Nissan CVT Lawsuit: The $277 Million Transmission Settlement

The Defect

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) replaces fixed gears with a belt-and-pulley system that changes ratios smoothly. Owners of many Nissan models alleged the company’s CVTs were defective: the cars would shudder, judder, jerk and clunk, hesitate on acceleration and, in some cases, behave as though they were overheating. Plaintiffs argued the transmission coolers were too small to keep the fluid at safe temperatures, so the CVTs ran hot, lost proper lubrication and wore out — leaving drivers with expensive repairs or replacements.

Because a transmission that hesitates or lurches can be a safety concern as well as a reliability one, the complaints drew class-action attention across several model years.

The Settlement

A class-action settlement received final approval in May 2023, with Nissan agreeing to pay up to about $277.7 million without admitting wrongdoing. The covered models included the Altima (2013–2018), Sentra (2013–2017), Versa and Versa Note, Juke, Rogue and Pathfinder across defined years. Relief included an extended warranty on the transmission assembly and control unit (adding coverage in time and miles) and reimbursement to owners who had already paid for qualifying transmission repairs or replacements.

Notably, owners of some newer Nissans — such as 2020–2024 Sentra and Versa models — have pursued separate claims, so the CVT issue was not fully closed by this settlement.

What Owners Should Know

If you own an affected Nissan, check whether your model and year fall under the settlement’s extended warranty, and keep records of any transmission repairs for reimbursement. Warning signs like shuddering, delayed acceleration or overheating warnings should be checked promptly, since catching a problem while warranty coverage applies can save a large repair bill. Confirm coverage through the official settlement administrator and your dealer.