Nissan Cube: JATCO CVT failure (Z12)
JATCO CVT failure (Z12) is a common transmission fault on the Nissan Cube on the 2008–2020 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $3,000 to $6,000 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 17 documented faults on the Nissan Cube.
- Vehicle
- Nissan Cube
- Years
- 2008–2020
- Fuel
- petrol
- Gearbox
- cvt
- System
- Transmission
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The Z12 Cube's JATCO CVT (JF011E family) is widely regarded as the car's weakest link, with owners reporting shudder, whine and catastrophic failure. Early 2009 cars had teething failures often within the first 50,000 km, and neglected fluid brings failures later. Because the Cube is a cheap car, a CVT replacement can be worth more than the vehicle. It is the single most important thing to check on a used Cube.
What you would notice
- Shudder when accelerating gently from low speed
- Whine or drone rising with speed
- Hesitation or delayed take-up
- Jerk between drive and reverse
- Complete loss of drive
How to check it
Where to look. CVT transaxle (front, behind the engine)
Drive from cold and hot; feel for shudder at 30-50 km/h and any slip where revs rise faster than speed.
Listen for a whine.
Ask for CVT fluid-change history.
A cheap Cube with a suspect CVT is rarely worth fixing - budget accordingly.
What it costs to put right
$3,000 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “When was the CVT fluid last changed?”
- “Has the CVT ever been replaced or shuddered?”
- “Does it judder when you pull away gently?”
Now check the Nissan Cube 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.
Where this comes from
- Nissan Cube Life forum 'CVT transmission problems' / 'CVT is dying in my 2010 Cube' threads
- ReDriven 'Used Nissan Cube review' (CVT caution, esp. pre-facelift 1.4)
Nissan Cube buyer questions
Is jatco cvt failure (z12) serious on a Nissan Cube?
We rate it critical and common on the Nissan Cube. The Z12 Cube's JATCO CVT (JF011E family) is widely regarded as the car's weakest link, with owners reporting shudder, whine and catastrophic failure. Early 2009 cars had teething failures often within the first 50,000 km, and neglected fluid brings failures later. Because the Cube is a cheap car, a CVT replacement can be worth more than the vehicle. It is the single most important thing to check on a used Cube.
How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Cube?
$3,000 to $6,000 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 Nissan Cube years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2008–2020 Nissan Cube. 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?
Drive from cold and hot; feel for shudder at 30-50 km/h and any slip where revs rise faster than speed. Listen for a whine. Ask for CVT fluid-change history. A cheap Cube with a suspect CVT is rarely worth fixing - budget accordingly. Look here: CVT transaxle (front, behind the engine)