Vehicle: 2014 Nissan Rogue, Select 4WD, L4-2.5L (QR25DE), Continuously Variable Transmission/Transaxle, CVT

Mileage: 129,005 Miles

Problem: The customer’s concern was a shake/wobble from 20–60 mph during acceleration. The shake/wobble could be felt in the front end of the vehicle, not in the steering wheel. There was no prior history on the vehicle.

Case Details: The shop verified that the shake/wobble is mainly under acceleration and was felt primarily in the front floor/body, not in the steering wheel. It also occurred over a broad speed/load range (20–60 mph). The shop tried replacing the motor mounts, CV axles, and lower control arms. The tires were also rebalanced and rotated multiple times. They also tried removing the driveshaft before going on a test drive. No luck. The technician verified there were no engine misfires.

A quick call to an ALLDATA Tech-Assist consultant provided some diagnostic options. The consultant said that, based on the symptom pattern and everything already replaced, he would recommend shifting away from tire, mounts, and suspension issues and focus heavily on driveline angle and load issues. The symptoms pointed to more of a torque-induced driveline vibration than a wheel balance issue. For this vehicle, he advised looking for the following issues in order:

1. Aftermarket CV axles–use only OEM
2. Subframe or drivetrain alignment issue
3. Transfer case, PTU, front differential mounting
4. Wheel hub/bearing runout under load
5. CVT torque converter/judder behavior

The technician started with the CV axles. Having already replaced the existing aftermarket set with another aftermarket set, the technician ordered OEM CV axles from Nissan this time. Before installing the new axles, he noted that the OEM CV axles were a little longer than the aftermarket ones.

Confirmed Repair: That was it! The wobble and shaking disappeared. In this case, the aftermarket axles appeared to differ from the OEM CV axles, and installing OEM CV axles resolved the vibration concern. Finicky fix!