The CVT gearboxes made by Honda are among the best on the market and are essentially indestructible. With the exception of a minor recall that was announced in 2015, when production began, there weren’t many complaints of these transmitters suddenly breaking. Before some of the above-discussed symptoms start to manifest and disrupt your day, a Honda CVT transmission will last approximately 150,000 miles.
On the other hand, the automatics are also good, and there aren’t many issues with the Honda CRV’s transmission. These transmissions typically experience inadequate maintenance, such as infrequent fluid changes. The lack of fluid changes is what causes the most wear and strain. You can be sure that the automatic transmissions will experience issues sooner or later if you use them without doing routine fluid changes.
Additionally, you will experience additional Honda CRV gearbox difficulties, which will cost you potentially thousands of dollars to fix. Since a new transmission would set you back at least $3,000 and a rebuild will cost you between $1,500 and $2,500.
In This Article...
How long does a CVT transmission on a Honda CRV last?
The normal lifespan of a CVT transmission is at least or equal to 100,000 miles before a thorough rebuild is required. This might happen in as little as five to ten years, depending on how frequently you drive. Although not all CVTs will have this predicted lifespan, on average, it is usually shorter than a standard automatic transmission. However, depending on how well you maintain your CVT, this could vary greatly. Your CVT’s lifespan can be readily extended only by doing frequent transmission fluid changes (about every 25,000 miles).
Does the Honda CR-V have issues with the CVT transmission?
The CVT appears to be a major source of issues for the CR-V. For instance, numerous owners of the 2015 model have complained about the CR-CVT V’s slipping and/or stopping while driving, which can put drivers in danger.
One owner reports that the transmission regularly changes out of drive and into reverse or neutral, seemingly without any rhyme or reason, in a report submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The owner of a 2015 CR-V claims in a related NHTSA report from September 2019 that while traveling on the road at about 70 mph, the car suddenly slowed to 35 mph before stalling.
Another owner also reported the same problem, saying that the car stalled at about 40 mph. This complaint claims that before the car would accelerate once more, the gas pedal had to be depressed several times.
How long is the lifespan of a Honda CVT transmission?
Although the car industry does not readily provide information on failure rates, you can do some research on any vehicle you are interested in purchasing to check whether any technical service bulletins (TSBs) or recalls have been issued.
This should help you determine whether you should anticipate any significant issues. A good anecdotal sign is customer complaints.
Nevertheless, the majority of CVTs made by significant automakers in the past five years or so are often quite dependable and should easily last 100,000 miles. After that, it varies according on build quality and owner upkeep.
The majority of CVT-equipped vehicles are produced by Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. Subaru and Nissan no longer use 6-speed automatic transmissions, although Toyota and Honda do (save for the Subaru BRZ, which was co-developed by Toyota).
Mazda still relies almost entirely on traditional manual and automatic transmissions.
Honda
Honda, which is likewise renowned for its dependability, did a superb job with the design of their CVT. The 1.8L turbocharged engine and CVT in a 10th generation Honda Civic give it more power than you might anticipate. It accelerates quite quickly, similar to an electric car.
Subaru
The Subaru CVT excels at getting the most mileage possible out of a tank of gas, which is crucial to maintaining the brand’s competitiveness in a market dominated by emissions figures.
Subarus are popular for off-road use. Be warned that a CVT may be prone to overheating if utilized outside of its intended range of use and frequently cannot hold as much torque as a traditional automatic or manual transmission.
Nissan
Before purchasing a used automatic Nissan, do some research. Nissan has a history of producing CVTs for cheap cars that have had numerous reliability concerns. With time and the opportunity to iterate on their design, their CVT reliability has grown.
Mitsubishi
Despite its difficulties over the past ten years, Mitsubishi has continued to make some of the most affordable automobiles available. If you’re thinking about buying a Mitsubishi, it might be a good idea to learn a little bit about their CVTs first.
Has the Honda CrV’s transmission had issues?
Honda strives to build the most dependable cars and trucks. However, issues can occur with any mass-produced product. When it comes to the auto business, those issues frequently don’t surface until after the vehicle has been driven. For instance, several Honda CR-V cars later on had transmission problems.
Honda CR-V transmissions have been recalled three times as of September 2020. 2003, 2011, and 2013 saw the release of these. The 2015 Honda CR-V was also the target of a class action complaint that claimed the vehicle’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) was faulty and generated loud rattling and vibration.
The Honda CR-V transmission was criticized for:
- Not moving correctly
- Noises such as clanking, buzzing, or moaning
- refusing to engage the gears
The good news is that this article covers the specifics of the 2002–2003, 2007–2010, and 2012–2013 Honda CR–V gearbox issues as well as what you should do if you suspect your car’s transmission isn’t working properly. We’ll also give you Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s contact information.
What CVT is the most trustworthy?
There are several Toyota models on this selection, as you’ll see. The Japanese automaker is one of the leading producers of CVT gearboxes and is known for building incredibly dependable vehicles, a reputation that is well-deserved.
The brand’s family SUV, the Toyota RAV4, competes with vehicles like the Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, and Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recent model, which was introduced in 2019, is better than ever because of its upscale interior and exceptional build quality.
There is only one available engine, a fantastic 2.5-liter gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and a classy CVT automatic transmission. Both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are options; we recommend the former (unless you plan to venture that far off the beaten track).
Is the CVT more trustworthy than the automatic?
Considering purchasing a CVT-equipped vehicle as your next vehicle? It depends on whether you want to operate a gear-driven vehicle or not.
Although continuously variable transmissions (CVT) are not a recent technology, it has only been in recent years that drivers have gotten increasingly accustomed to them.
The DAF 600 was first made by the modest Dutch company van Doorne Automobiel Fabriek (DAF) in 1958. Even though it was one of the first mass-produced vehicles using a CVT, the vehicle was a failure. Subaru released the Justy, a CVT-equipped vehicle, in 1987. However, it was also a market failure for a number of reasons, such as worries about CVT dependability and the noise they omit.
Despite their often unfavorable reputation, CVTs do have some benefits, including as significantly increasing an engine’s fuel efficiency when it accelerates and being said to be less expensive than current eight- and nine-speed automatic gearboxes.
What Is a CVT?
The majority of automatic transmissions run on gears. Conversely, CVTs don’t even have any gears. The alternate name for them is pulley transmission since they run on a system of movable pulleys connected by a belt.
Drivers began to accept CVTs after Japanese carmaker Nissan introduced its Murano SUV with one in 2003. These days, CVTs are an ubiquitous sight on our roadways. Nissan, for example, provides the CVT on a variety of its models, including the Murano, Altima, Maxima, Rogue, Sentra, and Versa. Additionally, some Jeep Compass and Patriot models, BMW Minis, Mercedes-Benz Class Bs, some Honda Civic Hybrids, Mitsubishi Lancers, and a few Toyota vehicles all come with CVTs. Both Chrysler and Ford offered CVT-equipped automobiles, but they changed course after a while because customers believed the reliability of CVTs was in question.
CVT Maintenance and Repair Advantages and Disadvantages
The reliability of CVTs is comparable to that of conventional automatic transmissions in most cases. However, it’s possible that their use is more appropriate for smaller cars than for larger ones.
However, proactive preventative maintenance on some CVT models may necessitate regular transmission fluid changes, especially when compared to conventional sealed automatic transmissions, which can function for up to 100,000 kilometers or more before requiring maintenance. The CVT’s biggest enemy is heat. As a result, certain oils are needed for certain transmissions.
The Honda CR-V with transmission issues, which year?
Technical service bulletins (TSB) have been released by Honda for a number of CR-V model years that have shifting issues with manual transmission vehicles. But as a Honda CR-V owner, you should be aware that low transmission fluid is the most typical reason for gearbox shifting issues. Your car’s gearbox fluid keeps the moving parts lubricated. Extreme friction may happen if the parts are improperly lubricated. There is heat and damage where there is friction. Burning odors, slipping gears, leaking fluid, shaking and/or grinding, difficulty shifting speeds, and engine noise are all indications that your gearbox may be having issues. Inconsistencies with the Honda CR-manual V’s transmission were notably common in the 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 models.
Transmission Jerking or Jumping When Changing Gears
Owners of CVT transmissions have frequently complained about having a jerking or leaping motion during the beginning acceleration, despite the fact that they are designed to give a smooth transition between speeds.
Transmission Fluid Leaks
Sometimes the CVT transmissions leak. When a problem exists, people report noticing the pinkish transmission fluid on the ground after moving their car.
There are several different external seals on a CVT transmission, and any one of them could leak at any time. Some of these seals are simple to repair, while others are not.
Overheating or Burning Smell
With a CVT transmission, there may occasionally be a burning smell. This is a symptom of an overheated transmission.
The transmission fluid leak that entered the exhaust system may be the source of the burning odor. It is urgent to remedy a transmission issue that is overheating.
Vibration or Shuddering
When driving quickly, if you experience a vibration, shuddering, or shaking sensation, the transmission may be having trouble. Another problem could also be the source of that vibration. In either case, you should have a mechanic have a look at it immediately.
Transmission Gear Shift Hesitation
A CVT transmission’s reluctance when shifting the car into either a “D” or “R” gear is another exceedingly frequent issue. A lack of transmission fluid, a loose belt, or a clutch pack that isn’t working properly—both of which are components of the internal transmission seal—are the primary causes of this transmission problem in a car.
Loud Acceleration Noise
Numerous Honda owners have noted a loud droning noise that occurs at beginning acceleration. The CVT transmission forces the engine to run continually at a high RPM until it reaches the appropriate speed, which causes this noise. And although this sound is common, some people find it to be very bothersome.