My brother in law works for a large Subaru dealership. He's not quite sold on the CVT's either. For my money I've been driving a standard transmission all of my life. I'll have to buy another I guess. Its becoming a theft deterrent in today's day and age.

Or a purchase impediment since so few cars are now available with a stick

I have a 2013 Outback with CVT. I can't tell the difference between that and the remainder of the automatics in my family (four others). I have never had a problem, but Subaru extended the warranty to 100K miles on the trans.

I have 7000 miles to make it break, any suggestions?

Thanks for all the input! Now it is time to ponder, which doesn't come easy for a 75 yr old brain.

These days it is hard to find experience, honest answers, and willingness to share - all in one package. That is why my 11 years of reading and learning at Sigforum has been both fun and beneficial, plus it makes my wife think I am almost intelligent!

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
Nissan has used them for a long time and we never really hear any issues. I think they have them dialed in.

A few years ago, I was looking into possibly buying a Nissan NV200 cargo van and surfed some Nissan forums. Discovered that various class action lawsuits were settled in regards to CVT transmissions, one can find them on the web. Test driving the NV200, the tranny felt weird, in addition to other issues. I went with a Toyota Sienna instead, which has a standard transmission. My wife and I do not own any vehicles with CVT.

The wife has a 2017 CR-V with the CVT. It's not exactly new technology but it does take some getting used to. Hers has been flawless and I would not hesitate to buy another one if the need arises.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:


I think the CVT will be fine. Might not be a bad idea to pay for a transmission fluid change every 60K to 75K anyways...

30-35k

It's stupid easy, but the fluid is $100.

Looked it up. Its still stupid easy to change the Honda CVT fluid, like the old 5 speeds. I agree, you should change this fluid every 30K to 35K miles, and use OEM Honda fluid ONLY.

Here is a good video on how easy it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ESIgqUL4ac

You can get 4 quarts Honda CVT fluid delivered for $47 on eBay, so pretty affordable and not too expensive.

https://www.ebay.com/i/2646969...mVZZ7AUaAoGpEALw_wcB

65+K on a 2015 Civic SE with CVT,

at about 50K (bought the car as a Certified Pre Owned) a sensor crapped out and had to be replaced, (it was leaking oil out of the CVT)

they replaced the sensor, and flushed/changed the oil, don't recall the price but it was more expensive than I thought it would be,


I was told by the service guy that it was not a normal thing to go wrong, so lucky me,

did some research before I bought the car, and after this issue, and seems he was right,

from what I found Honda is pretty good with CVT's and Subaru is about the worst,



does take some getting used to , at first I felt like I was driving a golf cart,,

but once you learn it, it does good,


34-36 MPG depending on the season, about half my driving is highway at 75+


eta, wife had a 2009 CR-V. sold it at 215K, and it is still going strong (We know the new owner) w/o any issues , including the 5spd,

Just bought my daughter a 2015 Sentra with a CVT. It’s made by JATCO I believe. From what I gather, it’s all about keeping the fluid changed, more so than a traditional automatic.

I have no gripes with how it drives. I like the constant RPM.

I rebuilt automatic transmission for a living for about 10 years. When it came time to help my daughter find a car reliability was my #1 concern. I made sure it was a Honda with the CVT.
Bulletproof compared to the old designs and you are ALWAYS at the optimum gear ratio for the load and throttle demand.

We had a Nissan with a CVT . Zero issues .

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
I rebuilt automatic transmission for a living for about 10 years. When it came time to help my daughter find a car reliability was my #1 concern. I made sure it was a Honda with the CVT.
Bulletproof compared to the old designs and you are ALWAYS at the optimum gear ratio for the load and throttle demand.

Then why in my case would the CVT equipped car jump from appx. 2,500 rpm to appx. 4000 rpm when I'm driving on a flat road or even going down hill? I never encountered that in any car I've ever owned. Usually the transmission downshifts when going UP a hill but the one I rented downshifted going DOWN a hill.Why was there absolutely no "feeling" of the car if that makes sense. When I drive my Toyota with a conventional transmission I feel as though I am driving the car. When I drive a car with a CVT I feel as if the CAR is driving me. You can't feel and of the gear shifts, no winding out of the trans, just a lot of noise. I hope that makes sense.

You don't feel the gears shifting because there isn't any.
Basically two pulleys that change sizes and a belt. They pretty much have an infinite number of ratios depending on load and speed.

They are a commuter vehicle transmission and some packages are better than others.
When I was looking into them I went to the Honda forums and poked around for a while looking to see what issues there may be and didn't find any that weren't due to neglect or abuse on the later ones.

After reading this thread, I got the fluid changed on my 2019 CR-V today, 44,000 miles, just because. $165. It's a drain and fill. The maintenance chart at the dealer said 30,000 mile intervals.

I was gonna do it myself but since I bought the extended warranty figured I would need proof if tranny problems show up later.

I bet the tech didn't reinstall all the screws that fasten the undercar protective shield. I'll find out when I do my next oil change.

I'll throw my 2 cents in. My family has two Honda CVT's. One is a 2015 Accord and the other is a 2020 Accord. I was concerned buying the first due to the trans but went for it anyhow. It has been flawless according to my eldest daughter. She is actually a car girl. I have driven it for about 2 hours and actually liked it. It felt like the CVT was better adapting to the powerband. You never really felt it shifting but it would get up and go. Getting ready for first fluid change at 36K. By youngest has had hers for a few months and loves it. She is not a car type however so take that for what it's worth.

As a formulator of vehicle lubricants, and having spoken with Honda in Japan on related matters, I assure you that (a)the Honda CVT fluid is exactly what the transmission needs and (b)the specified service interval is to be maintained.

As usual, two things can be true at the same time. A Honda CVT may work fine with other lubricants, even if changed well after the recommended interval. And, doing this is not optimum.

Additives and lubricants are very challenging to formulate. In one I commercialized, the amount of an additive component needed to be double the original of the candidate we first tested. Sounds like I was way off, right? Indeed, when we remember that there are billions of atoms in a mole of a substance. But doubling that component physically required the addition of only 0.1 ounce in 1 gallon of lubricant.

The CVT pulleys and belts require very specialized test equipment to validate formulations. The frictional characteristics required are unusual, and differ from those of step shifting automatic transmissions. Years of development and incremental improvements are found in the genuine lubricants, for any automotive lubricant. In your case, trust the Honda genuine lubricant.

I always hear how CVT’s are to drive. I for one appreciate not feeling every gear as it shifts. If I wanted that I would go buy another stick shift.

I find it especially humorous since ,ost if the cars that I hear these complaints aren’t exactly enthusiast cars.

I would buy a CVT with zero worry.