[cvtonly1]

To all owners of CVT's, I was wondering if anyone had a CVT Insight with 50,000+ miles and if they have had any transmission problems? I was wondering how they hold up over time. Do i need to consider an extended warranty just to be on the safe side? :roll:
2002 Silver CVT 1195miles

 

[gomarlins3]

Very good question. I've had mine about as long as you have had your's so I can't help, but I am as interested in this as you are.

 

[Rick Reece]

I would not think the Insight CVT is unique to the car. I know their is a Prius with over 200K miles that was a Cab. Toyota gave them a new one in return for getting the old one for analysis. I have only heard of the one problem posted here on the list.

 

[Insighter]

CVT...

I haven't had mine long, either, but have wondered the same thing. I did get the extended warranty, though.

I'm also interested in how difficult/expensive they are to service when they do go bad.

 

[Resist]

The Insight or Prius aren't the only cars with a CVT transmission. The Audi A6 also has one.

 

[cvtonly1]

Reliability?

I saw a post on the Yahoo hybrid-insight website of a guy who had to replace his trans and it ran between 5600-7500. This is not surprising for a Honda transmission. I had a civic that lost second gear (an automatic) at about 52,000 miles. If i choose to ad an extended warranty (after the 3 year warranty expires) will Honda charge the same amount that was offered to me when i went to purchase the car or do they jack the price up based on the number of years you have owned the car? When you look at it, it is an all japanese made car and Honda wants us to be happy and promote their hybrid lines, so i would assume their quality control is a bit more tighter in Japan than their cars made in America. My civic was put together in ohio.
Also, how can you tell if there is a problem with the CVT trans. It does not shift. I believe it uses belts and pulley's. Any ideas?

 

[Will M]

Re: Reliability?

... When you look at it, it is an all japanese made car and Honda wants us to be happy and promote their hybrid lines, so i would assume their quality control is a bit more tighter in Japan than their cars made in America...

I don't think it is so much related to being made in America or Japan. The Insight has the advantage of being a showpiece for Honda technology, so it is built in very small numbers. It is as close to having a hand-built car as you can get for $20,000. Each one gets more attention because:

1. The factory doesn't build as many cars as other factories.

2. The people building the Insight work in the same place as those who build the $35,000 S2000 and the $75,000 NDX. It's an elite group of factory workers. They don't want the Insight to look shabby next to the other cars made in the same factory.

Meanwhile, my 1992 Civic has 210,000 miles on it and so far its worst mechanical failure was a bad bearing in the distributor, which was kind enough to warn me with a loud noise so I replaced it before it left me stranded on the highway. Considering quality control, that ain't too shabby, and it was made in Canada.