Nissan's JATCO-supplied continuously variable transmissions (CVT) have been the subject of multiple class actions for shudder, jerking, harsh engagement, and outright failure. Settlements in Falk v. Nissan (Sentra), Madrigal v. Nissan (Altima), and related cases extended powertrain warranty to 84 months or 84,000 miles on affected models and provided reimbursement.
The settlements extended the CVT powertrain warranty from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 7 years / 84,000 miles on multiple models, with reimbursement for prior out-of-pocket CVT repairs.
The JATCO CF8 and CF9 CVT use a steel push-belt riding between two variable-diameter pulleys. Heat soak under heavy throttle or sustained towing breaks down the CVT fluid, polishes the pulleys, and stretches the belt. Owners report a high-frequency shudder under light throttle, a sudden RPM flare without acceleration, harsh engagement from stop, and limp-mode warnings. Internal valve-body and stepper-motor faults add bucking and cold-start hesitation. Class actions Falk v. Nissan (Sentra), Madrigal v. Nissan (Altima), Norman v. Nissan (Pathfinder, Murano) and related actions consolidated the claims.
| Model | Years | Transmission | Lead Class Action | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Altima | 2013-2018 | JATCO CF9 CVT | Madrigal v. Nissan | Critical |
| Nissan Sentra | 2013-2017 | JATCO CF8 CVT | Falk v. Nissan | Critical |
| Nissan Versa / Versa Note | 2014-2017 | JATCO CF8 CVT | Companion settlements | High |
| Nissan Rogue | 2014-2018 | JATCO CF9 CVT | Stringer v. Nissan | Critical |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 2013-2018 | JATCO CVT8 (heavy duty) | Norman v. Nissan | Critical |
| Nissan Murano | 2015-2018 | JATCO CVT8 | Norman v. Nissan | Critical |
| Nissan Maxima | 2016-2018 | JATCO CVT8 | Companion claim | High |
| Infiniti QX60 / JX35 | 2013-2018 | JATCO CVT8 | Norman v. Nissan | Critical |
Data sourced from NHTSA recall database (nhtsa.gov/recalls), manufacturer technical service bulletins, and publicly filed class-action documents. Always verify with your VIN before purchase or repair.
Recalls are tied to specific VINs, not just model years. Run yours through these free tools before you buy, sell, or schedule a repair:
Use our free VIN decoder to pull build info, or run a free AI diagnosis if you already have symptoms.
Falk v. Nissan North America (Sentra), Madrigal v. Nissan North America (Altima), Stringer v. Nissan (Rogue), and Norman v. Nissan (Pathfinder / Murano / QX60) resulted in negotiated settlements with combined relief in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Common elements: 84-month / 84,000-mile CVT warranty extension, reimbursement for past CVT repairs (subject to documentation), and arbitration of repurchase claims.
Get the dealer to log the shudder or RPM flare on a road test. Keep every transmission-related RO. If the CVT fails or is replaced multiple times within the extended warranty window, file an arbitration claim through the settlement administrator. State lemon-law clocks can reopen with each new failed repair attempt.
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Within the 84-month / 84,000-mile window, yes, when the failure is a covered defect. Outside that window it is goodwill or out-of-pocket.
Without towing or sustained heat, many last 120,000-160,000 miles. With heavy use, failures appear as early as 60,000-90,000 miles.
Fluid changes every 30,000 miles using genuine Nissan NS-3 (or correct fluid for your model) significantly extend CVT life. Many owners do this in spite of "lifetime" fluid claims.
No bolt-in upgrade exists. The most common path on a failing JATCO is a remanufactured unit from a Nissan-specialty rebuilder.
Some Rogue Sport years are included via companion claims; check the settlement notice and your VIN.
You can submit a reimbursement claim with the RO and proof of payment to the settlement administrator within the claim window.