Continuously Variable Transmissions, or CVTs, are more common than you think. Audi, Subaru, Nissan, Ford, GM and many other automakers use CVT transmissions in cars and SUVs. There is no way to avoid them. Chances are there is one in your shop right now.
What does CVT mean for technicians? On the maintenance side, a CVT requires more or the same frequency of fluid and filter changes as a conventional automatic transmission, and many of the basic procedures are the same. On the diagnostic side, a CVT is less complicated internally than a six- or nine-speed transmission. Diagnostics with a scan tool are about the same. On the service side, while you may never pull a variator or belt out of a CVT, you can service components like sensors, pumps and valve bodies. The point here is not to fear a customer complaint about a CVT.