Hey there, I'm looking at buying a 2016 Max SL. I have zero experience with CVT and have some hesitations. There seems to be some horror stories on some older CVT models but I can't find much on the 8th gen. Hopefully no news is good news. My biggest concern is reliability. I have a 2005 Altima with 435,000 km and never had any issues with engine or trans in 10 yrs. I feel confident about everything else just have some hesitations on the CVT. Any info or feedback would be super appreciated. Thanks

 

I'm not an expert, but there are some reports that it will break if you drive it hard. Doesn't make sense to me, having a 300 hp car but it breaks if you actually use the 300 hp. Still, mine is so far so good at 3 years and 40,000 miles.

 

They ruined the Altima with the CVT...as well as the Maxima. My opinion, it is a roll of the dice with the CVT....be nice to it

 

I put 85,000 miles on my 2010 Maxima with no issues. I personally know an Altima owner with 175,000 and a Murano owner with 215,000 with no issues.

Consumer Reports lists the 2016 with above average reliability.

 

58k miles here... No issues at all for me.


.....

 

to this, like ***** said treat it nicely and you wont have problems.

 

And treating it nicely also means conducting the scheduled service at least every 60K. We've had various Nissan CVTs without issue, my Maxima just crossed 70K today.

 

AMEN

 

Does the 2016 and up have a replaceable CVT transmission filter? If so where is it located and how often should you change it?

 

there is not a filter, you need to take it to a dealer if you need to change the fluid either a flush or a drain and fill, you wont need a complete flush a drain and fill will suffice depending on how many miles you have on the car if you have not changed it yet.

 

Just take it for a long test drive and see for yourself. As others have said, it'll probably be fine if you don't beat on it all the time and you do the required maintenance.

As far as performance, it's very responsive and smooth. Some folks will never like a CVT and there's no changing their mind. Objectively though, it's still a quick car while getting great mileage for 300hp. Unless you really are looking for a true sports car you probably will be very happy with it

 

Fishman has it covered here. If you "cowboy" at stop signs, I am not sure this car is the right choice. If you like a fast effortless cruiser that regularly gets 30+ mpg while looking great, welcome aboard!

 

Its a great comfortable car. And I wouldn't worry about the CVT, The CVTs paried with the V6's have been fine and reliable. The CVTs you see imploding are almost all paired with the 4 cylinder engines on the cheaper cars

 

A significant number of 6 gen. Maxima owners would not agree.

 

Well sure, but you're also talking about a car 2 gens ago where it was also the first time they put the CVT in the Maxima. The OP was asking about an 8th gen. Also, I've talked to multiple Nissan techs about the CVTs on Maximas and they can count the number of times in all their years working when a 7th gen Maxima came in for the CVT issues. and none for the 8th gen so far. And even then it was for transmission issues with higher milage cars that's not out of the question for any car.

With normal operating conditions and normal maintenance, I'm not worried about my CVT at all and neither should you.

 

My understanding is that a significant majority of those early CVT failures turned out to be because the owners didn't understand the need to use proper fluid and substituted traditional ATF.

 

That would do it^^^...…..this transmission does not need any help arriving at failure

 

FACTS

 

all i can say is that i have been lucky.
drain and fill around 120k.
157k and counting on 2016.

 

Does the Transmission fluid ever get "low" where it needs to be adjusted through normal driving like engine oil?
How can I check to see if i have enough transmission fluid or if it is low without having a dipstick?

 

I put 224,000 miles on my 10 Maxima with two CVT fluid exchanges with no issues. I got rid of the vehicle to take over my wife's 11 Highlander. There were no issues with my Maxima when i traded it in. All highway miles.

 

Good to know..just wanted to know how I can check to see if my CVT transmission fluid is "low" or at the proper level?

 

I had an '07 Altima 3.5SE with 170K miles and now have a '16 Maxima (since new) with 76K miles (no issues with CVT, car, anything). I have my car dealer-serviced and had the CVT fluid changed at 60K miles. As a Mechanical Engineer, I can tell you that the CVT relies on the friction modifiers in the fluid to prevent slippage of the belt; once these are depleted, you will have problems-don't let that happen.

 

The only way to check CVTF levels or deterioration is through Consult-III+ scan tool, you'll have to take it to a dealer, unless someone else on here has found another way of doing it, without having to take it to the dealer not sure.

 

Does anyone know of a "proper" way to change the CVT fluid by D.I.Y.?
I have seen a few videos up on Youtube showing CVT fluid changes but none specifically for the 2016+ Maxima was wondering how hard it is to change and if there is just a 19mm plug to remove or does it also have the 5mm overflow plug in it as well?

 

We have been FAITHFUL Maxima customers for a very long time and absolutely loved our brand new 2016 SR until we didn't....we are older and the thought of "driving it hard" does not apply to us. 40k and transmission had to be replaced in September of this year. Luckily, we fought with Nissan and they replaced it with minimal charge as our warranty had expired. It killed me to get rid of it as it was my favorite Maxima...such a beauty, but in no way should the transmission go out after 3.5 years and 40k. This is the first time in at least 15 years that we've not had a Nissan..we bought a new car (different make) and will not go back until they change the CVT. Btw...ours was not the only one at the dealership shop with transmission issues. As a loyal Nissan customer...I never thought I would tell people to stay away from them....

 

I am with you brother, Nissan is dead to me. Only car I would consider is the Z, but it is way too small for my needs. They can shove the CVTs up somebody else's anus. You give me no choice, I give you no money.

 

On the 2018 Maxima is there still a CVT drain plug? I looked under the Maxima and noticed the plastic shroud covering a drain pan with a few 10mm screws
Do I need to remove the drain pan screws to change the CVT fluid or is there still a drain plug because I didn't see one?

 

how long is the cvt warranty? Isn’t the power train warrantied for 60000

 

Was this car maintained at the dealer and at dealer-recommended intervals, or did you just drive it with blinders on? Please enlighten us since my mom is also "older" and she wouldn't be doing much as far as maintenance unless I stayed on top of it for her.

 

How was yls100transmission not under warranty! How could the power train warranty expire at 40k?

 

Ok, some people have had transmission problems but it you Google Ford/Chevrolet/Honda/Toyota/whatever transmission problems you will find that EVERY automaker has transmission issues. The Nissan CVT is not as good as some but is a lot better than others. Transmissions are complex and take a beating. Just play nice and you probably won't have issues.

 

Don't see how this is possible. Drivetrain warranty is 5/60.

 

Yeah, kinda makes you wonder, don't it.

 

It does have a filter in front of the housing. Usually not replaced during normal maintenance unless requested by customer. I've replaced my 2014 external filter and grandmother's 09 Murano external filter. Unlike those cars, the newer CVT's have a small filter that's is covered. I personally will be replacing mine and the o ring

when I change my fluid every 30k. I uploaded a pic of a 2019 murano at work in which the o-ring seal between the trans case and bolted cover was leaking at 100 miles.

 

please enlighten me more about this, because something isn't adding up, 2018SV no problems.

 

Time to come clean.

 

Well since the oldest 8th gen Maxima on the road is only 5 years old, it's a bit early to know about long term reliability. Of course everyone is well aware of the disasterous early models, Nissan themselves had to extend the warranty on model years up to 2010

based on what I've seen in the 7th gen forum, and this one... I think it has at least average reliability at this point.

Still, sorry to our friend yls100 who died at 40k, i probably would feel the same way if I ended up with a lemon like that

 

I currently own a 2017 Maxima SR midnight. I'm at 132,949 miles currently as my commute is 120 miles round trip with 90% being interstate miles. So far I have no codes or current issues. I have a hunch that I might be starting to see issues with the CVT. I have replaced all hub assemblys and both cv axles looking for my vibration culprit but it didnt fix them.

I currently have a fairly strong vibration in the cabin when idling in drive or reverse and at highway speeds and a sound that correlates to the vibration of a louder exhaust Nothing in neutral or park; it seems drive ok with an occasional jerk/lurch so I'm hoping its maybe transmission mount or exhaust related. I have had it at the dealership a few times and they claim the engine mounts and everything seems to look fine so I'm concerned its driveline related. At highway speeds there is a vibration with a dull thumping. Tires only have 20k on them and are Pirelli's. Has had multiple road force balancing and alignments so I'm leaning exhaust or transmission.

 

Shozen - any oil changes done on the CVT?