Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

2016 Nissan Quest powertrain problems

moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →

Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500

When does it fail?

Of the 6 powertrain complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Quest, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.

0-25k
1 (25%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
1 (25%)
75-100k
1 (25%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
1 (25%)
150k+
0 (0%)

Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin NTB12-103I Jun 2024

CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB17-039R Apr 2024

DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED IN THE TCM This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB17-039Q Dec 2023

CVT JUDDER AND DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB17-039P May 2023

CVT JUDDER AND DTC P17F0 OR P17F1 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin NTB12-103H May 2023

CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 6 most recent

powertrain · filed 08/10/2023

Check engine light appeared without warning and car would slow down and no longer accelerate on the highway. Took to the dealership and was told it needed a new transmission with only 64,000 miles of use.

powertrain · 136,022 mi · filed 08/02/2023

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Quest. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact shifted the CVT transmission into low (L) manually. The contact stated that the vehicle began to vibrate and then began to shake the entire vehicle. The contact removed his foot from the accelerator pedal and started to tap the brakes. The contact stated that the vehicle started to shake more…

powertrain · 2,953 mi · filed 06/24/2016

Jerking transmission while accelerating above 40mph; at speed cruising going up and down hills; and decelerating from 70mph. Occurring more often while on cruise control setting.

powertrain · filed 04/13/2024

Car need transmission replaced - there is no warning on car that transmission is having major issues (ie no check engine light). My car shakes on turning this has been on going since I purchased the car in 2017. In late 2023 the car did not have as much pick up power like it used to and had a whining noise once you drive for a while (without the power it used to). There were no check engine…

powertrain · 83,000 mi · filed 03/14/2021

My transmission will not go into drive,its will reverse great but will not move in drive or low

powertrain · 63,000 mi · filed 03/01/2019

Took my Nissan in for the 60000 services and found out there is a problem on the CVT has a code p17f1. The service tech explained what's wrong how is shakes and judder and I have been feeling this since 45000mile and I'm just about 3000 out of warranty at 63000 miles and Nissan usa does not want to cover the repair. The CVT judder upon acceleration 0-40. I was advised to get the valve body…

Had powertrain trouble with your 2016 Nissan Quest? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.

Common questions

How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 Nissan Quest?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?

Based on the 6 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 71,244 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.

Are there any recalls related to powertrain?

No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

Related

Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Nissan/Quest. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
Get a free warranty quote →
Sponsored — we earn a commission if you complete a quote. Disclosure.