2011 Nissan Altima

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,918.

POSSIBLE CVT TRANSMISSION OVER-HEATING/FAIL-SAFE ISSUE? I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS AND MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A 'WHIRRING' NOISE AND I HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 70 BUT AS MUCH AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, IT WOULD BARELY GET PASSED 50MPH. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI-TRUCK AS WE APPROACHED A HILL BECAUSE I COULD BARELY GET UP IT. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE CAR REST FOR A WHILE. I HAD TO DRIVE ANOTHER 2 HOURS TO GET HOME AND AFTER ANOTHER HOUR, IT DID THE SAME THING. SOON AFTER, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ONLY THING THEY COULD SUGGEST WAS TO GIVE ME A NEW TRANSMISSION! I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT POSSIBLY ADDING A SECONDARY COOLING SYSTEM WOULD HELP BUT THEY COULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT WOULD FIX THE ISSUE. FROM MY RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT A REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING IS THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION PRODUCES TOO MUCH HEAT FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM TO HANDLE AND EVENTUALLY GOES INTO A FAIL-SAFE MODE THAT CAPS THE ACCELERATION POWER OF THE CAR, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING DAMAGED. I COULD UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE FAIL-SAFE TO KICK IN IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES BUT NOT AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS AT REGULAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND EXTREMELY AGGRAVATING. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WHICH AFFECTS BOTH NEW AND OLDER CARS AND NISSAN CHOOSES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR MORE THAN AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT STARTS TO MAKE THAT 'WHIRRING' NOISE AND I KNOW IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THE FAIL-SAFE KICKS IN. THIS HAS BEEN BEYOND DISAPPOINTING AND EVEN MORE SO THAT NISSAN WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPROVE THEIR CVT ISSUES AND PROVIDE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I OWN MY CAR OUTRIGHT BUT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. NO OPTION FOR THAT ROUTE. VERY INCONVENIENT.

WHEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MIN OR MORE AND MAYBE A LITTLE HOTTER THAN USUAL, AND YOU ARE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY, THE SPEED WILL LOCK AT 65 OR UNDER, IT WILL NOT LET YOU GO ANY HIGHER, WHEN IT LOCKS IT SLOWS DOWN FAST LIKE IF HITTING THE BREAKS, THIS IS SO DANGEROUS WHEN ON FREEWAY WE HAVE BEEN SO CLOSE TO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS, WE TRAVEL ON THE CAR, AND IT HAS DONE IT A LOT LATELY, WE KNOW NOTHING OF WHY IT'S THIS WAY.

THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A WHINING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION AND THEN LOSS POWER ON THE INTERSTATE AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 40MPH EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY MAKING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR MY FAMILY. I'VE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE AND RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN ON THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.