2014 Rogue, Jerky acceleration

[F10inSD]

I've noticed on our new rogue (3k miles on the odometer) that the car jerks when accelerating. It's a lot worse when I first use the car after it's been sitting OR up hill.

I got pretty freaked out last week when I back out of my garage and the whole car jerked like it was going to sputter out. I know this CVT transmission is different but is this normal?

[DTASFAB]

When Nissan sells you a lemon, make lemonade.

[F10inSD]

Thanks for the reply… I get your point.

However, I was curious if the car being warmed up played a factor in the smoothness and if the CVT was inherently jerky to a certain degree.

Can anyone shed light?

[darylzero]

Thanks for the reply… I get your point.

However, I was curious if the car being warmed up played a factor in the smoothness and if the CVT was inherently jerky to a certain degree.

Can anyone shed light?

I can't shed any light on the new CVT the Rogue has, but if I remember correctly (it was almost 5 years ago) when I got my Rogue there seemed to be some "jerkiness" to it, but I think it was because I was used to driving a CVT. It does take some getting used to.
There is a feel you get when driving with a CVT, you need to get used to it or change the way you drive. I don't think it should jerk and if it still does it after maybe another 1000 miles take it to the dealer and have the mechanic drive with you in the passenger seat.

[DTASFAB]

I've never driven a 2014, but I can't imagine it would be designed to be any less smooth than the 2013s I've driven, which includes three different vehicles - two base models and my SV with 13,000 miles.

I can feel the CVT shifting, but it's obviously not like a traditional automatic with a set number of gears. It's always smooth and almost indiscernible unless I'm paying close attention, and I can really only feel it at low speeds. I didn't find I had to make any adjustments to my driving style, and it seemed totally natural to me immediately upon the first test drive I took.

The CVT vibration we get at a specific RPM that a lot of people ask about is something I'm very familiar with, because my 1985 Toyota with 4-speed automatic does the same thing when it's in 4th gear overdrive and my speed is only around 38-45 mph (basically the typical speed at which it shifts from 3rd into 4th) and I'm giving the engine a little bit of gas, but not too much. Usually this happens when I'm driving up a slight incline and I'm trying to accelerate gently to gain some speed, but not so hard that the automatic downshifts into 3rd gear. That vibration in the Rogue never bothered me, and I don't consider it "unsmooth."

The only time I would imagine the CVT really jerking the vehicle around would be if you were gently driving around and going really easy on the gas, followed by a jolt of hard acceleration. But the jerkiness should only last as long as it takes the soft steel belts in the CVT to catch and transfer a large amount of power to the wheels, at which point it should smooth out almost immediately while gaining speed.

Sputtering while backing out of a garage could be indicative of some other problem, like a spark plug misfiring. If I had that problem in my Toyota, my first thought wouldn't have anything to do with the transmission. It would be spark plugs, distributor cap and/or wires, air filter, fuel injectors, idle speed, throttle body, ignition coil, etc. You should probably investigate similar issues in your Rogue before assuming it's your CVT.

Are you experiencing a rough idle while standing still at red lights with the CVT in gear and your foot on the brake? What about if you shift into neutral? A rough idle caused by a firing problem would likely be less severe in neutral than in gear, but if you're getting any kind of rough idle, no matter how mild, in neutral, I really don't think you have a CVT problem. A brand new truck that's less than a year old and has been driven less than 10,000 miles should have a perfectly smooth idle, almost to the point of not even being able to tell if the engine is running or not, especially with the windows rolled up.

[1019throw]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, no thats not normal. When in doubt, just take it in. You're covered under warranty.'


I just hit 4k miles, and have not had 1 issues that people talk about on this forum except for my radio/nav occasionally resetting. Any problems will go right into the dealership. Good luck.

[RyleyinSTL]

Ya, what you're experiencing is not at all normal. Take it in.

[F10inSD]

Well I took your advice and have an appointment set up for next week. If they say "cannot replicate" or something that's fine. I'll keep taking it back once a week till they do something

I'm really disappointed in this new car. I've purchased 3 new vehicles in the last 3 years and this is by far the biggest POS. Thanks nissan.

[Trythis30]

@ F10inSD -
Di you you get the problem diagnosed and/or fixed?

I have the same program on my 2014 Rogue. I have to accelerate ever so gentle in order to avoid the jerking. However, in my case, the vehicle was in a previous accident and thus Nissan will always go to that as their escape.
Please let me know what you found out.

Thanks.

[Ferrisfan]

Based on my 2014, it is not normal. Try driving in sport mode or with the O/D off for a bit and see if it changes the characteristics.

I was not freaked with CVT when I bought mine because my company loves to stick me with Versas when I'm on the road, but the only time I've had what I considered to be jerky acceleration (as in something that truly made me wonder if something was wrong) was on an 8% grade in the mountains. Sometimes when you are accelerating hard, the fake shift points are a bit jerky, but it is clear that is what is happening, which doesn't sound like what you have.

Also, anytime you have a question like this, a video would be helpful. In this case I would video the tachometer and see what that shows.

[Trythis30]

@Ferrisfan- thanks for the FYI.
I will try to replicate the conditions under video.
The jerk motion would be best described as a hard shift- sort of like what you mentioned- except that i find on mine it will do it anytime i step on the gas any other way than very gently.
under O/D off, i hear a flickering sound.

[followingnfront]

Yeah you know what? My 2015 has weird hiccup like accelleration at times, and while driving with my foot steady on the pedal, or EVEN IN CRUISE CONTROL ON A PERFECTLY LEVEL ROAD, the rpms fluctuate by up to 750rpms...

This feels like the car is hiccupping as well. Also, intermittently (most of the time) the steering wheel turns itself while on the highway. Its slight, but I have to fight it which tires me out on a long trip... I think it may have to do with the rpm issue to somehow but I'm not sure. It isn't even like it just drifts... It will make the car go into the right lane, then cut itself a little and make the car go into the left lane... ALL ON ITS OWN... REGARDLESS OF THE CROWN IN THE ROAD... Its almost like there are hurricane like winds blowing the car around, but the wind speed has been "0mph" each time.

Really weird, really annoying, really tiring, and I'm bringing it back to the dealer. I'm sick of this car already. Its exacerbates my back injury with me having to fight the wheel constantly.