CVT Rattle/Noise - Discussion Thread

[bshess]

I am most certainly crossing my fingers, based off all your stories. Guess anything could happen. I will say this, I think that chance meeting with the head mechanic a few weeks ago in public has only helped...I'm not a face-less owner, but a real person with real concerns. Besides, all concerned have, from the beginning, said that the noise wasn't right. The dealer has overall been very decent.

[daytrippr]

I did some searching today. Everyone who don't have their trannys replaced, need to check out your local lemon law and document what goes on with your contacts with the dealerships regarding the noise.

For others, I found out that the NHSTA (in the US) maybe able to help us... at least to get Nissan to take the rattle noise seriously enough to satisfy all of us with the problem, not just a select few.

I looked at the NHSTA.dot.gov website and found 2 failures listed for the transmission... one was just a faulty assembly of the transmission and transfer case that leaked transmission fluid causing failure. The other sounded like ours, reported as a failure, and replaced with a new transmission. They referred it to a "knock at 15mph-25mph". If the NHSTA gets enough complaints that they feel warrant a repair, they could go to the car maker and request or demand a recall if it poses a potential safety concern. Maybe we should have everyone report their transmission replacements on that site? With enough of these, they may be able to force Nissan to "do something".

It may not work but at least if we get those with replaced trannys to file a complaint, then the government at least will become aware of it. I don't know how it'll work for those of us still without a resolution, but I can only hope to ask those of you who did to please try for us who weren't so lucky. Also, itd be good feedback to hear if the noise went away and report if the noise ever returns with the new trannys.

[joehughes]

Here is a quick one for you, My SERVIC ENGINE SOON light came on yesterday driving home nothing happened it just came on.

Went to dealer yesterday, got rental car from them, they called me and told me that the light was nothing special just a transmission sensor, they ordered the part and they are going to replace it.

I get a call the next day saying they got the part but when the dropped the transmission to put in the part they found losts of metal shavings and BLACK trans fluid in the pan.

The service manager got on the phone with Nissan about this, and in about one hour, i got another call back saying they have been authorized to replace my transfer case and my transmission to correct this issue.

THE SERVICE MANAGER said the guy from nissan he talked to on the nissan engineers hotline, his words, said that they know the transmissions are faulty and they are replacing all of them as they come in for service.

I got my Rogue serviced at GERALD NISSAN in NAPERVILLE,IL

[roguetoad]

How many miles on the odo when that happened?

[joehughes]

4458 mls

[ResQ1]

Still haven't had the time to contact Nissan USA, but I posted a buyer beware review on Edmunds.com and submitted a complaint to NHTSA. Here is the link http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm If we all post a complaint, I would HOPE that someone notices! Someone asked miles on the cars when this started. Mine had about 3000 maybe a little less. What I find interesting in all our posts are the different things we are being told by our dealers. It ranges from Nissan denies there is an issue, and the noise is normal...ha right...to well there is an issue but replacing the transmisson won't fix it and we don't know what will, to Nissan is replacing the transmissions. I will find the time somehow on Monday to contact Nissan, and my dealer again. In the meantime, let's file complaints with whatever agencies deal with automotive issues. I'm getting close to taking an ad out in our local newspaper warning potential buyers of this issue! I agree Goblin, the vibration and the rattle seem to be associated with each other. As the rattle gets louder the vibration seems to be more noticable. I've gotten to the point where I only drive the car when no one else is home and able to drive. Not feeling safe driving a 3 month old $27,000 car is unacceptable! I'm an EMT and volunteer on a rescue squad, I have seen what motor vehicle accidents can do. It really does feel like we are drivng around on time bombs!

[paulvanharte]

I decided to phone Nissan Canada today to ensure I am in their system as having an issue with the CVT. They told me they are aware of the problem and are looking into it. As soon as they have found the problem I will be notified. My dealer already told me this as well, but it never hurts to file a complaint with Nissan as well.Personnaly I am really frustrated about this. I did not spend all this money on a car only to have problems less than 6 months later. This is not just a trim piece that is broken, its a major drivetrain component.

Paul

[paulvanharte]

I am not sure how loud the rattle is on others, but I can only hear it when the radio is off and during regular driving with window open and radio on its hardly noticeable. Never the less, since at least Nissan Canada is looking into it, I would consider this a major issue. This is after all a major component and one that you dont expect to cause issues after only 6 months of ownership.

Paul

[daytrippr]

I am not sure how loud the rattle is on others, ...Paul

We drove several hundred miles this weekend..often in traffic...I did notice that that the more the car is warmed up, the louder and more persistent our "Rogue Rattle" has become. We could hear it quite prominantley at 25-30 mph wheras the noise was covered up by road noise before :-(

Time to call our dealer for an update, I guess

Anyone who has heard this will remark that it is an unmistakable sound...and quite unnerving...

GET WITH IT, NISSAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[Goblin]

I filled a complaint with the NHTSA also. I have a lead on a technician at a dealership whom is supposed to be familure with this issue. He, of course, is on vacation this week. I'm going to call next week and try to get him to look over my vehicle. I'll let you know how it goes.

ssimon001: I just noticed in your post that Nissan claims your transmission failed internally and replaced it. Yet, you were driving it at the time correct? So the claim of no report failures would be false!
Modified by Goblin at 9:38 AM 7/15/2008

[ResQ1]

Great! Glad to hear someone else has filed a complaint. I spoke with Nissan USA today,and although the person I spoke with was very nice and understood my concern, she gave me a claim number(file number) and told me a regional rep would be in contact with me by tomorrow to tell me what can be done. This should be interesting, let's see what story I get this time. I know that sounds cynical, but that's where I am at at this point. We're all being told different things by Nissan and our dealers, and we're the ones who are going to suffer if something happens while we are driving. I think what ticks me off the most, is this is such a fun, comfortable,great handling car and I really love it! It would be much easier if I didn't like it so darn much!

Let's keep each other up to date all..it seems the communication on this forum is the best thing we have to fight them right now.

UPDATE 7/16/08..........Nissan called back yesterday, the regional rep. person...who told me the same old .."stuff" the engineers are working on it, there is no safety issue, it's OK to drive..blah..blah..when I questioned how they knew it was safe w/o knowing what was wrong, she said..well we had our "Master Engineer" look at it.. So there you go...their engineer said so..it must be true. I questioned whether we would be notified when a "fix" was available, she said no..just keep calling your dealer!!! Anyway, I told her I submitted a complaint to the NHTSA and that I was considering the Lemon Law..she said she would be forwarding my file to their legal team!! UGH! How's that for customer service!
Modified by ResQ1 at 4:56 AM 7/16/2008

[bshess]

Called my dealer this morning. Supposed to pick up the Rogue this afternoon, after almost 3 weeks. The service advisor told me that they did not replace the transmission after all (despite what they had told me) , but did "something else" at the request of Nissan, and that, according to the service manager, the noise is gone.

Personally, I am holding my breath, judging by the most recent comments on this forum. I will let you know after I pick it up this afternoon.

[mistergib]

Called my dealer this morning. Supposed to pick up the Rogue this afternoon, after almost 3 weeks. The service advisor told me that they did not replace the transmission after all (despite what they had told me) , but did "something else" at the request of Nissan, and that, according to the service manager, the noise is gone.

Personally, I am holding my breath, judging by the most recent comments on this forum. I will let you know after I pick it up this afternoon.

Well thats a bunch of crap...they won't tell you what they did....if weknew what they did, then, we'd know what the problem is...duh! If yournoise is actually gone and doesn't return, drill your dealership as to whatthey did so others with this problem can get some satisfaction too. I can'tbelieve that they didn't tell ya, IF, they actually knew....??

[kerrton]

Pretty interesting....if you could get them to reveal what they actually did to repair the transmission or get rid of the source of the noise I'm sure we'd all be very interested to hear, since the previous fix that others have reported seems to have been a full transmission and/or transfer case replacement. Thanks for sharing.

[daytrippr]

... The service advisor told me that they did not replace the transmission after all (despite what they had told me) , but did "something else" at the request of Nissan, and that, according to the service manager, the noise is gone. ...

I can imagine them switching vin id plates between yours and a brand new Rogue!

[bshess]

That would be funny...I will let you know. Trust me, I agree that they need to tell me what exactly they did, and I will make sure they do.

[Goblin]

Called my dealer this morning. Supposed to pick up the Rogue this afternoon, after almost 3 weeks. The service advisor told me that they did not replace the transmission after all (despite what they had told me) , but did "something else" at the request of Nissan, and that, according to the service manager, the noise is gone.

Personally, I am holding my breath, judging by the most recent comments on this forum. I will let you know after I pick it up this afternoon.

Ha Ha....Welcome to the F**K You club of Nissan! 3 WEEKS I'd be so frigging pissed! That's just unacceptable to began with. I hope the noise is gone so the rest of us can get ours fixed. Keep us posted! I may hold off a bit more before taking mine back as I just don't have the patience for this bullsh$t.

[bshess]

Well, guys, the noise is still there. Apparently the service advisor hadn't seen the car, so he was assuming if it was ready to go, it had been fixed. Their service manager met me in the lane, explained that Nissan is now apparently considering the noise normal, and gave me some "off the record" suggestions (most of which I already knew). I even got a chance to talk to the head tech (the one I had met personally weeks ago), who explained that he had been pulled off my car (for the first time in his memory) by Nissan. I really do think my dealer has done decent work. I am livid at Nissan. It's one thing to say they haven't figured it out yet, but to now explain that the condition is normal (which btw the dealer reps had some interesting things to say about that, after two official Nissan techs have ridden in my car!!!) is infuriating.

Nissan has given me my marching orders. Florida Lemon Law complaint will be filed tomorrow. I have already met the 3 attempts requirement; I had the dealer re-print the service orders.

Its funny, I am so disappointed that I can't put my feelings into words. I'm not the type to get angry, until a final resolution, but I can't help feeling screwed. I also feel stupid, feeling like I have tried to be professional this whole time, to only be taken advantage of.

This has seriously burned me on Nissan. I still love the car, but if they stubbornly refuse to fix it, what car am I going to buy next if the lemon law complaint works out, a second choice? I wish I had kept my trade.

Sorry for more bad news, fellow Roguers.

[bill875]

joehughes,

I work in Aurora and am considering taking my Rogue in to Gerald for the same noise. Is there someone that I should talk to specifically?

[paulvanharte]

Well I for one am getting pretty frustrated about all this. My wife and I went shopping and going slow in a parking lot I thought the transmission was going to go. The rattle is now very noticeable even with the radio on.In addition the fuel gauge is not working properly( not registering full).I am seriously considering selling the car and getting something else. We had also looked at the Mitsu Outlander, which judging by the posts in teir forums seems to be relatively trouble free. How can Nissan say this is normal

Paul

[joehughes]

You can speak with EDGAR in the service department.

He is the person that called Nissan and got them to give the go ahead to replace all the items in my drivetrain.

If you would like you can email me at [email protected]

I can scan in the repair order they gave me and you can bring that in with you to show them that they HAVE DONE the work in the past.

If you need more info or if you need more phone numbers for people there I can give you more.

Hope I can help out,Joe Hughes

P.S. Where in Aurora do you work at?

[mistergib]

Curious.....I'm also a moderator on another Rogue forum.....

I don't know how many Rogue owners there are on this forum, but so far,at last count, only 15 people say they have the transmission problem, and, onmy forum, NOBODY has reported this problem yet??....strange??

I'm just trying to get a feel as to how prevalent this problem really is...if it is a forum specific problem, I'm outta here! (lol)

Seriously, I feel for the people who have the problem...I don't as yet. I'mjust trying to figure out if my number is coming up??

[paulvanharte]

Well I was one who was hoping all this talk about the rattle was just people complaining about nothing, but I have 10000km on the car and the rattle from hardly noticeable is now very noticeable, to the point that it is becoming a distraction of an otherwise great car. I never thought I would say this but if this is not resolved or if Nissan thinks this is normal, this car will not be with us for very long! I had planned on keeping this car for a very long time, but not if I dont have confidence in the transmission.Paul

[ResQ1]

OMG!! This is soooo unacceptable! They really are waiting for someone to get killed!!! I do want to file a claim for the NYS Lemon Law, but up here in good old New York State it is $250.00 if they accept your application, and that doesn't mean you will win the claim! I don't know what else to do at this point. Although I do(did)love this car...I should have kept my 4Runner. I'm starting to think that they gave me such a good deal on a trade in because they KNEW there was a problem with the Rogues and wanted to unload them!!!!!! Beyond frustrating...really there are no words...

[dmw98path]

Yikes. I'm one of those looking to buy a new vehicle (Rogue) within the next month--2008/2009--but this does not sound promising. The Rogue seems to fit all that I'm looking for in a car and the vehicles that are somewhat close all have their tradeoffs. If you are in my shoes do you buy knowing there is a chance to face this problem sooner or later (I want AWD with Leather)? Or do you cut it off this list.... and try to find something similar...whatever that might be?

With 5-6k of these being sold a month and perhaps 10-15k of them being AWD do you think the 30 people on this forum represent a significant amount (any stats people out there)? I'd venture to guess it seems like this would affect 20% or more of the AWD vehicles and perhaps 100% over time based on what I'm hearing. (I'm basing this on 2000 vehicles having problems and maybe 10% (a very high percentage) of those people are visiting forums and venting).

-dan

[EddNog]

This issue is not affecting my SL AWD or my dad's S AWD.

-Ed

[philipa_240sx]

Trying to gauge how widespread this problem actually is... well difficult. We only represent a small handfull of owners and the sample size is far too small to assume the percentages here apply to the over 50,000 Rogues sold in the past 11 months.

Honestly, I think Nissan still does not have a good handle on the cause of this problem yet. I think this is one of the reasons they have decided not to replace everyone's transmission & transfer case. Unfortunately, the way they are going about dealing with thier customers seems to leave alot to be desired.

Another thing, so far we have not seen similar problems reported by FWD owners. I am beginning to think the CVT itself is not at fault but the components related to the AWD system including the transfer case, and AWD output shaft & gears in the CVT. Some of the problems described here remind me of driveline binding seen in part time 4WD vehicles when driven on dry pavement with 4WD engaged. Maybe this is similar?

[Goblin]

dmw98 save yourself from a lot of potential grief and stay away from the AWD version. If you have to have awd go with another vehicle. Seriously, you will regret your decision should you have problems, especially after having been well versed on this forum. The odds are against you now that you have the knowledge. LOL

[EddNog]

I don't mean to say that it's not happening (because apparently it is), but you make it sound like there is a very high likelihood of having issues. I believe that the proportion of AWD owners without the issue versus the number of AWD owners who do have it is much more positive than you may think. People with issues will always be more vocal. We have two AWD Rogues in our household with zero issues.

On the same front, we were one of the very few Murano owners (bought it back in 2003, first month it was available) who actually had transmission issues with it. Nissan replaced it for free. You do not see us claiming that it's going to happen to everyone else (or even anyone else). Until there is some official announcement made for a TSB or recall, it's most likely that this is not a common issue.

-Ed

[ssimon001]

Our Rogue was running fine with the exception of the rattle. The "failed internally" was a direct quote from the invoice.