The lifespan of a CVT transmission is the same as that of a conventional automatic transmission, and they are built to last the entire life of the car. The lifespan of a normal CVT is at least 100,000 kilometers. Some vehicles, like the Toyota Prius, frequently have a lifespan of far over 300,000 kilometers. Some brands, like other automotive parts, last longer than others when maintained properly.
In This Article...
Reliability of the Toyota CVT transmission
Because of the smoothness they offer in urban areas and because Toyota and other manufacturers of hybrid vehicles favor CVTs, they are widely used.
On the other hand, CVT gears often offer excellent fuel efficiency and are extremely dependable. They are currently providing strong acceleration when you wish to pull away. Toyota offers the CVT in a number of different models, including the ones listed below. To find out if they have the characteristics you seek, click through!
Conclusion
Hopefully you now know what a CVT transmission is! Naturally, while buying a car, the reliability of the CVT transmission might play a significant role in your decision.
Even Toyota’s current lineup has several vehicles with CVT transmissions, including the Corolla and C-HR! Do you already drive a car with a CVT or have you ever considered getting one? Tell us if you drive a car with a CVT transmission or not by leaving a comment below!
How many miles is the CVT good for?
New vehicles with CVTs should operate dependably for up to 100,000 miles on the market today. Overall dependability for the majority of cars will be lower than what is anticipated with a typical automatic or manual transmission.
However, exemplary owner maintenance can extend this prediction. In fact, some owners can obtain up to 200,000 trouble-free miles with a CVT provided they adhere to the factory-specified service intervals, apply the advised lubricant(s), and drive sensibly.
200k mile CVT durability?
There are numerous elements that affect a CVT’s durability. Although CVTs have been around for a long, they have only recently become dependable and reasonably priced. With routine maintenance, a CVT in a modern car should easily surpass 100,000 miles, while older CVTs might not survive as long.
Some automakers have stopped producing traditional automatic transmissions in favor of CVT technology, which costs a lot of money. The quality of CVTs has substantially stabilized over the past few years, enabling the majority of manufacturers to confidently make them without experiencing significant reliability concerns.
If properly maintained, a good CVT will last a very long period. The owner’s handbook should be followed for routine maintenance.
How frequently does a CVT transmission need to be replaced?
An automatic transmission requires a different kind of maintenance than a continuously variable transmission. Study up on CVT transmission maintenance.
The CVT transmission was envisioned by Leonardo da Vinci more than 500 years ago. Of course, he was unaware at the time that his invention would eventually become a crucial component of modern vehicles.
The connection between the engine and the wheels is made by your transmission. It is what transforms the engine’s power into a mechanical action that moves the wheels.
So even if you had the most powerful car in the world with the most horsepower, without this crucial part, you wouldn’t move an inch. It is imperative that you do routine CVT transmission maintenance. This will keep your car in great operating condition.
Unsure of the meaning of that? For a detailed guide to maintaining your CVT transmission, continue reading.
While you’re driving, a continuously variable transmission will appear to change gear ratios. In actuality, they don’t change gears the way a conventional transmission does.
There are no gears in these transmissions. They substitute a belt and pulley system instead. Depending on the amount of power generated and sent to the wheels, the pulleys will get broader and thinner.
The ride is substantially smoother as a result of this system. Additionally, it implies that your engine will always run as efficiently as possible. You receive the optimum performance and fuel economy from your car when it is operating in the performance sweet spot.
The majority of contemporary automakers now include a CVT in their models. However, the most common manufacturers who employ this kind of transmission include Lexus, Chrysler, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Mini Cooper, and Mitsubishi.
Several issues are widespread, and poor maintenance procedures are primarily to blame for them. So scheduling routine CVT Transmission maintenance is the best course of action to avoid these issues.
You run the danger of needing to replace your transmission entirely if you disregard the advised maintenance and your transmission begins to have issues. You’ll have to pay hundreds of dollars for this.
Your transmission fluid cannot lubricate properly if it is unclean or low. Additionally, it indicates that you have consumed the drink earlier than was anticipated.
A service technician who is unfamiliar with CVT transmissions may easily inject the incorrect fluid into your system if you visit them. Your transmission will be damaged by this.
Your gearbox cannot be properly cooled if your fluid is too old. If your coolers are clogged, you may also have a problem. The fluid can’t then circulate as it should to cool your transmission.
Your fluid won’t be able to lubricate effectively if you don’t maintain it clean and fresh. Your transmission’s parts will start to wear out if they aren’t greased. Your transmission will experience issues as a result of that wear because the components were not intended to withstand such abuse.
For a CVT transmission to function, you need pulleys, belts, and bearings. Therefore, if any of these are destroyed, your transmission will not work.
The majority of the issues we just discussed are difficult to see when driving your car. So, without having to be a mechanic or climb under your car, here are a few warning signals to watch out for.
You arrive home by automobile after work, leave your car in the garage, and enter your home to spend the evening. The following morning, as you’re leaving for work, you back the car out of the garage, leaving a reddish-colored puddle on the floor.
Your transmission fluid is that crimson liquid. It will typically be in the centre or front of your car, depending on the model.
Your transmission oil shouldn’t burn out, unlike your engine oil. You therefore have an overheating problem if this is occurring.
The performance of CVT transmissions is intended to be at its peak at all times. Therefore, your belts may be slipping if you find that your car is failing to operate or has a delayed reaction time.
When the components deteriorate, this can happen. When these components begin to deterioratewhich they are not intended to domore room is added to the system. The pulleys and belt slip in this area due to improper tension.
By now, it should be clear that maintaining the fluids in your CVT transmission is the most crucial maintenance.
Your car will determine how long you may drive between fluid changes. Nissan, for instance, will advise changing the fluid every 25,000 miles.
The majority of manufacturers lie between 30,000 and 50,000 miles. Numerous auto owners discover that their manual doesn’t include a time. If this is the case, 50,000 miles is a decent starting point.
A mechanic must raise the car and crawl underneath it to check the entire system. However, you can check your own fluids quickly.
Find the transmission fluid dipstick under your hood. It will resemble your engine oil dipstick in appearance, but the pull loop will be a different color.
Many car owners choose performing the service themselves. We must however caution you that this is not a task to do at home. Compared to engine oil, changing your transmission fluid takes more finesse, expertise, and dexterity.
Furthermore, the mechanism is securely sealed by the automakers. The parameters must then be read by a service computer, which can also provide data insight.
If your car has a CVT transmission, you should keep up with routine maintenance so you can keep enjoying the smooth ride.
If you are unclear, ask your local transmission service or dealer when your CVT transmission should have routine maintenance. But you should constantly be on the lookout for any indications of a potential issue.
To make a convenient appointment for your vehicle maintenance, use our online form.
How can I extend the life of my CVT?
You need to take a number of steps to ensure that your CVT-powered car lasts for a very long time. Like any other device you use, your car is prone to damage that, if neglected, might end up costing you a fortune. Although CVTs are relatively simple to use and have quite a following due to their effectiveness and functioning, they are also the most prone to failure if not properly maintained. Here are some suggestions for what you should do if you drive a vehicle with a CVT.
- It’s crucial that your car has enough fluid because overheating is a key risk with CVTs. However, you must make sure that the amount of fluid you add doesn’t exceed 75%, or around 3/4 of the reservoir. It must be exactly where the cross-hatch marks are. The problem will worsen if your transmission reservoir is overfilled. Your transmission will last longer if you have it serviced by a trained mechanic on a regular basis.
- Fluid replacement schedule: The fluid replacement schedule mostly depends on the type of car you drive, however most cars require a change after 100,000 miles. For a precise range, consult your owner’s manual or stop by a nearby auto repair shop.
- Overloading: Avoid overloading your car because the added heat will put a lot of strain on the CVT belt. Keep to the recommended factory set weight for your car, if at all possible.
- Mudguard: In a car with a CVT transmission, the front mudguard plays a crucial role that is often overlooked. Make sure it’s positioned properly because it helps keep your CVT from accumulating dust.
- Adopt safe driving practices. Instead of using the throttle to support oneself while driving up a hill, press the brakes to prevent rolling backward. Then, after releasing the brake, hit the throttle again. Do not neutral stop your car, as you would with any other automatic transmission vehicle, since this could harm the CVT.
How much time will the Corolla CVT last?
Anybody will tell you that a Toyota Corolla should have a 300,000-mile lifespan. Of course, that assumes excellent upkeep. If you don’t adhere to your maintenance schedule, change your oil and transmission fluid on a regular basis, and drive safely, you won’t make it there.
In a survey of still-running automobiles with more than 200,000 miles on the odometer conducted in 2020, Toyota makes up six out of ten of the top ten vehicles in terms of life expectancy. The Corolla may not have made the top ten merely because it has always been a reasonably priced, low-maintenance daily driver.
More than 16 percent of them have topped 200k because someone who drives a Land Cruiser is probably devoting a lot of time and effort into keeping it operating. The Corolla, on the other hand, is a car you might gift to a nephew when they start college after using it for seven or eight years to commute to work.
Of course, if you hang onto your Corolla and give it the same loving care and attention you’d give a classic, you might hit 390,000, as one driver did in a 2006. Even so, you might defeat that. A 1991 Corolla with a million miles on it is displayed with pride at a dealership in Florida. Although the real distance is 939,037, it’s still quite close.
You can find Corolla owners boasting about their first 300k in any automotive forum. Not every Corolla will endure the journey.
The previous owner may have neglected maintenance, your vehicle may have a flaw you are unaware of, and there is always the possibility of a surprise collision just before the finish line.
The fact remains, though, that a Corolla reaching 300,000 miles with its original engine and transmission in tact is not at all unusual. That is twice what Consumer Reports lists as the industry average, if you’re keeping score.
How durable are Toyota transmissions?
Transmissions can last anywhere from just over 10,000 miles to over 200,000 miles. However, routine car maintenance is typically the biggest element affecting a transmission’s longevity, and good maintenance can make it run even longer.
Can a CVT handle a lengthy drive?
Numerous automobile manufacturers offer a continuously variable gearbox (CVT) as the default choice for a wide range of cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs. Although some passenger vehicles have had this technology since 1989, if you are used to driving an older car or your favored brand recently upgraded what you like to drive, it may be a new feature to you.
The power from the engine is then transferred to the wheels of the car when you utilize a regular non-CVT transmission. There are no gears at all with the constantly variable transmission. This design makes use of a belt-connected section of pulleys with different widths. The engine is connected to one of the pulleys, while the wheels are connected to the other.
The breadth of the pulleys varies according to the amount of power required for each movement. One will expand while the other contracts, permitting a powerful acceleration without hesitating. A number of rollers and discs are used by some CVT choices to accomplish a similar goal.
You should consider these advantages and disadvantages of a CVT transmission before taking a test drive in a car with this technology.
List of the Pros of a CVT Transmission
1. CVT transmissions increase a vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
The increase in fuel efficiency while driving is the continuously variable transmission’s most important benefit to drivers. The manufacturers and models that offer the CVT option typically obtain rankings that place the car at the top of its class or very close to it for the MPG you get. On average, mid-sized cars get close to 40 miles per gallon on the highway, and hybrids get nearly 50 MPG. When this technology is used, even trucks and SUVs commonly achieve MPG values exceeding 20.
2. CVT transmissions offer a quick response when driving uphill.
The continuously variable transmission will react quickly when you press the gas pedal all the way to the floor if you frequently drive up hills (such as while commuting up a mountain pass). This technology searches for the optimal ratio for the acceleration you need in order to provide the highest degree of power at all times. This means that, especially while handling a high load, you don’t need to worry about changing into a different gear or letting up on the gas pedal to help the transmission reset.
The CVT transmission’s ability to offer an infinite number of gear ratios is the reason for this benefit. You may easily reach a cruising speed with the help of this option, which enables you to handle a wide range of driving circumstances. It will always maintain the engine’s power range, which is ideal.
3. Over long distances, CVT gearboxes offer a more comfortable ride.
A continuously variable gearbox eliminates the jerking and hesitation that older technologies occasionally brought with them when you are driving. This function automatically adjusts to the needs of the vehicle at any given time, thus finding the right gear ratio to be in is not necessary. There are numerous accounts of transmissions bouncing and grinding that caused property damage or serious personal injuries because the device didn’t function as planned.
Your ride will be smoother if your car has a CVT transmission because of the pulley or rotor/disc technology that is used to make each essential shift. The technology is constantly altering, so you will feel more changes throughout the flight, although the subtlety of the process is typically not noticeable in the cabin.
4. There are fewer components in CVT transmissions that could degrade over time.
The vehicle’s shifting system is made simpler by the continuously variable gearbox, meaning there are less moving elements that could malfunction while the automobile is in use. This implies that your overall chance of encountering a failure while driving is decreased. Even if something were to go wrong with the system, this less complicated design could end up saving you money in the long term.
Even though certain models do require a complete system replacement, rebuilding a CVT is quicker when it is possible because you are not required to disassemble the entire set of gears in order to get the car running again.
5. Compared to conventional transmissions, CVTs are lighter.
A continuously variable transmission weighs far less than a conventional transmission since it doesn’t need a lot of gears to keep the right ratio while driving. Additionally, the product takes up less room overall underneath the car, which lowers the weight profile even more. As a result, your powertrain does not experience the same levels of stress that can cause premature wear-and-tear problems as you are driving down the road.
As a result of being able to maintain the proper gear ratio more frequently, this benefit can occasionally improve your fuel economy.
6. A superior torque ratio is provided by CVT gearboxes.
It is considerably easier for vehicles equipped with a CVT to identify and then maintain their appropriate torque ratio in every situation because the continuously variable gearbox does not require the same gearing as the previous technology. This means that you will have the ability to accelerate instantly from a complete stop, accelerate quickly when necessary, and maintain the appropriate ratio for a longer period of time as you drive.
For this reason, when ascending a mountain pass in a V8, you can find yourself getting passed by a little hatchback. The smaller vehicle climbs better as a result of its constant capacity to select the ideal gear ratio for any given situation.
7. With the right maintenance, CVT transmissions can last a very long time.
Pulleys used by this transmission in the early days of CVT technology occasionally broke. That implied that your operations expenses will very certainly increase. Although this problem has been resolved over the past few decades, most vehicles still require a complete replacement by the 100,000-mile milestone. Some owners have found that with regular maintenance and responsible driving practices, their transmission can last up to 200,000 miles (and occasionally longer) before it needs repair.
List of the Cons of a CVT Transmission
1. Replacing a CVT transmission can be very expensive.
Even while repairing a CVT transmission can be less expensive than repairing a conventional one, you’ll find that many automakers do not provide this alternative. Most drivers discover that when their unit breaks down, they are responsible for paying for a brand-new continuously variable transmission. You should anticipate having to replace it sometime between 60,000 and 100,000 miles because this option typically fails more quickly than what is on earlier vehicles.
Every year, a number of complaints about CVT transmissions wearing out before 50,000 miles are sent to several automakers, notably Subaru. To make sure you can exercise all of your rights, review your warranty with the vehicle. A full replacement should cost at least $3,000 and occasionally even more than $5,000. If you drive a Subaru, the price on some models may be closer to $8,000.
2. CVT transmissions will alter the way you drive.
Imagine you are on a two-lane highway and a slow driver is coming up behind you. If you are used to the conventional transmission, you may immediately gun it to pass the car without having to spend much time in the other lane. You need to drive carefully when your vehicle has a continuously variable transmission. Although some vehicles can accelerate and perform better, if you need an immediate adjustment in your driving conditions, you might also experience a delayed response.
As you approach the car you want to pass, you must plan the pass with an acceleration profile. Then, in order to ensure that you can make the pass in time, you must accelerate as you lose the draft. You might not be able to finish it in time if you don’t pick up the pace until after you pull out to pass.
3. The towing capacity of CVT transmissions is lower.
The process of towing with a continuously variable transmission is identical to that with a conventional transmission. Although the actual procedure is the same with this technology (which is a benefit), this choice typically includes vehicles that are designed to carry a little amount of weight. A car that has this option frequently has a maximum towing capacity of 1,000 pounds or less. If your engine is more powerful, you might get up to 3,000 pounds at a higher MSRP, but that is unusual because most CVTs are made to function best with 4-cylinder engines to get the maximum power out of them.
The same as you would with any other transmission, you can mount your receiver or hitch. The outlet might install the trailer for you if you are renting one to tow for a price. Then, unless you are driving on icy, snow-covered, or slick gravel roads, keep the CVT transmission in the drive position. With this choice, a certain gear ratio is not required to be locked. Make sure you never go above the allowed tow rating, too.
4. If a CVT transmission malfunctions, a total replacement is frequently necessary.
The majority of the Subaru continuously variable gearboxes that need repair90% of themcannot undergo a rebuilding procedure due to the manner they malfunction. Usually, the damage is so severe that installing a new unit is the only method to restore the vehicle’s functionality. Although not often to the same an extent, this drawback applies to Nissan, Honda, and other automakers who utilise this technology.
Even when a rebuild is feasible, you’ll find that the price of the repair can be 50% or even more than it would be to fix a conventional transmission. This indicates that the fuel savings you achieve with this technology do not ultimately pay for themselves by the time a replacement is required.
5. CVT transmissions occasionally become stuck at high RPM ranges.
You can use an endless number of gear ratios thanks to the technology of a continuously variable gearbox to increase performance. You’ll also learn that the CVT gearbox occasionally misinterprets the information it receives from the engine, causing it to believe that you must maintain a higher gear when you actually do not. This drawback will most frequently be felt when driving up an incline.
You can lose your current speed right away because the only method to reset the transmission is to let up on the gas. That necessitates you to step on the gas pedal once more, resulting in higher RPM levels that may hang you up once more. This problem can be really annoying if you’re climbing a steep mountain pass because it causes irregular speeds.
6. CVT gearboxes are significantly louder than conventional ones.
You’ll notice right away that a continuously variable transmission produces sounds that are significantly dissimilar from those you would hear from a conventional unit. Because driving today is so different from driving in the past, many drivers believe that their car is not running properly. Even on flat surfaces, there might be a lot of clunking, grinding, and even shaking from the vehicle. In some cars, adding your air conditioner to this process can exacerbate the problem.
Given that majority of the noises and vibrations originate from behind the seat, the driver is particularly bothered by them. Some models have the ability to produce droning noises that are louder than white noise. This issue will continue to be a drawback unless you get used to it.
7. The expense of routine maintenance is higher for CVT transmissions.
The expense of your routine maintenance will increase by the same percentages, just as you’ll spend 50% to 100% more trying to fix or replace a continuously variable transmission that breaks down. The price range for replacing the transmission fluid at the dealership is normally $250 to $350. If the pan and filter need to be updated as part of the servicing, it might even be higher. You must budget for this investment depending on what your manufacturer advises because you cannot delay your maintenance program owing to the hefty replacement expenses.
Working with a mechanic or independent service specialist to complete this task is an option if you don’t want to take your car to the dealership. In most cases, the costs are still much greater even then.
8. To minimize the possibility of damage, CVT transmissions demand safe driving practices.
You need to be cautious with your shifting techniques when driving a car with a continuously variable gearbox. The worst scenario is when you are backing up and immediately put the car into drive after shifting out of reverse before you have totally stopped your momentum. This behavior has no practical benefit and can be extremely difficult on the CVT. In order to lessen the strain on the structural integrity of your car, you should also apply the parking brake after shifting into park when you come to a halt.