Anyone know if this is true?

Today it's been in the shop all day to get it checked out. The tech said it was 'strange'. They don't know how to fix it...they have asked Nissan for assistance.

Other than that, it runs GREAT! We love our Rogue (after 3,500 miles at 26.5 mpg)

That's sounds about right. I drive less than 35 mph on the way to work. Keep me posted on what they say. The car seems to drive fine.

Also, I figure if you can use the paddle shifter to shock the trany into false gears than throwing it in and out of neutral should not hurt it any. The CVT makes it impossible to coast. It feels like I put the breaks on when my foot comes off the accelerator. I'm use to my Dodge which I swear would pick up speed when you took your foot off.

I would take yours in and have the dealer check it out...

OK, you talked me into it. Anyhow, I did manage to call the dealership and they would like me to bring it in Thursday (8th) night and leave it with them, so they can drive it first thing in the morning. I explained to the guy that by the time I get to work the car no longer makes the noise. He is keeping an open mind on the trany but named off a dozen other things it could be, as there is no TSB on the trany to date.

Seriously, if they were not offering to give me another car, etc. I'd wait for the thing to hit the ground before taking it in. I hate service centers!

I'll keep you posted

... and the Sentra SE-R. If you look at just the CVT... add the Murano, Versa, Maxima. Nissan has sold over one million CVT equipped vehicles worldwide. The first was the 1992 Nissan March (also sold as the Nissan Micra during the eighties).

BTW, the CVT in my Rogue has not made any noticeable noises.

You are correct. Engine braking capabilities were added to the CVT in the Rogue. There is a link at Nissan Global News with all the tech info. Warning: it's a very big PDF file.

http://www.nissan-global.com/E...4.pdf

BTW, I towed a loaded 5x10 landscape trailer today. I figure the load was at least 800lbs including trailer. No problems at all... the Rogue tows very well. I do not have the paddle/manual shift option but the CVT responds very well to the additional load. If I need lower gearing for hills, I just activate the Overdrive Lock button on the shifter.

I'm not too bad when it comes to the mechanical, plus, my dad was a
good mechanic for years.....but, that said....I'm not the most versed in
our new CVT trannys, (are any of us at this stage?), but.....I just get this
omninous feeling about the practice of alternating from D to N while driving
at speed....it seems logical that the tranny has to figure out where its at
and "catch up/adjust" each time you slip it back in to D.....that has to add
undo stress to the internals.

I just don't think it would be a recommended practice.....just to be on
the safe side, I flat wouldn't do it.....but, thats me and my .02 worth....I
seriously doubt that Nissan anticipated/planned that people would
drive in this manner, and therefore have designed the tranny thusly??
It may or may not hurt anything, ...do ya feel lucky?....Your call.

Modified by mistergib at 5:36 PM 5/10/2008

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By Mother's day, the noise had gotten worse. When I drove the car, there was the faint smell of either something rubbery burning, or automotive fluid being fried.

She took it back in Monday. The mechanic agreed there was a sound, but after inspecting the car, he couldn't figure out what it might be. He told her (get this!):
"Nissan knows that there is something making the noise, but doesn't know what it is, but they assure her that it is safe!"

They don't know what it is, but they know that it is safe?

A little difficult to swallow, no?

Now I don't think the wheels are going to fall off, but if the tranny train craps when she is driving through a bad neighborhood on her way to or from work in upper Manhattan, "safe" takes on a different meaning.

Hopefully Nissan figures it out before they start calling themselves Datsun again!

Modified by theczecho at 4:04 PM 5/20/2008

There was a problem with the First model year Murano and the CVT transfer casing would be damaged as people would be driving with AWD Lock Mode On at highway speeds. Could there be a similar situation with some of these scenarios where people do not realize that Lock Mode is on?

I'll follow up and let you know if the noise goes away.

Now he's saying that Nissan is aware of this problem as they have had many complaints. the new theory is that the transfer case is the culprit. A far cry from the "We don't know what it is, but the car is safe" line from yesterday.

I'm guessing that Nissan is trying to keep this quiet in the hopes that most do not complain, which might cause a recall. Those that complain will probably get fixed, but quietly.

Boards like this are very useful, and much hated by car manufacturers.

My Altima was part of the '02-03 QR25DE pre-catalyst failure issue. I had the entire motor changed under warranty with no BS or coverup by the dealer. They just got it done!

I guess your mileage may vary????

We posted further up the page...first ones to mention the 'rattle'

Update: We continue to call the dealer who says that they are still waiting for an answer from Nissan, although, now there is another Rogue in our area with the same noise.

The noise is (as best as I can describe it) a rattle from under the hood, not unlike an engine 'ping', yet it can only be heard at low speeds and usually as you are coming to a stop. It kind of sounds/feels like the tranny is vibrating as it downshifts to whatever 'first' is in the CVT... BUT, the noise is very subtle...no loud obnoxious noises, just a slight rattle.

I have not smelled any burning smell and it runs great, just makes this annoying rattle and since it is mechanical (we assume) very disconcerting.

We are going for a 700 mile trip over the Holiday Weekend, so we will let you know how it got thru it all.

The CVT itself has been changed since it first appeared on the Murano. The current CVT design is shared with the Altima 2.5 and Sentra SE-R. The Chrysler/Mitsu twins also share use the same CVT: Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot, and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The transfer case, AWD transfer coupling, and other components are based on the unit on the Murano. They should be identical to the those used on the Rogue's twins: the Dualis (Japan) and Qashqai (UK).

So yes, components of the drivetrain have been around for awhile. However, the Rogue is the first to pair Nissan's QR25DE motor, the Jatco CVT, and the AWD system together.

I too have noticed a slight vibration/metallic rattle but you really have to listen for it. It happens just before you come to a stop. It does not happen all the time, and performance has not been affected. IMHO it seems to part of normal CVT operation.

Does everyone feel this surge just before stopping, and I am guessing this is the same moment when some of you are hearing the rattle? I don't hear the rattle, but I definately feel the surge, which isn't a big deal but it does feel a bit odd.

Definitely NOT a normal operating sound...sometimes it is subtle and sometimes quite loud...usually when the car is good and warmed up. We would not have bought the Rogue if this noise was happening all the time. It just started after a 300 mile trip and is getting progressively worse.

Paul

I have never owned a Murano, but I've heard the '03s were prone to tranny failure. The CVT has since undergone several changes and the unit in the Rogue is a newer design.

The CVT transfer case is nothing more than a 3rd driveshaft output (2 for the front wheels, 1 to the rear axle). You would think it should be very simple and robust. The AWD engagement and torque split is done at the rear axle via a multiplate cluych.

Sounds like you are one month behind us

So, if the problem that everyone is having is indeed related to the transfer case, this means that FWD vehicles would not be affected, am I correct? I think the transfer case connects the rear drive shaft to the tranny in the AWD models...correct me if I'm wrong. Anyone with FWD having this same problem, or just AWD people? Thanks.

Well, it appears that there have been no FAILURES (so far)

We will probably be the first ones to know :-)

Good question. The transfer case is bolted to the rear of the transmission. AWD trannys are different from the FWD units. They have a seperate output gear connected to the ring gear of the differential. The transfer case takes the output, turns it 90deg and sends it to the rear differential/AWD coupling.

Could those who have this issue indicate whether they have a FWD or AWD model?

I believe the transfer case is what distributes the power between the front and rear axles and is unique to 4WD and AWD vehicles. So yes, the FWD Rogues do not have a transfer case and therefore would'nt be affected by this problem.