General S35 reliability information

[relative4]

I'm shopping small AWD/4WD vehicles (we live in Colorado) for my teenage daughter, and the first generation Rogue looks like a likely candidate. I do all my own mechanical work and will perform all maintenance and repairs. Can you guys provide me with things to look out for on these vehicles? I don't mind putting time in on minor standard stuff, but if these things tend to puke the trans or blow the engine at 150K miles, I want to avoid that headache. All input appreciated. Thanks!

[VStar650CL]

The QR25 engines are about as stout as they come, but the CVT trannies are the weak spot. If you download CVTz50 to your phone and get a $20 VeePeak VP11 OBD-bluetooth dongle, you can save yourself a lot of headaches. Read the CVT-A/CVT-B overheat record for the prospective transmission, it's under "CVT Information". If both numbers aren't zero, pass on it. If they're zero and the fluid doesn't smell like a varnish factory, somebody took reasonable care of it. CVT's run metal-on-metal, so fluid is life.

[relative4]

The QR25 engines are about as stout as they come, but the CVT trannies are the weak spot. If you download CVTz50 to your phone and get a $20 VeePeak VP11 OBD-bluetooth dongle, you can save yourself a lot of headaches. Read the CVT-A/CVT-B overheat record for the prospective transmission, it's under "CVT Information". If both numbers aren't zero, pass on it. If they're zero and the fluid doesn't smell like a varnish factory, somebody took reasonable care of it. CVT's run metal-on-metal, so fluid is life.

Great info. Thanks!

[VStar650CL]