MajorVery commonTransmission

Mitsubishi ASX: CVT INVECS-III Low-Speed Judder and Surge

CVT INVECS-III Low-Speed Judder and Surge is a very common transmission fault on the Mitsubishi ASX on the 2010 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $350 to $800 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 for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The INVECS-III CVT fitted across the ASX petrol range is prone to a pronounced shudder or surge during light acceleration at 20–40 km/h, caused by sluggish hydraulic pressure circuit reaction in the belt secondary pulley circuit. Mitsubishi issued TSB-17-23-002 in April 2017, superseded by TSB-20-23-001 in April 2020, and revised again as TSB-22-23-001REV in February 2022, confirming this fault is persistent and widespread. Fluid degradation from missed service intervals accelerates onset, and the condition can set DTCs P0776, P0730, or P0741.

What you would notice

Rhythmic shudder or vibration through drivetrain at 20–40 km/h under light acceleration
Engine flare or surge without corresponding vehicle acceleration
CVT warning light or check engine light with codes P0776 or P0730
Judder felt through floor and seat during gentle take-off from rest
Symptom worsens as transmission warms up or improves briefly after fluid change

How to check it

Where to look. CVT unit in transmission tunnel, under vehicle centre

Test drive at 20–40 km/h with light throttle on a gentle uphill; feel for a rhythmic shudder or hesitation.
Ask when CVT fluid was last changed and insist on Mitsubishi SP-III or equivalent fluid.
Scan for DTCs P0776, P0730, P0741, P084A before buying.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $800 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 the CVT fluid ever been replaced, and with what specification fluid?”
“Has the vehicle ever been diagnosed or repaired for transmission shudder or surging?”
“Are there any current warning lights or stored transmission fault codes?”

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 invecs-iii low-speed judder and surge serious on a Mitsubishi ASX?

We rate it major and very common on the Mitsubishi ASX. The INVECS-III CVT fitted across the ASX petrol range is prone to a pronounced shudder or surge during light acceleration at 20–40 km/h, caused by sluggish hydraulic pressure circuit reaction in the belt secondary pulley circuit. Mitsubishi issued TSB-17-23-002 in April 2017, superseded by TSB-20-23-001 in April 2020, and revised again as TSB-22-23-001REV in February 2022, confirming this fault is persistent and widespread. Fluid degradation from missed service intervals accelerates onset, and the condition can set DTCs P0776, P0730, or P0741.

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

$350 to $800 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Test drive at 20–40 km/h with light throttle on a gentle uphill; feel for a rhythmic shudder or hesitation. Ask when CVT fluid was last changed and insist on Mitsubishi SP-III or equivalent fluid. Scan for DTCs P0776, P0730, P0741, P084A before buying. Look here: CVT unit in transmission tunnel, under vehicle centre