Nissan CVT Settlement

Nissan’s CVT Settlement

Drivers who have navigated years of transmission woes with their Nissan Murano and Maxima might finally be seeing an end to their saga. The recent class-action lawsuit settlement offers a payout of $3.47 million and a warranty extension, but don’t pop the champagne just yet. Most of the settlement funds aren’t really reaching the affected owners, and the warranty extension may come across as too little, too late for many.

Settlement Details

Originally filed in Tennessee back in late 2022, the lawsuit targeted vehicles using Nissan’s continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). Specifically, folks owning 2015–2018 Murano and 2016–2018 Maxima models had reported untimely transmission failures. The plaintiffs aimed for significant remedies, including full transmission swaps and transparency from Nissan. Instead, what came was a $3.47 million lump sum payout. Notably, of that sum, only $20,000—about $5,000 each—goes to the four lead plaintiffs, with the rest pocketed by the legal team. It’s a classic legal dance: lots of lawyer bills, not much for the actual folks dealing with car troubles.

Nissan hasn’t admitted to any fault in the settlement, yet it decided to extend the warranty to 84 months or 84,000 miles, whichever comes first. This sounds good on paper, but here’s the rub: many of these cars are already pushing past that seven-year edge, rendering the extension almost moot for those who’ve already shouldered expensive repairs.

The Other Side of the Coin

For those holding onto their keys, Nissan promises reimbursements for “qualifying” CVT fixes during this extended warranty period. Repairs done directly at Nissan service centers have the chance for full coverage. Meanwhile, work done elsewhere may get a reimbursement cap of $5,000. Additionally, for owners enduring two or more transmission repairs or swaps, there’s a tempting $1,500 discount for a new Nissan or Infiniti purchase or lease—but they must opt between this discount and repair reimbursement; it’s an either-or situation.

The final legal chapter will be penned at a fairness hearing set for July 18. This meeting will seal the settlement’s fate.

What This Means for Nissan

This lawsuit is yet another line in the complicated tale of Nissan’s recent hurdles. As noted in recent discussions on Nissan’s struggles with possible layoffs, the company is grappling with significant organizational shake-ups, and this timing doesn’t help.

This ordeal is a cautionary note for consumers eyeing CVT-equipped cars from those model years. Nissan’s handling of the transmission issues has sparked more questions than answers, especially when seeing similar problems in other car lines globally. For the average owner, the settlement feels like it falls short of resolving ongoing concerns or preventing future predicaments.