Nissan Rogue Transmission Recall: Things To Notice

While there may be some consolation in being part of a Nissan Rogue transmission recall, it raises questions about eligibility for those who own this popular crossover-SUV.

In essence, Nissan’s CVT journey has been marked by both innovation and setbacks, leaving a trail of frustrated customers and a challenging road ahead for the company in terms of restoring trust and reliability in their transmissions.

What Is CVT Transmission

Before delving into the Nissan Rogue transmission recall, it’s helpful to provide some context. Most of you are probably familiar with the Nissan Rogue, which is currently part of Nissan’s midsize crossover lineup.

Like many other Nissan models, it is equipped with the well-known CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearbox, manufactured by the Japan Automatic Transmission Company, or JATCO.

CVTs were once celebrated by Nissan as the natural progression of automatic transmissions. CVT stands for ‘continuously variable transmission,’ and it distinguishes itself from traditional automatic transmissions by not having physical gears or cogs. Instead, it utilizes a chain or pulley system, employing either a steel or rubber belt.

Unlike traditional transmissions, which rely on discrete gears, CVTs can vary the transmission ratio without the need to shift between gears or cogs, which have inherent limitations. To achieve different speeds, traditional transmissions must switch between these gears accordingly.

In contrast, a CVT simply adjusts the positioning of the pulleys, allowing the belt or chain to transmit the precise amount of power from the engine to the wheels. 

This design offers several advantages, including smooth and seamless gear changes (although they can be somewhat noisy), potentially greater fuel efficiency, and theoretically fewer components that can fail.

What Are The Problems of The CVT Transmission

Unfortunately, in the case of Nissan’s CVTs, including those in the Rogue, there were significant drawbacks, as evidenced by the ongoing Nissan Rogue transmission recall discussions. 

These issues extended beyond reliability concerns and encompassed various performance and reliability problems that have left many Nissan owners dissatisfied:

Stuttering While Accelerating

Some Nissan CVTs, such as those in the Rogue, exhibited problems, especially at low speeds. Owners reported instances of their CVTs shuddering when accelerating or at lower speeds, and in some cases, the CVT-equipped Nissans would stall in the middle of the road.

Poor Response With Shifts

Unlike traditional automatic transmissions, CVTs should smoothly and promptly respond to gear changes without pauses or hunting for the right gear. However, Nissan’s CVTs were known for slower responsiveness when shifting in response to driver inputs.

Loud Whines

CVTs are generally noisier during operation compared to conventional gearboxes, which is by design. However, Nissan’s CVTs were known to produce louder whining noises, especially in hotter climates or during long-distance driving in the summer.

Overheating

One of the root causes of the reliability issues with Nissan’s CVTs was inadequate cooling. Nissan’s CVT cooling systems struggled to maintain proper temperature control, leading to symptoms such as shaking and shuddering when the transmission overheated.

Transmission Failure

Perhaps the most concerning issue was that Nissan’s CVTs were prone to failure at relatively low mileage. Typically, a transmission does not fail completely until it reaches a high mileage, often six figures.

However, numerous CVT-equipped Nissan owners reported failures occurring as early as 60,000 miles. These problems have raised concerns among Nissan owners and led to widespread discussions about the performance and reliability of Nissan’s CVT transmissions.

Nissan Rogue Transmission Recall

So, what’s the deal with the transmission issues in Nissan Rogue vehicles? Nissan has taken some steps in response to the complaints from both current and past owners. 

In this discussion, we’ll delve into the extended warranties and reimbursements that Nissan has offered, as well as a class-action lawsuit they lost. 

However, it’s important to note that Nissan has not issued a mass recall for the defective Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) in their vehicles, and a formal recall notice has yet to be seen.

The Persistent Problem

The problems associated with Nissan’s CVTs have persisted for over 15 years. In the case of the Nissan Rogue, issues related to CVTs began surfacing as early as 2008 and have remained unresolved.

It appears that the design flaws in Nissan’s CVTs, particularly in the earlier models, require extensive modifications, both internally and externally, which could be a costly endeavor.

Limited Recall Efforts

Recent transmission-related recalls related to the Nissan Rogue have not addressed the fundamental deficiencies, unreliability, and subpar performance of the CVTs. Instead, these recalls have focused on relatively minor issues.

Let’s examine the model years of the Nissan Rogue from 2008 to 2018 and see if there have been any CVT recalls issued (note the NHTSA reference numbers for the recalls):

2008 Nissan Rogue Transmission Issues

For the 2008 Nissan Rogue, there was no comprehensive recall to address the unreliable CVT. Instead, five separate recall campaigns were issued for various concerns:

• Recall 08V521000 on October 7th, 2008 (Affecting 204,361 Vehicles): This relates to the Occupant Classification System (OCS) control unit, impacting the passenger airbag’s effectiveness.
• Recall 09V393000 on October 5th, 2009 (Affecting 143,223 Vehicles): This concerns the tire pressure monitoring system sensor, which could develop issues.
• Recall 09V411000 on October 19th, 2009 (Affecting 163,659 Vehicles): A loose screw in the steering gear cover that could result in a loss of steering control.
• Recall 10V401000 on September 10th, 2010 (Affecting 7,948 Vehicles): This recall addresses vehicles equipped with Garmin Nuvi 750 satellite navigation systems, where the GPS unit’s batteries could overheat, posing a fire risk.
• Recall 15V032000 on January 26th, 2015 (Affecting 468,815 Vehicles): This recall pertains to the wiring harness connector in specific Nissan models, which could cause an electrical short due to exposure to moisture and road salt.

2009 Nissan Rogue Transmission Concerns

The 2009 Nissan Rogue, like its predecessor, did not receive a comprehensive CVT recall. Instead, three unrelated recalls were issued:

• Recall 09V411000 on October 19th, 2009 (Affecting 163,659 Vehicles): This relates to the loose screw in the steering gear cover, which could lead to a loss of steering control.
• Recall 10V401000 on September 10th, 2010 (Affecting 7,948 Vehicles): Addressing the issue of overheating batteries in Garmin Nuvi 750 GPS units.
• Recall 15V032000 on January 26th, 2015 (Affecting 468,815 Vehicles): Similar to the 2008 recall, this concerns the wiring harness connector’s vulnerability to moisture and road salt.

2010 Nissan Rogue Transmission Concerns

The 2010 Nissan Rogue marked the end of Nissan’s extended warranty program for CVT-related issues, covering model years 2008 to 2010. However, no CVT recall was issued for this model year. Instead, two unrelated recalls were initiated:

• Recall 10V401000 on September 10th, 2010 (Affecting 7,948 Vehicles): Addressing the issue of overheating batteries in Garmin Nuvi 750 GPS units.
• Recall 15V032000 on January 26th, 2015 (Affecting 468,815 Vehicles): Similar to previous years, this recall pertains to the wiring harness connector’s vulnerability to moisture and road salt.

>> SEE MORE: Everything About The Ford Focus Transmission Recall Lawsuit

Warranty Extension for Nissan CVT Transmissions

Earlier, we mentioned that there was no recall for Nissan Rogue transmissions. However, Nissan did introduce a warranty extension to address potential issues. Regrettably, this extension comes with limited coverage, effectively doubling the previous powertrain warranty.

Initially, it provided coverage for 5 years or 60,000 miles (whichever occurred first). With the warranty extension program, it now extends to 10 years or 120,000 miles.

The warranty extension applied to several Nissan models, including the Rogue. However, it was exclusively available to owners of 2008, 2009, and 2010 model years. 

This warranty encompasses expenses related to CVT repairs, complete CVT replacements, and the replacement of individual CVT components. It covers the entire cost required to restore the CVT, including a reimbursement option.

Nissan CVT Transmission Settlement

For those concerned about a potential Nissan Rogue transmission recall issue, there is some recent positive news regarding a class action lawsuit involving Nissan’s problematic CVTs. 

Nissan has recently reached a settlement in this lawsuit, agreeing to a total payout of $277.7 million. Despite initially denying any wrongdoing in addressing the issues with their faulty CVTs, Nissan has opted to resolve all claims.

This lawsuit pertains to various Nissan models, including the Nissan Rogue from model years 2014 to 2018, as well as the Nissan Pathfinder (2015 to 2018) and Infiniti QX60 (2015 to 2018). This settlement goes beyond just financial compensation and provides several benefits to class members, including:

Warranty Extension

Previously, the original warranty for the Nissan Rogue covered 60,000 miles or 60 months (whichever came first). Now, this warranty has been extended by an additional 24 months and 24,000 miles, resulting in a total coverage of 84 months or 84,000 miles.

This extended warranty covers the entire CVT transmission assembly, encompassing the valve body, torque converter, and transmission control unit.

Reimbursement

Prior to the extended warranty, owners and lessees were responsible for all expenses related to CVT repairs. However, under this settlement, out-of-pocket expenses for these repairs will be reimbursed. 

If the repairs were performed at a Nissan dealership, the full amount will be refunded. For repairs conducted elsewhere, Nissan will provide reimbursements of up to $5,000, as applicable.

Vouchers

In the event that you choose not to accept the reimbursement or are unable to do so, you have the option to receive a $1,000 voucher from Nissan. 

This voucher can be used towards the purchase or lease of a new vehicle. It’s important to note that this voucher must be utilized within 9 months of the settlement date of the lawsuit.

Check out this video from Wrench Link to learn more bout why the Nissan CVT transmission fails and what you can do to prevent the damage!

This settlement signifies a significant step in addressing the concerns surrounding Nissan Rogue transmission recall and provides affected vehicle owners with options for compensation and resolution.