but tend to tear up rather quickly when applied to turbo 4, V6 & V8 applications where high performance or towing is to be expected, thus you don't see CVT in pick up trucks and sports cars.
the Maxima and Pathfinder had them for years and they're pushing 300hp...Pathfinder had a 5k-6k tow rating (I only know this because my brother in law towed boats and atv trailers for years with no issues). They're fine if cared for properly. Jatco alone has produced over 50 million cvts worldwide and I guarantee 99 percent of them were fine with proper maintenance.
@@Sparky-ww5re it seems common knowledge that the 2.5 altimas failed earlier than 3.5 altimas and maximas, as the CVT was more robust on the V6's
Agreed but I find it’s other people that drive your car like a rental (yes, even family) that destroy it. But let’s look at a bigger picture-CVTs are usually found on family cars (average 2 and 4 door sedans, average SUVs) which are not designed for high performance or racing. Would explain why you won’t find a CVT on a Porsche or Lamborghini or any high performance car
Never buy a car with a CVT transmission.
It's just a stupid piece of engineering that needs a lot of work to correct all those faults!! Utter rubbish!!
FACT, THE JATCO CVT TRANNIES THAT ARE IN MOST LOWER PRICED(AND QUALITY) CARS LIKE THE NISSAN AND JEEPS ARE CRAP. SURE, LIKE EVERY BRAND, THERE WILL BE FLUKES THAT GO FOREVER. BUT THE AVERAGE FAILURE RATE OF A JATCO IS WAY UNDER 100,000 MILES. I LOOKED AT THE NISSAN ROGUE, BUT HATED THE WAY THE CVT FELT. VERY SLUGGISH AND UNECESSARILY HIGH REVING THE ENGINE. I WENT ELSEWHERE
They're also in all Chevy Sparks and Mitsubishi mirage
Do you want a gravestone Here lies XXXXXX. He never had any fun with his car but his CVT lasted 200 000 miles?
step one. Dont buy a cvt
Here the best tip dont by a vehicle with cvt
@jondillinger899 : Agreed.
What makes things difficult is that manufacturers do a pretty good job of "hiding" that sort of information from the public.
Finding out what transmission a vehicle has can be particularly a hassle when "shopping" for any used vehicle. Often, a great deal of PRIOR research may be required, to uncover what type of specific transmission is used in any given vehicle.
Vehicle manufacturers will often "brag"/post/advertise what type and size of engine is in a vehicle, but it's much more difficult to find what transmission it uses to actually transmit the power to the wheels.
The CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) is considered unreliable with a well-known short lifespan. Worse yet, they are extremely costly to repair, due to unnecessarily high parts costs, and high repair shop rates nowadays (2024), where most every automotive repair shop gets between $100 - $200/hour.
Worse yet, many repair shops will not touch them, & even most junk yards will NOT sell CVT transmissions, due to their excessively high unreliability and failure rates.
Bottom line... AVOID a CVT.
Another prime disaster of a transmission to AVOID is any vehicle with the Ford DPS-6 automatically-shifted manual transmission that Ford passes off as an "automatic transmission". It is an electronically-shifted manual, dual dry-disk clutch "PowerShift" 6-speed.
The troublesome DPS-6 cost Ford a small fortune in class action and other independent lawsuits (...and rightfully so).
It cost consumers/owners even more, thanks to Ford's shady business practices and the ridiculously limited consumer/affected vehicle owner rights that they got away with in their massive class-action settlement.
Don't buy one
haha
It seems like ALL manufacturers are using them now. How can they be avoided (other than buying an older used car)?
@williamscanlan9681 honda uses cvt in the crv and its fine. From what I understand cvt problems usually happen in nissans and infiniti .
Recently bought a 2014 nissan nv200 with only 52K miles to be used as a van conversion. I did a lot of research on cvt transmissions and still bought it. First thing I did was change the engine oil and transmission fluid. Will do this frequently. Good news is now you don't need to buy expensive nissan ns3 or 4 fluid anymore as Castrol has the first crossover fluid for both transmission that is a fraction of the cost. Makes maintenance easier now.
Correct 😂😂😂😂