Started website on specific Hesitation / Surge Issue with Nissan's CVT transmission - Altima Forums.net - The Nissan Altima Enthusiast Talk and Discussion Forums

08AltimaMan · 11-08-2011

I started a website so I could post about this specific issue. Check it out here: Nissan Altima CVT Problems – Hesitations – Surges- 2007 – 2011 Nissa Altima Slight Vehicle Hesitation or Surge Type Feel at Low Speeds

the goal is the attract a lot of Altima owners who have this issue and get them posting their experiences with it. I will try to add a form as well for people to submit their info almost like a petition.

I want Nissan USA to address this and not force the Altima owners to have to be responsible for paying for this fix they have available.

$435 is what I got quoted for (and I rejected), and even though others are lower in the mid $300's, I still find it unacceptable and something that should be covered.

So if you want, please check out the post and leave a comment with your hesitation issue.

Thanks guys!

**Unclear_Motives** · 11-08-2011

wow... its' really that bad?

08AltimaMan · 11-08-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unclear_Motives

wow... its' really that bad?

It's annoying yes...and its something that I have to live with for as long as I have this car...and since I sit in this car for almost 2 hours EVERY SINGLE DAY, its annoying.

but now its principle more then anything. it's bringing to light this is an issue that affects a larger % of Altima owners then originally thought and I believe its something Nissan should address for each customer free of charge.

You can't built a poorly designed transmission that does this and just say "whoops, well its within design specifications...so uh, tough luck".

gameguru1360 · 11-08-2011

I think I'd rather use that money towards the flush/refill of the cvt when I get close to 60k miles. I'm ok with the hesitation as I'm probably used to it. Now if they made it a mandatory "free" recall, then yes I'll go into the stealership, but it sounds like you have to do a lot of shopping with other dealers in order to keep the costs low...

08AltimaMan · 11-08-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by gameguru1360

I think I'd rather use that money towards the flush/refill of the cvt when I get close to 60k miles. I'm ok with the hesitation as I'm probably used to it. Now if they made it a mandatory "free" recall, then yes I'll go into the stealership, but it sounds like you have to do a lot of shopping with other dealers in order to keep the costs low...

agreed 150%.

gameguru1360 · 11-08-2011

I might go for it if I had the 3.5 altima since I would assume that hesitation would be somewhat robbing the 3.5 of power in the lower rpms...

Berg · 11-08-2011

I have not noticed this issue at all in my baby.i will check for it.

Superpug · 11-08-2011

Well I just thought it was normal for a CVT. I won't pay to fix something that should have been fixed when I bought it - if Nissan offers I will take them up on it.

Berg · 11-09-2011

So I checked for it and didn't notice anything.Are majority of cvt Altimas doing this?

MrHiggles · 11-09-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berg

So I checked for it and didn't notice anything.Are majority of cvt Altimas doing this?

The 3.5 has a clunk sound that is normal to me. I noticed that it bogs the engine at lower speed but seems to act different when switched to manual mode. Quicker on the go but quicker in just drive above 40. Though it was weird at first and even thought the whining it made was different. My altima is at 75k miles and has not been serviced to be flushed/refilled. It runs just as smooth as it did a year ago when I bought it at 36k. I believe the soul problem belongs to and only to the 2.5 altima. It may have to do with the power that is being delivered to the transmission. Sounds funny but it may not be enough. I didn't think that was possible however to get things to run in unison maybe it needs a little more from the engine. Im guessing 30 to 40 more horses. Hard to get out of a 2.5 tho unless you turbo charge the car. The problem with that would be the sudden surge of power thrown to the engine from the turbos and make it fail. It also could be the converter acting all stupid.

Superpug · 11-09-2011

I don't know what it is, but it sure is annoying. Like if I am trying to make it across an intersection, I have to really gas it to get going but the engine bogs down for about 2-3 seconds then it leaps forward and I have to let off the gas to avoid activating the flux capacitor. I have my doubts that it is the engine - only for this reason: my wife's cobalt with a 2.2L can out-accelerate me off the line. That engine is shoit but it's snappy like you'd expect a 4 to be, not like the Altima where it's like trying to wake up a snoozing dog.

08AltimaMan · 11-09-2011

yea I believe it affects the 2.5's more then the 3.5's.

I don't know the exact reason it does it, but I know it happens more to me once the car is warmed up. if I drive it cold in the morning, the first 10 minutes it drives great...and the RPM's hang around 1500. But once they lower to 1200 that is when the hesitations begin.

A few times I have felt that weird surge delay issue. Like I push the gas and nothing happens for like 1 full second and then boom it hits and lunges forward. kind of dangerous.

I agree with the above poster...that if this fix is what makes the cars drive smoother, that is how they should be plain and simple.

has anyone contacted Nissan USA / NA yet? I contacted them 1 time last week, and they told me they deal specifically with "recalls" and how they don't look at TSB's, which I thought was weird.

I'd like to press more on this and get more of an official statement/word out of them on this particular TSB.

Superpug · 11-09-2011

Is there an actual "TSB" out for this issue? If so, you should be able to print off a copy of it and march right up to a Nissan dealership and ask firmly that they fix it. A TSB means that the company has admitted there is a problem but does not think a recall is warranted. If someone knows of a TSB post it up here, if not already please.

**mikejamesbyma** · 11-09-2011

A tsb is consumer based. If there are a number of complaints about the same issue they will publish a possible fix regardless of who is at fault.

In this case they are reprogramming the tcm and modifying a couple of motor mounts. It sounds like it's all in how the 2.5 is tuned to run with the cvt, exactly as mentioned above.

08AltimaMan · 11-09-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superpug

Is there an actual "TSB" out for this issue? If so, you should be able to print off a copy of it and march right up to a Nissan dealership and ask firmly that they fix it. A TSB means that the company has admitted there is a problem but does not think a recall is warranted. If someone knows of a TSB post it up here, if not already please.

Absolutely there is: http://www.nissan-cvt-problems.com/w...NTB10-121b.pdf

But read the part labeled "Important Note". That is what seems like a kicker to me.

but in regards to marching to the dealership and firmly asking to fix it...uh I kind of tried that, and they said "tcm and torque rods are internal parts and lubrication which are covered under bumper to bumper, not powertrain. I am at 55,600 miles..so I am "SOL" based on that mentality.

But they are saying, with that TSB, that if you purchased a brand new 2011 2.5SL loaded with everything which probably sets a person back $25,000+...these hesitations are "normal". Ahem...try telling anyone who drops that kind of money on a car that a "shake" or "jerk" as they accelerate is normal.