2013 Quest CVT

[dyoshii]

Just got a 2013 quest platinum for my wife and kids after a long stint with a Honda Odyssey and all I can say is Wow! it feels a lot like my M and the CVT is nice!!! now I'm wondering as to why Infinity's are not rolling out with it...

[WDRacing]

The older CVT's were plagued with issues. So the higher end Infiniti brand is leery to make the switch until everything is more than worked out. Just my .02

Glad you like the Quest! The newest body style is SO much better looking than the previous one.

[trekkie888]

Performance suffers with a cvt transmission, but its better for fuel economy.

[kljohnson]

We bought our 2013 Quest new a couple years ago. We have about 50k miles on it now with no issues. How have everyone elses CVT's held up? I would say that I'm a spirited driver and tested the CVT well

[mikedadrumma]

I've got a 2011 with almost 70K miles on it and the CVT performs exactly like it did brand new. Very pleased.

[Mjkkb2]

80k plus on mine and no issues.

[blade007]

You guys should definitely change the oil at some point soon. I just bought a 2011 sv quest and while it was well maintained the transmission oil had never been changed. It would shudder on acceleration. I thought the engine mounts were bad. I changed the oil after some research and it never happened again. The manual says to change every 30k miles or so. I plan to change after 10k then every 30k after. Its not an expensive repair and can save your transmission.

[PoMansVan]

Maybe it has to do with the volumes of them sold compared to other models, but you do seem to read of CVT issues with the 2011+ Quests. Nissan did go with a different p/n CVT for 2015-16. Too early to tell with those. Regardless, I think a fluid change at 30-40K miles will do nothing but benefit ANY automotive transmission.

[Mjkkb2]

80k plus on mine and no issues.

well, it looks like I might have spoken too soon:

New CVT transmission needed at 119k miles. What a bummer!

[PoMansVan]

80k plus on mine and no issues.

well, it looks like I might have spoken too soon:

New CVT transmission needed at 119k miles. What a bummer!

Oh man.. That's a bummer! Did this unit have fluid changes done to it?

[Mjkkb2]

Wife TOOK IT IN AT 90k miles to have the book maintenance done. Was told they (Nissan service) tested the fluid it and said it didn't need replacing. Should have just gotten it done anyway. It's a big bummer. A $4600 one. Live and learn I guess.

[PoMansVan]

Wife TOOK IT IN AT 90k miles to have the book maintenance done. Was told they (Nissan service) tested the fluid it and said it didn't need replacing. Should have just gotten it done anyway. It's a big bummer. A $4600 one. Live and learn I guess.

Oh man that's rough! Any chance at getting assistance from Nissan from this given you did have the fluid tested? It's hard to say if not changing the CVT fluid had anything to do with it anyway. I have yet to see or read of one of these units failing catastrophically into metal chunks. If it doesn't work properly, they don't seem to troubleshoot them at all. Only yank and replace. It certainly can't hurt changing the CVT fluid on them provided it's the proper fluid. Like I say, draining, refilling and checking level on these is easier than an engine oil change! The hardest part for me was getting the stupid locking cap to release on the refill tube of my 2016 Quest. FWIW, the blue factory CVT fluid was as black as used motor oil on my 2016 at 34K miles.

[Mjkkb2]

I would be surprised if any assistance was offered considering the car is 70k mi past warranty.
Even if I argued that the failure was an old fluid problem,
I couldn't prove it like you said.
It's a costly lesson to learn for sure.

[PoMansVan]

I would be surprised if any assistance was offered considering the car is 70k mi past warranty.
Even if I argued that the failure was an old fluid problem,
I couldn't prove it like you said.
It's a costly lesson to learn for sure.

Didn't Nissan extend the warranty on some of the pre 2014 CVTs to 100K miles?

*EDIT*.. Looks like this applied to models up to 2010 best I can tell. The Quest didn't start using them until 2011.

[Mjkkb2]

yes, all rouges up to 2011 were suffering from issues related to the CVT, but (supposedly) 2011+ CVTs had it addressed and fixed. I'm not convinced....

Nissan extended the warranty until 120k miles FYI for pre 2011 models.

[Crisspy]

80k plus on mine and no issues.

well, it looks like I might have spoken too soon:

New CVT transmission needed at 119k miles. What a bummer!

what were the initial symptoms? I have a 2011 w/125000 and it started to slow down then would not accelerate then the engine acted fuel starved and quit, but before now not one squeak rattle or bump from the trans. Any thoughts?

[Crisspy]

Can always use the help

[Mjkkb2]

It is a catastrophic failure. Mine had no symptoms, and suddenly the drive/chain inside the transmission breaks and shatters into million pieces.
If I were you, I would get the transmission flush done at a Nissan service place first thing you can.
1. it's a good thing to do for your transmission, and
2. you may have more recourse with the manufacturer if God forbid something happened soon after.

My guess (and that's all it's worth - nothing) is the drive chain/belt is not strong enough to withstand the stresses of the work it needs to do.
And like with any steel chain - the failure is catastrophic - and instantaneous.