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Transmission Shudder - My Observations

22993 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  dhirensharma
Hey everyone,

Just wanted to add to and document here that I too have experienced the transmission shudder issue, more so recently than previously. Please allow me to explain…

The first couple of occurrences happened about 4 months ago at around 5K miles. They were fairly minor and happened briefly each of the two times that I remember. I didn’t experience it again at all for another 4 months, so I figured “no problem”.

Recently, I started experiencing transmission shudder again about a little over a month ago, around 9.9K mikes. This time, I experienced multiple shuddering within a two-week period. Some of the occurrences felt like minor transmission shaking/hesitation while others felt violent, to the point that my wife and/or young kids responded with much concern. Being concerned, I informed my service manager (who is very nice… no issues with his service) about it when I brought the car in for its 10K mile maintenance (oil change, tire rotation, etc.). This was about three weeks ago. The service manager had two technicians drive it around, but could not replicate the transmission shudder. The service manager told me that I had the latest TCM software and that nothing seemed out of the ordinary upon inspection. I was told to monitor it and to try to think about the last 30 seconds prior to each occurrence. Since then (within the last three weeks), I have experienced it again numerous times and have observed the following approximate conditions/events as to when the shuddering occurs for me. Here’s my experience through it…

Within approximately 30 seconds before a shudder occurrence, I am typically driving about 25-30 mph on a level or slightly-inclined road/street. In preparation for an upcoming turn that’s about 50-feet ahead (and doesn’t require actually stopping), I brake normally (non-aggressively) and slow down to about 15 mph just before entering the turn. Into the turn, I continue applying the brake pedal and am holding a speed of around 15 mph while cruising through much of the turn. Just coming out of the turn, I then gently (and definitely not aggressively in this case) begin to apply the gas pedal. Keeping light pressure on the gas pedal, I feel the car beginning to slightly pick up speed for only about a second and then, SHUDDER!!! :eek: It feels as if the transmission is hesitating on speeding up again, though it had just slowed down briefly.:confused: Of each occurrence, I experienced the shudder for a good 2-3 seconds before I take my foot off the gas pedal completely for a couple of seconds. I then gently press the gas pedal lightly again to resume driving, with no issues (thankfully).

The shuddering doesn’t always occur when the above-described conditions happen. However, when the shuddering occurs, the above-described conditions are what I have observed. (hopefully that made sense?) I don’t recall having experienced shuddering under any other conditions/events. Within each occurrence, I experience the shudder once and it doesn’t occur again after I let off/re-press the gas pedal after the shudder.

I love much about the QX60, with at least one exception being this shuddering issue... it's now getting out of hand. Sometimes I correctly predict that it will occur just before I happen to head into the right conditions… then sometimes it didn’t happened after all (thankfully).


I will e-mail the above the observations to my service manager to get this thoughts. In the meantime, has anyone else experience shuddering per my described observations? If different, then under what conditions did you observe your shuddering?

Thanks,
-Tony
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The one time that happened to me was in VERY similar condition as you described. It hasn't happened since.
You should hop over to the Nissan Pathfinder site....lots and lots of examples of shuddering.
Check out another post on page 2 that refers to this issue. Post is under member name Sinecure. Alternatively, on google page, punch-in ITB13-20 and you will have information regarding this judder issue written by sinecure.

I have a JX that has this issue and to date, issue has not yet been resolved. I just got my infiniti back yesterday after a month as the instrument panel just burned out. My infiniti has 11000 k's on it and was bought in 04/2014.
Update: Recap - I have a 2014 that had the transmission issues here 'n there between 9-14 months. First time I took it in (about the 9 month point), the dealer couldn't replicate it. Wasn't a problem since the shuddering issue stopped for a good two months there after (like it decided to behave!). It came back variably and the dealer was able to replicate the issue around the 14 month. They made a software change, and I haven't had any issues in the past 2 months... been great.
Had the same problem, took it to the dealer, they changed the Electric Coupling Assembly car drives like new, I attached what they changed.

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Thanks for the details. Haven't had the problem but I've seen other posts in the forum about it. I'd appreciate an update if things either stay good or otherwise.
Had the same problem, took it to the dealer, they changed the Electric Coupling Assembly car drives like new, I attached what they changed.
Has the juddering issue been resolved since the part was replaced or has the juddering come back?
I have a 2015qx60 and we have the judder issue and it’s annoying and probably dangerous when my wife drives my 9yo kids in the qx60. My 2015qx only has a few months of warranty left and I’m ready to take it in to have the crappy CVT transmission looked at. Maybe they will do something for me as this is the 3rd Infinity we have owned.
Had the same problem, took it to the dealer, they changed the Electric Coupling Assembly car drives like new, I attached what they changed.
I wanted to double check to see if the shudder issue came back on your QX60. I have a 2016 QX60 with the judder issue and it has only a few months warranty left. I a getting ready to take it in to the dealer to see if they will fix this problem.
The differential coupling fixes this issue and the coupling is over a grand. I have a 2014 and have the same issue. I got on eBay and found a guy who buys stock from businesses that are going out and he had 3 brand new ones for 338 each. I got one and worked perfect. Still two more listed and if you need info ask I’ll post the info. I’m not sure what model years it fits but I think the part number Is 38761-3KA0A. Check it out and I posted a pic of the listing on the other topic on this issue tapping noise or something similar to that.
Thanks a lot for describing it well - I also have the same issue in Qatar. I couldn't find the part on ebay, could someone help me with the part, please?

Also, for those that have had the electric coupling essay replaced, is the issue resolved or is it truly the transmission? Thanks again!
The differential coupling fixes this issue and the coupling is over a grand. I have a 2014 and have the same issue. I got on eBay and found a guy who buys stock from businesses that are going out and he had 3 brand new ones for 338 each. I got one and worked perfect. Still two more listed and if you need info ask I’ll post the info. I’m not sure what model years it fits but I think the part number Is 38761-3KA0A. Check it out and I posted a pic of the listing on the other topic on this issue tapping noise or something similar to that.
I found this document online. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10145543-9999.pdf
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