Honda CVT Reliability: What You Need to Know

[@donh215]

So, CVTs are cheaper for the manufacturers to produce vs traditional a/t’s, but more expensive for the consumer to replace (& maintain) when it goes out. Got it

[@18_rabbit]

yep and there went the reputations of Honda namely and to a much lesser extent Toyota even perhaps!

[@heyitswesty]

save the manuals

[@keithsanders2792]

$$$$$$$$$

[@tocreatee3585]

toyota and honda CVT are much better than others. then mazda , shubaru.... the absolute worst are Hyundai KIA.

[@keithsanders2792]

@@tocreatee3585 Yes, I know, but if they're cheaper to make why aren't they cheaper to repair/replace is my question. Things aren't made to last, they're made to replace now. Built in obsolescence. It's a shame.

[@anaveragehuman2937]

Watching all these prices skyrocket and "supply chain issues" makes me want to get a base model civic with a manual transmission and just call it done

[@donovanfahrbach2493]

No longer supply chain issues,but rather manufacturers scaling back production to keep prices high,..in other words,they are no longer overproducing cars.

[@redcatxb125]

That would be the move

[@Scroll_Lock]

@@donovanfahrbach2493 False, manufacturers always want to sell as much of their product as possible. Inflation and high interest rates are making people hold onto their current vehicles longer. MSRP has gone up on traditional vehicles to cover losses manufacturers are taking producing EV's which the government has forced them into doing. CAFE fines are major pain in manufacturers asses and CARB regulations cause ICE engine design to be more costly. The government sticking its fingers into the private market is always the culprit, not some mythical capitalist fat man behind a desk smoking a cigar rolled with $1000 bills. Good ole Marxists Union workers are also a big driver in vehicle prices going up. The UAW strike didn't help any consumer one bit.

[@donovanfahrbach2493]

@@Scroll_Lock This is all true.. No dispute there ,however they have scaled back manufacturing as well to keep prices higher… I should have expanded on my previous comment… as far as the government, they have been up their asses for years, but I stick with my previous comment..it is not false with due respect.. of course, many are hanging onto the vehicles ,which you just illustrated my point as far as them not manufacturing as many as they did before the pandemic .Btw, the point I was making that it was NOT a supply chain issue now…which is absolutely fact… that’s what I was addressing.

[@Scroll_Lock]

@@donovanfahrbach2493 Fair enough. One of the big reasons I think many 2023 models are still sitting on lots is because they massively overproduced supply knowing that the UAW strike was coming. That settled sooner than I predicted but also retooling for 2024 models with some new generations coming out will limit production when the current market conditions are not favorable to seller or buyer. It's basically a near perfect storm no matter how I look at it. I'm hoping things move back closer to normal in a couple years because I need to buy a truck.

[@slowpokemax]

I live in Singapore and have been driving my 2015 Honda Vezel (HRV) for 8.5 years now. I have been changing my CVT transmission fluid ( Original Honda CVT fluid, HCF-2) religiously at every 40,000km and the cost of the fluid and labor is only SGD100 which I honestly think is not expensive considering that Singapore is the most expensive place in the world when it comes to cars and anything related to cars. My car has clocked about 104.000km to date and the engine and CVT transmission is still smooth and nice.

[@ez_556]

Good for you but that’s just luck. CVT’s aren’t meant to last and that’s a fact. It doesn’t matter if you take care of it or not. It’s meant to die at a certain mileage.

[@kinluke]

​​@@ez_556 you might want to be careful before generalising nonsense. I've got many friends with 2016 Honda Civics with the turbo engines, the Honda Fits, the Honda Graces and they've all clocked in over 180,000km. The Civic owners have had their cars modded pushing over 280 hp and 300 NM of torque. They're all still running perfectly fine. I myself drive a 2017 Honda Civic FK7 and I've just gotten past 168,000km. CVT is still smooth as butter. Still finding it unbelievable? There are many people even on KZbin who've testified. Heck, I've seen videos of Civics with well over 300,000km on the clock and the CVTs are going strong. As long as you're changing your CVT fluid diligently, the likelihood of them failing is super slim and that's a fact. Can't blame the CVTs for breaking apart when the owners themselves have neglected the maintenance schedules. Period!

[@ez_556]

@@kinluke yeah that’s cap. I have had Nissan before with their bad CVT’s and as well people who had Honda Fits. I can literally show you the video how it makes no difference and as well saving money compare to old transmission. Toyota Corolla with their 4 speed. That fact you think because Hondas last forever especially with their CVT’s. I love Hondas but I don’t like their weak transmissions and i don’t like their oil delution that’s going on their engines now. You should read that topic by the way if you were living under rock. Not everything looks what it seems.

[@ez_556]

@@kinluke by the way how about you listen to Scotty Kilmer since he tells you facts about it. CVT’s are cheap to manufacture and that’s also a fact. Why do you think every car company still make those transmissions? To save more money for them.

[@ez_556]

@@kinluke not only that I am talking about transmissions that last 500k miles and I guarantee you it will never reach that mileage when it comes to a CVT. Even if you take care of it, changing the fluid and etc. IT wont last and that’s a fact. You don’t like to hear idc but the truth is there. Scotty Kilmer if you need more information and the video i seen if you still want to know more about it. Other than that have a good day.

[@ryancroon5131]

My wife and I both have cvt's in our honda's. Staying on top of the fluid change is the key like noted in the vid. As a side note, if you have the k20c2 matched to a cvt, put it in 'S' and enjoy the vtec range thanks to the cvt.

[@edubb2491]

He says maintance is more expensive on the cvt..no it aint..all it is is 1 drain plug..jus like a oil change..I do it myself! Reg tanny..you have a mess..and 12 bolts! Lol

[@abraham3981]

Yes they are more expensive to service since they also have two filters to replace, which is recommended to do every other fluid change. One circular filter on the side of the trans and the strainer assembly filter on the valve body. To get to the strainer assembly you have to drop the pan which further requires a pan gasket replacement. They require more fluid and even more if you replace the filters vs the manual which is the other transmission option honda currently offers even in the 2.0L N/A civic hatch.

[@knucklesofficial9213]

@@edubb2491 He's referring to if it has actual issues...

[@mark1nyc]

Advantage: Cheaper for the manufacturer Disadvantage: Expensive to replace Basically a win-win for manufacturers

[@iiddrrii6051]

160k on mine. Change fluid every 20k. Costs $30

[@vienduong8842]

2010 Honda Insight, 356,200 miles. Original hybrid battery and original transmission oil. Still averages about 34 miles per gallon.

[@I_know_what_im_talking_about]

That’s ridiculous.

[@yusufsesay6648]

@@I_know_what_im_talking_aboutin a good or bad way?

[@I_know_what_im_talking_about]

@@yusufsesay6648 - LOL. Both I guess. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m amazed that it lasted that long and at the same time, I’m appalled that nothing has been serviced that long. 😤

[@GraemeWant]

I am an old guy, 75 years of age. Bought my first manual car, an English made 1948 850CC Morris 8 Series E at the age of 15. Have had many Manual cars and Automatic cars since then. The 2nd to last car I bought was a 2007 Honda Jazz Sport with a CVT. I looked at a number of smaller cars at that time and decided that if it was not a CVT then I was not interested. I have now done 250,000 Kilometers . The engine is still like new. The CVT is the one with the auto clutch, not a torque converter. Hence it does have that slight shudder problem sometimes, but apart from that it is performing extremely well. When I go to pass a car, I just put the accelerator to the floor and off it goes, no drama and I hold up no one. With a normal automatic I am not game to do that. You are correct about the cost of that Oil. Really expensive. However I have only had to have the CVT Oil changed twice so far. The last car I bought was a 2nd hand 2013 Honda Accord 3.5L i-VTEC VCM with 180,000 Kilometers. It has a 5 Speed auto. CVT was not an option on that car. I don't like VCM so I disabled it.

[@thromboid]

My 2006 Fit (aka Jazz) had the CVT start clutch judder when I bought it off a friend. Regular fluid changes with genuine Honda CVTF help, but there is also a transmission stall test you can perform to burnish the clutch, and the Xado Revitalizant treatment also works wonders.

[@thromboid]

Not sure if KZbin will let me link but the hondafitjazz site has the stall test instructions.

[@thromboid]

I wish we could still get the genuinely small cars with the classic British undersquare engines under 1000 cc. The other day I saw a late model Mini Clubman parked next to a 1980s Jeep Cherokee and the Mini looked bigger!

[@GraemeWant]

@@thromboid Thanks for that info.

[@thromboid]

@@GraemeWant I also tried to post a link or at least search terms for the stall test instructions but KZbin's comments don't seem to allow anything resembling an actual Web address. Let's try again...

[@ItsAlive111]

$5k to $10k is a big range for a Honda Civic CVT coming from a Honda mechanic. Imagine getting a quote like that 😅

[@georges.7683]

The video contained quite a few ambiguous statements like that. I would have preferred something more specific like, we just replaced a CVT in a 2021 Honda HR-V with X miles for X $.

[@neilkurzman4907]

I’m about six months ago somebody in front of me at the Honda dealership was getting a quote of 6000 for a transmission. But I don’t know which one.

[@femaledeer]

He doesn't want to disclose the real total cost

[@ItsAlive111]

@@femaledeer shady

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

We work on all models of Honda's, not just the Civic I own that you saw in the video. Pricing changes by a large amount based on year, make and model. Our cost and availability from suppliers is quite volatile lately also. If anyone suspects they need a replacement, call us with the vin and miles and we can work up an exact quote. We always do for our customers before we ever do any work. Actual work day vs. making a youtube video obviously has it differences.

[@fatherdanmclaughlinosa3215]

I have a Honda 2020 CR-V with a CVT transmission and 25,000 miles. I get the same city mpg as my previous Honda 2011 Accord. On long highway trips the mpg is very good. The CVT is able to respond well from having to accelerate quickly when entering an expressway. I am pleased with my Honda CR-V.

[@BA-gn3qb]

Many people won't do simple maintenance on their cars, and wonder why they break. $130 CVT fluid service at my dealership is worth it.

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

Wow! That is a great price. What area do you live?

[@BA-gn3qb]

@@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton - Gates Honda in Richmond Kentucky.

[@cedricjackson7521]

You said that so correctly. Maintaining your vehicle is the most important thing. You can do to keep the vehicle on the road

[@adamnagel7436]

It is also pretty easy to do by yourself.

[@gkoknok6076]

Have a 2014 Accord. Changed CVT fluid every 30k, car runs like NEW. Over 150k on it.

[@Gunner-y1y]

I have a 2016, civic, 1.5 turbo with CVT. Nowe at 227000k , no issues, change fluid and filter every 30000k, they are a bit sluggish off The line but fast as a Bunny in sport mode

[@notcomplying]

Wow lucky. My 2018 1.5t hatchback didn’t even make it to 120k before CVT transmission completely failed.

[@natas12rm]

@@notcomplyingdid you do drain and fills and filter changes every 25k at dealer?

[@Flyingfast79]

Have a 2016 accord sport with a CVT, it has 128,000 miles and the cvt runs great, no issues at all. I change the cvt oil every 30,000 miles.

[@gaaarrryyy5]

The biggest things I don't like about the CVT in my 2014 accord are the amount of vibration it puts off when in drive while idling, the lurchiness when driving low speeds, and how these things are becoming more prevalent at 70k miles. I would have steered away from the CVT in hindsight, but it's been a fantastic car outside of worries and some buzziness that is kind of characteristic of a Honda

[@Nogocat]

I had similar issue with my civic thinking it was the cvt, but a mechanic found that my transmission mount was failing. $100 later (this includes mechanic’s labor in it- new mount was $25) with a new mount no more vibration at launch from stop.

[@Julian-il4oi]

My 22 civics cvt jerks pretty bad when it up shifts at low speeds and yes the lurchiness..not a fan. But my wife's 2014 accords cvt us awesome..weird

[@michaelmccafferty7341]

2013 Honda Accord with 112000 miles. CVT serviced every 30k. No problems yet, excluding the starter replacement just after the warranty expired.

[@nwnelson66]

I own a 2014 Honda Accord Sport with a CVT. Every time I search on Honda CVT reliability, the articles and videos keep circling back to Nissan CVT issues, and the recommendation to avoid all CVTs based on Nissan. I wish people would stop lumping Honda in with Nissan. I haven't had any problems with my Honda transmission.

[@josephj.ibbetsonjr.8927]

Thank you for educating me on cvt transmission

[@thomas4315]

I had a Honda hybrid cvt that had a sliding problem, I tell you what mistake people do. Because it’s a rubber steel belts that goes over a round cone. You can’t just gas it your polishing it smooth, you need to let it grab first let it load and start moving, or just let it creap forward Then baby the gas till about 5-10 mph then you can 1/2 trottle it and go flying, it become habit and you never slip the belt.

[@TontoBongRonto]

Was way nervous about the CVT on the 2014 accord. Bought it with 20k miles, it now has 292K, CVT wines a bit but its been doing good this whole time. She going to 400K boys.

[@JasPlun]

That is the reason I went with Toyota on my wife's car. I do not like CVT transmissions and Honda not offering an alternative costs them customers. I like Honda and would have purchased an Accord over the Camry had it had the option of a regular automatic. I do know if you service a CVT often like every 25k-30k miles and drive them carefully they can make it to 200k miles got a family member right now with an original CVT in his Nissan Maxima that just hit 200k miles. He has done fluid and filter changes every 25k miles on it. Did the work himself to save money, but its really easy.

[@georgepappas4628]

Hello from Australia 🇦🇺. We are a Honda and Mazda family because they make excellent reliable cars. We just updated my wife's 2015 Honda CRV with a conventional auto with a 2021 CRV with a CVT. Although I like the new CRV, I must say the older one drove better. I also worry about the long-term reliability of the CVT.

[@larrysalyer1025]

Did not know what a CVT transmission was before seeing this video. I makes me want to think long before buying a CVT auto. Thanks

[@harborcbs]

I live in the mountains and having a CVT is almost a necessity. My last vehicle with a traditional automatic trans. would hunt for gears and lug the engine going up mountain roads to the point that it would bang back and forth between gears. It would never find the right gear to be in. My Honda CR-V would climb my roads like a champ with a steady RPM and no banging or excessive shifting or engine lugging. I did all my own work on my vehicle and would change the CVT fluid every 3rd engine oil change. I change my engine oil @ 5000 mile intervals. Never a problem. Why do you say it's more complicated to change fluid on a CVT? I find it easier than doing an engine oil change. There's a drain plug and a check plug. Put back what came out and run up to operating temp, pull the check plug let any excess drain and you're done. 170k when I traded it in without any problems.

[@kenhoward3512]

What you're indicating is that you previously had a poorly-designed traditional automatic, and/or, that you neglected to shift it manually into a lower gear for hill climbing. It's great if you like CVTs, have fun, but I wouldn't own one, and am thankful that you don't find them in more-upscale vehicles, in which manufacturers don't prioritize fuel economy and lower production cost above *all* else.

[@In-obscurity-n7j]

👍🏻 All information is good information thank you. Something doesn't make sense. The increased cost of servicing the CVT, aside from the cost of the fluid. The Honda Civic has a drain plug and a fill hole at the top. No filter to replace, no need to crack the pan. Should be a simple drain measure the amount of fluid and refill. I don't understand the inflated price. I am referring to the 11 gen if that makes a difference.

[@tolrem]

If they are anything like the Toyota 8 speed trans. it's really rather complicated involving the computer and exact temperature of fluid requirement.It's a whole complicated step by step procedure which must be adhered to.There's no dipstick on the new transmissions which makes it really tricky in not underfilling/overfilling.Maybe the CVT is similar and this accounts for the expense involved.The CVTs on the hybrid Toyotas anyway are a planetary system of gears so are not really a CVT as such.Extremely reliable in this case.

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

When you drain it using the drain plug, you only get about 50% of the fluid out. The torque convertor, valve body and other parts are still holding a good amount of fluid. Then you fill it back up and the first time you start it, it mixes the new fluid with the old fluid. It seems wasteful but if we find the fluid to be dark, we drain and fill it twice in order to get as much old fluid out and new fluid in. Obviously we are car guys so we are very particular. The key is to drain and fill it before the fluid breaks down. Then you are typically ok to just exchange what comes out the drain the first time.

[@LoveLikeaHurricane]

there is a CVT filter to replace

[@redcatxb125]

From what ive seen and the research ive done, the main killers of cvt’s is not doing consistent fluid changes every 30,000-50,000 miles, and accelerating aggressively from a stop, which is where the most stress and strain is put on a cvt. If you want it to last you have to accelerate gently from a stop, ive seen nissan sentras/versas go 160-190k on their original cvt bc the owners take care of them and are gentle with the accelerator pedal.

[@AG-uh9bf]

why would you want a commuter car that you have to baby on the acceleration out of every traffic light?

[@redcatxb125]

@@AG-uh9bf im not arguing that cvt's are the go to option for a daily lol, Im just saying with good maintainance they can last longer than the internet would have you believe. A regular automatic is a lot more tolerant to neglect and abuse than a cvt is. Myself I only drive manual transmissions, so none of the automatic/cvt crap applies to me :)

[@ibrahimeltony4865]

Yup .. That's a fact whatever you do you will change it at the end of the day changing the oil regularly just makes it just a delay process before changing the complete set

[@toddh2410]

I have 109,000 on my 2018 civic sport turbo cvt. I change the fluid every 30,000. No cvt or engine problems at all. Really good power and mileage!!

[@1976axerhand]

Toyota has a physical launch gear, which will put less stress on the cvt.

[@gaaarrryyy5]

I am pretty sure a lot of the Hondas do too

[@1976axerhand]

@@gaaarrryyy5 nope. i thought about in back in 2018 but they never actually added it.

[@brianmiller1077]

And you don't have to have such a range of ratios on the belt part of the transmission

[@gtgodbear6320]

Another good benefit is that you don't want to floor it. I'm afraid to hurt my CVT so I drive very conservatively now. I haven't went over 3.5k RPMs in my 16 CRV. I still had to replace a head gasket in its 2.4 though. Even though I drive like an old person now. So it must've been a faulty gasket or head torqued wrong.

[@fullthrottle2656]

If you can change the engine oil on a car, you can easily change the oil on Honda CVT's. It's no different. Drain plug, fill hole, level plug. It's that easy and the Fluid is not a crazy price $60-$70 total. So doing preventative maintenance is not harder than a conventional transmission.

[@Jack51971]

Samsonite made a suitcase that was so good they dropped it out of a helicopter and it would not break. Why did they stop making it? It was too good? 😊

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

Haha. I get where you are going. It does seem a little strange that some proven good things get changed

[@rambug99]

😎 Just sold our first gen 97 Honda CRV and we're going to miss it after having it 26 yrs. It was a very dependable, very reliable but we did not go back with Honda because of the CVT failure rates they dropped from like number one. The number six on customer satisfacts and independability. The only issue we had was with a rear end all-wheel drive but it wasn't major. Another thing to keep the fluid changed in. A first gen ridge line is still on our list because of the four-wheel drive. Not all wheel drive. We did just pick up a third gen Toyota Prius after doing her research and we've been well. Satisfied a little adjustment to the driving habit, but until you drive one you won't understand how much fun they really are and 53 to 61 MPG is great. My wife and I both love the Prius now. Finding a good used ridgeline is like a needle in a haystack. People keep them three and four hundred thousand miles. That alone should make a statement. Good videos.

[@DaveO-te1iv]

Engineered to fail is a term that comes to mind with CVTs. Looking at the market right now, some segments seem to either only have vehicles with CVTs, or if they don't, then come with tiny, highly stressed turbocharged engines with nonsense oil bathed rubber timing belts. It really feels like automakers are designing cars that can't last as long as they used to just to keep buyers coming back to the trough.

[@HR-wd6cw]

The longevity of CVTs vs geared transmission is what gets me, and I'm still not sold on CVTs. Yes they are making them better now than they did 10-20 years ago but I'm still not sold on them. The fuel savings I feel don't justify the potential costs to replace the CVT and if it ends up being $5k or more (which it would for a geared transmission too probably) it's almost not worth it, and from what I know, failures can creep up quicker with a CVT I feel than a geared trans. A geared trans may start to slip, not shift or rev high or slam into gears which would be a sign of a problem that you can address or at least have looked at, but from the people I know who have CVTs they sometimes didn't get much warning, or it was very short noticed. (I actually drove a geared transmission that was slipping and wouldn't shift into the top gear -- so 5th gear) for about 2 years. I knew the whole time it was going bad but the vehicle wasn't worth replacing the transmission in and I stll managed to get about 1.5-2 years out of it like that (of course since it could only run in 1-4th gear, it got pretty bad gas mileage and it's top speed was maybe 75 MP before redlining but it still ran fine long enough for me to get 18 or so months out of it, whereas a CVT may not give you that much time. Of course geared transmission can fail quickly too, but I think this is less likely, and they generally give you more warning than a CVT. I would say for the service part, geared transmissions are more tolerant to lack of fluid changes, with some people never changing the fluids and still managing to get 200k out of a transmission. I'm pretty diligent and do them at 60k (have a 8-speed geared automatic trans) because the way I see it, throughout the life of the vehicle, $400 trans fluid changes every 5 years is still cheaper than replacing a trans in my view and is cheap insurance to make sure you can get the most out of your transmission (that and also driving like a normal person and not like you stole the thing).

[@patriciayuen8541]

I sold my toyota alphard with a conventional auto. the fluids I change every 20000 kms. I know its going to last forever. Took me a long time to decide to change to a low milage Estima with a cvt to start again. I did and its not bad. But I know it may not last as long,whAT i CAN DO IS TO CHANGE THE FLUIDS OFTEN EVERY 20 TO 30k i SUPPOSE. And not ot accelerate suddenly , just gradually that may put more life in it. I think with my previous alphard with this maintainace in the auto it should go half a million kms plus. when I sold it it was 250Ks. So with this type of family car U do not thrash it treat it gently and it repays you. If you want to go fast take a car with dual clutch, I do that in my i30 N it

[@bwest-yq3uc]

Like to hear reviews on Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

[@ItsAlive111]

Yeah, Toyota Repair Nut channel hasn’t flagged the Toyota CVTs as an issue with reliability. Boring, fuel saving yes, but never mentioned a thing about $5k to $10k like for a Civic CVT

[@18_rabbit]

@@ItsAlive111 yeah i watch him too but fact is that the parts and labor are gonna be around those prices ie depending on how damaged, but due to labor i'ts always gonna be several k's to do ANYthing on it and usually way way more bcuz as this guy says, the fluid degrades and then kaput. 8K easily and way more on some. Subies are megabucks for them and almost all fail by upper 100k's

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

We plan to start a series on Toyota in the next few moths. stay tuned

[@Nogocat]

I have a 2003 civic hybrid with a cvt. It is approaching 300k miles and no issue with the cvt. I change the cvt fluid about every 50k miles. BTW, spend the money and purchase the Honda cvt fluid because the one time I didn’t that fluid didn’t last long before I swapped it back to the Honda brand fluid. It cost about $10 a quart for the Honda brand and the civic takes about 3.5 quarts.

[@Kaywonlee]

servicing honda cvt fluid is easy. you just take out warmer filter replaced and refill. it takes less than 30 mins. ?

[@JJ-iw7nh]

Why take the warmer off when you can use the drain plug?

[@Kaywonlee]

@@JJ-iw7nh there is a warmer filter. You don’t really have to change. But idk why he is saying cvt regular service is expensive. It’s just as easy as engine oil change

[@JJ-iw7nh]

@@Kaywonlee never seen a warmer filter in my life. I have seen transmission filters on some Honda's. Is there a part number for that?

[@Kaywonlee]

@@JJ-iw7nh 25450-P4V-013 I just call it warmer filter. It’s located beneath the battery. You just unscrew 3 bolts and swap one of that orange filter. Lots of shops don’t do that they just drain and refill

[@JJ-iw7nh]

@@Kaywonlee must have missed that. I'll look tomorrow when I am work at the Honda dealership

[@IanBloomfield-m3y]

Sweet spot running , less wear on the engine. All that noise and revving as spaced gears change is wasted energy. CVT must be run gently, it is surprisingly peppy when you do. And it will last and last when properly serviced. In proper operation it never slips, you just need to adjust to a different operating noise. And on uphill slopes you can overtake much bigger vehicles that do not have the advantage of infinite gear selection between bottom and top gear. It also gives good engine holding on long downhill slopes. The Nissan electronic button downshift can be used to bring back memories of manual drive whilst going through town intersections. There is no good reason to want to lay rubber at every take-off.

[@Fadic4]

I have 2016 Civic LX with 105k miles on it, I have been changing the CVT oil every 30k miles. If I make it to 250k with no issues I’ll be happy.

[@leecampbell9498]

What were the last yrs that civic and accord used a regular transmission?

[@coreturkoane5570]

2012

[@noelleonard2498]

13 was the last 5 speed auto for the civic and 14 was the last year for accord.

[@SageMode714]

@@noelleonard2498pretty sure the 10th generaltion accords used an regular automatic transmission. The new 11th gen only comes in hybrid and cvt though.

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

I believe that the transition was around 12,13,14. I work on all makes and models so I also have to use my software as a cheat sheet once a vehicle is in my shops

[@coreturkoane5570]

@@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton if I'm not mistaken the new accord with the 2.0 engine has the option with a 10 speed transmission instead of the cvr transmission

[@tomslick2058]

Made in Mexico to. I leased. Although my dealer gives a free lifetime warranty on drive train. Of course you better maintain according to schedule. The Toyotas are lasting.

[@tomellis7949]

I just bought a 2024 Honda CRV. What mileage would you recommend changing the fluid? And would this be a benefit to help eliminate a failure. Thanks love the vids.

[@npolite22]

A lot of people suggest 30k miles. I've changed my ATF fluid every 30k in my 07 TSX and it still runs perfectly. I have 125k miles but it is 17 years old (was bought in 2006)

[@donovanfahrbach2493]

Do it every 30,000 miles, and only at the dealership..Dont do any towing, as it will shorten the lifespan of the cvt…I have a 2013 Honda Accord with a cvt and I have 167’000 miles on it now.. Mostly city driving as it’s used commercially…you will get 200,000 miles at least with fluid changes as recommended…these failures this mechanic is talking about are MOSTLY because these transmissions are NOT serviced with 30,000 mile fluid changes…lack of maintaining these are the main why some fail under 100,000 miles.. these units are intolerant of lack of fluid changes..this is my observation of only the Honda cvts…stay away from Nissan cvts…they are terrible..

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

I agree with other comments. Every 30k miles. The Civic in the video is one of my loaner vehicles and was getting its first fluid service at 32k miles. You can see the fluid was fairly dark.

[@anthonysuhadolnik948]

In my Honda, accord 13. I did it every third 25000 miles. I have 196000. I always took care of my car never Drove it hard. Tranny, starting to make noise like a light winding noise. Everything ships all right, but I'm afraid to take it on the trip now. Hearing some humming noise is not a good sound. I'm p*****

[@XayVeeNo]

My moms 2020 ex w the L15B7 paired w the cvt and hers has a mishimoto trans cooler, dp, cai, phearable 1.5 tune and around 47k miles and ive properly maintain the powertrain and car itself, accelerates just as well as it did at 2k miles when she was first tuned and fitted w the few performance parts. I prefer my 2010 5 spd k24 accord but the cvt is nice to drive for regular people but yeah i thoght her shi was broke when we picked it up from the dealership w only 14 miles on the odometer and no tune but to each their own.💪🏽we still love @Honda tho

[@NatureBoy12100]

So you like the feeling when it shifts gears? Your dislike of this feature of a CVT is not a negative thing for other people. Most of my family and friends who have a vehicle with a CVT, love the smoothness and the non shifting that a regular automatic transmission does not have. This is a BIG positive for them. If your intent is to give information about the "Honda CVT reliability", the non shifting of the CVT has nothing to do with that. You gave three postive points about the CVT and really only one bad point, "It is more expensive over the long term". None of this has to do with reliability.

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

My 18 Forester 6MT gets miles a gallon better than my wife's newer 20 Outback with CVT. During the subzero two weeks we had this winter, she got 21-23mpg while I got 25, and have never had under 24. I also feel more grounded to the car, and to the ground. The CVT is like trying to walk with both legs having been sat on the toilet rim too long.

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

Haha. Love the description and yes..I agree

[@DS..69]

I have 180k miles on my 2014 Civic CVT. No issues. I change the transmission fluid every 30k miles, like clockwork. Synthetic oil goes into the engine. If it gets to 200k miles, I will have gotten my money's worth imho. Ive had regular geared transmissions fail at lower mileage. My next car will probably be a non CVT. No stick, im past that age for those. I just miss the jolt of a gear kicking down feel. Lol

[@charleshines5700]

The thing you mentioned about high failure rates is true. Did you know Audi had CVTs in a couple of their cars? Now they don't! I guess they saw the writing on the wall and realized that CVTs were not reliable. Also they may have disliked the way CVTs operate and decided not to use them also because of that. When they did use them that was a somewhat long time ago. I don't know if any VAG vehicles have a CVT any more. Maybe if they do still use any that is in Europe. I have a Nissan with a CVT and a lot of people despise those.

[@allanpontiere6177]

I have a 2017 CRV with the 1.5 turbo and CVT. It has 105,000 miles. I have my oil changed every 5000 miles and my CVT fluid changed every 40,000 miles with OEM Honda fluid. “Knock on wood” but it runs like the day I bought it. My mechanic told me that I can easily get 200,000 miles or more. Don’t give your money to the stealer-ships! Put a car payment away every month and keep your car as long as you can!! …..actually I love the way the CVT works in my CRV…..smooth as silk!!

[@Hard_7_Iron]

We live in Asia about 6 months a year. People think Im crazy for never buying a CVT. They view them as “top of the line”….I view them as EXPENSIVE and unreliable! Keep giving me those manuals, and I can keep my car outta the shop.

[@benitoloco899]

Shadetree Auto, you forgot that CVT's aren't great for people who tune and modify their Hondas. You don't see them redline and putting them on the dyno can be a nightmare for shops, given the constant change in gear ratios to optimize fuel efficiency.

[@mileshodge3477]

What about e-cvt? How many of those are you servicing?

[@rusack7174]

See elsewhere, e-CVT's are just marketing speak for the geartrain that handles power from the electric motor and gas engine., nothing like an actual CVT.

[@mileshodge3477]

@rusack7174 so it's not a continuous variable transmission in anyway?

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

We are not seeing the e-cvt in our shop yet. It usually takes a while in our area for them to come out of factory warranty and enough people to buy before we start seeing them regularly

[@mileshodge3477]

@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton thats good given they been out a while. Just the technology in general

[@Mikemikemike232]

With auto makers being forced to do whatever it takes for more mpg reliability has gone down across the board. Tho on the bright side once a vehicle is broken down it cant pollute anymore

[@AustinPowers1324]

So what is the alternative if most manufacturers are going that way?

[@andrewb2637]

CVT transmission fluid cost from Honda dealership is like $200. Regular automatic in the 2.0 is about $500

[@gflores7018]

Thank you for the video Good to know

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

Glad it was helpful. Thank you for your support

[@cedricparkinson3635]

I like the CVT in my 2021 KIA Rio compact car, it is very smooth and so far trouble free and I prefer it to a DCT or an auto with gears and it is very responsive.

[@rafeebuet]

Thank you for this and other content in the channel. The question I have is, “how ecvt compares with cvt? ecvt = 2 motor hybrid system Honda uses.

[@mikedeans7228]

Ive owned 7 honda/acuras all with manuals the past 30 years and no issues ever. I changed the MTF with honda fluids every 30k miles and engine oil every 3k miles myself with no exceptions. Never ever had any warranty claims and do All my own maintenance. Been turning my wrenches since age 10 riding motocross bikes. Since manauls are no longer available in civics with the k20c2 engines in the 11th gen chassis and the L15 turbo engine is junk as its a Fit engine with a turbo and not an option i would consider. Ive own/ owned 2 8th gen Si's with k20z3 powerplants, 2007 accord with k24, two 95 EG's Civic project cars with k20a2 and k24a2/k20a2 Frankenstein all with manual gearboxes. Honda has left me with no options when looking for a new daily. Thanks Honda!! Id love to see the acura dual clutch auto used in the 2.4 ILX in newer chassis's but honda is looking out for honda. Bet they are making a killing on cvt replacements. Especially when todays manufacturers have extended oil and fluid replacement schedules which is criminal imho and im sure you gearheads out there totally get my drift. Consumers Trust manufactures maintenance schedules and think manufacturers surely know whats best to get longevity. If your one of these like myself who keep there cars 10 years or more you also get it. Some manufacturers use wording such as Lifetime Fluid (toyota transmission). Uneducated consumers believe that to means never replacing the fluids but the truth is they mean Lifetime of the Warranty. Get it? Dont trust manufacturers and change your fluids often and dont forget hydraulic fluids( brake and clutch master cylinders) every two years. Don't forget to replace oem coolant every few years. The money you spend will pay dividends in longevity. Just purchase a 2024 Integra Type S as it only comes with 6 speed manual and its a Beast. I cant seem to get away from K series architecture which is hondas most robustly built short blocks. My name is Mike and im Addicted to VTEC!! Cheers All!

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

Thnaks MIke! Preach brother...haaha

[@Dodgyasdf]

Every time someone mentions something about my cvt, I remind myself that I bought the 10 yr warranty and don't have to care.

[@ting2222]

The STP CVT transmission on my 2013 Honda accord just costed me $7600 to replace. It just went caput on freeway without any warning. So did the regular auto on 2005 Honda odyssey, the 1999 Honda accord. Honda transmissions suck. My next car will be either a Toyota or EV.

[@ApArt1003]

2016 crv with 117k km no problem yet.

[@suwisalperera9796]

Where is the savings from gas if one has to spend 5 to 10 thousand dollars to replace them after 50 to 60 thousand miles?

[@roberttroutman6780]

Better get used to having a no shifting feel, as in a CVT transmission, because when everything goes electric they’ll be no transmission at all.

[@Sirvivhor328]

Thank you SO MUCH! I've subscribed now!

[@khuramjavaid]

If you dont drive the car same amount, lets say 15k miles in 2 years and still the time barred come to chagne oil. Should you change or wait for the mileage to reach 25-30K? Thanks. I heard too frequent fluid changes also not recommended.

[@BrendaGrieken]

I have a Honda accord and I have to buy a vehicle. This is very sad. I wonder how much we actually save on fuel.

[@takishabaker7520]

What is the difference between the 10 speed and the cvt? Which one is more reliable overtime?

[@johnnybravo5044]

The only Japanese car manufacturer that uses only step transmissions is Mazda. Yes!

[@rossmoore5582]

All CVT and normal auto should have temperature sensor information same as engine temps

[@boogitybear2283]

I had a CVT Transmission in a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid with 306k miles I bought back in 2015 for only $1800. The owner thought the transmission was going out. I took a risk. When I drove it home, I changed the fluid twice within a 10k range. The car lasted me until I junked it at 429k miles! 😂

[@no_country_for_real_men]

This issue is because Honda is no longer manufactured in Japan and Canada. Honda is now manufactured in the u.s. and Mexico where quantity is priority over quality whereas in Japan and Canada it's quality over quantity

[@tomellis7949]

My 2024 Honda CRV was made in Ontario, the Hybrid version is manufactured in the US.

[@dystopia-usa]

My Japan-built 2020 TNGA Toyota (build in late 2019 pre-covid) was a problematic, quality-challenged mess. Only kept if for 2 years & 10k miles due to all the problems/issues. My Mexico-built 2022 Mazda CX-30 CE has been completely problem/issue/defect free for 2 years now. Apparently, smaller company Mazda cares about building quality, good driving vehicles, compared to bigger Toyota & Honda these days. Times change.

[@no_country_for_real_men]

@@dystopia-usa L o L your premise is weak. You should not assume quality based on a vehicle still under warranty. Additionally late 2019 was not pre covid. Covid was bioengineered in 2018 and released into the public early 2019 at a time when the trump administration and the media withheld it from the public and it was not disclosed to the public until early 2020 after it had been in circulation for a year. That being said ALL makes manufactured during 2019 - 2021 have some type of defect and are garbage. And even Mexican mechanics don't buy cars manufactured in Mexico. All of their Asian brand cars they own were manufactured outside the united states. I do agree with you that things change but give your Mazda a few more years and if it's still running without any mechanical issues after 15 - 20 years like Honda THEN your statement that Mexico and Mazda are "quality" will be true. And why do I say that ? Because I have owned two Mazdas (RX-7 and 626) and they BOTH spent more time in the shop then out of the shop so I got rid of them and purchased a Japanese parts / Canadian assembled Honda and it was free of mechanical issues for almost 20 years -- FAR beyond warranty and THAT is what quality looks like.

[@bwest-yq3uc]

How about new or used vehicles that you recommend? Something non-turbo and regular auto tranny? Any reasonable vehicles you like to discuss in the SUV line?

[@richardlachance1518]

Is it true Honda does not use a transmission filter ??

[@Imageon44]

My # 1 reason I didn’t like my CVT in my Honda CRZ I used to have was no overdrive. You stomp it to get around a 18 wheeler and the is nothing there.

[@DrummerDanVa]

I have a 2015 Mazda 5 and a 2017 Hyundai Accent with none of the newer electronics, cvt, or other crap newer cars have that fail and cost a lot to repair out of warranty. I used to love buying new cars. But the Federal Government has ruined vehicles. The government and manufacturers need to get together to come up with realistic standards that we have the technology to achieve. Maybe the next time you are pissed at the manufacturer for failures in your vehicle instead call out your Senators and Representatives who are part of the reason cars are more complicated and cost more trying to meet these standards. I won't even get into the whole cluster f*ck situation with Dementia Joe and EVs. We will become like Cuba where there are really old cars with people trying to fix them and keep them running.

[@daliborjelenic8612]

good day, how can I tell when I buy a Honda with an automatic transmission, whether it is cvt or shift?

[@blazindedios]

Really cool video, the people appreciate it

[@teslamr7333]

I dislike the fact I can’t check if the fluid is low unless I go under the car.

[@ericscottstevens]

Add to this their newer engines. Honda is going with turbos on their 1.5. Thinner engine walls, higher heat signature. If you own an older Honda you may want to hold onto it, for a very long time. The curtain is about to fall on the Honda you used to know.

[@jn9604]

You might save a bit on gas, but the more frequent and more expensive CVT fluid changes and the shorter life span of a CVT more than makes up for any fuel savings so they cost you more in the long run. The manufacturers are the only ones that gain from this change to CVT. Honda has gotten rid of almost all their manual transmission models/trims and these were the most reliable and the most fun to drive. It's too bad most people are too lazy to drive a stick. They last for ever and can be repaired without full replacement and are cheaper to maintain. Yes you the clutch, but if you know have to drive it the clutch will last a very long time. I never had to put a clutch in a manual up to 200,000 km at the pint of selling it was still working fine. I have a fmaily member driving a 25 year old Civic with the original clutch. Those days are gone.

[@marajevomanash]

CVTs are atrocious in stop and go traffic.

[@brianmello2496]

What year Hondas and what model cvt transmissions you are replacing because if you do the proper maintenance, you shouldn’t have a problem after all, it’s Honda

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

The most common Honda CVT transmission we are replacing as of late are in the 2016-2018 range of Honda Pilots. Likely due to the extra weight of the vehicle matched with the extra weight possible of 7 passengers.

[@mouselt1]

Why then are they so dang expensive to replace?

[@vectravi2008]

How often should the cvt filter be changed?

[@georgemccrabb6010]

My mechanic wanted over $600 for service on my 2015 CRV transmission seems like a lot of money is this correct?

[@Asif-ISB]

I am honda fan own 2006 AT Accord and 2012 AT Pilot. For new car replacement much disappointed with CVT and considering to switch to Ford, Chevrolet or Mazda

[@1tarras]

Drive a 2024 Honda Jazz crosstar.this Honda has a eCvt and has no belt,starter,alternator and no transmission.this system using Toyota and honda.i like this.

[@milfordcivic6755]

I'm keeping my 2016 Accord Sport 6MT till it's not worth fixing anymore.

[@TrekSLDuraAce]

Yes, change the fluid every 30-40k, but it's just as important to change the filters every 60k. CVT's not recommended for mountainous areas, but there fine for flat landers.

[@dutchd.3782]

The oil cooler filter or the the filter inside the pan?

[@TrekSLDuraAce]

@@dutchd.3782 The filter behind the heat exchanger is the easiest to change. I'm not sure why there are 2 filters, but I would think keeping the heat exchanger filter clean would also help keep the other filter clean. Good question for someone more knowledgeable than myself. I changed them both. It wasn't that difficult.

[@Tronchedebat]

I recently bought a 2020 Honda Civic LX in Canada (Québec) and I was asking myself if it would be better to have a 2020 Toyota Corolla for the reliability? I want to keep my car until it dies and keep it for long term! I really appreciate your videos and I wish I would be near your shop! I'm a french canadian and it is easy to understand your videos. Keep on going!

[@abrecos]

If you really want to keep that vehicle for a long time then religiously change CVT transmission fluid every 30-40 thousand miles with only Hondas specific one. Remember CVT transmission is not rebiuldable.

[@1976axerhand]

New Corolla have a physical launch gear which takes most of the stress off the cvt.

[@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton]

Thank you. I own 3 2020 Honda Civic's that I loan out to my customers. Lets just keep them service and they should be just fine. Thanks for watching and the nice comments!

[@Tronchedebat]

Thank you! I appreciate a lot! @@ShadetreeAutomotiveLayton

[@DavidNguyen-ke2zv]

thank you for your information, I am looking into Honda Pilot 2025, and I saw there are two options Drivetrain: AWD CVT and Drivetrain: AWD, I assume Drivetrain: AWD is still better choice ? Thank you

[@Redsiix]

Is the CVT cheaper to produce because Honda manufacturing is very efficient, or is it because parts to make it is very cheap?

[@h2opower]

I wonder if the addition of an oversized transmission oil cooler would help? Or do you feel they need to go back to the drawing board and run all the test all over again? I was going to buy a Nissan that had a CVT but changed my mind the last minute after talking about the car with my fellow auto techs. I typically drive about 100 miles a day to and from work and thus need a really dependable car but I don't like the idea of these throwaway cars they are now making. What car would you recommend?

[@mikem4883]

Excellent video.

[@wothek2]

Great content. Thank you 👍

[@Donald_Shaw]

The Honda development team should spend time developing a better and more reliable CVT transmission.

[@arthurmario5996]

CVTs absolutely do not hold rpm steady. They allow RPM to vary according to hp requirements. if you ever drove one, you would quickly notice the rpm constantly going up and down as you drive.

[@abesavona594]

Great video! 👍 Liked and subscribed.

[@destroytheilluminati770]

Its best to avoid Hondas with the 1.5 turbo/cvt they are having issues with oil dilution because of the direct injection and on top of iffy cvt longevity, i would rather find a low mileage gen 8 civic/accord and be done with it, let someone else take the chance, newer is not better in some cases. Toyota is also going cvt, but theirs is different, the cvts are sluggish off the line, but Toyota's cvt on the Corolla we checked out has an actual first gear like a normal transmission then switches to cvt after initial take off. still don't know what to think about that set up either and whether its reliable