CriticalVery commonTransmission

Nissan Pulsar: CVT shudder, belt slip and failure (B17 sedan / C12 hatch)

CVT shudder, belt slip and failure (B17 sedan / C12 hatch) is a very common transmission fault on the Nissan Pulsar on the 2013–2017 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $3,500 to $6,500 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 21 documented faults on the Nissan Pulsar.

Vehicle: Nissan Pulsar
Years: 2013–2017
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: cvt
System: Transmission

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

All Nissan Pulsar faults21 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 dominant fault on 2013-2017 Pulsars is the Jatco CVT: shaking and violent jerking on acceleration, clunks at low speed, rattling from early belt/pulley wear, and outright failure - frequently around 100,000 km, just out of warranty. Nissan's own TSB attributed symptoms to the steel belt slipping and wearing, and Nissan Australia ran a May 2013 service campaign covering 9,272 B17 1.8 CVT sedans. Replacement costs run to several thousand dollars; manual versions avoid the issue entirely.

What you would notice

Shudder or jerking when accelerating
Clunk when slowing down or taking off
Rattling from the transmission without fluid leaks
Delay or flare in power delivery
Complete loss of drive

How to check it

Where to look. CVT transaxle in the engine bay

Test drive from cold through stop-start traffic: feel for shudder taking off, clunks at low speed, and rev flare on the motorway on-ramp.
Ask for CVT fluid change history and whether the transmission or valve body has ever been replaced.
A pre-purchase CVT scan is strongly recommended.

What it costs to put right

$3,500 to $6,500 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 ever been replaced, rebuilt or had the valve body done?”
“When was the CVT fluid last changed?”
“Was the May 2013 Nissan service campaign performed (1.8 sedans)?”

Now check the Nissan Pulsar 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 the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Australiancar.reviews 'Recalls & faults: Nissan B17 Pulsar sedan (2013-17)' (May 2013 CVT service campaign)
CarsGuide 'Nissan Pulsar gearbox & transmission problems'
JustAnswer '2013 Nissan Pulsar B17 failing CVT'
ProductReview.com.au Nissan Pulsar B17/C12 owner reviews

Nissan Pulsar buyer questions

Is cvt shudder, belt slip and failure (b17 sedan / c12 hatch) serious on a Nissan Pulsar?

We rate it critical and very common on the Nissan Pulsar. The dominant fault on 2013-2017 Pulsars is the Jatco CVT: shaking and violent jerking on acceleration, clunks at low speed, rattling from early belt/pulley wear, and outright failure - frequently around 100,000 km, just out of warranty. Nissan's own TSB attributed symptoms to the steel belt slipping and wearing, and Nissan Australia ran a May 2013 service campaign covering 9,272 B17 1.8 CVT sedans. Replacement costs run to several thousand dollars; manual versions avoid the issue entirely.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Pulsar?

$3,500 to $6,500 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 Pulsar years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013–2017 Nissan Pulsar. 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 from cold through stop-start traffic: feel for shudder taking off, clunks at low speed, and rev flare on the motorway on-ramp. Ask for CVT fluid change history and whether the transmission or valve body has ever been replaced. A pre-purchase CVT scan is strongly recommended. Look here: CVT transaxle in the engine bay