Xtronic Transmission in 2017-2018 Nissan Altima, Sentra Models Is Defective, Class Action Claims

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A proposed class action alleges the Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) found in 2017-2018 model year Nissan Altima and Sentra vehicles suffers from a potentially dangerous defect. 

The 41-page lawsuit says the defect plaguing the CVT found standard in affected Altimas and Sentras stems from an inadequate cooling system that’s “too small and/or manufactured so poorly” that it fails to properly regulate the temperature of the fluid meant to lubricate the transmission’s internal components, including the belts, pulleys and valves. As the case tells it, this design and/or manufacturing defect makes the Altima and Sentra Xtronic transmission unreasonably sensitive to heat and thus prone to overheating, a condition that activates a fluid temperature protection mode and reduces overall transmission performance. 

Per the lawsuit, the faulty Xtronic transmission, which changes speeds via two variable-diameter pulleys with a steel belt running between, rather than a traditional clutch and gearbox system, can cause an affected Altima or Sentra model to violently shudder, jerk or fail to accelerate. Moreover, the alleged Xtronic CVT issue can cause a vehicle to lag or delay when a driver attempts to accelerate, causing unsafe and unpredictable acceleration, or exhbit a hard deceleration or “clunk” when a driver slows down or accelerates at low speeds, the complaint says. 

In other instances, the defect can cause catastrophic transmission failure, the case alleges. 

The suit charges that defendant Nissan North America has known of the apparent Xtronic transmission defect since at least 2013 yet has continued to equip vehicles with the CVT while refusing to disclose and “actively conceal[ing]” the issue to buyers and lessees. According to the complaint, Nissan “undertook affirmative measures” to conceal the Xtronic flaws and other malfunctions through, for instance, issuing technical service bulletins to only authorized repair facilities. 

The filing stresses that the alleged Xtronic transmission defect is material to Altima and Sentra buyers and lessees in that the issue presents an unreasonable safety risk. 

“Transmission malfunctions can impair any driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle and greatly increase risk of collision,” the lawsuit relays. “For example, turning left across traffic in a vehicle with delayed and unpredictable acceleration is plainly unsafe. In addition, these conditions can make it difficult to safely change lanes, merge into traffic, turn, accelerate from stop lights/signs, and accelerate onto highways or freeways.” 

Moreover, the case argues that the Xtronic issue is material given no reasonable consumer expects to have to spend thousands on the replacement or repair of transmission components in the early years of a vehicle’s lifespan. 

Proposed class members would not have bought or leased their Nissan Altima or Sentra models, or would have paid less for the vehicles, had the automaker disclosed the apparent Xtronic transmission defect, the suit contends. 

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