2011 Suzuki SX4 AWD Premium crossover suddenly developed a transmission issue after sitting. I bought this car by mistake, not realizing it's a CVT. It was working fine when I bought it, test driven by myself and then driven to me for over 50 miles, and then driven again by myself for a short distance, with no issues at all. Then, after being parked for about 2+ (less than 3) weeks, I restarted it and it suddenly developed a transmission problem. Check engine light came on and the car refused to shift. While I was trying to bring it to a nearby shop, the car suddenly refused to let the engine rev above certain RPMs, so it became completely disabled and I had to get it towed (luckily, I was within free tow distance for AAA!).

Well, the shop said the CVT had to be replaced, but this was expected, they're not transmission pros and know nothing about CVTs, so I decided to do some troubleshooting. It was giving me a bunch of weird codes, including a stuck solenoid. I got the solenoid pack replaced, then the whole valve body, also fresh CVT fluid (the old one looked good) and both transmission filters. Still not shifting. Sometimes codes come up (including the same code for very same solenoid replaced 3 times), sometimes even no codes. No signs of mechanical damage inside the transmission (including foreign particles, metal shavings, brown/black or otherwise contaminated CVT fluid, etc) have been found. No unusual sounds from the CVT, no slipping or jerking, just not shifting. Must be an electrical failure, most likely one of computer parts.

Unfortunately, this is the horrible JF011E Jatco CVT also found in many Nissan and Jeep/Chrysler vehicles. And even if you want to try replacing one of these computers, they are not plug-and-play, one needs a dealer scanner to reprogram these to the car. I called both Suzuki North America and the local former dealer in Nashua NH, and they both said there are no recalls or technical bulletins on my VIN, although I know that there were several recalls on SX4 and Kizashi cars related to similar CVT issues. I strongly suspect that my problems is due to one of these, and most likely the control module inside the CVT itself, but Suzuki won't help in any way, the former dealer says that they can't even troubleshoot or repair this car, only apply some of the recalls (which, as they said, I don't have).

So basically, Suzuki spoiled one of their best cars by installing POS Jatco/Nissan CVT transmissions in it, and then they left most of their customers without help by only recalling a few vehicles, while these transmissions are really notorious for failures on all 2010-2013 SX4/Kizashi. This is a real shame. It was a huge misstep by Suzuki and Jatco needs to be sued and shut down for making these CVTs which have nothing to do with reliability.