Overheating CVT transmission?

2016 NISSAN ALTIMA
165,000 MILES • 2.5L • AUTOMATIC
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BUSINESSFRED
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
The other day my CVT overheated while driving on the freeway and went into safety/limp mode, I checked the temperature for the ATF and it showed (-113C°) I added a auxiliary transmission cooler and it climbed to (123C°) during normal street driving it hasn't gone into fail safe mode yet but i want to troubleshoot it before I deem the transmission trash and replace it .

I've added some stats for reference

I read that the cvt-b count is how many times it has overheated, but I've only recently acquired this car and have encounter the safety mode once .
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Apr 30, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Repair Safety Notice: This information is for general instructional purposes only. Vehicle repair can be dangerous. Verify all information, follow manufacturer service procedures, use proper tools and safety equipment, and consult a qualified repair shop when needed.
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STRAILER
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
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Yep, this happens when the belt inside the transmission start slipping, I would try changing the transmission fluid, here is a guide to help with instruction in the images below for your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission/

Make sure the fluid is the correct Nissan-spec CVT fluid. For this vehicle, it typically requires Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid or equivalent that specifically states NS-3 compatibility. Do not use regular automatic transmission fluid. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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May 1, 2026 at 3:45 PM
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