In the middle of all this gloom and doom, there is at least some good news. Honda is quite the contrary of certain other brands, like Nissan or Jeep, who are frequently cited as having unstable CVTs. Honda produces some of the most dependable automobiles on the market today, and its CVT transmissions benefit from this outstanding reputation. Therefore, you may rest assured knowing that a Honda equipped with a CVT can easily survive 10 years or beyond.
Both types’ transmissions will typically begin to malfunction after about 100,000 miles. For any Honda, the total cost of repairs for the CVT transmission ranges between $2,000 and $3,000. It’s important to remember, though, that CVTs might be challenging to repair most of the time. As a result, many owners in this area have discovered that the majority of their issues could only be fixed once the CVT transmission as a whole was replaced.
As we’ve already learned in our guide on the dependability of Honda CVTs, CVTs can be more expensive to maintain or replace. Your alternatives are going to be fairly constrained due to the relative scarcity of components and qualified experts. Additionally, the labor expenditures will be exorbitant. This is due to the fact that in some Hondas, the entire engine must be removed in order to access the CVT. As a result, repairing CVTs can be more expensive and time-consuming than fixing a normal transmission.
In This Article...
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.
Sudden Loss of Acceleration
Sensors in a CVT transmission prevent it from overheating. To prevent further harm to the car, the transmission will enter “limp home mode” if it detects a malfunction.
There are a few things that could trigger this, like the ambient temperature, the load, and the vehicle’s speed, among other things. Ask a mechanic to check for low fluid levels or to see if any codes are active if these kinds of problems aren’t present.
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.
Honda’s CVT transmission is produced by whom?
Toyota, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, and Audi all produce their own CVTs. Nissan holds a majority stake in JATCO, the company that provides Chrysler, GM, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki with 49% of the gear-free transmissions produced worldwide. Additionally, a JATCO-supplied CVT is available in roughly half of Nissan’s current U.S. models.
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).
How far can a Honda CVT transmission travel?
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 should the fluid in a Honda CVT transmission be changed?
Change the transmission fluid when: The majority of automotive professionals agree that changing the gearbox fluid should be done between 60,000 and 100,000 miles.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Honda began utilizing CVT gearboxes in what year?
The 1995 Honda Civic HX was Honda’s initial attempt at a CVT, but the company has since adopted CVTs in several of its models.
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.
Why are most CVT vehicles so bad?
Costly to maintain: Despite CVTs’ unparalleled fuel efficiency, you might not get to experience a smooth ride for very long. Because CVT parts are often hard to find and expensive to replace, repairing one can be fairly pricey. Finding a CVT specialist to perform the repairs for you could also be difficult.
They are noisy: Unless a motorist is traveling on a powerful engine, extra noise is never welcomed. Because CVTs have a propensity to hang at high rpm, the engine revs erratically when accelerating. The noisy operation of the CVT just won’t go away, even if you choose CVT automobiles that are programmed to simulate stepped higher gears.
Poor feel: Since the CVT vehicle doesn’t actually have any gears, you won’t notice when it shifts. It could make you feel like there’s something wrong, and you might mistake its regular operation for an indication of unreliability. By emulating a stepped up gear system, CVT producers have tried to solve this issue.
Are CVT transmissions improving?
Vehicle transmission technology is advancing quickly, providing customers with a wide range of options. CVTs, or continuously variable transmissions, are now a highly popular choice. Although CVTs are intended to use less fuel than conventional automatic transmissions, are they dependable?
Contrary to a standard automatic gearbox with gears, a CVT transmission uses two pulleys connected by an extremely sturdy steel belt. One of the pulleys’ diameters is continuously adjusted to maintain the engine rpm at the ideal setting for the current driving circumstance. Like a traditional automatic transmission, a CVT has no fixed ratios and does away with the gear change experience.
Is CVT preferable to automatic?
Benefits of CVT When compared to a conventional automatic, a CVT may offer a smoother driving experience depending on the car and the driver. One of the biggest benefits of having a CVT, according to Carfax, is that they frequently use less fuel than a standard automatic.