weezer - hope you get this resolved soon. Pretty frustrating to have this happen to a new car. Keep us posted.


In the meantime, I spoke with a dealer technician and parts person concerning my above questions and got the following answers:

• There is no CVT dipstick, just the tube and cap.
• The tube can be used to add fluid to the CVT.
• NS-3 fluid is $20.00 per quart, but I was offered a discounted price of $15.00 per quart.

 

We have the same problem on our platinum 2015 with 9000 miles. I plan to bring into the dealer. Our 2009 Murano did not have this problem with 120,000 miles. It looks like the computer program lets the RPM go to 1000 rpm or less in thus 25 to 45 MPH range and there is not enough torque in the engine at that RPM. I advise the results of my dealer visit.

 

I have a 2015 Murano SL, purchased in January 2015. Not sure when I noticed this problem, (several months ago) but I have also experienced the "rough" ride at slow speeds.

Problem 1- At slower speeds, the tachometer drops down to 1K RPM and at times seems to get stuck at that RPM. Even at medium speed (above 25MPH) the tachometer seems to be dropping down to 1K RPM. I could be driving at 40 - 50 mph and if a take my foot off the accelerator, the needle starts to drop down,. The service tech at the dealer said this was normal. I drove another Murano and it seemed to be doing the same thing. They explained it as a gas saving feature.

This is my 3rd Murano, and this did not happen in my 2009 or 2011 models. Has anyone noticed this in their 2015 Murano?

Problem 2- At slower speeds, when the tachometer appears to gets stuck at 1K RPM, if I accelerate slightly the needle does not move from 1K and the engine feels like it is not operating on all cylinders. If I press down harder on the accelerator, the needle jumps up and the smooth ride returns.

I will be returning to the dealer next week and will advise all at that time.

I would appreciate some feedback on your experience regarding both problems stated above.

Thanks

 

Gino, what you are describing is normal. It's the whole point of the CVT transmission: keeping the engine at an optimal RPM for fuel economy or power output depending on the throttle setting.

 

Jhillyerd,
I am going to assume from your post that you believe that what I describe as Problem 1 is normal, not Problem 2. As I said, I have driven Muranos since 2009 and I have never experienced this issue. On the other hand, my previous Muranos ran so smooth that I never really noticed where the tachometer needle was.

Now I actually feel the downshift as I slow down to a stop. It is also difficult to understand why the tachometer needle would be moving down, even when I am accelerating.

 

Gino, I can't say if it is normal or not. However, I do know the CVT in 2015 acts a bit different from previous CVTs as it has simulated gear shifts. Perhaps that's why you're observing a different behavior.

 

Notice mine like to drop to 1000 rpm under light acceleration at low speeds, think its in the programming to save fuel. However mine does not lug or do anything out of the ordinary. The engine seems to have enough torque under light throttle to keep it from lugging or jerking...as soon as I give it just a bit more throttle it feels like the torque converter unlocks and revs start to go up. I like the way it works....so far.

 

CVT Replacement

Went back to dealer yesterday and went for a ride with the mechanic along with his laptop (connected to car). The computer was able to detect a problem at low speeds and after contacting Nissan it was determined that i need a new CVT.

The car should be ready by Friday, in the meantime i am driving a 2015 Rogue. In comparison, the Rogue tachometer drops down when you let up on the gas pedal, but it does not drop down to 1K. At slow speeds it stays at about 1200RPM.

 

Well done, Gino. Good way to get that problem diagnosed.

 

CVT Replacement

Picked up the car yesterday with a new CVT. The transmission still runs the same as far as the tachometer is concerned. It likes to be around 1K when driving which is supposed to be a gas saving feature. So far the problem of a rough ride at slow speeds has not occurred.

 

How rough was the rough ride? Do you still feel the torque converter grabbing and letting go? Mine feels like it's a manual (feels like it's holding the revs or using the engine/gear to slow the car down) when i'm coasting down to a stop at around 25 mph. It's only useful for me if I'm making a turn and want to hit the gas at the apex lol. Just feels like it's lunging sometimes.

 

If you are going downhill at the time, this is normal, it's doing engine braking for you. If level ground, I'd say it's not normal. I do normally see the revs jump up a bit as I slow to a stop, but I think it's the torque converter unlocking.

 

Mine is smooth as butter...never had a smooth transmission like this one. It should not do that..take it to another dealership or try another one on their lot to check if it does the same thing.

 

Previously owned 2011 Murano, biggest mistake we ever made is too purchase 2015, the 2015 does not handle or ride as good. Very ridge suspension, went down to 18"wheels and better tires, a little different but not much. Bigger problem is CVT replaced twice since March, jerking on corners, the gears do not seem to match the car speed, feels like driving a manual transmission in too low a gear, we asked if there was an software update to fix this, but we're told this is normal, and this is Trans #3..the 1st Trans groaned and shuttered, this one just feels like it is in wrong gear, if we manually gear down the groaning disappears. I know this is long winded, but surely others are having these issues. Really miss our 2011, t road like a dream. The 2015 has lots of great technology and is good looking for sure. Ps our 2015 is the Platinum and not cheap. By the was Nissan in Canada has roadside assistance. Have never used it tho.

 

How is your CVT behaving since posting this - any more details?

 

Build date on mine is 11/15, fortunate to not have any of the low speed bucking/CVT issues others have experienced. Mine is smooth and silky.

IMO, comparitive to the two Gen 2's I had previous, this vehicle is superior in the way the CVT handles itself, MPG, overall ride quality (and its running on 20's comparative to my others on 18's), a good deal quieter in the cabin, the tech upgrades (outside of the nissan connect non-apps) really rock, and each morning I'm still itching to get in and spend time driving it...as a few have stated worse ride quality, etc comparative to their previous 2nd Gen.

 

I have had exactly this issue since purchasing mine in December of 2015. I chalked it up to Nissan bending to complaints from people who did not like that they could not feel the shifts like a normal automatic transmission. The exact opposite was the reason I liked my 03 and went and bought a 15 to replace it - only to find that they messed up the transmission by programming in fake shifts. I was actually at the dealer (post purchase) when I found an article from Motor Trend explaining this. I have been unable to re-find the article though.

 

The fake shifts are only present under hard acceleration, if you are getting them under ~75% throttle (and around 5000rpm I think), something isn't right.

 

I have had my 2015 Murano SV for about 3 weeks now and I just noticed this tonight - it seems to jitter if you aren't putting some umph on the gas. Will advise if this continues

 

I've had mine for just over a year and have just had it happen 4 times recently when barely pressing on gas when going slow. Can't duplicate it at will. Talked to a couple of mechanics at my Nissan dealer (warranty work for passenger seatbelt) and they have not seen a problem. They recommended a "software flash/reload" for the cvt and if that does not work they'd have to pull it apart and look for "scoring" on a chain (?) . . .

 

Getting new transmission

I started to notice my CVT Transmission jerk an slip when highway driving when I ease up on gas pedal and push in. When leaving for work (4/11/2016) there was a jerk like a conventional transmission shift. Needed an oil change so took it to Service. Told them the issues I have been having, got a call saying they needed to order a new Transmission. I was told it was sending codes that Nissan has authorized for replacement. I was not told the codes sorry. do have them plug you Murano up to their diagnostic equipment. I may send out the codes that Nissan say to replace,. I am glad I am under warranty. BTW only have 20140 miles.

 

So, has there been any consensus on whether this is a common issue or not? I browsed the thread and found 3 people that have replaced their cvt, 1 that reported the same symptoms as before.

I'm buying a used Murano platinum this week, and hoping to make sure the issue isn't prevalent like the older generation CVT's from Nissan. I had a rogue that needed a new transmision at 100k miles. I'd hope that Nissan worked the kinks out by now.

 

I just had my transmission replaced after 4500 miles, nissan did not tell me anything as to why it failed. I have 2015 SV, manufactured date is 9/15.
As there are transmission issues with new murano, there are also thousand without any issues. If there is an issue, then it will most likely fail on you early and the warranty will cover everything.

Symptoms to look for are hesitation/kicking at low speed (0 - 25mph), and you can really feel the car changing gear from 1st to 2nd, like it is pushing you forward all of a suden. I also had a whining noise when slowing down to a stop, like a dog inside the engine barking... but nissan told me this is normal on all CVT.

Test drive it and take it for a long ride, if you noticed any of the above, bring it to the dealer's attention, if not enjoy your new murano.

 

Right, you were one of the ones I was referencing. I was just checking to see if the issue was widespread. I would think that after 1.5 years of being out, if it was a real design issue like the last gen CVT was, it would have appeared by now.

 

I hope Nissan can get the CVT issues all worked out. With less moving parts the CVT is supposed to be a very reliable transmission in theory.

It's also amazing how many responses are in this thread telling guys nothings wrong, that's just the way it works.

 

Here we go again...as was said numerous times here by many: "if it was design flaw - this issue would be widespread" - we see that its not widespread. 3 guys who reported something serious - compare that to a number of Muranos sold for 1.5 years and that is a record to beat for reliability. Plain automatic transmission would have collected much more warranty cases than just 3 users. And again many new posters who only post to bash CVT - it's so fishy that I won't even comment on that...

 

I think Dushash works for nissan, he is a spy, lol...

 

I think he has a valid point. Over the 4+ years i have been here, not many members have had actual transmission failures. The first gen Muranos had a higher failure rate, but let's face it, Nissan has built millions of CVTs. they have it down reasonably well.

Cars with standard type automatic and manual transmissions also have a failure rate - it's small, but it's there.

 

It's hard to pinpoint wether it is a real issue or not because CVT are know to behave like this.
If it's doing it constantly, then you should be worried, if it's once a while, I don't think it should be an issue.

 

Agreed. Told the mechanics that until I can duplicate it when I want to, there really is no need to bring it in.