Is the Altima's Transmission Durable?

[VanReid]

The Altima's transmission is relatively durable. The Altima is equipped with a CVT transmission. Since the CVT transmission does not have mechanical gears, the driving experience is very smooth, with almost no noticeable jerking. The CVT has fewer components, only a few hundred, which contributes to its higher reliability. Here is some related information: CVT Transmission: CVT directly translates to continuously variable transmission, commonly known as a stepless transmission. As the name suggests, it does not have specific gears. In operation, it is similar to an automatic transmission, but the ratio changes differ from the gear-shifting process of an automatic transmission—it is continuous, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted power delivery. CVT technology has once again become one of the new technologies attracting attention. Principle: The principle of a CVT transmission involves two conical pulleys and a steel belt or chain. The two conical pulleys can be tightened or loosened via an electronically controlled hydraulic system, changing the diameter of the steel belt wrapped around them, thereby altering the transmission ratio. During startup, the driving pulley has the smallest diameter, while the driven pulley has the largest. At high speeds, the driving pulley's diameter increases, and the driven pulley's diameter decreases. The entire process of diameter adjustment is controlled by a computer, enabling stepless adjustment and continuously variable transmission.

[DiKevin]

I've driven a Teana for ten years, and its transmission is truly reliable. The older models used the CVT2 model, which reportedly had cooling issues in the first three years, but after 2014, they switched to the CVT8 series, which is much more stable. Mine has clocked 180,000 kilometers, mainly for city commuting and weekend highway trips. I change the transmission oil every 60,000 kilometers on schedule, and it still shifts smoothly to this day. The only thing to watch out for is avoiding frequent hard acceleration with full throttle, as the steel belt can't handle that kind of stress. I've seen a few cases of transmission failure, all caused by power modifications or long-term neglect of oil changes. Overall, compared to its counterpart, the Camry, it might be slightly more delicate, but with normal use, it's definitely worth it.

[VonCarson]

Having repaired Nissan cars for twelve years, I've disassembled hundreds of Altima transmissions. To be honest, early CVTs were indeed prone to issues, especially in pre-2012 models where valve body pressure leaks and steel belt slippage were common problems. However, the newer models have shown significant improvements, with post-2020 models having a failure rate less than one-third of the older ones I used to repair. The most problematic cases are owners who don't change transmission fluid for 100,000 kilometers—sludge clogs the solenoids, costing nearly ten thousand yuan per repair. For those considering a used Altima, I recommend checking the transmission maintenance records first and listening for any whistling sounds during cold starts. Nowadays, 4S shops stock improved valve body assemblies, which shows the manufacturer is continuously optimizing this issue.