Honda CVT reliability issue

MeraBoy

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HEV-Civic-500.jpg

There have been some concern on the CVT reliability issue of some Honda models, such as the City (local) and Civic Hybrid (oversea).

The Dept. of Energy (USA) has been conducting some long term tests (end-of-life testing) of all the various hybrid models (Honda Insight, Honda Civic, Toyota Prius Gen I). Some fascinating data are here:

2001 Honda Insight
HEV-Insight-500.jpg


2002 Toyota Prius Gen I
HEV-Prius%20Gen%201-500.jpg


2003 Honda Civic Hybrid:
They are testing 4 Civic hybrids, all with CVT transmissions.
  • Two of the four have CVT tranny failures.
  • VIN 3864 has 161k miles, and had a transmission failure at 97k.
  • VIN 1603 has 161k miles as well, and had a transmission failure at 99k miles, and again at 157k miles ($2,500 to replace).
VIN 3864 Fact Sheet
Civic_fact_sheet3864-CVT-550.jpg


VIN 1603 Fact Sheet

Civic-fact_sheet1603-CVT-550.jpg

2003 Honda Civic Hybrid: http://ev.inel.gov/pdf/hev/honda_civic_fact_sheet3864.pdf; http://ev.inel.gov/pdf/hev/fact_sheet1603.pdf.

p/s: Not sure whether the new Civic hybrid is using the same CVT as in 2003 model year. Please confirm yourself.

2001 Honda Insight:
They are testing 6 Insights, all with CVT transmissions
  • Two of them have CVT tranny failures.
  • VIN 2163 had a transmission failure at 77k miles.
  • VIN 2688 had a transmission failure at 90k miles.
VIN 2163 Fact Sheet
Insight-fact_sheet2163-CVT-550.jpg


VIN 2688 Fact Sheet
Insight-fact_sheet2688-CVT-550.jpg

2001 Honda Insight: http://ev.inel.gov/pdf/hev/fact_sheet2163.pdf; http://ev.inel.gov/pdf/hev/fact_sheet2688.pdf.

2002 Toyota Prius Gen I:
They also tested several Toyota Prius's with similar mileage. While they had other problems, there were no transmission failures.

http://ev.inel.gov/pdf/hev/end_of_life_test_1.pdf

Source:
http://ev.inel.gov/hev.shtml
http://forums.caranddriver.com/auto/board/message?board.id=11&thread.id=138476&view=by_date_ascending&page=1
 
And Honda actually produced an ATF specially for the Honda City CVT in malaysia. So, if you don't use that ATF but something else, you are gonna spoilt the CVT. This can be seen in some honda servicing centre. This is what i heard from my mate who has been working there.
 
And Honda actually produced an ATF specially for the Honda City CVT in malaysia. So, if you don't use that ATF but something else, you are gonna spoilt the CVT. This can be seen in some honda servicing centre. This is what i heard from my mate who has been working there.

exactly

the CVTF is specially formulated for use in CVT applications.

the CVT belt itself is a generic design, manufactured by the same company that supplies CVT belts for Subaru, Ford, Mercedes.

Honda's design is mainly of a hydraulic design, applying hydraulic pressure to move the pulleys.

And to operate the hydraulic system, a suitable fluid is needed, hence CVTF was introduced as a countermeasure.
 
why are you guys trying to say? that these guys did the test with the wrong ATF? duh!
 
maybe and maybe not... depends on how the owner drive/maintain their car. I know my proton auto tranny gave up long before 70k miles.
 
why are you guys trying to say? that these guys did the test with the wrong ATF? duh!
no, the test was in accordance to gudielines

Honda only recently introduced the CVTF circa 2004, as a counter measure.

the CVT is bulletproof. Audi has their Multitronic, Nissan has their Extronic even in the G35 Skyline. Even Merc employs CVT in the A and B-klasse.
 

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