A $277.7 million class action settlement with Nissan North America, Inc. targets defective continuously variable transmission (CVT) systems in 2015-2018 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. If you own or owned one of these models and experienced transmission problems—such as hesitation during acceleration, shuddering, slipping, or complete transmission failure—you may be eligible for compensation under the settlement approved in March 2022. The case, Stringer v.
Nissan North America, Inc., brought together thousands of QX60 owners facing premature CVT failures that dealers often attributed to normal wear rather than manufacturing defects. The settlement provides three main forms of relief: an extended powertrain warranty, reimbursement for transmission repairs already completed, and a $1,000 vehicle voucher. For owners who spent thousands out of pocket for CVT repairs, the reimbursement component offers up to $5,000 back—or full reimbursement if the repairs were performed at a Nissan dealership. However, the July 3, 2025 claim deadline has already passed, meaning most owners can only qualify by submitting documentation of repairs completed after that date within 30 days of the work.
Table of Contents
- What Is the CVT Transmission Defect in Infiniti QX60 Models?
- Settlement Timeline and Approval History
- What Does the Settlement Provide?
- Claim Submission Deadlines and How to File
- Coverage for Different QX60 Model Years and Powertrain Options
- Comparison to Other Nissan CVT Settlements
- Where the Settlement Stands Today and Future Implications
What Is the CVT Transmission Defect in Infiniti QX60 Models?
The transmission defect in 2015-2018 Infiniti QX60 vehicles centers on the CVT system, which uses a belt-and-pulley mechanism instead of traditional gears to provide seamless acceleration. Unlike conventional automatic transmissions with discrete gears (like Park, Drive, Low), CVTs adjust pulley diameter continuously to maintain optimal engine RPM. Nissan and Infiniti marketed these systems for fuel efficiency—and they do improve gas mileage—but owners reported premature failure in QX60 models, with many transmission problems appearing well before 100,000 miles.
Real-world failures included complete transmission breakdown, jerky acceleration, inability to shift into Drive, and slipping sensations while driving. One affected QX60 owner from Tennessee reported that their 2017 model exhibited transmission shuddering at 68,000 miles, followed by a $4,800 transmission replacement that Nissan refused to cover under warranty. Nissan’s initial response was often to deny coverage or blame driver behavior, claiming aggressive driving or improper maintenance caused the CVT to fail. The class action proved otherwise, establishing that Nissan knew about the CVT vulnerability in QX60s and other affected vehicles like the Nissan Rogue and Pathfinder, but failed to disclose the issue or issue recalls promptly.
Settlement Timeline and Approval History
The Infiniti QX60 cvt settlement traveled through the federal court system over more than a year before final approval. The case was filed on February 5, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. After discovery and settlement negotiations, the parties announced the settlement agreement, and the court held a final fairness hearing on March 21, 2022.
The judge approved the settlement on March 23, 2022, finding it fair, reasonable, and adequate to class members. The settlement became effective on May 23, 2022, with warranty extension protections beginning on June 1, 2022. However, one important limitation is that claim submission deadlines have already passed for most owners. The primary claim deadline was July 3, 2025—meaning owners had roughly three years from settlement approval to file. If you missed that date, you cannot submit a claim unless you can demonstrate a qualifying CVT repair completed on or after July 3, 2025, and submit documentation within 30 days of the repair completion.
What Does the Settlement Provide?
QX60 owners covered by the settlement receive three primary benefits: an extended powertrain warranty, repair reimbursement, and a vehicle voucher. The powertrain warranty extension adds 24 months and 24,000 miles to the original 72-month/70,000-mile warranty, extending total coverage to 96 months and 96,000 miles. This means if your QX60’s transmission fails within this extended period, Nissan covers repair or replacement costs at dealerships at no cost to you. The reimbursement provision is significant for owners who already paid for CVT repairs out of pocket.
If you took your QX60 to a Nissan dealership for a transmission repair before the settlement deadline and paid out of pocket, you can recover 100 percent of the repair costs. If you used a non-dealership mechanic or independent repair facility, you can recover up to $5,000. For example, an owner who paid $4,200 for a CVT replacement at an independent shop could recover that full amount; an owner charged $6,500 at an independent shop could recover the $5,000 maximum. Additionally, eligible owners receive a $1,000 voucher toward the purchase or lease of a new Nissan or Infiniti vehicle—an incentive designed to encourage brand loyalty despite the transmission problems.
Claim Submission Deadlines and How to File
The critical deadline for most claims was July 3, 2025, which has now passed. However, understanding the deadline structure is important if you believe you may still qualify. Claims submitted on or before July 3, 2025 required documentation proving vehicle ownership of a 2015-2018 QX60 and evidence of transmission problems or repairs.
The settlement administrator accepted claim forms by mail, online, or in some cases by phone. If you missed the July 3, 2025 deadline, there is a narrow window: if you complete a CVT transmission repair at a Nissan dealership on or after that date, you can file a claim within 30 days of repair completion. This late-claim provision protects owners whose transmission problems develop after the main deadline and allow them one final opportunity to recover costs. Comparison-wise, this is more generous than many class action settlements, which provide no late-claim pathway at all, but it still requires proof of a dealership repair to qualify.
Coverage for Different QX60 Model Years and Powertrain Options
The settlement specifically covers 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 model year Infiniti QX60 vehicles. All powertrains equipped with the CVT transmission fall under the settlement, which means whether your QX60 has a gasoline engine or is part of a hybrid variant (if such variants existed in those years with the problematic CVT), warranty extension and repair reimbursement apply. One important limitation: the settlement does not cover QX60 models from 2019 onwards, even though some owners report CVT issues in newer model years. Nissan’s position is that manufacturing changes and design improvements after 2018 address the CVT vulnerability—a claim that remains disputed by some owners.
Another limitation involves the warranty extension itself. While 96 months of coverage sounds comprehensive, it expires regardless of mileage once the vehicle reaches 96 months old or 96,000 miles—whichever comes first. An owner who purchased a 2015 QX60 in late 2015 would see the extended warranty expire in 2023 or once their vehicle reached 96,000 miles. Anyone who delayed repairs hoping to use the extended warranty may find it expired. The settlement also warrants that Nissan made no admission of wrongdoing and continues to deny the CVT defects—a common settlement structure that provides compensation without acknowledging liability.
Comparison to Other Nissan CVT Settlements
The QX60 settlement is part of a broader pattern of Nissan CVT problems. The same $277.7 million settlement covers not just QX60 owners but also owners of 2013-2015 Nissan Rogue and 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder models with the same CVT systems. In terms of settlement size, $277.7 million is substantial for a class action—reflecting the scope of the defect and the number of affected vehicles. Compared to other automotive class actions, the settlement is mid-range; some defect settlements have exceeded $1 billion (like the Volkswagen diesel scandal), while others settle for under $50 million.
The QX60 payout demonstrates that even mid-size settlements can provide meaningful relief to owners. What sets this settlement apart is the warranty extension mechanism. Rather than simply issuing cash payouts to class members, Nissan is providing prospective protection through the extended warranty, which benefits both QX60 owners who plan to keep their vehicles long-term and provides economic incentive for continued vehicle ownership. However, owners who have already sold their QX60 cannot benefit from this warranty extension and can only claim if they documented repairs before the deadline.
Where the Settlement Stands Today and Future Implications
As of April 2026, the Infiniti QX60 CVT settlement is in the claims administration phase, now well past the primary deadline. Settlement administrators continue processing late claims for owners who completed qualifying repairs after July 3, 2025. For most purposes, the settlement provides closed-ended relief: QX60 owners will not see expanded benefits, additional payouts, or modifications to the warranty extension terms unless a court finds material fraud or an administrator error in claims processing.
The settlement also establishes precedent for how Nissan and other automakers handle CVT defects in luxury vehicles. The case demonstrated that consumer persistence through class action litigation can force manufacturers to address powertrain reliability issues even when they initially deny culpability. Future QX60 owners purchasing used 2015-2018 models should be aware of the transmission history and ensure any potential purchase includes a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, as the extended warranty only applies to vehicles owned at the time of settlement approval.
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