Nissan CVT Class Action Lawsuit: Essential Resources for Vehicle Owners

Nissan’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) was originally designed and billed as a system to eliminate “shift shock” and create a smooth gear shifting experience for drivers. Unfortunately, for many Nissan owners, the CVT transmission system has not performed as expected. To date, the system has been the subject of numerous vehicle and safety issue complaints and transmission defect class action lawsuits in Nissan model-year vehicles dating as far back as 2012.

The team at Robison Lemon Law Group LLC offers legal help to those dealing with Nissan CVT issues. For more information, please reach out to us. We can connect you with an attorney who can review your case and help you seek compensation from Nissan relating to your CVT problem. 

What You Need to Know About Nissan CVT Problems

Unlike an automatic transmission, the Nissan CVT does not have a fixed gear ratio. As such, CVT helps improve a car’s fuel efficiency, ensure it accelerates quickly, and keep it running quietly. On paper, the transmission sounds like a dream come true, but it has been a nightmare for many Nissan owners thus far. 

Several Nissan models have been connected to CVT issues. These models include:

• Sentra
• Rogue
• Versa
• Pathfinder
• Juke 
• Altima

If you drive one of these models and have been dealing with a transmission issue, it can be beneficial to bring your vehicle to a mechanic. Then, you can diagnose and treat the problem and find out if it relates to a faulty CVT. For those who find their Nissan transmission problem is linked to a defective CVT, correct the problem and hire an attorney to help you seek compensation from the manufacturer for it. 

Nissan CVT Transmission Issues

Common issues stemming from faulty CVTs include: 

• Rapid onset shaking, vibration, and jerking at low levels of acceleration (classified as “juddering and shuddering” in Nissan service bulletins) 
• Vehicle hesitation during acceleration 
• Stalling or loss of power from the vehicle incorrectly entering “fail-safe mode”
• Reduced overall vehicle performance (from extreme CVT fluid temperature) 
• Transmission slippage 
• Loud engine and transmission noises 
• CVT coolant hose leakage and failure 
• CVT error messages displayed on the dashboard 
• Defective CVTs being installed knowingly by the manufacturer 
• CTV wears down and fails prematurely (just after the manufacturer’s warranty expires)

Do not let any of the aforementioned problems go unaddressed for an extended period of time. At the first sign of any Nissan transmission problems, bring your vehicle to a mechanic. Next, your mechanic can help you mitigate any transmission issues or other car problems before they escalate. 

At Robison Lemon Law Group LLC, we can help you out if you are dealing with Nissan CVT issues as well. To learn more, please reach out to us. We can put you in touch with a lemon law attorney who can help you pursue compensation from Nissan. 

Nissan CVT Class Action Lawsuits and Extended Warranties 

The Nissan CVT system has been the subject of numerous vehicle recalls and class action lawsuits. Nissan has paid out financial settlements to some car owners. In addition, Nissan has offered extended warranties of anywhere between 24 to 60 months and 24,000 to 50,000 miles (whichever comes first), depending on the vehicle. 

While class action lawsuits and the Nissan CVT transmission extended warranty are undoubtedly helpful to some vehicle owners, they do not apply to all and do little to address the concerns of many others. For example, in order to qualify for an extended warranty, a vehicle must meet a specific set of criteria outlined by Nissan. Moreover, extended warranty qualification requires all repairs and diagnostic assessments to be initially performed at a Nissan dealership — which all vehicle owners may not have easy access to or have been able to do at the time of vehicle failure — and does not apply retroactively nor compensate vehicle owners for any prior repairs. 

Furthermore, an extended warranty does very little to address the concerns of many Nissan owners who feel they have purchased a “lemon” vehicle and feel unsafe driving their vehicles, even after repair. For these owners, they deserve the opportunity to have their vehicles replaced. To achieve their goal, these owners may need to move forward with a lemon law or breach of warranty claim. 

Nissan CVT Class Action Lawsuit Lemon Law and Breach of Warranty Claims 

For Nissan vehicle owners impacted by CVT performance and safety issues, state and federal laws offer protection. By learning about these laws, you can determine the best course of action for any claim against Nissan relating to a faulty CVT. With help from an attorney, you can get insights into these laws and plan accordingly. 

Ideally, you can hire a lemon law lawyer that can take a look at your case. Your attorney will ask you questions about your CVT defect when you first noticed the problem, and what steps you have taken to address it. They can then help you decide if it is in your best interests to file a lemon law or breach of warranty claim. 

Your attorney can answer any questions you have about the legal aspects of vehicle recalls and other automotive topics. If you decide to hire a lawyer, they will start working on your claim right away. They will work diligently to ensure you get the optimal resolution as quickly as possible. 

How a Nissan CVT Lemon Law Claim Works

At the state level, new and (in rare instances) used vehicle owners are afforded specific protections and opportunities for financial compensation or vehicle repurchase for recurring and irreparable defects under the state’s respective lemon laws. Generally speaking, lemon law claims may be brought anytime a vehicle has: 

• Undergone up to four unsuccessful repair attempts for the same issue 
• Been out of service for at least 30 days 
• Has defects substantial enough to seriously impair the safety and/or value of the vehicle

However, unlike federal laws, the specific eligibility requirements and filing period deadlines for lemon law claims are likely to vary from state to state. 

How a Nissan CVT Breach of Warranty Claim Works

At the federal level, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act provides vehicle owners with financial protections and opportunities to file lawsuits against vehicle manufacturers for breach of warranty issues like those associated with the Nissan CVT system. Breach of warranty claims may be brought anytime a vehicle or vehicle manufacturer has: 

• Undergone at least three unsuccessful repair attempts for the same issue 
• Failed to fulfill the promises in the initial vehicle warranty (at the time of purchase) 
• Been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days for repair 

As such, if a Nissan vehicle like those mentioned above has been impacted by recurring CVT defects (and undergone at least three repair attempts), the vehicle owner would be eligible to bring a breach of warranty transmission lawsuit against Nissan at any point during the course of the vehicle’s original warranty period. 

When to File a Nissan CVT Lemon Law or Breach of Warranty Claim

If you are considering a Nissan CVT legal claim, seek out an attorney. You can partner with a law firm that specializes in lemon law and breach of warranty claims. This firm can help you put together a strong argument designed to help you get the compensation you deserve based on your Nissan CVT issue. 

Your attorney takes as much time as needed to learn about your CVT problem. They will ask questions and review any evidence you can share. At this point, they can build your case and submit your claim. 

It can take weeks or months before a lemon law or breach of warranty claim gets resolved. Regardless, your attorney remains at your side. They continue to work with you to ensure that your claim gets the attention it deserves.

Tips to Respond to a Defective Nissan CVT System

If your Nissan’s CVT is not working as expected, try not to panic. To address the issue, you can:

• Bring your car for repairs. Report the transmission issue to a mechanic, and they can take the initial steps to address the problem. 
• Document your transmission problems. Any time you have a transmission problem that warrants a visit to a mechanic, document as much information as you can about it.  
• Keep copies of your receipts. If you pay for transmission repairs, track your receipts, as they may serve as evidence if you file a claim against Nissan. 

Along with these things, you should not hesitate to reach out to an attorney about any Nissan CVT problems. A lawyer can help you submit a claim and request the most compensation possible. Plus, they can give you insights into all of your legal options and help you choose one that lines up with your expectations. 

Questions About Nissan CVT Transmission Lawsuits? 

The Robison Lemon Law Group is here to help you with your lemon law or breach of warranty claim. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.