CriticalCommonTransmission

Mitsubishi ASX: CVT Belt Abrasion and Catastrophic Pulley Failure

CVT Belt Abrasion and Catastrophic Pulley Failure is a common transmission fault on the Mitsubishi ASX on the 2010 onward cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 26 documented faults on the Mitsubishi ASX.

Vehicle: Mitsubishi ASX
Years: 2010 onward
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: cvt
System: Transmission

This page covers the Mitsubishi ASX as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mitsubishi ASX faults26 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the CVT belt and pulleys yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

When the CVT hydraulic judder fault (above) is left unaddressed, ongoing belt slippage generates abrasion powder that contaminates the hydraulic pressure circuit and rapidly wears the steel push-belt and pulley contact surfaces. Mitsubishi TSB-20-23-001 explicitly states that continued driving under shudder conditions causes belt slip and abrasion powder contamination leading to CVT warning illumination with codes P0776, P0730, or P084A. The end-stage failure is complete CVT seizure or loss of drive, requiring full transmission replacement.

What you would notice

CVT warning light or flashing D-position indicator on dashboard
Loss of acceleration or engine revs rising without corresponding speed increase
Transmission entering limp mode, limiting speed to approximately 40–60 km/h
Metallic shimmer or grey particulate in CVT fluid on inspection
Total loss of drive with engine running in severe cases

How to check it

Where to look. CVT unit under vehicle, accessible from underneath near transmission crossmember

Road test for any shudder; a clean test drive without judder with recently serviced fluid is minimum reassurance. Budget for CVT replacement if fluid is overdue and shudder is present. If a workshop inspection is possible: Drop the CVT fluid into a white container and examine for metallic shimmer or grey sludge — contamination indicates internal belt wear already underway.

Parts involved: CVT belt and pulleys.

What it costs to put right

$4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has this vehicle ever had a CVT replacement or major transmission repair?”
“Is the seller aware of any shudder, hesitation, or warning lights in the transmission?”
“Can a pre-purchase inspection with a full fluid drop and DTC scan be arranged?”

Now check the Mitsubishi ASX you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Mitsubishi ASX buyer questions

Is cvt belt abrasion and catastrophic pulley failure serious on a Mitsubishi ASX?

We rate it critical and common on the Mitsubishi ASX. When the CVT hydraulic judder fault (above) is left unaddressed, ongoing belt slippage generates abrasion powder that contaminates the hydraulic pressure circuit and rapidly wears the steel push-belt and pulley contact surfaces. Mitsubishi TSB-20-23-001 explicitly states that continued driving under shudder conditions causes belt slip and abrasion powder contamination leading to CVT warning illumination with codes P0776, P0730, or P084A. The end-stage failure is complete CVT seizure or loss of drive, requiring full transmission replacement.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi ASX?

$4,500 to $9,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mitsubishi ASX years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010 onward Mitsubishi ASX. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.