2010 MO has same CVT issue

zodro · Jul 31, 2010

Hello,

I bought a 2010 Murano LE in January. In April, I was on a 300 mile trip from VA to NYC and was in bumper to bumper traffic trying to cross a bridge. Once the traffic cleared somewhat, I pressed the gas pedal, but the car would move very very slowly. The rpm, would go to ~2.5K and to 15-20 mph in about 10 seconds, then once past 20 mph, the car would accelerate normally. This happened to me again the past weekend on a 300 mile road trip. When this first happened, I took it to Nissan and they told me, we can't reproduce your complaint so there is nothing we can do. Also, I didn't get any check engine codes. I saw one post mentioning the Murano felt like it's stuck in VDC mode and the dealer was going to replace the CVT valve body.

I've Googled the Internet for days and seen exact complaints for 1st gen CVTs, but didn't see any about the 2nd gen CVTs. My Nissan dealer says I'm the first they heard of so they won't take my complaint seriously. And worse, the TSBs are only for Muranos up to 2008. I'm F'ing pissed because the problem occured at 3K and 8K miles. Please let me know what you think might be wrong, or how I should approach the dealer to take action, thanks.

njjoe · Jul 31, 2010

zodro-

Welcome to the forum.

Without an error code, and unable to replicate the problem at will, it makes it very difficult for the dealer to diagnose the problem.

The next time it happens turn off the ignition and restart the engine. In some cases that will get you out of the "limp-home" mode.

The next step is to work on documenting the problem. Did both incidents occur in stop-n-go traffic? Were there high ambient temps each time? Did you just slow down after a high-speed run? etc....

Good luck.

-njjoe

zebelkhan · Jul 31, 2010

Next time try videotaping it with your cell phone, unless you are the only one in the MO and you are doing the driving.

zodro · Jul 31, 2010

Thanks for your feed back. I figure I was SoL without some sort of engine code error. I am taking my MO in Monday so at least my complaint will be documented for the record for the second time. I can take limp mode once in a while, but my biggest concern is the tranny dying outside of my 3/36000 mile warranty. After this period, the stealership will start charging me for even the evaluation unless they find something wrong. I've been hassling Nissan Corp non-stop, and video recording the limp mode sounds like a great idea. I'll be sure to send Nissan Corp the You Tube link.

Regards to njjoe's comments, yes both incidents were exactly the same. Tail end of a 300 mile journey, air temp 90-95, 4 passengers w/ lots of luggage, and stop and go traffic for more than 1 hour.

I hate CVT transmissions, but this is my wife's car.

-Greg

The Critic · Jul 31, 2010

The warranty for the CVT has been extended to 10 years or 120,000 miles for 03-10 Nissan vehicles with a CVT. However, you must be able to duplicate the concern to the technician or else they will not be able to take action. Videotaping may help, but usually they will only take action on the complaint if you ask for a test drive with a technician and are able to duplicate the problem during that test drive.

Also, a few dealers have a tendency to charge for No problem found (NPF) as the tech does not get paid. Some dealers don't charge period for warranty tickets. You'll have to try a different dealer and remember to ask for their NPF policy before bringing the vehicle in.

mgarciah · Jul 31, 2010

CVT has some issues, it is a great technology, but beside those weird behaviors, I confirmed (I posted a thread)that the reverse gear design must be improved, yesterday I got stock trying to park climbing a 5 inches high sidewalk in reverse in a 10 degress hill, I depress the pedal fully and the MO just did not give me any further torque, and no matter what I did I think for safety the RPMs were governed by the system to 2000rpm, I think for a AWD, 3.5 liters, almost 300 HP engine is a shame

zebelkhan · Aug 1, 2010

This is a known issue and has nothing to do with the reverse gear, Watch this video. Murano is compared to Subaru at 7:50 marker.

jcgct · Aug 9, 2011

Interesting post. I was just up in VT last week in Stowe. We took our 2006 SL AWD up the Mt. Mansfield Auto Rd that morning. This road is all dirt/rock and climbs from the valley floor up to about 3800/3900'. The murano did great until near the top there were 2 or three really steep switchbacks. (At this point I had it in LOW I believe). On one of them I slowed to navigate up the switchback and half way into the steep turn I got nothing. Nada. Stopped dead in my tracks with accelerator mashed to the floor. I let off the accelerator and the tranny seemed to kick back in and I slowly inched up this grade. I don't know nothing about nothing but this was a very steep grade. Maybe I should cut the MO some slack? Didn't happen on the other switchbacks. After that occurance I probably approached those steep turns with a bit more vigor.

AScot · Aug 11, 2011

I had the same experience as the OP (zodro). On a trip from Ontario, Canada to Pueblo, Colorado (1500 miles and two days). I got into a nose to tail roadworks 'stop and go' for almost an hour. The ambient air temp was about 88F and as I checked the temp on my Mo it gradually went up to 38C (100F approx). when I got to the end of the roadworks and accelerated from about 3m/h the RPM went up to 30 and the Mo took about 5 seconds to reach 10m/h, then it accelerated as normal and was OK for the next 100 miles until I went into a rest stop, when the same thing happened again. This problem repeated itself during the remainder of the trip, each time I slowed down to almost a stop and tried to accelerate.

1) Turning off the engine for 5 or 10 mins seemed to cure or at least alleviate the problem.
2) With my wife and I plus our luggage in the Mo, it was not overloaded.
3) All incidents occurred in both stop & go traffic and at the end of long high-speed runs when accelerating from stop or slow speed to approximately 15m/h.
4) Ambient temps were in the high 80s to high 90s F.
5) It has only occurred once while I have been in Pueblo and that was at traffic lights at the end of a 100 mile trip up and down small hills.
6) My Mo is a 2010 AWD with ~ 12000 miles and is 9 months old.
7) My first guess was that this is a slipping transmission, but I am no expert.
8) This problem has never happened before, on this Mo or my previous 2003 Mo which made the same trip with 75000 miles on the clock.

I will be returning to Ontario on Monday and will post here if it happens again. I will also be visiting my Nissan Dealer. Sorry for the long post.

AScot · Aug 18, 2011

I arrived back in Ontario yesterday, after almost being t-boned when turning left in the face of on coming traffic due to the lack of acceleration. I went to my dealer today and explained the problem to the service manager and how dangerous a situation it is. She called Nissan Canada and was told that a TSB exists that covers all 1st gen Mo's and also 2009/2010 Mo's as they have the same CVT. That is why they extended the warranty on all these models. 2011 Mo's have a redesigned CVT and have the regular warranty only.

So she is ordering the parts to replace the CVT valve body and will call me when they come in. She also said this valve body problem is quite common, especially on the 2003 Mo's and some other models.

Jim Hef · Aug 18, 2011

AScot said:
...She also said this valve body problem is quite common, especially on the 2003 Mo's and some other models.

Good to know, and that a TSB exists that we can reference to a dealer should the problem show up for others.

mikehussey · Aug 23, 2011

Murano was great until the top was two or three very steep switchbacks. One of them I slowed down to navigate up the mountain and half way into a tight turn, got it. Nada. Stopped in my tracks mashed the accelerator to the floor. I let off the throttle and trans seemed to relax, and I slowly inched this degree.

imhoff1 · Aug 24, 2011

Hesitation

Hesitation... I have a 2003 Murano. Mileage 98,000. After driving on the highway for at least an hour, the car hesitates after a stop. I hit stop and go traffic when traveling through a city. Every time I started, the car hesitated for 4 to 5 seconds while the engine revved. Then it jumped forward. Then, driving at highway speeds again, I could feel slippage in speed. my check engine light was on.
Brought it to the Nissan dealer from whom it was purchased. They WERE able to reproduce problem. Error code: Bank One and Bank two intake control solenoids. They checked this condition, and found them to be working properly. They are denying that it is the CVT, and instead saying that it looks like the engine. After reading this forum and Edmunds, I now believe that it is the CVT. Thanks everybody, I will post again with more info.

parkrunner · Aug 25, 2011

As a former computer software guy, this problem sounds like a software problem. I would pull over, turn off the engine, wait a minute, start it back up. Sort of like rebooting your computer, but you reboot the car. It could also be a faulty sensor somewhere.

The computer in the car should detect that you are in limp mode and inform you of such. This is another indication that there is a software problem here. If you can detect a pattern, you might want to consider reporting it to the engineers at Nissan.

Xadion · Aug 25, 2011

The murano/CVT learns your driving patterns and attempts to adapt the CVT/Throttle responce to what data it has been collecting.

Becuase you have been at stop and go stop and go traffic for a while it knows that and regulates itself to that condition- once it realizes you no longer are doing that- it puts it at normal operation and starts over.

Drive your murano really really hard (Safely!) slam on the accelerator dont slow down to coast just stop- and go fast again etc etc- you will see the murano adapt and give you more acceleration during those times- for me it always seems like the "next time" I drive- like if I drive like I stated above to work- turn the car off- when I start it up and go to lunch- the thing hauls butt (for a murano!) if I drive like grandma on the way home if I then go pickup some milk later that night- it tends to be ready for grandma driving.

There should be a slide over shift selction for D or just add D D+ D- or something- call it something Green like "D- is econo mode!" and D+ is performance!" while D is midline and then have a notch over on D to D-Auto where it works like it does now.

nitely · Aug 27, 2011

Xadion said:
There should be a slide over shift selction for D or just add D D+ D- or something- call it something Green like "D- is econo mode!" and D+ is performance!" while D is midline and then have a notch over on D to D-Auto where it works like it does now.

Actually, the first gen mo (03 and 04) before the manual shift came out, they have that selection. I think it was DS or something like that. For more aggressive driving. Not sure if it affected for the better the driving condition when goin over hills at full stop. My 04 awd se had the manual shift.

chuck jones · Aug 26, 2011

I'm sorry guys....and I apologize in advance for my rather black and white approach to things....but what the hell ever happened to stomping on the accelerator and the car would go...and go FASSST depending upon how hard you stomped on the accelerator. Conversly, when you stomped on the brakes....it stopped. This business of cars having a degree from MIT where they "learn your driving habits" sounds like the freakin' machines are taking over like they did in Terminator II. New technology is supposed to make things easier, more seamless, more reliable, better longevity, less repairs or need for extended warranties, less time in the repair shop etc. All this mechanical education that the cars seem to go thru and get their graduate degrees in "reliability" from seems like so much BS to me. The bottom line is simple....give me a RELIABLE machine that has a good reputation for performance (a better-than-average gas consumption rating) and longevity with a decent resale value, and I'll be back to buy another when the time comes. A lot of this cyber mystique about software issues and a car's mechanical learning curve makes me wonder if I should have bought the Buick Enclave as I had originally intended....but in reality, it probably has the same issues. OK...I'm done...fire a shot across my bow if you feel it's deserved. I'm making smoke and heading for the fog bank.

Jim Hef · Aug 26, 2011

chuck jones said:
...it probably has the same issues....

Maybe not the issues, but a similar programming. All vehicles have this now for the engine and the trans, among others. Can't get away from it, but as stated above, it's got to be a programming fault, with the "brain" thinking the trans is overheating.

AScot · Aug 27, 2011

The CVT valve body problem in the 2003 to 2010 Mo's does not give an error code, and does not occur at speeds higher than 15 to 20 MPH approximately. This problem I believe is the reason why they quietly extended the warranty. The CVT is in all Nissan models now and they are totally committed to it and afraid the news of a problem will get out. So what do they do? double the warranty so that they look like good guys and then cut the cost by denying the problem exists until they think you know what you are talking about and may go to the press or Government with a complaint.

I got instant and very quick action from them when I pointed out it was a dangerous fault that could get me T-boned and possibly badly injured or killed. I would advise anyone who is convinced that they have this problem to use that strategy.

2011 owners and later will probably not have this problem as Nissan have redesigned the CVT, but why did it take so long to do so? I think they are hoping that the problem will just go away as the cars get older and are resold to unsuspecting used car buyers. Look at the trouble and expense Toyota got into by denying their accelerator problems. At least Nissan has taken affirmative action and in the future can point to that as their defence should it ever come to that.

Toddster · Nov 30, 2011

Poor CVT design still exists in 2011 Murano.

Guys, I wish I could tell you that the CVT issues you mentioned have been resolved in the 2011 model, but I can't. In fact, I can confirm that they still exist.

The problem where the Murano just takes it ole sweet time accelerating - when you pull out into traffic; the problem where it refuses to back up over a very small hill or curb; the slight hiccup in the transmission when turning tightly in a parking lot. I have experienced all of them on a brand new 2011 Murano with less than 4,000 miles.

I love my 2000 Maxima, and I love my 2003 Maxima, and I like both of my local Nissan dealers, but I absolutely hate the CVT transmission in my 2011 Murano. Unfortunately I didn't know about the problem until AFTER I purchased the 2011 Murano. Thankfully I learned about the problem BEFORE I purchased a 2012 Maxima.

Nissan should recall ALL Muranos with the CVT transmission, but they won't. It's too much of a money maker for them. My only recourse is to spread the word to as many people as I can, including anyone in the press (Consumer Reports perhaps) and government that will listen. I'm not out to hurt Nissan - I'm out to help us little guys who dropped a ton of cash on a new vehicle only to learn that the manufacturer is ignoring a safety issue.

Come on Nissan! Fix the problem!

BillArf · Nov 30, 2011

Toddster said:
Guys, I wish I could tell you that the CVT issues you mentioned have been resolved in the 2011 model, but I can't. In fact, I can confirm that they still exist.

The problem where the Murano just takes it ole sweet time accelerating - when you pull out into traffic; the problem where it refuses to back up over a very small hill or curb; the slight hiccup in the transmission when turning tightly in a parking lot. I have experienced all of them on a brand new 2011 Murano with less than 4,000 miles.

I love my 2000 Maxima, and I love my 2003 Maxima, and I like both of my local Nissan dealers, but I absolutely hate the CVT transmission in my 2011 Murano. Unfortunately I didn't know about the problem until AFTER I purchased the 2011 Murano. Thankfully I learned about the problem BEFORE I purchased a 2012 Maxima.

Nissan should recall ALL Muranos with the CVT transmission, but they won't. It's too much of a money maker for them. My only recourse is to spread the word to as many people as I can, including anyone in the press (Consumer Reports perhaps) and government that will listen. I'm not out to hurt Nissan - I'm out to help us little guys who dropped a ton of cash on a new vehicle only to learn that the manufacturer is ignoring a safety issue.

Come on Nissan! Fix the problem!

Nonsensical is the word that first came to my mind when I read your post, your first post on the forums at that. :28: I have 16,000 miles on my Murano (owned same for a year) and I have not and am not experiencing the negative things you are ranting about.. Yes, it has a CVT transmission and lets say has a different feel....

.

zodro · Dec 15, 2011

Another update:

At the end of July, family and I were headed from Virginia to New York to visit relatives. We were about 200 miles into our road on the Jersey Turnpike and the Morono went into limp mode again during stop and go traffic. This was the fourth time I've experienced limp mode but luckily it was a weekday afternoon, so I drove the SUV to the closest Nissan dealer. Their mechanic confirmed that something was wrong with the CVT and recommended a new CVT. To make a long story short, at the time of failure the SUV had 25K miles and Nissan approved the new CVT install. Everything seemed okay for a few months, but then the acceleration became somewhat erratic. At times the SUV would accelerate normally and other times I would have to depress the pedal more than halfway and the engine would rev to 3K rpm, but hardly accelerate. Not as bad as limp mode, but just seemed bogged down. Finally tonight, my wife and kids were almost T-boned because the SUV would not accelerate making a left turn at a busy intersection. Now I'm thinking maybe it's not the CVT, but the CVT valve body as AScot posted, or a faulty ECU. Going to the dealer Sunday to drop off the car again, and to add salt to the wound, all my (radio, cruise, blue tooth) controls on my steering wheel does not work.

tbank1 · Oct 31, 2013

Ok guys, here is my 2 cents on this. I just bought a 2010 Mo SL AWD, and I loved it. Only for 1 week though. I brought it back to the dealer with a check engine light on. They said it was the o2 sensor, which they replaced. Right out of the lot it went on again. Now they stated a cat converter, which they replaced. Oh, by the way, they noticed a slight transfer case leak, so they replaced the transfer case, all under warr. I get it back and not 10 miles into my drive it acts like it is surging and lurching when you gas it up from about 15 mph up. Then if you give it more throttle, it revs but won't go any faster to the point where it redlines the rpm gauge. They tell me it is a trans related problem and so they replace it. Guess what, new trans, new transfer case, new cat, new o2 and same problem. I have owned it now for 4 weeks, and they have had it for 2 1/2 to 3 of them. Am I nuts for wanting to keep this thing or should I stick it out and like the fact that everything is new???

Just my 2 cents worth

AScot · Oct 31, 2013

tbank1, I think you may have what constitutes a lemon and is covered by your countries lemon law if they have one (three problems in a certain time frame and it is a lemon and must be replaced).

I must admit that I have never had a repeat of my CVT valve body problem, or any other problem, but I have lost a bit of confidence in the Nissan Murano as almost being T-Boned 1000 miles from home did not endear me to it. I will not be buying another Nissan I'm afraid. Lots of other makers are adopting CVTs or like Toyota are having other problems and trying to keep it quiet.

BillArf, I think you are sticking your head in the sand. There is without a doubt a problem with some Murano CVTs, it does not affect all Muranos, just as Toyota's sticking throttle did not affect all Toyotas, however the problem could be a life threatening one and should not be ignored.

Mr3Putt · Oct 31, 2013

Ah, this thread brings back fond memories......

Reason #306 I dumped my Murano: Risking life and limb in heavy traffic is not as fun as it sounds.

So it's still an issue in the 2010's? :xnuts:

Nissan is still fighting the fixes? (Unable to reproduce, so everyone who tells the EXACT same story must be full of it?)

ProvokeMe · Oct 31, 2013

Thankfully I'm not seeing this issue. I purchased a used 2010 SL AWD a few weeks ago. I worried a little about the CVT when I purchased it. I have had the normal transmission learning process while driving. I must drive a bit differently than the prior owner who "taught" the transmission originally. I have an abundance of acceleration when turning from a stop and entering the highway.

Lets hope I'm one of the lucky ones that isn't going to have an issue.

Pilgrim · Oct 31, 2013

Guys, guys, guys......

Nissan has produced hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of CVT transmissions. Probably no manufacturer in the world makes more of them. They're installed in a range of cars of various sizes.

Nissan's CVTs are not inherently bad, nor poorly designed. Some transmissions of any kind, no matter what design, will have problems.

If you get a bad one, I'm sorry that happened - but the fact that a few people here have indeed had problems doesn't mean there's anything wrong with Nissan's CVT transmissions. This forum, like most, attracts people who are experiencing car problems. Therefore reports heard here don't necessarily bear any resemblance to the experience of the vast majority of Murano drivers.

Wallybear · Nov 1, 2013

Comments about "Lemon Laws" and service contracts

This thread caught my eye because of the most recent posts. The suggestion that a 2010 model would be covered under lemon laws is not true UNLESS that car were first sold as new in 2013. The laws require the manufacturer (not the dealer) to buy the car back (allowing for slight wear and tear and mileage costs) from the original purchaser. The time period is the first year after the new-vehicle in-service date. After that time, there's no help from any state as far as lemon laws go. There are other consumer protections (not the least of which is the brand's reputation and the requirements of the remaining warranty, if any).

These laws do vary a bit across each state, but it's easy to find info for your state with an Internet search engine. The bottom line is that these laws cover just the first year of a new car's life for the original owner (so that excludes used cars). In my state, the problems must be: 1) serious in nature (meaning varies) and 2) the same issue must have been repaired 4 times. The truth is, if a new car is such a lemon as to invoke the lemon law, the dealer is obligated to tell Nissan (the entity holding the bag, so to speak) about that situation. In most cases, Nissan (or other manufacturers) will do whatever they can to fix the car to avoid a buy back.

So, the poster here has a 2010 model that must have been purchased as a used car. There is no lemon protection for used cars (although you may be able to persuade a dealer in various ways). I mention this so that no one goes into a dealer and starts spouting claims about lemon laws that do not apply. That kind of talk will simply fall on deaf ears.

One other comment. This poster's story is another example why I think service contracts for new cars (and used ones that qualify) are usually a good insurance value. Personally, I would not buy any used car that is not covered by contract of some kind. It's just common sense really. (I've written various ramblings on that subject here in the past.) In the case of this poster, if the 2010 model is still within 36 months from its first in-use date, the owner could buy Nissan's service contract. I'm just saying.

Good luck. I hope this helps.

Peace:29:

Oh, oh. And I TOTALLY agree with Pilgrim's comments. If anyone's posting here goes on and on about what crap Nissan's CVTs are they are most certainly trolls. Everything Pilgrim said is true. Those is the plain and simple facts, yesiree. Fact.

AScot · Nov 2, 2013

Wallybear, not wanting to be contentious but I would like to point out that I don't live in a State, I have owned my Murano new since 2010, it is my second Murano and I don't hate CVTs, I think they are great. My beef is that the few that do go wrong could cause a life threatening accident. The problem first started in 2003 with the first model. To take at least 10 years to sort out what is wrong does not put Nissan in a very good light. When I say that I will not purchase another Nissan is not the whole truth, I would buy a Nissan again if I was sure they had fixed the valve body problem. I have simply lost my confidence in their ability to do so. To make the matter worse, the dealers may try their damnedest to deny that a problem exists.

Mr3Putt · Nov 3, 2013

Uh, Oh.... Stop with the facts as they occurred to you.

I too was almost killed by a CVT that would not respond in heavy traffic. But since that never happened to some people reading this, I must be trolling.

Nissan ignoring or denying an issue that could cost them money? That could never happen either.

Trolling the forum since 2003.............

Pilgrim · Nov 2, 2013

Once again, I'm sorry you have had the problems which have occurred. It's really bad luck to get that kind of situation.

When ANY transmission fails or has problems, it can cause a life threatening accident - there's nothing special about CVTs in that regard.

Heck, I once had the clutch in my 280ZX lock in the disengaged position, making it impossible to engage ANY gear. Good thing I wasn't in the path of an oncoming semi.

And the transmission in a 1997 Blazer puked all over the road (literally - ATF was all over the road for 100 yards) on I-80 about 10 miles east of Cheyenne, WY with my daughter and two friends in it. The car was dead and immovable, and the only thing they could save during the rebuild was the external case! She and her friends were stranded in a very lonely stretch of prairie on a dark, cold, windy night...we went up and towed the Blazer to a weigh station about a mile away and gave them a ride home.

You're certainly entitled to feel like Nissan hasn't done well by you. But not every problem that's characteristic of a given make or model rises to the level of recall status.

We had a 1990 Audi 200 (Turbo 5-cylinder) with the automatic. That transmission gave up and required a complete rebuild, and Audi transmissions are not cheap - even though it was the same 3-speed used in a lot of VW models. Turned out that transmission simply wasn't strong enough for the Turbo 5 cylinder motor, but do you think Audi ever admitted it? Nope. And that was the single most rebuilt transmission that Audi had for years...because they used that transmission with the Turbo 5 for a long time. Every service tech knew the transmission wasn't up to handling that engine, and had rebuilt lots of them. But it never qualified for a recall, even though it cost thousands of Audi owners money for transmission rebuilds (after the car was out of warranty.)

We still like Audi and would buy another - we've had one since then and test-driven more.

Halwg · Nov 3, 2013

You want bad transmissions, try the 2006 - 2010 Ford Explorer. I had an '06, '08, and I still have a '10, and they have all needed transmission work. The '10 I'm driving won't shift right, and Ford could never find a solution. So, the CVT is like a dream compared to those transmissions.

tbank1 · Nov 11, 2013

CVT Update

After all the replacement parts (cat, O2 sensors, transfer case, TRANS) it turned out to be some faulty/failing injectors. They replaced all of them and it works great. Since I have purchased over 10 cars from this dealer in the last 20 years, I knew that they would eventually get it right, and treat me fairly. They offered to take it back and get me another one, but I liked the features and the fact that this MO had all of the service paperwork and receipts, I wanted it.

All is good now and looking forward to the snow to see how it handles.

2010 MO has same CVT issue

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