Asking how reliable are Nissan CVT transmissions, is a very important question to ask if you’re considering one of the many Nissan models that have one. These gear-less gearboxes are designed to improve performance and efficiency, which is why Nissan uses them in a majority of their FWD and AWD vehicles. The Nissan Xtronic CVT transmission / RE0F10A transmission has been around for a number of years now, and is known for having a number of design flaws and transmission problems. So let’s ask how bad are Nissan CVT transmissions, and see if we can’t figure out an answer.
What Transmission Do I Have?
The Nissan RE0F10A Transmission – at a glance
A CVT, or Continuously Variable Transmission, doesn’t use a set of gears or transmission bands like a traditional automatic transmission. Instead, there’s a special steel band/chain that is suspended between two cone-type pulleys. Whenever you step on the gas, the pulley on the output shaft from the engine and the one on the input shaft to the wheels, either spread apart or push together, causing that CVT band to move sort of like a bicycle chain moves when you change gear. Because there are no gears, the engine RPM will remain constant until you back off of the throttle, at which point the chain will move again to reposition the chain and lower the engine RPMs for optimum fuel economy. This allows vehicles equipped with the Nissan Xtronic CVT transmission to achieve good fuel economy without sacrificing performance.
Are Nissan CVT transmissions reliable?
So the first thing that should be taken into consideration is how well the transmission was maintained. Was the fluid and filter been changed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations? This is a big contributing factor to Nissan CVT transmission reliability. Secondly, have all of the technical service bulletins/TSB been addressed? These are advisories from the factory to dealers on how to cure known transmission problems. The solutions can be everything from updating the TCM computer software to replacing parts on the transmission. Failure to see about these issues can lead to problems in the long run. To find out if there are any TSB’s for your Nissan vehicle, click here.
To learn more about how a CVT transmission works, click here.
If you are already having Nissan CVT transmission problems and repairing it isn’t a cost-effective solution, then here are your three best options:
Buy a Used RE0F10A Transmission
If you wanted to save some money, you could go down to the local junkyard and buy a used RE0F10A transmission. But keep in mind, it’s coming out of a wrecked or otherwise totaled vehicle. This means you don’t know how it was maintained, if it was abused or what the condition of the internal components really are. So you have no way of knowing if you are going to get 30 miles or 30,000 miles out of it. And that replacement warranty you get from the junkyard isn’t going to cover the labor cost that you’ll have to pay a mechanic to install a replacement transmission if the first used RE0F10A breaks.
Buy a Rebuilt RE0F10A Transmission
If you don’t want to risk future problems from a used transmission, then you might consider buying a rebuilt RE0F10A transmission from a mechanic or transmission shop. In this scenario, they basically take your existing transmission and replace all of the main seals clutches and other “wear parts”. A rebuilt RE0F10A transmission is obviously better than a used one. However, most mechanics and repair shops don’t have the experience and equipment to inspect every single component for signs of damage, warping and any other condition that might cause the parts to fall below the original manufacturer’s specifications. Plus that rebuilt transmission warranty may only be honored by a few local transmission shops.
Buy a Remanufactured RE0F10A Transmission
Unlike a rebuilt RE0F10A transmission, a remanufactured RE0F10A transmission has been completely disassembled and then re-engineered on an assembly line. Each component is inspected, cleaned, and reconditioned by a technician that specializes in that particular stage of the process. All of the critical elements including the case, gears, valve body, shafts, pumps, and the torque converter are tested to ensure that they meet original equipment (OE) tolerances and standards. And any part that doesn’t meet the original specifications is either machined until it does or replaced with a brand new part.
Once all of the components meet specification, they’re sent down an assembly line and the transmission is reassembled. The reman RE0F10A transmission is then put on a dyno machine which simulates real-world driving through a software program called C.A.R.S. This allows any leaks and imperfections to be discovered and dealt with before the transmission leaves the factory.
Another benefit of a remanufactured transmission are the updates and upgrades it receives. Once a certain vehicle model has been in production for a few years, small issues with the design are discovered and solutions are implemented. It may be more robust friction materials, stronger seals, stiffer springs, or number of other things. These changes are immediately applied to the new models still in production, and Technical Service Bulletins (TSB’s) are sent to dealers so they know how to deal with problems that may arise. Transmission remanufacturing companies like Street Smart Transmission also get these TSB’s, and implement the changes on their assembly line as well.
What Transmission Do I Have?
