CVT Transmission starting to fail

[Woodie]

Almost every person replying here told you to definitely NOT drive the car, three weeks ago. You came on here time after time saying that it was getting worse, Saturday posting that "something let go". Yet, yesterday, you filled the car up with passengers and took it through "the busiest intersection in Vancouver".

I'm not trying to be a dick here, but you knew it was going, you should have taken the decision yourself that the car would sit until fixed. Every heard the expression "God helps those who help themselves"? It's based upon common sense and good practice. The dealer is without question performing horribly, but one of the key signs of a responsible adult is when everyone around is doing the wrong thing, you step up to the plate and do the right thing.

[Ronzuki]

Warned, advised and predictions above realized....what more could forum members do? Lucky no innocent bystanders or other motorists were harmed as a result of this shear stupidity. Luck prevails once again. Just remember, luck runs out eventually.

BTW, don't be at all surprised if you are handed a bill from the dealer for all of the needless secondary collateral damage. I'd be very surprised if Suzuki will cover it, unless of course, this whizz-bang dealer does a little creative repair order writing. Hopefully you have something, in writing, from the dealer stating they advised it was ay-okay to keep driving the car.

[KuroNekko]

Almost every person replying here told you to definitely NOT drive the car, three weeks ago. You came on here time after time saying that it was getting worse, Saturday posting that "something let go". Yet, yesterday, you filled the car up with passengers and took it through "the busiest intersection in Vancouver".

I'm not trying to be a dick here, but you knew it was going, you should have taken the decision yourself that the car would sit until fixed. Every heard the expression "God helps those who help themselves"? It's based upon common sense and good practice. The dealer is without question performing horribly, but one of the key signs of a responsible adult is when everyone around is doing the wrong thing, you step up to the plate and do the right thing.

I've been thinking the same thing for a while and then reasoned that he did not have another car and needed to drive. I then read his last post and I'm gonna have to side with Woodie (and many others).

Kevvvinc, you should have stopped driving the car a long time ago. I would have parked it and tried to go for a dealer-covered rental. If not, then get rides, bike, or use public transportation until the car was fixed. I truly hope that only your CVT is at fault and that it will be entirely replaced. However, continuing to drive the car with major transmission issues that led to a catastrophic failure was not smart even if the dealership told you it was okay.

Hope the car gets fixed soon and hope it gets fixed right.

In the meanwhile, consider the most reliable and cost-effective mode of transportation ever created. Behold:

[kevvvinc]

Richmond Suzuki where I bought the car is a joke for service. That's why I have been servicing and dealing with North Shore. They have nnever been pleasant to deal with for warranty repairs but still better than Richmond. Orca bay Suzuki now Tri Cities Mitsu just basically won't deal with Suzuki. And fellow Kizashi club members - this is my only vehicle now and I rely on it to transport me for work. With all due respect I appreciate all of you telling me to not drive the car but that's not any of your call. Suzuki Canada and the dealership both emphasized that the vehicle is safe to continue driving and showed no care to get the car in quickly. Let's not take a hammer to my head for driving the Kizashi. If the Kizashi has awd damage and more that's their problem to deal with. I did as they had told me and that's all. Once this vehicle is fixed it's gone. Not because of the car, because of what I will have to deal with annually for servicing, parts and repairs. I got a phenomenal deal on the car and I will lose money, but I cannot put a price on convenience and peace of mind. Especially when I'm financing a vehicle.

[KuroNekko]

Richmond Suzuki where I bought the car is a joke for service. That's why I have been servicing and dealing with North Shore. They have nnever been pleasant to deal with for warranty repairs but still better than Richmond. Orca bay Suzuki now Tri Cities Mitsu just basically won't deal with Suzuki. And fellow Kizashi club members - this is my only vehicle now and I rely on it to transport me for work. With all due respect I appreciate all of you telling me to not drive the car but that's not any of your call. Suzuki Canada and the dealership both emphasized that the vehicle is safe to continue driving and showed no care to get the car in quickly. Let's not take a hammer to my head for driving the Kizashi. If the Kizashi has awd damage and more that's their problem to deal with. I did as they had told me and that's all. Once this vehicle is fixed it's gone. Not because of the car, because of what I will have to deal with annually for servicing, parts and repairs. I got a phenomenal deal on the car and I will lose money, but I cannot put a price on convenience and peace of mind. Especially when I'm financing a vehicle.

I guessed it was the only ride you had and needed it for commuting, but taking the dealership's word that it was safe to drive was misguided. In fact, I can't imagine Suzuki corporate telling you the same as you endangered your life and that of others when the transmission blew. That's liability lawsuit material right there and Suzuki corporate would not have risked that. The dealership can't give a rat's ass on the other hand, in typical fashion.

I can't blame you for offloading the car once it's fixed. It's undeniable that the Kizashi and any Suzuki is a liability because of the lack of dealerships (or their competence), parts, and corporate backing. I can't blame you that you want to get rid of the car because you owe on it. I'd do the same if I were you and go with something like a Honda, Toyota, or Subaru.

I've always bought used and paid full in cash so I'm in a different boat. I also wrench on my cars so availability of parts from a dealer was never such a huge concern for me. That's also why I'm very particular about reliability and durability. I would never take a CVT car from a maker that said, "Peace out" in my market. CVTs have yet to prove themselves in the industry in terms of reliability and longevity and so far, they are doing rather poorly across the board. Nissan and Audi both have huge issues and legal settlements due to their faulty CVTs. Your CVT failure story is the nightmare of any owner. Let's hope the horror story ends soon when it gets fixed, but be wary as the dealership repair experience can be another chapter in the horror story.

Best of luck.

[kevvvinc]

Bootymac Richmond Suzuki gave me that oil change for life thing but they play with the servicing for the Kizashi and it becomes ridiculously expensive. IE: Coolant flush at 50,000km, transmission flush at 50,000km etc etc although the coolant is good for 160k. So I stopped going there after 15,000k.

North Shore's pricing has been far more reasonable and they only do what is required at the service intervals.
Apparently it is becoming increasingly difficult for dealerships to deal with Suzuki, no big surprise. Oh joy for us all.
Still have yet to hear from the dealership. Looks like I will have to follow up!

[~tc~]

Bootymac Richmond Suzuki gave me that oil change for life thing but they play with the servicing for the Kizashi and it becomes ridiculously expensive. IE: Coolant flush at 50,000km, transmission flush at 50,000km etc etc although the coolant is good for 160k. So I stopped going there after 15,000k.

That IS the recommended servicing in my book (depending on which coolant you have). If you have the blue, the first flush comes at 90,000 miles - don't know where you came up with 160

[murcod]

Kizashi service interval.pdf

(57.53 KiB) Downloaded 619 times

[KuroNekko]

Bootymac Richmond Suzuki gave me that oil change for life thing but they play with the servicing for the Kizashi and it becomes ridiculously expensive. IE: Coolant flush at 50,000km, transmission flush at 50,000km etc etc although the coolant is good for 160k. So I stopped going there after 15,000k.

That IS the recommended servicing in my book (depending on which coolant you have). If you have the blue, the first flush comes at 90,000 miles - don't know where you came up with 160

160,000 km is roughly 100,000 miles so he was not far off.

[~tc~]

My bad, totally blow right past the "k"s!