HONDA CRVS " CVT transmissions"

Dannynica · Jan 22, 2023

Hello everyone, I am looking to buy a new vehicle. I was willing to stay with another CRV but for what I have found out Honda is only making CVT transmissions after 2015

My opinion and for what i have read, I dont trust and will not buy another CRV because this issue
I am moving to a RAV 4 fromo toyota since they have regular automatic transmission

any thoughts on this matter guys???

EXcommunicated · Jan 22, 2023

CVT transmissions work great and have few problems.

Dannynica · Jan 22, 2023

My brother had to replace a car with those transmission with less than 100k And i rented one car with only 5k miles and it felt the speed would not keep up with the force on the gas pedal
it did it sometimes like when the transmission is not in the same tone as the pressing on the gas.

Kazoo2U · Jan 22, 2023

Please be specific about the makes of the vehicles that you mentioned had CVT transmission problems. As stated above, Nissan had a bad problem with their CVT when Nissan first started using them. Could the 2 you referred to have been Nissans?

Dannynica · Jan 22, 2023

the rented car it was a Nissan, the other car I dont know,I forgot to ask my brother. But reading around the internet it makes me think about it the CVTs

Carbuff2 · Jan 23, 2023

CVTs are just another thing to maintain. Granted, the JATCO CVTs used by Nissan were troublesome.

It is important to change the fluid on CVTs periodically, just as on other transmissions, automatic or manual. On Hondas, the Maintenance Minder seems to go too long, so make a note to drain & fill the CVT every 30 - 50K miles.

A small number of HR-V CVTs have failed suddenly at around 70 - 100K miles, but the fluid in those was never replaced.

chidog · Jan 23, 2023

Doing a search you will find Honda CVT's are not with out problems. I have rebuild CVT's, the main problem with the nissan or Jatco is the materials used for valves and valve bodies IMO, as the flow control valve is the main issue in most of them. The Variator pulleys and push belts are made very well, and can last a long time, if everything else works ok.
The issue with Honda CVT's is there is no torque converter, and when starting out from a stop, clutches working similar to a manual transmission are used and are either slipped or modulated to start the movement.
That is the week point of the honda CVT's. Maybe they have changed that for the newer ones I don't know.
The key thing with CVT's is the fluid is an integral part of the whole transmission, it is part of the engineering that goes into it. Use only Honda fluid, other wise its a gamble.

williamsji · Jan 23, 2023

Your information is not relevant to gen5 CRVs and their power trains. You apply acceleration, even from a stop and the response from the power train is smooth and robust. Much different than older generations with the old 2.4Ls in them (CVT or regular gear shift transmission). Honda knew exactly what it was doing when it designed a purpose built engine and CVT pair for gen5s. True for current gen Accords and Civics too... which all use a very similar design.

ABCCRV2018 · Jan 23, 2023

Another difference with the current versions of Honda's CVT is that 1.5L turbo engine and the CVT were actually designed to be together right from the start. The way that they programmed the RPM and torque curves to work with each other is very good.

Even though the CRV's 1.5L engine is one of the tiniest engines in it's class, I don't think I've ever felt the car to be underpowered. Especially if you keep the shifter in "S" mode like I usually do. At highway speeds if you press down on the go-pedal, the car gets up and goes.

As I've mentioned on this forum before, my last vehicle was a 2007 Saturn Vue with a Honda 3.5L V6. That car with that engine did have a noticable amount of more power, but I'd still say my 2018 CRV is pretty zippy and quick for what it is and for what it has under the hood.

I have been reading this and other Honda car forums for a long time, and someone mentioning that they don't like or that they've actually had problems with the CVTs that are in the current versions of the CRV are nearly non-existent.

williamsji · Jan 23, 2023

Honda CVTs are rock solid designs. You are worrying because you have heard stories of CVT problems in vehicles and assume it is all vehicles. It's not. Your fear comes from the early days of CVTs, when there were issues with some brands. Now fast forward to present reality please.

Honestly, you are just as likely to have an issue with a RAV4 gear shifting automatic transmission as you are in issue with a CVT in a CRV. From a pragmatic perspective, a CVT is a simpler design and hence less prone to failures.

Do you know why Honda uses a CVT in their CRV, but Toyota uses a conventional transmission in the RAV4?
1) CVTs are very dependent on torque (not horsepower) from the engine. Most engines, and this includes Toyota, have poor low end torque and hence a CVT will keep trying to shift around seeking torque. This may also be true of the 2015 CRVs, which had an older 2.4L engine rather than the newer 1.5T, but I yield to 2015 owners for more specifics on that.
2) The RAV4 is specified for higher towing capacity than CRVs I believe, and that often means the requirement for a gear shifting automatic transmission (similar to what Honda does for Pilots and Passports to boost towing capacity).

I would suggest you consider a model year 2017-2022, equipped with a 1.5T engine, used CRV if you want a CRV. Reason: The torque band is at full torque from 1500rpm to redline... meaning the CVT never struggles seeking torque and hence the combination of the 1.5T and the CVT (both of which are very tightly coupled and controlled electronically) works flawlessly. And there are not repeating field issues reported on this now 6 year old design either.

At the end of the day, your vehicle your choice, but your entrenched feelings about CVTs is misplaced with later model Hondas.

Tony_Tiger · Jan 23, 2023

@Dannynica I had the same concerns. I did a lot of research into this.
The CVT issues are mainly from the Nissan Jatco transmissions. Secondly previous engines were well not suited for the CVT. @williamsji comment is spot on. Honda purposly built the 1.5T to pair the CVT on the gen 5 to solve this issue.

If you take the average driver tootling around town, buying groceries, dropping off the kids, the occasional road trip etc. The Gen 5 CVT is fine. Its when you start doing heavy towing and not doing proper maintence. Then things will go wrong. The CRV with the CVT is not really made for that.

Nothing wrong with Toyota. But its old technology. Yes it works. Test drive both vehicles.

willie g · Jan 23, 2023

besides my CR-V, i have a '14 Civic with the 1.8L engine and CVT transmission. changed the fluid on a regular basis and that car is up around 160K miles currently - zero issues, none.

Nissan CVT's are hit and miss. Other makes i haven't heard of too many CVT failures. just like anything else, maintenance is your friend.

fdthird · Jan 24, 2023

Your money, your choice IMHO.

Tony H · Jan 26, 2023

Agree 100% CVTs are not ready for cars, keep them in light snowmobiles. Nissan Altimas had them... Only good for abut 130K miles. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has them, same deal only good for 120K miles. It wouldn't be bad if they could easily unbolt like an alternator and opened up easily to change out the belting and expanding pulley.

williamsji · Jan 27, 2023

Just because Nissan, and Mitsubishi can't design good CVTs is NO REASON to paint Honda CVTs with the same tainted brush.

It is a mistake, and misinformation, to try to prosecute all CVTs as evil just because a few brands are careless about their design approach.

Honda was late to introduce CVTs into their CRVs. Which is typical for Honda, to slow walk new technology into their vehicles until they are confident in their reliability. There is no history of reliability problems or short life on CVTs in CRVs.

davidsh331 · Jan 26, 2023

Don't slam the doors too hard on that RAV4. They sound like an empty coffee can.

Tony H · Jan 26, 2023

dussaultdc · Jan 26, 2023

Stick shift is the only way to go. Don’t care for CVT but everybody is using them now, can’t get away from them.

williamsji · Jan 27, 2023

A well designed CVT that is provided all the torque it wants/needs (CVTs live on torque from the engine) are a marvel of modern engineering.

The thing getting lost in all the discussion here about CVT good or CVT bad... is Honda designed the 1.5T engine and it's CVT together, with the express purpose of optimized performance and reliability (the Honda Way) over the full driving range of the vehicle. This engine pushes out maximum torque from 1500 rpm all the way up to redline. So in a CRV so equipped, the CVT is never doing what some brands CVTs are forced to do... over rev the engines to find the torque needed for the driving conditions at that moment.

ABCCRV2018 · Jan 26, 2023

You guys are just afraid of change. Have there been ANY members from here who have suffered a CVT failure?

I felt the same as you when I bought my 2018 CRV. I would have much rather had the 2.0L without the turbo and a normal automatic. It was a bit painful actually, because there were a few things that the base model had that I liked, but was forced to "give up" (real keys, real buttons on the radio, tires with a taller sidewall, etc) in order to bump up a trim level to get some other features that I wanted (adaptive cruise control, sunroof, better radio, etc).

After driving the car for almost 5 years though, the tiny 1.5L with the turbo and CVT have really grown on me. They really are a surprisingly good pair, and as far as I can tell, they are proving themselves to be plenty reliable as well. With or without the extended warranty.

HOTELLJACK1 · Jan 26, 2023

2017 CRV EX-L Turbo with Nav. Honda has had a lot of experience with CVT's. This is my first vehicle with Turbo or CVT and I had a concern about both when I bought the CRV. I have about 110,000 miles on it with no issues with the CVT/ Turbo and both are still working as they should.

I have seen a posting from an owner who also had a 2017 CRV on which he said that he had 300,000 miles on the CRV. He was posting because his vehicle had some odd issues which they traced to an unusual cause, a stretched Metal timing chain, and he was just posting to say consider a timing chain issue if you have a truly high mileage CRV with a metal timing chain. My takeaway from the posting, however, was that he said that at 300,000 miles both his 2017 CRV turbo & CVT were working fine.

Not a lot of drivers will put 300,000 miles and counting on a vehicle. I am almost 80 years old & have driven a lot of vehicles, both manual, standard automatic & now a CVT. Any transmission can have a poor design or be defective & some manufacturers are not known for having reliable transmissions or motors but for all of my vehicles, I have never had a major transmission issue. I have no problem with Honda's CVT.

Auxiliary · Jan 26, 2023

I’m not CRV bias. I have had plenty of CRVs as you can see in my signature and I’m not a fan of them. They are too loud on the road. These are wife’s. With that said I rented a rav4 last year so most likely a 2022 and I didn’t like it. My wife wanted me to rent it since I wanted her to get one. Not after that. You didn’t say if you were going new . If that is the case, we have the 2023 crv (gas) and I am sold. Quiet, smooth, love it. 2023 is night and day to our 2020 crv we had.
like others said Nissan’s are horrible. I had an equinox , 6 speed , 9k miles and the tranny would slip. I got rid of it and have a Toyota ECT.

TheDarkKnight · Jan 26, 2023

Subjective.

Whats noisy to you may not be for others.

Frank M 53 · Jan 26, 2023

My 2019 CR-V with 1.5 liter turbocharged engine, All Wheel Drive, and Continuously Variable Transmission have been flawless. I couldn't be happier with this car's performance. Only 57,000 miles so far but I would like to add that the Maintenance Minder does remind you when to change the transmission fluid. The literature I read online advised me to "be sure to also change the fluid in the transfer case (if equipped.)" The AWD vehicle has a transfer case but it is attached directly to the transmission, and shares the same fluid. No need to worry about another separate fluid change.

Johnny55555 · Jan 26, 2023

If you have AWD the rear differential needs to have the fluid changed.

Johnny55555 · Jan 26, 2023

I too am a bit leery about the CVT transmissions. I would of bought a Rav 4 too except for the fact my wife didn't like the seat position in the Rav 4. I have 2018 CRV Touring and so far am quite happy with it. Time will tell about the CVT.

rhody401 · Jan 26, 2023

I own two 2015 Honda CR-V Touring models, purchased for our family at the same time.

The CVT transmissions have been fantastic, and I think almost all brands use them now. Zero complaints from me, and I wont hesitate to get another CVT when I get a 2023 soon.

mrtn · Jan 26, 2023

Do fluid changes every 30K and you'll be fine. CVT creates metal flakes by design and is also designed to handle it but frequent fluid changes will make sure your transmission will last the lifetime of the car.

KCKENOP · Jan 26, 2023

My 2018 CRV had to have the transmission replaced within about six months of purchase. Luckily it was under warranty.

Garfy · Jan 26, 2023

Of all the CVTs out there, I trust the current Honda ones most because Honda learned a lot from their first foray into CVTs back in 2000 with the Civic HX which were very troublesome; most barely lasted 60,000 miles and lots of dealers were replacing them under warranty despite having gone past the 3 yr/36K base warranty. The new CVTs introduced in 2015 on the Fit, CR-V and Accord and in most 4 cylinder models in 2016 and up shows their commitment to it. I do know that CVTs are not capable currently of handling high power which explains why the V6 Hondas have conventional automatics as well as the 2.0L turbo Accords which had a 10-speed automatic early on. The 1.5L turbo had a CVT.

Rcfrauton · Jan 26, 2023

When shopping for my 2018 CRV, I, too, had reservations about CVT transmissions. Those reservations disappeared after my test drive. Honda seems to have refined the CVT just like they have refined their cars. I drove the 2018 for 3 years and am now driving a 2020 CRV. The CVT has never been an issue and, in fact, a big improvement over the constant hunting and shifting of the multi-gear “traditional” transmission, IMHO. My sister-in-law has a 2022 RAV4 which I recently drove. I find the engine sound and multiple gear shifts very annoying.

John72! · Jan 26, 2023

We have had three Honda CRVs and have had zero problems with the CVT transmissions.

PoppaJimbo · Jan 26, 2023

TESTIMONY OF A REPENTANT MOTORHEAD:
Speaking as a 65 year old motorhead who enjoyed my muscle car's power 'back in the day', and who swore I would never own a vehicle with a 'golfcart' CVT tranny, I am highly impressed with our 2020's CVT, yes sir!! Powered by our 1.5 Turbocharged power plant, it has plenty of power to pass slower vehicles, more than enough for ramping onto interstates, and will get us safely through an amber traffic light in a flash. Our CR-V is not a muscle car, I 'have that' with my '13 Accord V6 when I want to blow some carbon out the pipes. Our CR-V is our comfortable, quiet and reliable ride that is a pleasure to drive. We look forward to keeping it at least a decade or so, just like our Accord, paid off and built to last.

So, there it is. My perception of the worthiness of CVT trannys is a major 'yeh man', a complete 180 degree turn from my only previous CVT driving experience, which was when I drove a rental Altima POS with a CVT that felt like a golfcart with a major rubber band. I swore I would never own a CVT. If you buy a well-built vehicle, with a well-matched Engine-CVT drivetrain, you get a reliable machine, good mileage, and a long lifespan with committed maintenace.

8dragon · Jan 26, 2023

Exactly what I am doing. Honda is also pushing the 1.5L turbo engine with direct injection only (Toyota combines their direct injection with port injection to eliminate valve deposits). Remains to be seen how reliable this Honda engine will be. If you are considering a hybrid then it appears you will get the 2L engine with a e-CVT transmission which is nothing like the typical CVT. To see the difference between CVTs & e-CVTs you can check out videos on YouTube (Weber Auto & SpeedKarr).

HONDA CRVS " CVT transmissions"

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