Transmissions in the majority of modern vehicles are quite durable. But some of them still can’t survive as long as the engine. It’s especially true for any vehicle equipped with the DCT transmission or with the CVT unit. Such transmissions usually last about 100,000 miles before they need some major repairs or maintenance that may cost you a lot of money.
So, a question of whether it’s worth replacing the transmission in your vehicle may arise and you may think if you want to invest this huge money in your car when the transmission is broken.
In short, it’s almost always worth investing in the repair of your transmission. This more or less affordable investment will allow you to drive the vehicle for some more years. But if you actually need to replace the transmission, it’s not always worth the money. Sometimes, it’s better to invest in a new vehicle.
Let’s see what professional mechanics and experienced drivers think about this.
How many miles can different transmissions last?
Well, it’s hard to classify modern transmissions in terms of their longevity. Even when it comes to the same transmission type, different models can have absolutely different lifespans.
Just as an example, I can remember the DSG transmission offered by Volkswagen. The 7-speed DSG transmission was really bad because of its dry clutch system and it could last approximately 100,000 miles till it needed expensive clutch replacement. While the 6-speed DSG transmission with the wet clutch was pretty good and could last as long as the Volkswagen engines.
But anyway, I want to provide you with an overall look at the durability of different kinds of transmissions:
- Dual clutch transmissions or DCT can usually last about 100,000 miles before they need clutch replacement and also TCM module repair or replacement. Only some models can really last longer without any problems.
- CVT or continuously variable transmission. These ones can also last about 100,000 miles before they need a very expensive repair or even replacement. I only know some Toyota CVTs that can last much longer than that.
- Traditional automatic transmission. These are the transmissions that have the torque converter inside. They are pretty durable and can last about 175,000 miles before they need expensive repairs. Of course, there are different models that have various lifespans.
- Manual transmission. When it comes to manual transmission, they can usually outlive the engines that they come with. The average lifespan of a manual transmission is about 250,000 miles which is a lot. The only problem is that these transmissions are not really convenient and so manufacturers just don’t offer them for modern vehicles.
Now you know how many miles a certain type of transmission can last. But you should also check the average lifespan for your exact model of the transmission before you make any conclusions. Now let’s turn to the main question that I intend to answer in this article.
Is it worth your money to repair or replace the transmission?
Usually, when it comes to repair, it’s worth your money because you invest up to $1500 or $2000 and get a long-lasting and high-quality transmission that can go around 100,000 miles. But when it comes to replacement, it’s not always that simple to make that final decision that you really need it.
The reason for this is that the price for the new transmission can be as high as $5000 or even more, in some cases. And your decision depends on whether your car is still worth this money. Because the residual value of your vehicle may be lower than the price of the new transmission.
Here are some factors that you should take into account when thinking about this:
- If your car is still younger than 10 years old, it’s almost always worth it to replace or repair the transmission but older cars will not always pay back all the money that you invest in them;
- You should also consider the mileage of the car – vehicles with more than 200,000 miles on them may not be really reliable after you repair the transmission, and some other parts may fail and require expensive repairs;
- The overall condition of your vehicle is important – for example, if your engine is going to fail soon and the car body has a lot of rust on it, then maybe, it’s not a good idea to invest a lot of money in such a car;
- The durability of the engine is very important – just find out how many miles your engine is going to last and if it’s still good to go for about 50,000 miles or more, then repairing your transmission may be worth it;
- The price of the repair or the replacement – find out how much it will cost you to replace your transmission and then consider everything else to make a certain conclusion.
I will just give you some examples so that you could easily decide on your vehicle.
Some examples and my decisions on transmission repair
So, the first example is the eight-year-old Nissan Versa with a CVT. It has 100,000 miles on it. The transmission is broken and needs replacement. You will have two options – installing the new Nissan CVT or going for the used one. Both options are quite expensive. But the engine in this car is still good to go for another 100,000 miles and the car body is still ok. You like this car and are not going to change it in the nearest future. In this case, it’s a really good idea to buy new transmission and install it instead of the broken one.
The second example is the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta with the 1.4 TSI engine and seven-speed DSG transmission. It has 150,000 miles on it and while the body is still in good condition, the engine is at the edge of dying, and that transmission is already dead and needs replacement. In this case, you shouldn’t invest in the new transmission because, after a year or just several thousand miles, your engine may break down and require very expensive repairs.
But age and mileage should not be the only two factors that you base your decision on. Because some Ford or Chevy transmissions with torque converters can last over 300,000 miles and they are really worth your money and worth the repair if they break down.
How much is it to repair a transmission?
Before you make any decisions, you need to understand how much money you will spend on everything. If you can repair the transmission, the average bill for this work will be about $2000. The eventual price depends mainly on the type of transmission, its year, and the manufacturer.
The most common repair for the DCT transmission is the replacement of the clutch. Also, the transmission control module may go bad and need replacement or repair. Other than that, these transmissions are quite durable.
CVT units are much more problematic in repair. Sometimes, it’s just impossible to repair these transmissions, but in some cases, the repair is possible and will cost you more or less the same as the repair of a traditional automatic transmission.
Torque converter transmissions are much easier to repair but the price will still be high. The parts are pretty expensive and you can’t buy anything but OEM parts. Also, to repair such a transmission, you will need to take it off the vehicle. So, the labor prices will be quite high, too.
How much is it to replace a transmission?
The replacement of the transmission is quite a complicated procedure so it will not cost you a little money. The labor costs are more or less the same for each type of transmission, but the eventual price of this work depends highly on the brand of your car. In some vehicles, especially performance-oriented cars, you will need to take the engine off the vehicle in order to replace the transmission. This will take more than one day even if you have a lot of experience as a car mechanic.
So, the Average labor cost for replacing a transmission is $1000 to $2000. This will also depend on the company. While the dealership will take even more than that, some repair shops will do the work cheaper.
But the bad news is that you have to buy the transmission. The new automatic transmission for an average modern vehicle will cost you not less than $5,000. You can also choose to buy a used automatic transmission for your vehicle from a scrapyard or just from eBay. And this will cost you from $1000 to $3000 depending on the condition, age, and mileage of this transmission.
How long does it take to replace a transmission in a car?
I believe the longest process is to earn the money that you need to replace that transmission in your vehicle. The replacement itself will take about two working days and up to a week if the vehicle is performance-oriented and has a complicated construction.
Also, you need to understand that finding an optimal transmission on the market is not that easy. If you want a new transmission, you will have to contact a dealership and they will tell you how long to wait. Usually, the waiting time is from one week to two months.
If you want a used transmission, the most problematic thing is to find a good option. The majority of transmissions offered on the market will be old and will require some repairs which is not the best option for you. One more problem is the delivery. If you’re located on the West Coast of the US and find the appropriate transmission on the East Coast, it will take you at least two weeks to deliver the transmission and it will also cost you a lot of money.
Final thoughts
So, repairing or replacing the transmission is not an easy process. For this, you will need quite a lot of money and also a lot of time. If you see that your car is going to ask for some more expensive repairs in the nearest future, it’s usually not worth investing so much money in it.
Also, you need to understand all the complicated sides of this process like finding a good transmission or getting high-quality parts for repair. Finding a proper mechanic who will do the job and not take too much money for it is not that easy, too.
Make your decision based on the information that you have read in this article and find out more about the longevity of your car and the money you’re going to spend on the transmission repair before you make the final decision.