2008 Nissan Rogue - looks like the CVT is toast

y_p_w

y_p_w

Joined
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I was driving my parents' Rogue to help move stuff for them. I noticed a little bit of shuddering and weird noises but I thought maybe it was just old. However, my dad just called me and said that my mom took it somewhere and it seems to have died. He's not terribly good at explaining what the problem is so I might have to go and see what it is, but I suspect the CVT is either gone or severely malfunctioning.

Any tips on what to look for? I understand that CVTs often fail in spectacular fashion where they pretty much can't be rebuilt. Ideally they would like to keep it running with a cheap rebuilt transmission if they could, but I'm not sure if that's possible with a Rogue.
 
How many miles on the Rogue? Has the tranny ever been serviced? Meaning CVT fluid & filters?
You may want to try a drain & refill of the CVT fluid and see if that'll help? 🤷‍♂️ It's as easy as doing an oil & filter change.
Have it scanned for codes to make sure the CVT is actually toast.:unsure:
If it were my vehicle and I really liked the Rogue and wanted to keep it, I may try the whole CVT fluid drain & refill with all new filters/screens/gaskets & O-Rings...before I'd throw away(or sell for next to nothing). I'm not saying that your parents will scrap the Rogue!

My understanding is that those CVTs are:
*not rebuilt in any particular capacity
*can't be rebuilt "reliably"
*no one wants to rebuild them or even try
*the tranny specialist/shop knowledge is limited
*your folks can take a gamble on a used(bone yard) example
*put in a new CVT which will be 3-4X more cost than the Rogue itself is worth.
 
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Based on what you describe, it sounds like she gone. 15yrs is a pretty darn good run out of a Rogue in general, let alone a CVT, but you're going to want to properly diagnose the vehicle. It may not be a transmission problem at all. Could be spark or fuel related, etc.

Doubtful you'd find a good used CVT for this vintage, so remanufactured will likely be the only route. Probably a $5k all in job. If it's a non rust-belt vehicle in overall good condition, it's worth it in today's market if they got 15yrs out of it so far.
 
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You don't state how many miles on the Rogue, but in general 15 years out of a 08 Nissan Jatco CVT trans, far from the worst time frame result I've read. Based on your description, at this point I'm doubtful a CVT drain and fill or even a series will help. Worth a try.....your call.

No idea about availability of rebuilt CVT trans, or possibility of having it rebuilt. But, if the Rogue body and interior are in decent shape, and your parents want to keep it, that would be the course of inquiry I would pursue. Then, depending on cost and reliability reputation of either, it's a matter of a cost-benefit choice.

As an aside, glad I saw this post because it led me to Nissan recalls and saw where 2017 Rogue has one for side dash harness, corrosion. Help maintain a family member Rogue, so need to check if vin included in recall.

Good Luck.
 
walterjay said:
A year and a half ago the tranny fell out of my daughtes 13 Rogue. After looking at the market for used cars she opted to have it rebuilt. About $4,200. Doing great so far.
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Curious, if you know, at the time how many miles on daughter's 13 Rogue? I laughed when you stated," the tranny fell out". Glad it's still doing great, hopefully many more miles.
 
Well - it’s got a little bit over 80K miles on it. But I went to have a look. My mom said it was making a sound like marbles popping from the engine. So I started it up and heard a distinct sound, but I didn’t think it was the engine nor the transmission. Popped the hood, and looked for what it might be and saw one of the belts had partially split - maybe a third of two ribs had separated. So it was just slapping around the loose bits.

I don’t know how to replace a belt but they know someone who can do it cheap. Should make sense to do both belts. I remember when the accessory belt on my wife’s Civic broke we brought it in to a Goodyear shop (towed from near where it stopped when the battery finally died) and that cost about $125. The guy they go to replaced both belts on my WRX for less than $40 including his labor.
 
y_p_w said:
Well - it’s got a little bit over 80K miles on it. But I went to have a look. My mom said it was making a sound like marbles popping from the engine. So I started it up and heard a distinct sound, but I didn’t think it was the engine nor the transmission. Popped the hood, and looked for what it might be and saw one of the belts had partially split - maybe a third of two ribs had separated. So it was just slapping around the loose bits.

I don’t know how to replace a belt but they know someone who can do it cheap. Should make sense to do both belts. I remember when the accessory belt on my wife’s Civic broke we brought it in to a Goodyear shop (towed from near where it stopped when the battery finally died) and that cost about $125. The guy they go to replaced both belts on my WRX for less than $40 including his labor.
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Good news! Have the CVT serviced too, since it's already there.
 
I wasn't sure even though it's got relatively low mileage on it. My parents are retired so they don't drive it much. I'm almost sure they've never had the CVT fluid changed since there's no scheduled period for it. They also live where they usually access a steep hill, but I'm not sure if it stresses the CVT. My dad still has this habit of waiting at an incline and holding down on the gas pedal rather than on the brake pedal. I've been trying to disabuse him of that but he just can't help it after 50 years of doing that.
 
y_p_w said:
My dad still has this habit of waiting at an incline and holding down on the gas pedal rather than on the brake pedal. I've been trying to disabuse him of that but he just can't help it after 50 years of doing that.
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Yikes, get it done for sure. My parents also had an '08, but it was totaled and are currently in a '15. I've serviced both CVTs and never any issues considering my dad drives with both feet; that can't be good. My Maxima also never had issues. As a side note, I recently serviced a '14 Versa that had a CVT condemned by the dealer; certainly performing better according to the owner (quieter too). I figured no harm in trying to get more life out of it with a service including filters (strainer and cartridge) and fresh fluid; so far so good. The fluid was pitch black and the magnets were full of sludge.
 
sloinker said:
The CVT's are getting better it seems. I don't care for how they perform/sound/feel but not everyone is as picky as I am. My Subaru friends have been impressed as they outlast the engines now.
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My DD is Subaru. A friend who owns a transmission shop put a used CVT in it and then sold it to me. Distance traveled when I got it:
Speedo Legacy.jpg

Currently @ 275
 
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You all got a looonnggg way to go to catch mine. .

365,400 miles on the original CVT. My 2008 Nissan did exceptionally well given how hard I drove that car… I pushed it near redline daily. I always felt that car did better when you put your foot into it.

Granted 95 percent of the miles were highway miles cruising 63-79 mph.
 
bbhero said:
You all got a looonnggg way to go to catch mine. .

365,400 miles on the original CVT. My 2008 Nissan did exceptionally well given how hard I drove that car… I pushed it near redline daily. I always felt that car did better when you put your foot into it.

Granted 95 percent of the miles were highway miles cruising 63-79 mph.
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How do you even make a CVT go to engine redline? Don't they usually go to 3400 rpm and just resonate and buzz in place?
 
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