P0740 on Nissan: How to Diagnose & Fix

The CVT transmission is known for reliability issues including shuddering, jerking, and complete failure. Nissan extended the CVT warranty on some model years to 10 years/120,000 miles due to widespread problems. High-mileage CVTs are particularly at risk.

The Nissan Rogue's CVT transmission is prone to premature failure, shuddering, and jerky operation. Nissan extended the CVT warranty on many affected vehicles to 10 years/120,000 miles due to widespread issues. High-mileage CVTs are particularly at risk for complete failure.

The 2012-2021 Versa CVT (Jatco JF015E) is one of the most failure-prone transmissions in Nissan's lineup. The combination of a budget vehicle with heavy use leads to premature CVT failure, often before 100,000 miles. Nissan extended the CVT warranty on 2012-2017 models to 10 years/120,000 miles due to a class-action settlement (Batista v. Nissan).

The 2013-2021 Sentra uses the Jatco CVT7 (JF015E) transmission which is prone to premature failure, shuddering, and overheating. Nissan extended the CVT warranty to 10 years/120,000 miles under Customer Service Initiative P8242. The transmission can fail as early as 60,000 miles. Common failure modes include belt slipping, valve body failure, and bearing wear.

The 2013-2020 Pathfinder uses the Jatco CVT8 (JF016E) which suffers from premature failure under the heavier loads of the SUV. The transmission overheats during towing, climbing, or sustained highway driving. Nissan issued TSB NTB15-024 for CVT judder and extended the warranty under CSI P8242. A class-action settlement provided additional coverage for some owners.

The 2009-2020 Murano equipped with the CVT (Jatco JF010E and later JF016E) is prone to premature failure. Symptoms include shuddering, slipping, and complete loss of drive. The 2009-2014 models with JF010E are particularly problematic. Nissan extended CVT warranties on some model years but many owners face failures outside coverage.

The Juke CVT (Jatco CVT7/JF015E) paired with the turbocharged engine is stressed beyond its design capacity. The turbo's torque output accelerates CVT wear, leading to shuddering, slipping, and failure often before 100,000 miles. AWD models add additional strain on the CVT.

The Quest CVT (Jatco JF010E/RE0F09B) paired with the VQ35DE V6 suffers from premature failure, particularly when the vehicle is fully loaded with passengers and cargo. The combination of a heavy minivan with a CVT designed for lighter vehicles leads to overheating and accelerated wear. Failures commonly occur between 60,000-120,000 miles.

The Nissan Kicks CVT transmission (Jatco CVT7 W/R) overheats during sustained highway driving, particularly in hot weather or hilly terrain. The transmission enters limp mode to protect itself, limiting speed to 40-50 mph. The small displacement 1.6L engine forces the CVT to work harder at highway speeds, contributing to heat buildup.

The Kicks HR16DE 1.6L engine produces excessive noise and vibration that transmits into the cabin, particularly at highway RPMs where the CVT holds the engine at 3,000-4,000 RPM. The lack of sound insulation and the CVT's tendency to keep RPMs high under load amplifies the issue.

The Jatco RE5R05A five-speed automatic used in the second-generation Frontier carries its transmission control module bolted directly to the valve body, submerged in hot ATF. That packaging is the weak point: sustained heat cycling and vibration crack solder joints and kill solenoid drivers, while the shift solenoids themselves are delicate and intolerant of any contamination. Owners report slipping between gears, delayed or flared upshifts, refusal to shift above a certain gear, and the transmission dropping into a fixed-gear limp mode. This is documented as a failure in its own right and is distinct from - though badly aggravated by - the coolant-into-ATF radiator failure this platform is also known for, since the resulting gel jams the solenoid plungers and shorts the solenoid wiring. Diagnosis is often mistaken for whole-transmission failure when only the valve body and TCM have gone.