Maxima Transmission Fluid Overfilled by Dealer

[Marshall2010]

I have a 2010 Maxima SV. The CVT had to be replaced at 119,800 miles. Thankfully, Nissan extended the warranty to 120,000 due to issues they had been having with that transmission. My car now has 145,000 miles. While traveling this weekend, the RPMs started to jump. When they hit 2100, they would jump to 2400/2500 and come right back down. I was out of state and decided to take it to a local Nissan dealership. They discovered that the transmission fluid was overfilled and they had to drain 2 qts. I made it back home (about 450 miles) without a single problem. Well, almost home. When I got off the interstate and came to a red light, the car lunged when I stepped on on the accelerator. I had stopped several times during the trip, but this was the first such occurrence. I was close to my regular Nissan dealership so I dropped it off to have them take a look. I just got a call saying the transmission is shot that the transmission they recently put in only has a warranty up to 10,000 miles.

I have ONLY taken my car to Nissan for service and oil changes. Nobody else has ever touched my car. Would the transmission fluid being so full damage the transmission that badly? If so, should I argue that Nissan is responsible for the damage? This car has been great and the transmission is the only thing that has ever given me a problem.

[centralcoaster33]

Get your records together, including those from the out of town dealership. Be prepared to communicate in the most productive fashion possible. You can catch more flies with sugar than vinegar. It seems to me that a warranty has expired, but quality of work might have a guarantee. I'd read through all the paperwork I have. I'm sorry to read of your situation and wish you the best of luck!

[seldomseen]

Central offers sound advice....gather together all your paperwork, and work with a Nissan Service Advisor so that the (SA) can push forth some sort of good will warranty to replace your CVT. A Nissan dealership will have a better chance at getting your CVT replaced than you would --- unless you obtain counsel and go to court.

[Marshall2010]

Nissan is refusing to cover the cost. So now it's a question of whether or not to take them to small claims court. Can having the transmission overfilled so much for such a long period of time (27,000 miles) cause irreparable damage to the transmission?

[centralcoaster33]

I don't know. I wondered though and did some google research. It seems that too much fluid has ruined CVT for some people, even using a Nissan CVT. Maybe search some online. Or have a small claims lawyer search for precedent or whatever they use. Man, I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

[ArmedAviator]

Yes it can cause damage. The damage is usually caused by the fluid getting so high that it gets churned up by rotating assemblies and froths up. These tiny air bubbles in the fluid do not provide lubricity, and actually reduce it. Additionally, it is compressible when it should not be in various parts of the transmission valve body.

If you can prove the dealer screwed this up and not something after the fact, take them to small claims court.

[zul8tr]

Thanks for the post, I will stay away from Nissan CVT cars. I have read bad things about these units.My present 98 I30 has 153k and no issues with the auto, I have gravity drained fluid each 25k, trannies like fresh fluid.